Just drove the 1 Series M

cozza · 09-19-2011, 03:14 AM

So I was on my way to do the paperwork for the new Golf R when I spotted an Alpine White 1 Series M coming towards me - the first one I've seen in the flesh.

As it passed I recognised the driver as my old boss! He saw me also and called me on the phone. I turned around to meet him in a side street where he threw me the keys and offered me a drive.

I jumped in without a second thought, and noticed immediately that although the alcantara finish is nice, it didn't feel much different to my 125i. In fact, I actually prefer the carbon finish in mine.

Anyway, that all went out the window once I started it up and heard the growl from within. Wow, what a weapon!!!

Didn't have much of a chance to give it a squirt but in the few side streets where there was room to, I planted my right foot and squealed with delight. Simply awesome. Here's a quick pic:

Honny · 09-19-2011, 03:17 AM

I have yet to drive one..... I know if I did I couldn't resist not to trade in my 135i.

mcmn · 09-19-2011, 03:36 AM

Second thoughts on the golf R?

Totti · 09-19-2011, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmn

Second thoughts on the golf R?

BBK · 09-19-2011, 04:20 AM

I wonder what it would feel like compared to a lightly modded 135i...

david.orr · 09-19-2011, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmn

Second thoughts on the golf R?

+2

Lucky bugger, wish I have a chance to take one out!

Alpine* · 09-19-2011, 05:03 AM

You shouldn't have driven it Cozza, BIG mistake. I had a Golf R 2 door ordered last year, recaros and all the fruit THEN I got wind of the 1M, the rest is history. Read all the blurbs that are out there it really is that good out of the box. Resale will IMO be far better than a 135i too, and an R for that matter. No issues with warranty, awaesome wheels and those mega lumpy guards, hug presence and lots a street cred, sorry guys, way more than any 135i will ever have.

Just my 2 cents.

timbo_3101 · 09-19-2011, 06:12 AM

Haha Cozza amazing story

By the way ian, I think for (responsible) daily driving there isn't much difference between the 125i and 1M. Car still goes at only 20km/h in traffic however large the rims or however people want to take pics

05C4R · 09-19-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBK

I wonder what it would feel like compared to a lightly modded 135i...

its not so much the power but the suspension and lack of body roll. you can really feel those huge wheels on the road compared to the 135i. The suspension is also softer on bumps and pot holes yet so much tighter in corners, must be why the m3 gets raved about so much with its similar suspension. Also the motor revs out so fast cos of the dual mass fly wheel which i think makes a huge difference.

cozza · 09-19-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmn

Second thoughts on the golf R?

Hell no - the Golf has 4 cup holders in the front. Four!!

Oh, and two in the back.

cozza · 09-19-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbo_3101

Haha Cozza amazing story

By the way ian, I think for (responsible) daily driving there isn't much difference between the 125i and 1M. Car still goes at only 20km/h in traffic however large the rims or however people want to take pics

Exactly. For the most part I was stuck in traffic and it felt no different at all. I'm happy with my decision to buy the R - never owned an AWD before, and by the time I'm ready to move on from it, there may well be a couple of 1M Coupes on the market for much less than the ridiculous money BMW is asking for them now.

BBK · 09-19-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemer

its not so much the power but the suspension and lack of body roll. you can really feel those huge wheels on the road compared to the 135i. The suspension is also softer on bumps and pot holes yet so much tighter in corners, must be why the m3 gets raved about so much with its similar suspension. Also the motor revs out so fast cos of the dual mass fly wheel which i think makes a huge difference.

Well that's thing, a 135i with a tune and coilovers I would think gives similar performance? Or is the sum of all the parts on the 1M that good?

Love to hear the opinion of someone who has driven both...

timbo_3101 · 09-19-2011, 07:46 PM

Australian debut three weeks ago at Broadford with stock 1M vehicles and one boosted 135i for media consumption:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226128329654
http://www.caradvice.com.au/135813/b...-coupe-review/

MrBlonde · 09-19-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbo_3101

..
By the way ian, I think for (responsible) daily driving there isn't much difference between the 125i and 1M.
..

Waaaa! Waaaa! Dry your eyes!

BBK · 09-19-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbo_3101

Australian debut three weeks ago at Broadford with stock 1M vehicles and one boosted 135i for media consumption:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226128329654
http://www.caradvice.com.au/135813/b...-coupe-review/

Interesting, thanks for sharing the links!

Although the 135i used only had 15kw more than stock, and assuming it was still running standard suspension so not much of a comparison...

Totti · 09-20-2011, 01:16 AM

My 135i felt quicker in traffic than my M...

clfive02 · 09-20-2011, 01:21 AM

Lucky guy you are Cozza, even where I am at we don't even get a chance to test them out. If the owner of the car is who I think it is, I remember speaking to him a while ago about the 1M, good to see that he ended up with one.

timbo_3101 · 09-20-2011, 01:24 AM

Totti, why you think it is that the 135i feels faster than the larger V8 - size/weight, torque?

sparoz · 09-20-2011, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBK

Well that's thing, a 135i with a tune and coilovers I would think gives similar performance? Or is the sum of all the parts on the 1M that good?

Love to hear the opinion of someone who has driven both...

Need to drive Tim's car for a comparison.

.

It is a lot better than the stock 135i. The handling is given, but the overboost and responsiveness still surprises me (as long as you remember to press the sport button).

Don't really have much room to go WOT on side streets for the 1M as I would imagine it would be the same for the modded 135i as well. Tail goes out if if you power out a corner so, driving it is more like a balancing act.

MickyD · 09-20-2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cozza

Hell no - the Golf has 4 cup holders in the front. Four!!

our mx5 has 4 cup holders....!

TimMc · 09-22-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparoz

Need to drive Tim's car for a comparison.

.

Always keen for a swap Steve!
Another BMW club track day coming up at the end of October (28th?) at Lakeside. We had a white 1M there a few weeks ago. Hope to see some more of you there next time.

09-19-2011, 03:14 AM	#1
cozza ///Mthusiast 136 Rep 1,751 Posts Drives: M135i (March delivery) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Just drove the 1 Series M - OMG! So I was on my way to do the paperwork for the new Golf R when I spotted an Alpine White 1 Series M coming towards me - the first one I've seen in the flesh. As it passed I recognised the driver as my old boss! He saw me also and called me on the phone. I turned around to meet him in a side street where he threw me the keys and offered me a drive. I jumped in without a second thought, and noticed immediately that although the alcantara finish is nice, it didn't feel much different to my 125i. In fact, I actually prefer the carbon finish in mine. Anyway, that all went out the window once I started it up and heard the growl from within. Wow, what a weapon!!! Didn't have much of a chance to give it a squirt but in the few side streets where there was room to, I planted my right foot and squealed with delight. Simply awesome. Here's a quick pic: Attached Images __________________ ///M135i: AUTO \| ALPINE WHITE \| CORAL RED LEATHER \| HEATED SEATS \| SUNROOF \| NAV \| DAB TUNER \| HARMAN KARDON \| PERFORMANCE BITS 'N' PIECES
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09-19-2011, 03:17 AM	#2
Honny Captain 28 Rep 771 Posts Drives: Something Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth iTrader: (0)	I have yet to drive one..... I know if I did I couldn't resist not to trade in my 135i.
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09-19-2011, 03:36 AM	#3
mcmn Captain 28 Rep 693 Posts Drives: MY10 AW 135i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	Second thoughts on the golf R?
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09-19-2011, 04:20 AM	#5
BBK Banned 88 Rep 3,070 Posts Drives: A boring one... Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 135i [5.76]	I wonder what it would feel like compared to a lightly modded 135i...
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09-19-2011, 05:03 AM	#7
Alpine* Brigadier General 1282 Rep 4,093 Posts Drives: M2 G87 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	You shouldn't have driven it Cozza, BIG mistake. I had a Golf R 2 door ordered last year, recaros and all the fruit THEN I got wind of the 1M, the rest is history. Read all the blurbs that are out there it really is that good out of the box. Resale will IMO be far better than a 135i too, and an R for that matter. No issues with warranty, awaesome wheels and those mega lumpy guards, hug presence and lots a street cred, sorry guys, way more than any 135i will ever have. Just my 2 cents.
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09-19-2011, 06:12 AM	#8
timbo_3101 Lieutenant 18 Rep 442 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	Haha Cozza amazing story By the way ian, I think for (responsible) daily driving there isn't much difference between the 125i and 1M. Car still goes at only 20km/h in traffic however large the rims or however people want to take pics
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09-19-2011, 07:46 PM	#13
timbo_3101 Lieutenant 18 Rep 442 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	Australian debut three weeks ago at Broadford with stock 1M vehicles and one boosted 135i for media consumption: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226128329654 http://www.caradvice.com.au/135813/b...-coupe-review/
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09-20-2011, 01:21 AM	#17
clfive02 Private 0 Rep 63 Posts Drives: F25 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Lucky guy you are Cozza, even where I am at we don't even get a chance to test them out. If the owner of the car is who I think it is, I remember speaking to him a while ago about the 1M, good to see that he ended up with one.
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09-20-2011, 01:24 AM	#18
timbo_3101 Lieutenant 18 Rep 442 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	Totti, why you think it is that the 135i feels faster than the larger V8 - size/weight, torque?
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