I'm not usually one for regrets

[Lay-Z M3]

But I Cancelled my Euro delivery AW 1M order that I made on Jan 3rd 2011 (which I suppose made my order an 'early VIN number'), due in part to the relatively costly BMW finance rates - up here in America's Hat!!

I was also disappointed by the full up/profit gain on the new car deals up here, yet pre owned (with 30k+ kms ) cars are now being sold for well over msrp, so I guess the laugh/irony is on me, not that I'd have ever sold it!

I suppose my 'doubt in exclusivity' was born many years ago, when my old man had the chance to order an Aston Martin DB7 under a similar situation. This was at a time when the potential to inflate resale prices on early delivery exclusive vehicles was infact possible, if still quite rare. I could therefore see mirrors/parallels in the 1M/DB7 situation, limited numbers, strangled supply etc etc. Anyway, long and short my dad didn't go for it - he got an E36 M3 instead so we could actually enjoy the benefits of a performace vehicle as a family. It turned out to be a decent decision as the DB7 got very mediocre reviews in the motoring press (unlike the 1M) and as a consequence: interest, desire and values plumeted!

As a Brit, I was also a bit skeptical that history could repeat itself, based on a situation that happened back in the '90's at Renault. A promise of a limited run number of cars in the form of an F1 raceteam inspired Renault Clio Williams model. However, Renault renegged on their promise and subsequently produced batches of Williams 2 & 3 varients - ultimately exploiting the sales and interest generated!! For owners of the original cars, a promise had been broken and had no doubt left some of them with slight feelings of betrayal!

As such, I didn't bite the bullet on the 1M and have since wondered about how amazing owning and driving this car could have been - not to mention that European delivery, incorporating my old favourite roads in Germany, Italy, France, England and Holland from my motorcycling days! A truly once in a lifetime trip and a chance to relive my European youth, in a car very much designed with the driver at heart!!!

So I bid all of you 'genuinely lucky owners', a fabulous ownership experience and please never lose sight as to how fortunate you are - as the few who chose wisely

[EINSER M]

Originally Posted by Lay-Z M3

But I Cancelled my Euro delivery AW 1M order that I made on Jan 3rd 2011 (which I suppose made my order an 'early VIN number'), due in part to the relatively costly BMW finance rates - up here in America's Hat!!

I was also disappointed by the full up/profit gain on the new car deals up here, yet pre owned (with 30k+ kms ) cars are now being sold for well over msrp, so I guess the laugh/irony is on me, not that I'd have ever sold it!

I suppose my 'doubt in exclusivity' was born many years ago, when my old man had the chance to order an Aston Martin DB7 under a similar situation. This was at a time when the potential to inflate resale prices on early delivery exclusive vehicles was infact possible, if still quite rare. I could therefore see mirrors/parallels in the 1M/DB7 situation, limited numbers, strangled supply etc etc. Anyway, long and short my dad didn't go for it - he got an E36 M3 instead so we could actually enjoy the benefits of a performace vehicle as a family. It turned out to be a decent decision as the DB7 got very mediocre reviews in the motoring press (unlike the 1M) and as a consequence:
interest, desire and values plumeted!

As a Brit, I was also a bit skeptical that history could repeat itself, based on a situation that happened back in the '90's at Renault. A promise of a limited run number of cars in the form of an F1 raceteam inspired Renault Clio Williams model. However, Renault renegged on their promise and subsequently produced batches of Williams 2 & 3 varients - ultimately exploiting the sales and interest generated!! For owners of the original cars, a promise had been broken and had no doubt left some of them with slight feelings of betrayal!

As such, I didn't bite the bullet on the 1M and have since wondered about how amazing owning and driving this car could have been - not to mention that European delivery incorporating Germany, Italy, France, England and Holland once in a lifetime trip!!!

So I bid all of you 'genuinely lucky owners', a fabulous ownership experience and please never lose sight as to how fortunate you are as the few who chose wisely

tough story; there will be more in the BMW line to feast on

[Dackelone]

There is always a M135i hatch or the up coming M2 in a few years. I enjoyed reading your story though.

[EINSER M]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

There is always a M135i hatch or the up coming M2 in a few years. I enjoyed reading your story though.

whats the date for the M2 Dack? I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

[Lay-Z M3]

Originally Posted by EINSER M

tough story; there will be more in the BMW line to feast on

I know - I worked for them for almost a decade both in UK & CA

I sometimes was lucky enough to get the Z4MC for the week(end)

[ozinaldo]

This is such a honest and well written story. Thanks for sharing.

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by Lay-Z M3

But I Cancelled my Euro delivery AW 1M order that I made on Jan 3rd 2011 (which I suppose made my order an 'early VIN number'), due in part to the relatively costly BMW finance rates - up here in America's Hat!!

I was also disappointed by the full up/profit gain on the new car deals up here, yet pre owned (with 30k+ kms ) cars are now being sold for well over msrp, so I guess the laugh/irony is on me, not that I'd have ever sold it!

I suppose my 'doubt in exclusivity' was born many years ago, when my old man had the chance to order an Aston Martin DB7 under a similar situation. This was at a time when the potential to inflate resale prices on early delivery exclusive vehicles was infact possible, if still quite rare. I could therefore see mirrors/parallels in the 1M/DB7 situation, limited numbers, strangled supply etc etc. Anyway, long and short my dad didn't go for it - he got an E36 M3 instead so we could actually enjoy the benefits of a performace vehicle as a family. It turned out to be a decent decision as the DB7 got very mediocre reviews in the motoring press (unlike the 1M) and as a consequence: interest, desire and values plumeted!

As a Brit, I was also a bit skeptical that history could repeat itself, based on a situation that happened back in the '90's at Renault. A promise of a limited run number of cars in the form of an F1 raceteam inspired Renault Clio Williams model. However, Renault renegged on their promise and subsequently produced batches of Williams 2 & 3 varients - ultimately exploiting the sales and interest generated!! For owners of the original cars, a promise had been broken and had no doubt left some of them with slight feelings of betrayal!

As such, I didn't bite the bullet on the 1M and have since wondered about how amazing owning and driving this car could have been - not to mention that European delivery, incorporating my old favourite roads in Germany, Italy, France, England and Holland from my motorcycling days! A truly once in a lifetime trip and a chance to relive my European youth, in a car very much designed with the driver at heart!!!

So I bid all of you 'genuinely lucky owners', a fabulous ownership experience and please never lose sight as to how fortunate you are - as the few who chose wisely

With the clusterf#ck of tease marketing and dealer iso customer centric allocation going on in the NA, I can't blame you for being turned off. I would have turned down anything over MSRP and just got lucky on my dealer being BMW owned.

Nevertheless if your really want to go for the fortune that the 1M offers as a car, there are still fair 2nd hand deals to be had. Yet if ED MSRP is your reference, I understand your regrets.

Oh and on the whole 'spiel and dance' around limited editions: Only people with more money than sense truly appreciate those. And companies will abuse the power of suggestion and change their policies knowing they'll get away with it... we'll just have to live with that.

thx for posting! and of course you will get lucky again someday soon.

[Robin_NL]

Wow. I really understand the OP's point of view. I also do remember the Clio Williams back in 93(?)

Hate to say it but it feels even better now since I took delivery of my '11 AW 1M just five days ago! I already knew it 's a nice/sporty/excellent/fast etc. car and I knew about the limited production and stuff.

By driving/drifting it I knew it was something else:
(more than) a real //M, but not THAT special as the OP is stating. I'm going to cherish and enjoy it even more!(for years I guess)

Cheers
Robin

[Rikx1M]

Thanks for your story...That early period was a crazy time with lots of miss and disinformation. In Jan 2011 I also was in serious debate with myself as only 6 months earlier I bought a 2011 135i instead of an E92 M3 like I really wanted. Then Dec 2010 BMW announces the 1M...an ///M version of an already great car...so I debated and read and listened and debated and read more and more reviews, 95% saying what a great car the 1M was, months and months went by, reading and rereading the reviews, watching Top Gear too many times, finally decided to make the commitment to find one. So I placed deposits in Florida and a number of military sales offices here in Germany. Luckily I was called and given 10 minutes to make a decision...one I said yes to and ended up getting the car but with the unfortunate situation of two brand-new 2011 BMWs in my driveway which meant two car payments and insurance.

After 6 months of that I was able to sell my 135...so in the end it worked out.....but we all know that is lady luck and fate had a huge hand in that...it was meant to be.

Like others have posted, the secondary market is alive and well...So if you want a 1M...make the commitment in your head and go get it. GLW finding your car.

[Lay-Z M3]

Thanks all, for your comments! Keep enjoying your rides - I'll have to just live vicariously through local 1M meets and 1Addicts for the immediate future

[Dan Parker]

That story just increased the value of all 1M's! Thank you.

[Robin_NL]

I have a question about the 'rarity' of the 1M.
Didn't do the search thing though...

Total production was 6631 units as I recall.

Does anybody know how many VO, AW and BSM?
Just 33% each?

Thanks.

Cheers
Robin

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

I have a question about the 'rarity' of the 1M.
Didn't do the search thing though...

Total production was 6631 units as I recall.

Does anybody know how many VO, AW and BSM?
Just 33% each?

Thanks.

Cheers
Robin

Total is 6309. I am pretty sure, it's like VO most, AW close second and BSM distant third but I have no data to back it, check the registry thread, I guess a few members like Ismotind and Stephan735i can answer this with more accuracy.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by ozinaldo

Total is 6309. I am pretty sure, it's like VO most, AW close second and BSM distant third but I have no data to back it up, check the registry thread, I guess a few members like Ismotin can answer this with more accuracy.

Aha thanks. I'll take a look.

Saludos
Robin

[Redlyne_mr2]

Never let a finance rate dictate a decision that will offer you enjoyment. Some people live and die by a finance rate and I never understood why.

[Derek8819]

Especially when you can refinance a car loan so easily.

[Lay-Z M3]

Originally Posted by Redlyne_mr2

Never let a finance rate dictate a decision that will offer you enjoyment. Some people live and die by a finance rate and I never understood why.

Finance rate was 'only part' of the decision fellas - for 1, I had a job change to consider

[b33g33]

A year after my delivery at the Performance Center and almost a year and half after the actual order, I can honestly say that this was a roll of the dice situation for me.

After finding, ordering and committing to a non-refundable deposit, I definitely had several moments of doubt and reflection when I almost canceled the order and thought about contesting the deposit refunadability.

Also to be fair, I had a lot more evidence that the car was going to be a firecracker and not a squib. Back in January, this was barely a blip on the general media radar and I don't think there were any owner reviews out either.

It looks like you have a pretty decent stable regardless and if you're every in Atlanta, send me a PM and I will take you for a spin in Einser Rex.

[Lay-Z M3]

Originally Posted by b33g33

A year after my delivery at the Performance Center and almost a year and half after the actual order, I can honestly say that this was a roll of the dice situation for me.

After finding, ordering and committing to a non-refundable deposit, I definitely had several moments of doubt and reflection when I almost canceled the order and thought about contesting the deposit refunadability.

Also to be fair, I had a lot more evidence that the car was going to be a firecracker and not a squib. Back in January, this was barely a blip on the general media radar and I don't think there were any owner reviews out either.

It looks like you have a pretty decent stable regardless and if you're every in Atlanta, send me a PM and I will take you for a spin in Einser Rex.

Hehe - Ok will do, a southern 1M, does that mean she has a different accent?

Yes, I have been lucky to have some nice BMW's anyway, my 135i was running 394bhp and 427ft lb & my M3 was just wonderful, would have another in a heartbeat. Its just the 1M has a stance and look that really appeals to my eye and thats before its amazing on road and track ability!

[M3 Adjuster]

Thanks for such an honest post! Get in line now for the M2 and treat yourself to Euro delivery. The m135 is a hit, the M235 is coming to the US and should be the same. And the new M2 will be even better than both.

[Lay-Z M3]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Thanks for such an honest post! Get in line now for the M2 and treat yourself to Euro delivery. The m135 is a hit, the M235 is coming to the US and should be the same. And the new M2 will be even better than both.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Thanks for such an honest post! Get in line now for the M2 and treat yourself to Euro delivery. The m135 is a hit, the M235 is coming to the US and should be the same. And the new M2 will be even better than both.

M2 will be great but will it be as yummy as the 1m. This car is absolutely stunning. Want one!