MDifficult’s E82 1M Coupe & Ariel Atom 3
Discussion
Court_S said:
I’d agree with the above, although I’ve not been much this year other than taking a German car to a Japanese evening…
I've looked at the Japanese evenings a few times and wondered if I'd be able to sneak the Atom in on the basis of the engine/Honda connection. Taking a German car definitely a step too far though!RB Will said:
Love the pussy panels, will use that one on the other Nomad guys. I don't have any on mine and some of the guys have even added extra ones to theirs. You can even get a complete fabric cover, we call it the Nomdom.
It's funny you say that, I was looking over a Nomad the other day and the owner had clearly added extra 'pussy panels' around the front and even added some weatherstripping around the edges to try to keep the water out. Clearly he's sick and tired of wet/muddy legs. Bearing in mind the amount of crap that must get fired into a Nomad I think I'll let him off Court_S said:
I wasn’t the only one! I found solace by parking next to an M4…we were both sent to the cheap seats round the back.
It’s worth a trip up, especially if you like Skylines. Food was good too.
I'll add some HONDA stickers and give it a go.. cheers!It’s worth a trip up, especially if you like Skylines. Food was good too.
Lots to update all of a sudden... let's start with the stupid and end with the sublime..
First thing was to get the Atom MOT'd. Drove it down to my local friendly MOT place who were delighted to get their hands on it...
Sadly though, it failed and for a very obvious reason... I'd completely forgotten it doesn't have a Cat in it! Doh!
A quick message to some local owners turned one up about 45 minutes away so I whipped off to pick it up and fit it. Knowing the bolts might be a little recalcitrant I soaked them in WD40 overnight and got to work... couldn't be easier on an Atom!
All went well until... bugger
But at least it was off..
Picked up some new hardware and some exhaust paste, fitted the cat..
...back to the test centre and... much success! (side note... during both visits I had one of the mechanics say 'ooo, I'd love a ride in one of those' and both resulted in a quick rip down the nearby A road. I was already friendly with the guys down there but I think I've cemented it now!)
With the Atom problems resolved and a fresh MOT, it was back to the 1M which has been away being fettled after my idiotic nudge with an invisible Citroen. I arrived to pick it up and was greeted with this...
Oh baby! She's like brand new! I ended up getting the following done..
- Rear bumper repaired and repainted and bespoke PPF fitted
- Wheels refurbished factory silver, new roundels, new stickers, new tyres and ceramic coating (turned out two were slightly bucked too)
- Headlights refinished, then clear coated, then PPFd
On top of that the guys gave a jolly good clean inside and out, and even cleaned and dressed under the bonnet. I can honestly say, bar one stone chip, it basically looks like brand new. I was gobsmacked.
Here's a few photos but suffice to say I'm thrilled to bits. Yes, it wasn't cheap, but the car's appreciated quite a bit since I bought it so I don't begrudge spending it. Just need to get the balls to drive it now!
In the space of a few hours I've gone from two cars I can't use, to two cars that are perfect and ready to be used... roll on a sunny weekend!
Oh... and I also need to decide which one to bring to the PH25 event as I've got a space in the Readers Cars area (Thanks PH!). So.. which do I bring?
First thing was to get the Atom MOT'd. Drove it down to my local friendly MOT place who were delighted to get their hands on it...
Sadly though, it failed and for a very obvious reason... I'd completely forgotten it doesn't have a Cat in it! Doh!
A quick message to some local owners turned one up about 45 minutes away so I whipped off to pick it up and fit it. Knowing the bolts might be a little recalcitrant I soaked them in WD40 overnight and got to work... couldn't be easier on an Atom!
All went well until... bugger
But at least it was off..
Picked up some new hardware and some exhaust paste, fitted the cat..
...back to the test centre and... much success! (side note... during both visits I had one of the mechanics say 'ooo, I'd love a ride in one of those' and both resulted in a quick rip down the nearby A road. I was already friendly with the guys down there but I think I've cemented it now!)
With the Atom problems resolved and a fresh MOT, it was back to the 1M which has been away being fettled after my idiotic nudge with an invisible Citroen. I arrived to pick it up and was greeted with this...
Oh baby! She's like brand new! I ended up getting the following done..
- Rear bumper repaired and repainted and bespoke PPF fitted
- Wheels refurbished factory silver, new roundels, new stickers, new tyres and ceramic coating (turned out two were slightly bucked too)
- Headlights refinished, then clear coated, then PPFd
On top of that the guys gave a jolly good clean inside and out, and even cleaned and dressed under the bonnet. I can honestly say, bar one stone chip, it basically looks like brand new. I was gobsmacked.
Here's a few photos but suffice to say I'm thrilled to bits. Yes, it wasn't cheap, but the car's appreciated quite a bit since I bought it so I don't begrudge spending it. Just need to get the balls to drive it now!
In the space of a few hours I've gone from two cars I can't use, to two cars that are perfect and ready to be used... roll on a sunny weekend!
Oh... and I also need to decide which one to bring to the PH25 event as I've got a space in the Readers Cars area (Thanks PH!). So.. which do I bring?
bencollins4 said:
Oh yeah, the 1M is looking good! It looks like a brand new car now!
Going back a few posts, like you, I have no desire to own any of the current ‘M’ cars. Also like you, I may make an exception for the M5 CS, but not any time soon given what they go for! The older BMW’s are looking better with each passing day.
I guess it’d be tempting to take the Atom to PH25, but any sniff of bad weather and I would be happy to let the 1M take over! I had to make a similar decision last week for Goodwood FOS, subbing the Zenos for the Yaris - no hardship though!
Cheers! I’m eagerly awaiting some updates to your Zenos thread… I want to know what you’ve been up to with it! Don’t blame you taking the Yaris with that weather though Going back a few posts, like you, I have no desire to own any of the current ‘M’ cars. Also like you, I may make an exception for the M5 CS, but not any time soon given what they go for! The older BMW’s are looking better with each passing day.
I guess it’d be tempting to take the Atom to PH25, but any sniff of bad weather and I would be happy to let the 1M take over! I had to make a similar decision last week for Goodwood FOS, subbing the Zenos for the Yaris - no hardship though!
Court_S said:
The 1M looks amazing after the paint and a good clean.
I vote for the 1M as well for PH25. I’ve already had a good nose around the Atom
Thank you - looking like the 1M might be the one then. I vote for the 1M as well for PH25. I’ve already had a good nose around the Atom
One of the highlights of the transformation is actually the headlights. I didn’t think they were that bad but now they’ve been done they take years off the car.
Interestingly, Shmee has just bought a 1M so I wonder if there’ll be a little resurgence in interest in them from… whoever it is that watches his channel. Be interesting to see what he does with it.
Kaveney said:
What cell cat did you use 200 or 400 as i have had problems in the past passing MOT's with a 200 cell cat ?
Not a clue! I was so pleased to find one locally available at zero notice that I just grabbed it. It’s a factory Atom one and it’s unused. I borrowed it originally but subsequently made the owner an offer and bought it from him to save myself the bother in future. Will drive a bit with it in and decide whether to keep or swap back until next time. A new one from the factory is £800 d_a_n1979 said:
A fantastic pairing of cars; that 1M just looks sublime! 
Thanks very much! I woke this morning to find huge globs of bird s
t all over it.. so normal service has resumed Court_S said:
Oh god….if he’s bought one sell it! 
On a more serious note, getting the headlight lenses looking good takes years of the appearance of a car. You don’t notice it, until you get them sorted.
Thankfully he's gone for a Valencia Orange one (with about 90k miles and 1 owner). But, in the way he creates content (just keep talking, talking, talking, filling the minutes) he's already got a lot wrong about the 1M so I gave up about halfway through On a more serious note, getting the headlight lenses looking good takes years of the appearance of a car. You don’t notice it, until you get them sorted.
d_a_n1979 said:
He does drag on a bit have to admit... Needs to drop his voice down an octave too IMO
He gets a lot of hate which I don't really understand. He's sure as hell not my cup of tea but you've got to admire the guy.. anybody who is the 'first' to do something and manages to make a huge living for themselves out of it deserves their success. In short bursts he's okay, but the YouTube algorithm is pushing him and everyone else into dragging content out as long as possible and he just grates on my soul after 5 minutes All I hope its that he going for an OEM+ approach on the 1M, fits the same seats and exhaust as mine and pumps the values up!
Court_S said:
You lasted longer than I would have!
So I’m going to sound like a MASSIVE pedant but so many reviews of the 1M at launch, and now, repeat the same old tropes that are total horsest and my inner crushing bore gets driven nuts by it “Sequential turbos” - nope. Normal twin turbo
“M button that gives extra boost” - nope. It just re-maps the throttle response. The overboost function is entirely independent and automatic on WoT.
“Special internals / fiddled engine” - nope. Different flywheel and a remap basically, similar to the Z4 35iS
“M3 gearbox” - nope.
“This one has all the options ticked” - while pointing at things that were entirely standard. There were very few options really.
“Wheels from the E46 M3 CSL” - Nope. Not even slightly. M359s from the E92 M3 Competition.
Next time you watch a review.. see how many of these they blather out. If it’s zero.. you’ve got an actual, real car journalist who did their research rather than just watching other reviews on YouTube!
Court_S said:
I know, even Harry gets it wrong sometimes though; he was talking about the B7 RS4 having changeable dampers in a recent video. DRC links dampers diagonally.
So I flinched at exactly that comment!
I rushed to watch that vid because the car was identical to my old one (bar the ceramic brakes) and the boring pendant in me was very disappointed in Harry for that one
d_a_n1979 said:
Sreten of M539 Restorations is more my cuppa; plus he's funny with it
Amen! He’s my favourite thing on YT… I’ve now watched every single vid he’s ever put out. I love the quality of his work, his personality and the hilarious little moments he drops in from time to time (like screaming like a small girl when something surprises him!). He’s absolutely fantastic to watch and I’m desperate for him to do a 1M. The recent e39 Touring, B7 and his own E39 M5 are all absolutely delicious. Court_S said:
Glad it wasn’t just me!
I did enjoy the video though; I love the B7 RS4. They just look so right and make a glorious noise. A family member had a saloon and that was the first quick car that I got to drive properly so I think that’s part of it. The noise coming out of a little grey saloon in the Cotswolds on Boxing Day made me grin like an idiot.
I had a lot of love for that car. Fast. Safe. Simple and Stunning to look at. Sounded amazing too. I did enjoy the video though; I love the B7 RS4. They just look so right and make a glorious noise. A family member had a saloon and that was the first quick car that I got to drive properly so I think that’s part of it. The noise coming out of a little grey saloon in the Cotswolds on Boxing Day made me grin like an idiot.
Okay, there was one other big flinch… Harry said it was a saloon, and an estate… but totally failed to mention it was also a convertible!
(Hated the conv at the time but I think they’d make a good investment at this point - a classy summer cruiser).
Anyway, that’s more than enough pedantry for now!
keo said:
Just caught up with this. The 1M looks fantastic now, I like the seats. Must admit I aren’t much of a BMW fan and don’t know much about them. As far as I knew the M3CSL had a cardboard boot floor!
Great the Atom is back out and “pussy panels” made me laugh!
Cheers mate, thank you - it seems I’ve coined a term now… but probably means I can’t ever put them back on Great the Atom is back out and “pussy panels” made me laugh!
One last job to finish off the 1M...
The boot struts had started to give up the ghost, being both a little weak but also failing to slow the boot as you open it (causing it to fling open onto the stops). This resulted the other day in the struts finally over-extending and busting off the bottom..
Normally I'm a stickler for genuine BMW but a check with the dealer showed they'd be almost £160 for the pair which is ridiculous!
So I decided to opt for OE Febi Bilstein which look identical bar the BMW logo, even down to the blue colour of the text, and were a much more reasonable £60 for the pair.
All fitted and now the boot opens and closes with a much less terrifying action. Happy days!
(and yes.. I did post that last picture just to demonstrate how clean even the boot gutters are on this car)
The boot struts had started to give up the ghost, being both a little weak but also failing to slow the boot as you open it (causing it to fling open onto the stops). This resulted the other day in the struts finally over-extending and busting off the bottom..
Normally I'm a stickler for genuine BMW but a check with the dealer showed they'd be almost £160 for the pair which is ridiculous!
So I decided to opt for OE Febi Bilstein which look identical bar the BMW logo, even down to the blue colour of the text, and were a much more reasonable £60 for the pair.
All fitted and now the boot opens and closes with a much less terrifying action. Happy days!
(and yes.. I did post that last picture just to demonstrate how clean even the boot gutters are on this car)
greygoose said:
Mine hit 90,000 last week, it was my daily driver for the first 5 years. Had it polished up last year and wheels refinished, well worth the cost and still love the look of it.
Looks fantastic and 90k is a proper effort! Would love to you know anything that’s generated bills beyond just normal maintenance and consumables? greygoose said:
The turbos were replaced under warranty due to a wastegate rattle about 6 years ago, brake discs were replaced at about 60,000, the parking sensors stopped working as water had seeped into the control module and that was replaced along with the battery two years ago.
Apart from that it's just been servicing, though I get the oil changed more frequently than the servicing guidelines, and a lot of Michelins!
Apart from that it's just been servicing, though I get the oil changed more frequently than the servicing guidelines, and a lot of Michelins!
That sounds par for the course on 1Ms so that’s good to hear - thanks for coming back so quickly. Do you have a Readers thread? greygoose said:
No I've never got round to doing one on here, maybe one day I'll dig out the old photos of it in the snow with the winter tyres and wheels that looked lost in the arches!
I’ve often thought about a set of winter wheels - but don’t really need winter tires where I live. Looking at your pic.. looks like you’re running spacers. I’m really tempted but can’t decided on which. What did you go for? 
MDifficult said:
So I’m going to sound like a MASSIVE pedant but so many reviews of the 1M at launch, and now, repeat the same old tropes that are total horsest and my inner crushing bore gets driven nuts by it
“Sequential turbos” - nope. Normal twin turbo
“M button that gives extra boost” - nope. It just re-maps the throttle response. The overboost function is entirely independent and automatic on WoT.
“Special internals / fiddled engine” - nope. Different flywheel and a remap basically, similar to the Z4 35iS
“M3 gearbox” - nope.
“This one has all the options ticked” - while pointing at things that were entirely standard. There were very few options really.
“Wheels from the E46 M3 CSL” - Nope. Not even slightly. M359s from the E92 M3 Competition.
Next time you watch a review.. see how many of these they blather out. If it’s zero.. you’ve got an actual, real car journalist who did their research rather than just watching other reviews on YouTube!
And as if to prove my point.. even the professionals at Top Gear magazine talk an absolute load of hogwash about the 1M. He goes to great lengths to be as wrong as humanly possible about the N54s turbos. Check out from 15:55 to hear EXACTLY what I pointed out above t and my inner crushing bore gets driven nuts by it “Sequential turbos” - nope. Normal twin turbo
“M button that gives extra boost” - nope. It just re-maps the throttle response. The overboost function is entirely independent and automatic on WoT.
“Special internals / fiddled engine” - nope. Different flywheel and a remap basically, similar to the Z4 35iS
“M3 gearbox” - nope.
“This one has all the options ticked” - while pointing at things that were entirely standard. There were very few options really.
“Wheels from the E46 M3 CSL” - Nope. Not even slightly. M359s from the E92 M3 Competition.
Next time you watch a review.. see how many of these they blather out. If it’s zero.. you’ve got an actual, real car journalist who did their research rather than just watching other reviews on YouTube!
But, I won’t knock it too hard because it’s a great film and he loves it anyway!
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