Guys, Come to China and save the 1Ms here

[z19930612]

In 2011, someone in BMW decided to import 418 of 1Ms into a country that almost nobody would like to drive a manual, manual car here represents a poor life, in most people’s mind if you drive a manual you are either a poor people or you are an Uber driver. But I really would like to say THANK YOU to this person in BMW and give him a BIG hug, he Fxxking saved my life.

BMW now does not offer any MT models in their model range anymore, including 1 series and 3 series, they even imported the DCT M2 with a sunroof that you cannot choose remove.



Even sports cars like Porsche does not offer manual box for their 718 and 911 series, sports cars selling in China is mostly not for people who desire driving pleasure but more like selling Gucci bags for people to show how rich they are.



Right…Let return to the topic, the 1M
BMW eventually sold out 418 of these 1Ms with huge discount and decided not to import manual cars in China anymore (few M4s with manual box does came into China but almost nobody appreciated).
When the car was on sale in 2012, the MSRP was CNY 598000 that is around USD 95000

Now on the used market, they are around CNY 350000 to CNY 400000 which translate to USD 50000 - 58000



Most of them are not tracked because there is not many circuits here in China, some of them were modified with no taste, some of them went into a wrong hand and get written off






I am a Chinese but I would say that Chinese people and their demand really is pushing the car manufactures making the automotive industry much much more boring than the old days, driving enthusiastic like me in China really have no cars to choose from, then what would be the point for working hard and make all that money?

This is my 1M, I drive it, track it and gymkhana with it, and I love it to bits, but it seems that BMW China has already forgot about this car, no recalls regarding TAKATA airbags are received yet, nor the potential CV joint failure recall.


I am currently a vehicle dynamics engineer at ZF TRW, I went for an interview in BMW test center in Beijing in February for Subjective evaluation and chassis tuning but I failed because other candidates have over 10 years of experience , If I would have the chance to get into BMW, I denifately would try to make some changes for BMW in the future, especially if I could tune chassis for BMW cars.

Thanks for viewing
-A 1M owner from China

[ayao]

OMFG that yellow thing.

[Karmic Man]

Originally Posted by z19930612

In 2011, someone in BMW decided to import 418 of 1Ms into a country that almost nobody would like to drive a manual, manual car here represents a poor life, in most people’s mind if you drive a manual you are either a poor people or you are an Uber driver. But I really would like to say THANK YOU to this person in BMW and give him a BIG hug, he Fxxking saved my life.
Attachment 1592859
BMW now does not offer any MT models in their model range anymore, including 1 series and 3 series, they even imported the DCT M2 with a sunroof that you cannot choose remove.
Attachment 1592849


Even sports cars like Porsche does not offer manual box for their 718 and 911 series, sports cars selling in China is mostly not for people who desire driving pleasure but more like selling Gucci bags for people to show how rich they are.
Attachment 1592850


Right…Let return to the topic, the 1M
BMW eventually sold out 418 of these 1Ms with huge discount and decided not to import manual cars in China anymore (few M4s with manual box does came into China but almost nobody appreciated).
When the car was on sale in 2012, the MSRP was CNY 598000 that is around USD 95000

Now on the used market, they are around CNY 350000 to CNY 400000 which translate to USD 50000 - 58000
Attachment 1592851


Most of them are not tracked because there is not many circuits here in China, some of them were modified with no taste, some of them went into a wrong hand and get written off
Attachment 1592844
Attachment 1592845
Attachment 1592846
Attachment 1592847


I am a Chinese but I would say that Chinese people and their demand really is pushing the car manufactures making the automotive industry much much more boring than the old days, driving enthusiastic like me in China really have no cars to choose from, then what would be the point for working hard and make all that money?

This is my 1M, I drive it, track it and gymkhana with it, and I love it to bits, but it seems that BMW China has already forgot about this car, no recalls regarding TAKATA airbags are received yet, nor the potential CV joint failure recall.
Attachment 1592848

I am currently a vehicle dynamics engineer at ZF TRW, I went for an interview in BMW test center in Beijing in February for Subjective evaluation and chassis tuning but I failed because other candidates have over 10 years of experience , If I would have the chance to get into BMW, I denifately would try to make some changes for BMW in the future, especially if I could tune chassis for BMW cars.

Thanks for viewing
-A 1M owner from China

Kudos to you for being a manual car lover (a minority in these days and age)and of course loving the 1M

Don't give up your dream and just keep trying. The automobile industry needs passionate car people like you!

[buddalun]

z19930612 Awesome post!

Perhaps we should start a Kickstarter to "Save the 1Ms!"

[Yeineken]

Wonder how hard importing process would be? I assume the same process as the Canadian 1Ms that were imported to the US?

[buddalun]

Originally Posted by Yeineken

Wonder how hard importing process would be? I assume the same process as the Canadian 1Ms that were imported to the US?

Rest assured, it will be more difficult than importing from Canada.

[CarJunkie]

Awesome post . . . If the price gets down enough, maybe import for track car duty? Would that avoid registration and DOT issues?

[Dackelone]

First thanks for an awesome post. We don't really get much first hand knowledge of car enthusiasts from China.

WTH is BMW China thinking with a M2 coming standard with a sunroof! Now that's a first!! Maybe the "Tiger Edition" will have a s/r delete. lol

I wonder how many of those 418, 1M's are left. What I mean, is how many are untouched or mod'd tastefully. I bet less than half. I think it's cool that you have so much passion for your 1M. Keep up the good work!

[discoboy1]

They are slowly conditioning us in US and Canada that MT is on the way out... We will be in same situation in 5-10 yrs time especially with the coming of autonomous vehicles

[champignon]

Originally Posted by discoboy1

They are slowly conditioning us in US and Canada that MT is on the way out... We will be in same situation in 5-10 yrs time especially with the coming of autonomous vehicles

They are not doing this slowly, they have been doing it very quickly over the last 5 years. It is becoming a major project to buy a new sporty MT car, especially anything with more than 2 doors.

And don't get me started on electric steering.

[blackmist222777]

wow... those are either ugly or a sad story... poor poor 1Ms

[Matticus91]

I'm not sure which car has it worse, the yellow one or the red one... lol

[Esteban]

I'd take the yellow one and make it stock again. Including changing the yellow paint to Valencia Orange (my favorite 1M color).

[stevenzx]

Originally Posted by z19930612

In 2011, someone in BMW decided to import 418 of 1Ms into a country that almost nobody would like to drive a manual, manual car here represents a poor life, in most people’s mind if you drive a manual you are either a poor people or you are an Uber driver. But I really would like to say THANK YOU to this person in BMW and give him a BIG hug, he Fxxking saved my life.
Attachment 1592859
BMW now does not offer any MT models in their model range anymore, including 1 series and 3 series, they even imported the DCT M2 with a sunroof that you cannot choose remove.
Attachment 1592849


Even sports cars like Porsche does not offer manual box for their 718 and 911 series, sports cars selling in China is mostly not for people who desire driving pleasure but more like selling Gucci bags for people to show how rich they are.
Attachment 1592850


Right…Let return to the topic, the 1M
BMW eventually sold out 418 of these 1Ms with huge discount and decided not to import manual cars in China anymore (few M4s with manual box does came into China but almost nobody appreciated).
When the car was on sale in 2012, the MSRP was CNY 598000 that is around USD 95000

Now on the used market, they are around CNY 350000 to CNY 400000 which translate to USD 50000 - 58000
Attachment 1592851


Most of them are not tracked because there is not many circuits here in China, some of them were modified with no taste, some of them went into a wrong hand and get written off
Attachment 1592844
Attachment 1592845
Attachment 1592846
Attachment 1592847


I am a Chinese but I would say that Chinese people and their demand really is pushing the car manufactures making the automotive industry much much more boring than the old days, driving enthusiastic like me in China really have no cars to choose from, then what would be the point for working hard and make all that money?

This is my 1M, I drive it, track it and gymkhana with it, and I love it to bits, but it seems that BMW China has already forgot about this car, no recalls regarding TAKATA airbags are received yet, nor the potential CV joint failure recall.
Attachment 1592848

I am currently a vehicle dynamics engineer at ZF TRW, I went for an interview in BMW test center in Beijing in February for Subjective evaluation and chassis tuning but I failed because other candidates have over 10 years of experience , If I would have the chance to get into BMW, I denifately would try to make some changes for BMW in the future, especially if I could tune chassis for BMW cars.

Thanks for viewing
-A 1M owner from China

1M好车，留好了。

[BoosTonian]

Nothing I dislike more then seeing a 1M butchered...what in the actual fuck was that guy doing with that yellow monstrosity?

I'm hoping to pick up a 1M soon, it's my unicorn car

Thanks for sharing your story and what's going on with these cars in china!

[1M]

Great post thanks.
Almost 700 1Ms went to the far east (Mainly China and Korea) and it's true that we don't often hear from them on the forums.