Test drove an M3 and 1M back to back
Discussion
Pretty much as the title states I test drove an M3 and 1M back to back today at my local dealers. They had the 1M demo car in for the weekend and i'd originally booked a test drive a few months back, but I got a call earlier in the week saying all the build slots have been taken, so arranged to take out an M3 instead.
Initial impressions of the M3 were good, the interior felt more snug than i was expecting (which i like, coming from a z4) considering the size of the car. The engine was smooth but a lot more muted than i was expecting. It sounded great outside when the car was started, but inside it was relatively quiet until high up in the rev range. The steering felt a bit numb, but perhaps something you'd get used to in time. It's certainly a lot faster then the Z4,but more civilised too.
After driving the M3 we found that the dealer had a build spot on the 1M as someone cancelled their order yesterday, so was we took the 1M out for a quick run. In the metal the car looks really aggressive from the front but is a good bit taller than the M3. Driving wise, the clutch is much heavier and springy on the 1, but it instantly felt right driving out of the dealers. I had the confidence to throw it around more from the offset. Acceleration was strong with great torque from the turbos and really easy to access. Down sides were I thought the seats were massively un supportive in the shoulder area, i felt like i was falling out of them round some of the corners and there are no seat options available to change to sportier ones.
Apart from that it felt fun and well put together.
Initial impressions of the M3 were good, the interior felt more snug than i was expecting (which i like, coming from a z4) considering the size of the car. The engine was smooth but a lot more muted than i was expecting. It sounded great outside when the car was started, but inside it was relatively quiet until high up in the rev range. The steering felt a bit numb, but perhaps something you'd get used to in time. It's certainly a lot faster then the Z4,but more civilised too.
After driving the M3 we found that the dealer had a build spot on the 1M as someone cancelled their order yesterday, so was we took the 1M out for a quick run. In the metal the car looks really aggressive from the front but is a good bit taller than the M3. Driving wise, the clutch is much heavier and springy on the 1, but it instantly felt right driving out of the dealers. I had the confidence to throw it around more from the offset. Acceleration was strong with great torque from the turbos and really easy to access. Down sides were I thought the seats were massively un supportive in the shoulder area, i felt like i was falling out of them round some of the corners and there are no seat options available to change to sportier ones.
Apart from that it felt fun and well put together.
cpufreak said:
e92 m3's cup holders are much better by far.
they slide out from the dash, and are very nicely damped. one each for passenger and driver
1M just has the normal 1er cup holder, in the centre console, which doesn't work that well, and there's only one of them.
Excellent review, I thank you kindly. The apparent superior weighting to the M3 cup holder damping seals it for me, especially as the passenger is able to share the experience.they slide out from the dash, and are very nicely damped. one each for passenger and driver
1M just has the normal 1er cup holder, in the centre console, which doesn't work that well, and there's only one of them.
OP take note; car "reviews" are worthless if you fail to comment on important areas like this.
Toilet Duck said:
cpufreak said:
e92 m3's cup holders are much better by far.
they slide out from the dash, and are very nicely damped. one each for passenger and driver
1M just has the normal 1er cup holder, in the centre console, which doesn't work that well, and there's only one of them.
Excellent review, I thank you kindly. The apparent superior weighting to the M3 cup holder damping seals it for me, especially as the passenger is able to share the experience.they slide out from the dash, and are very nicely damped. one each for passenger and driver
1M just has the normal 1er cup holder, in the centre console, which doesn't work that well, and there's only one of them.
OP take note; car "reviews" are worthless if you fail to comment on important aeas like this.
The M3 also does +150mph while strumming it's fingers and whistling to itself in a bored fashion whereas at big speeds the 1M blxxdy TELLS you about it every inch of the way in a middly eye widening fashion.
Nasty little yob the 1M. Which is nice.
Edited by Pugsey on Sunday 21st August 18:11
ratty6464 said:
Pretty much as the title states I test drove an M3 and 1M back to back today at my local dealers. They had the 1M demo car in for the weekend and i'd originally booked a test drive a few months back, but I got a call earlier in the week saying all the build slots have been taken, so arranged to take out an M3 instead.
Initial impressions of the M3 were good, the interior felt more snug than i was expecting (which i like, coming from a z4) considering the size of the car. The engine was smooth but a lot more muted than i was expecting. It sounded great outside when the car was started, but inside it was relatively quiet until high up in the rev range. The steering felt a bit numb, but perhaps something you'd get used to in time. It's certainly a lot faster then the Z4,but more civilised too.
After driving the M3 we found that the dealer had a build spot on the 1M as someone cancelled their order yesterday, so was we took the 1M out for a quick run. In the metal the car looks really aggressive from the front but is a good bit taller than the M3. Driving wise, the clutch is much heavier and springy on the 1, but it instantly felt right driving out of the dealers. I had the confidence to throw it around more from the offset. Acceleration was strong with great torque from the turbos and really easy to access. Down sides were I thought the seats were massively un supportive in the shoulder area, i felt like i was falling out of them round some of the corners and there are no seat options available to change to sportier ones.
Apart from that it felt fun and well put together.
great little write-up, thanks for sharing Initial impressions of the M3 were good, the interior felt more snug than i was expecting (which i like, coming from a z4) considering the size of the car. The engine was smooth but a lot more muted than i was expecting. It sounded great outside when the car was started, but inside it was relatively quiet until high up in the rev range. The steering felt a bit numb, but perhaps something you'd get used to in time. It's certainly a lot faster then the Z4,but more civilised too.
After driving the M3 we found that the dealer had a build spot on the 1M as someone cancelled their order yesterday, so was we took the 1M out for a quick run. In the metal the car looks really aggressive from the front but is a good bit taller than the M3. Driving wise, the clutch is much heavier and springy on the 1, but it instantly felt right driving out of the dealers. I had the confidence to throw it around more from the offset. Acceleration was strong with great torque from the turbos and really easy to access. Down sides were I thought the seats were massively un supportive in the shoulder area, i felt like i was falling out of them round some of the corners and there are no seat options available to change to sportier ones.
Apart from that it felt fun and well put together.
N8 H said:
Could you not order some BMW performance seats. They are an option on the 135i so dont see why they cannot be installed in the 1M
you can have them retro fitted, yes... however they'd lack the orange stitching which is within the rest of the cabin, so would look out of place, unless you re-trimmed them.imo you do not need "shoulder bolsters" in a road car. The sports seats that come as standard on the 1M are amongst the very best you can get for a road car. They grip your rib cage and hips and can be electrically adjusted to squeeze you as tight as you want. In hard cornering you won't be moving about.
Why do you want your shoulders to be constantly pushed forward, restricting your ability to look around you for maximum vision on the road + making long journeys uncomfortable and tiring........?
Why do you want your shoulders to be constantly pushed forward, restricting your ability to look around you for maximum vision on the road + making long journeys uncomfortable and tiring........?
I don't want my shoulders to be pushed forward, merely supported.
The seats in the 1M are OK, but certainly not the best in any road car. For example, the seats in the E92 M3 are more comfortable and more supportive (also with the electronic bolsters. You just need to drive one for a few hundred yards to realise.
The M Seats for in the Z4M / Z4 Sport are also much better in my opinion, although not great if you're a "larger" person...
I was really surprised - considering the aggressive design / setup of the 1M - that they didn't make more of the seats. But it's a small issue in an otherwise decent car. Interesting comment above on the retro fitting BMW performance seats
The seats in the 1M are OK, but certainly not the best in any road car. For example, the seats in the E92 M3 are more comfortable and more supportive (also with the electronic bolsters. You just need to drive one for a few hundred yards to realise.
The M Seats for in the Z4M / Z4 Sport are also much better in my opinion, although not great if you're a "larger" person...
I was really surprised - considering the aggressive design / setup of the 1M - that they didn't make more of the seats. But it's a small issue in an otherwise decent car. Interesting comment above on the retro fitting BMW performance seats
I don't suppose it was this 1M below that you drove?
I attended an "M-Power" event at a local dealers a few weeks ago and also got to drive the 1M and an M3 back to back.
Coming from a Lotus Exige, I'm used to a more compact and nimble handling car. The M3 was "ok" down the country lanes, but it did feel a bit of barge at times. The 1M on the otherhand was much more "chuckable" and personally speaking, I found that more enjoyable.
I also very much enjoyed the torque from the turbo although the sound of the M3 was stunning!
After finishing my test drive I was chatting to an M3 owner who had driven the 1M before me. We both agreed that it was the more usable real world car, primarily due to the torque and that on the B-roads, it was more fun.
I attended an "M-Power" event at a local dealers a few weeks ago and also got to drive the 1M and an M3 back to back.
Coming from a Lotus Exige, I'm used to a more compact and nimble handling car. The M3 was "ok" down the country lanes, but it did feel a bit of barge at times. The 1M on the otherhand was much more "chuckable" and personally speaking, I found that more enjoyable.
I also very much enjoyed the torque from the turbo although the sound of the M3 was stunning!
After finishing my test drive I was chatting to an M3 owner who had driven the 1M before me. We both agreed that it was the more usable real world car, primarily due to the torque and that on the B-roads, it was more fun.
ratty6464 said:
I don't want my shoulders to be pushed forward, merely supported.
The seats in the 1M are OK, but certainly not the best in any road car. For example, the seats in the E92 M3 are more comfortable and more supportive (also with the electronic bolsters. You just need to drive one for a few hundred yards to realise.
The M Seats for in the Z4M / Z4 Sport are also much better in my opinion, although not great if you're a "larger" person...
I was really surprised - considering the aggressive design / setup of the 1M - that they didn't make more of the seats. But it's a small issue in an otherwise decent car. Interesting comment above on the retro fitting BMW performance seats
Fair enough, I assumed you were after some sort of wing-back recaro type seat - which is way OTT for a road car I reckon and does push your shoulders forwardThe seats in the 1M are OK, but certainly not the best in any road car. For example, the seats in the E92 M3 are more comfortable and more supportive (also with the electronic bolsters. You just need to drive one for a few hundred yards to realise.
The M Seats for in the Z4M / Z4 Sport are also much better in my opinion, although not great if you're a "larger" person...
I was really surprised - considering the aggressive design / setup of the 1M - that they didn't make more of the seats. But it's a small issue in an otherwise decent car. Interesting comment above on the retro fitting BMW performance seats
daveknott5 said:
The sports seats that come as standard on the 1M are amongst the very best you can get for a road car. They grip your rib cage and hips and can be electrically adjusted to squeeze you as tight as you want.
Eh? Never found that facility on mine. Do you mean the 1M and if so where was the button! Good enough seats but nowhere near "the very best you can get for a road car". IMHO of course.daveknott5 said:
On the right hand side of the seat, near the very front of the seat base you'll find a rocker switch that adjusts the grip of the side bolsters.
I'll believe you! So busy having fun in it that I never looked for or found that function. Too late to look now as car sold. Hey ho. Thanks for info anyway. 
R1_NUR said:
And back on topic.
I test drove both a few months ago aswell and went for the 1M right up to the point I found out I could have the M3 for less.
Both fab cars, but when the M3 works out cheaper than the 1M you have to really want the 1M to shell out extra for it.
is this a new M3 compared to a new 1M?I test drove both a few months ago aswell and went for the 1M right up to the point I found out I could have the M3 for less.
Both fab cars, but when the M3 works out cheaper than the 1M you have to really want the 1M to shell out extra for it.
After looking more seriously at 2nd hand M3's, can people who have / run them please comment on these costs. I want to make sure that I'm in the right Ballpark and go into it with my eyes open:
Pair of Front Tyres: £500 (Pilot sport 2 Camskill.co.uk)
Pair of rear Tyres: £640
Oil Service: £250
Inspt 1: £500
Inspt 2: £1000
Annualised costs, approx 10k miles a year, tyres every 1.5 years:
Tyres: £760
Servicing: £500 (average)
Insurance: £1700 (got a quote today)
= £247 per month
Excluding warranty as would buy approved. But how much would that be after year 1? Let me know if i'm way off
Pair of Front Tyres: £500 (Pilot sport 2 Camskill.co.uk)
Pair of rear Tyres: £640
Oil Service: £250
Inspt 1: £500
Inspt 2: £1000
Annualised costs, approx 10k miles a year, tyres every 1.5 years:
Tyres: £760
Servicing: £500 (average)
Insurance: £1700 (got a quote today)
= £247 per month
Excluding warranty as would buy approved. But how much would that be after year 1? Let me know if i'm way off
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