2011 BMW 1 SERIES

A collector grade, low mileage, low owner, 1M coupe in superb condition, with high spec (Harmon Kardon, Navigation, Comfort access etc) and in superb condition.

The BMW 1M is considered by many M fans to be the best M car to come out of Munich during the first half of the 2010s decade. An immediate hit with the press and enthusiasts alike, it was claimed by the then Top Gear team (Clarkson-era) to be the best car since the mk1 Golf GTi. And owners don’t seem to disagree – nor did the market, with resale prices quickly outstripping the new car forecourt price – an almost unheard-of occurrence. Only 450 1M coupes were made for the UK RHD market, and they were so oversubscribed that BMW staff and network customers were stripped of their allocations to provide cars for a list of celebrity orders. Compact, powerful, and as lively as a box of inebriated frogs, the M1 was a fabulous way to launch BMW M into the turbocharged era, immediately embarrassing those who said that turbos were the beginning of the end. The 1M was so good, so versatile, that most of them ran up significant mileage when new – they made a brilliant and practical, infinitely usable daily drive. This particular car has a relatively low number of owners compared to most 1Ms – the popularity of the 1M is with good reason, but it did mean that some cars changed hands more than the average, as speculators and short term owners found them irresistible.

Only produced in manual and pushing out 335 horsepower from the M-tuned N54 powerplant, the 1M was the last M car to use hydraulic steering, making it one of the last true enthusiast’s M cars of the era. One look at those bulging arches and fat rear end, with its angry quad pipes and squat stance, tells you all you need to know. Not a car for the faint of heart…as you’ll see from this clip from Clarkson’s Top Gear (which certainly helped BMW sell out at the time)

The reality is that with the benefit of a little hindsight, the 1M really does belong in the part of the M hall of fame usually associated with the preceding generation(s). Despite being the first production turbo M car (if you don’t count the 2002) the 1M still retained bags of character, and is an absolute hoot to drive, even today, up against the later, more powerful generations of M car that appear faster on paper. They have also proved to be very well made and robust even as they age, making them very cost-effective to run and own.

This particular 1M is a real find. Finished in the most popular colour (Sapphire black) – with matching black leather interior with contrasting orange stitching, the interior and paintwork is in superb condition, and has clearly been very well cared for all of its life. The car is very well specced, with the nav screen, range topping HK stereo, comfort access, heated seats, light package, Bluetooth and all the usual. The current owner purchased the vehicle 13 years ago and has carefully stored the car for the period with next to no use (none since 2019 at all). Our technical team have carried out the usual rigorous inspection and are impressed with the results. The tiny list of niggles will be taken care of, along with new tyres all round, serviced up to date, brand new MOT and a clean mechanical bill of health. If your looking for a collector grade 1M with low owners, low mileage, and high spec, then look no further!

For more information on this lovely car, or to book a viewing (by appointment only please) please email our showroom team