....the "other" 1M

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Discussion

ChrisBuer

Original Poster:

628 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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As my fellow 1M owning friend (Aussie) has posted a few pictures of his car up, I thought I'd do the same smile

I'd like to think myself as a proper petrol head and after running Caterhams and Elises (and one Exige) the past few years, I'd not had a "conventional" car for quite a while. Anyway, I managed to get my name down for a 1M and after a month of waiting to hear if I'd secured one, the phone rang and my dealer confirmed my build slot biggrin

Fast forward to my collection day and I was like a kid at Christmas biggrin










During my 1200 mile run in period, I attended a local Lotus Owners Club run and although limited to 4500rpm, I still managed to lead the group OK smile





With just over 1200 miles on the clock, the car had its first service and then was driven to DMS Automotive for a bit of ECU work smile




Stock power was dyno'd at 349bhp and torque at 402 lb/ft.

After DMS had worked their magic, the power was up to 404bhp and torque a more tasty 485 lb/ft biggrin

The changes were immediately noticeable, especially the torque which makes over-taking even more effortless now. In M-mode it's just bonkers.

More recently, the car was taken to Brands for an MSV track-day and I was deeply impressed with it. Sure it's not a track-car, but there were few things there quicker on the day (albeit a couple of race prepared Ginetta's). Traction is a slight issue, but once into third it puts it's power down very well.

I have a few small mods planned for this year (nothing major as I like the car as it is right now), but I'm aiming to do the BMW Performance carbon spoiler, the N55 mid-pipes, change the wheels to a slightly different colour and probably have my interior coloured to the same as Aussies (piano black in the centre).

All in all I'm really enjoying the car and am hoping to attend a few more Pistonhead meets this year.

Cheers,

Chris smile



Ved

3,825 posts

175 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Congratulations, Chris. Looks really good. I don't think we have a white one on PH. Plenty of orange ones at the last sunday service but I think yours is much more of a sleeper. How's the ride quality and what's the noise from the engine like after you've had the ECU remapped - and any warranty concerns about mapping it so early?

ChrisBuer

Original Poster:

628 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Ved said:
Congratulations, Chris. Looks really good. I don't think we have a white one on PH. Plenty of orange ones at the last sunday service but I think yours is much more of a sleeper. How's the ride quality and what's the noise from the engine like after you've had the ECU remapped - and any warranty concerns about mapping it so early?
AussieInLondon has a white one as well and he is on here smile I will aim to make the Sunday Service events this year because they do look like good fun.

The ride quality is fine, but then I came from a very hard Lotus Exige S with a stiffer under-tray and upgraded engine mounts, so the 1M feels luxurious in comparison.

No change in noise after the remap, it's just a lot more brutal. Any speed, any gear is just picks up and pulls very hard. I followed a Ferrari F430 the other day and lets just say that he didn't pull away far from me in gear on the motorway when there were small breaks in the motorway traffic. Off the line it is more of a problem as it does struggle with traction (and that was before the remap), but you just need to dial in the throttle a little bit more gently smile

No warranty concerns either to be honest. I'll be keeping this car and accept any issues as a result of me remapping it. However the map is mild and I don't thrash the car, so I'm comfortable with that.

I've had a number of different types of car, but I have to say this is my most favourite so far. It is fun to drive on track (given that it's a road car) and on the road it can be both fun down the B-roads, or comfortable on long drives. I suppose it's a bit like a "Swiss-Army Knife" smile

Braintax

321 posts

187 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Cracking car & plate

fatboy69

9,371 posts

187 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Unlike the Mansory Bentley idiot this is the way to introduce a new car.

None of the 'my car is better than your car because, blah blah blah' but a proper enthusiasts introduction to the car along with photo's & an idea as to what is going to get done to the car over the new few months.

Its a great car which is obviously going to be enjoyed by the owner & hopefully Chris will keep everyone updated as to what he has done with the car.

Like it a lot.


ChrisBuer

Original Poster:

628 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Braintax said:
Cracking car & plate
Thanks smile I guess having an odd surname helps as the plate was very cheap.

fatboy69 said:
Unlike the Mansory Bentley idiot this is the way to introduce a new car.

None of the 'my car is better than your car because, blah blah blah' but a proper enthusiasts introduction to the car along with photo's & an idea as to what is going to get done to the car over the new few months.

Its a great car which is obviously going to be enjoyed by the owner & hopefully Chris will keep everyone updated as to what he has done with the car.

Like it a lot.
Thanks smile

I will keep this thread updated as to general ownership and bits. I just love cars and have spent the last few months reading about all of the other fantastic machinery on this forum. I do like to think of myself as a proper petrolhead as well - I drove my Caterham Superlight as my only car for 25,000 miles over an 18 month period, including in the snow and rain without a hood on (good times smile) One of my best memories was driving out late one night with the roof off and seeing the stars above me. Fantastic!

Anyway, back on topic, the 1M was required as I have a 10 month old daughter that didn't fit in the Exige, so I needed something else “interesting” to drive. It just so happened that the 1M ticked that box and became available just at the right time smile

I’m also a keen (or as my wife would call me, sad) detailer and enjoy keeping the car looking clean almost as much as I love driving it…almost haha! Anyway, the more I drive it, the more I clean it, so it’s a win-win situation (sad I know!).

My detailing shelf at home biggrin



Powerrr

1,978 posts

172 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Your face in the 3rd pc says it all. Kid at Christmas! Congratulations, its gorgeous bud. beer

Yachtworker

1,248 posts

155 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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^^^^^^^ exactly that, looks fantastic. Great post indeed.

Otispunkmeyer

12,580 posts

155 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Heh thats cool that they let you come into the showroom and pull the wraps off of your new toy!

Suppose thats sorta their way of doing it if you dont want to go all the way to germany to pick your car up from the factory!

Love these cars though, the 1er coupe really looks right to me. Congrats!

Ved

3,825 posts

175 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
ChrisBuer said:
Ved said:
Congratulations, Chris. Looks really good. I don't think we have a white one on PH. Plenty of orange ones at the last sunday service but I think yours is much more of a sleeper. How's the ride quality and what's the noise from the engine like after you've had the ECU remapped - and any warranty concerns about mapping it so early?
AussieInLondon has a white one as well and he is on here smile
Technically his missus picked that for him so you have the kudos points over him smile

ChrisBuer

Original Poster:

628 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Otispunkmeyer said:
Heh thats cool that they let you come into the showroom and pull the wraps off of your new toy!

Suppose thats sorta their way of doing it if you dont want to go all the way to germany to pick your car up from the factory!

Love these cars though, the 1er coupe really looks right to me. Congrats!
I would have loved to have collected it from Germany but unfortunately this option is only available to customers in America. Strange really as I would have thought that there would be more people in Europe willing to do the whole "Welt collection" experience.

DB89

781 posts

179 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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What a car, would love to own one soon! Does anyone know if all these come out with slighty more power than quoted? Or this is just a very healthy one lol a friend had a play with one in his Evo 9 FQ360 and said it was pulling quite comfortably on him. I know they'd be close but he seemed shocked.

diddly69

695 posts

177 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Very nice OP, thanks for sharing! smile I love your detailing and cleaning shelves! biggrin

Ved

3,825 posts

175 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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What options did you tick on it, Chris?

Mattt

16,661 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Very nice, I recognise Cooper Chelmsford from the pictures!

Will you be joining us on 6th May for the Petrol-AM run?

Jw Vw

4,829 posts

163 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Lovely looking car OP.

ChrisBuer

Original Poster:

628 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
DB89 said:
What a car, would love to own one soon! Does anyone know if all these come out with slighty more power than quoted? Or this is just a very healthy one lol a friend had a play with one in his Evo 9 FQ360 and said it was pulling quite comfortably on him. I know they'd be close but he seemed shocked.
According to DMS, all of the cars they have remapped have had very strong stock figures. I believe the highest stock bhp they recorded was close to 370bhp. most however come in between 345-355bhp.

However it's the torque that seems to make the difference. Mine now (with 485 lb/ft or 656nm in new money) makes it quite a rapid road car where you can leave it in gear most of the time and pull strongly.

diddly69 said:
Very nice OP, thanks for sharing! smile I love your detailing and cleaning shelves! biggrin
Thanks smile my wife sometimes mixes my bottles up to wind me up...not that I have OCD mind you haha.

Ved said:
What options did you tick on it, Chris?
I went for....

- Sat nav
- BMW assist + apps package
- USB / iPhone media cradle and Bluetooth
- Harman Kardon
- Folding mirrors
- Heated seats
- BMW performance pedals
- Gloss black kidney grills

Mattt said:
Very nice, I recognise Cooper Chelmsford from the pictures!

Will you be joining us on 6th May for the Petrol-AM run?
Yes I'd like to actually. I'll check your forum Matt and sign up if I can definately make it smile

Beedub

1,954 posts

226 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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ohh its lovely!! i smiled with you as you pulled back the cover!!! id be soooooooo chuffed at that point!!! awesome car, awesome colour, and great shout on the mods, id defo consider uprating the stock intercooler @ 400hp however....

pidsy

7,983 posts

157 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
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Fantastic.

ChrisBuer

Original Poster:

628 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Beedub said:
ohh its lovely!! i smiled with you as you pulled back the cover!!! id be soooooooo chuffed at that point!!! awesome car, awesome colour, and great shout on the mods, id defo consider uprating the stock intercooler @ 400hp however....
I ran a temp gauge plugged directly into my OBD port when I was at Brands and my IATs where absolutely fine all day, but I may consider doing the Forge upgrade in the summer if required smile