MT Tested: BMW 1M vs BMW M3

[BForbes]

"Is there a new Bavarian Ruler?"

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/index.html


Enjoy.

[MrRoboto]

0-60 4.2sec

[Redadair]

It seems like there are still two very different car enthusiast camps. One that love the Torque and easy tuning of Turbo engines and the ones who are pissed off that BMW will be dropping the NA engines in favor of these Turbo engines.

It's pretty easy to tell what camp these testers fall into.

[evolution80]

Originally Posted by Redadair

It seems like there are still two very different car enthusiast camps. One that love the Torque and easy tuning of Turbo engines and the ones who are pissed off that BMW will be dropping the NA engines in favor of these Turbo engines.

It's pretty easy to tell what camp these testers fall into.

i suppose the majority of americans favor big NA engines? the last generation m3, c63 and rs4 were build with the US market in mind (at least thats what the motor-press here always said) okay bmw and merc always had NA enginges but they got even bigger with time - while the rs2 and the first rs4 had turbo engines... many people here did not like the change to big v8s

admittedly i also had a s6 avant 4.2v8 and a touareg 5.0v10 but i like small turbo engines better - i dont know, i prefer the lighter weight and like the characteristics and real world usability i.e. high torque @ low rpm...

[LeifW]

I thought it was a pretty good review. Thanks for sharing.

Leif W.

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

0-60 4.2sec

+!

The review reinforces my decision to buy a new 1M vs a used Cayman S (was never in the market for an M3). I wanted a car roughly the same size as my B5 A4, had similar fuel consumption figures (not a tree-hugger but I can't personally justify a car that gets less than 20 mpg in this world).

This will be a superb every-other-day driver for me and give me the opportunity to have an occasional track car that is 99% of an M3 when I want for $20k less.

Seems like a pretty good deal.

0-60 4.2 seconds. Holy crap! That's quite a bit faster than advertised by BMW.

[Aussie_in_London]

not a bad 1/4mile time achieved

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by evolution80

i suppose the majority of americans favor big NA engines? the last generation m3, c63 and rs4 were build with the US market in mind (at least thats what the motor-press here always said) okay bmw and merc always had NA enginges but they got even bigger with time - while the rs2 and the first rs4 had turbo engines... many people here did not like the change to big v8s

admittedly i also had a s6 avant 4.2v8 and a touareg 5.0v10 but i like small turbo engines better - i dont know, i prefer the lighter weight and like the characteristics and real world usability i.e. high torque @ low rpm...

You keep saying "BIG NA V8" engines. The E9x M3's 4.0l engine is actually considered to be a small V8. It's lighter than the previous S54 I6 engine from the E46M3. The S65 is one of, it not the greatest NA engine of all time! A total overachiever when compared to much bigger more powerful MB and Audi engine. You are entitled to your preference but you got to get your facts straight first.

I think it was a pretty good review, a bit biased, but at the same same they seemed conflicted, a bit torn between the two cars. It was almost as if they were trying NOT to like the 1M more! lol

[DiavelM3]

I think it was a good review but I think the big problem we find here (in this forum and others) is that the M3 is now 3 yrs old (going on 4).. Too many 1M vs M3 pissing matches- my car is better than yours being thrown around...
I would hope that BMW would make advancements in performance and technology within that 3 year time frame (which they did with the 1M for the most part).

The fact that they are going back to their old roots and creating something that is on-par with the current M3 is a fantastic approach! Why not make a car that has the capabilities of one of their most world renowned ///M cars? The fact that the 1M uses some of the components of its big brother is another compliment to the performance, technology and abilities of the M3.
Seems like there is a group who appreciates the 1M and the direction of things to come from ///M and those who want to dismiss it. I, for one, appreciate it and look forward for things to come from ///M. Especially the next Gen M3

[Denso]

Originally Posted by ferrari4evr1

I think it was a good review but I think the big problem we find here (in this forum and others) is that the M3 is now 3 yrs old (going on 4).. Too many 1M vs M3 pissing matches- my car is better than yours being thrown around...
I would hope that BMW would make advancements in performance and technology within that 3 year time frame (which they did with the 1M for the most part).

The fact that they are going back to their old roots and creating something that is on-par with the current M3 is a fantastic approach! Why not make a car that has the capabilities of one of their most world renowned ///M cars? The fact that the 1M uses some of the components of its big brother is another compliment to the performance, technology and abilities of the M3.
Seems like there is a group who appreciates the 1M and the direction of things to come from ///M and those who want to dismiss it. I, for one, appreciate it and look forward for things to come from ///M. Especially the next Gen M3

Well said +1

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by b33g33

+!

The review reinforces my decision to buy a new 1M vs a used Cayman S (was never in the market for an M3). I wanted a car roughly the same size as my B5 A4, had similar fuel consumption figures (not a tree-hugger but I can't personally justify a car that gets less than 20 mpg in this world).

This will be a superb every-other-day driver for me and give me the opportunity to have an occasional track car that is 99% of an M3 when I want for $20k less.

Seems like a pretty good deal.

0-60 4.2 seconds. Holy crap! That's quite a bit faster than advertised by BMW.

They did say they the 4.2sec time is achievable when the computer allows. Traction issues I suspect. Most likely a wider set of sneakers will fix the problem and 4.2 will be the norm.

[TunedM2C]

QUARTER MILE

1M 12.8 sec @ 109.6 mph
M3 12.6 sec @ 113.4 mph

[MrRoboto]

I really wish they would test the M3 with a manual gearbox against the 1M.

[Dackelone]

Guys, you know I love my 135i. But that day I rented a M3 at the Welt (for just an hour!) - had me hooked right then and there!

After watching this video - I gotta say... I totally agree with these guys! As much as I love my 135i, the M3 is just plain special. I am sure the 1M is a very good car. But I kind of feel that the M3 has that extra bit of something special that you just can not quanitify. You really have to drive and experience that S65 engine. Then you will be hooked, like I am. I just wish I had an extra $30K for a M3 trade up.

[Red135]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

I really wish they would test the M3 with a manual gearbox against the 1M.

Nah. That would make for a more appropriate test. They just use some rationale about the DCT being the "one most people buy".

[radiantm3]

0-60 times are with rollout so they don't really mean much.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

0-60 times are with rollout so they don't really mean much.

Why dont they mean much? Roll-out or not its a way of measuring acceleration. I'm more curious to see the in-gear times. I suspect the 1M will be a little faster. I'll wait for CarandD to post those times.

[de85275]

Originally Posted by Tuned1

QUARTER MILE

1M 12.8 sec @ 109.6 mph
M3 12.6 sec @ 113.4 mph

I had a '78 Trans Am with a 455cid engine and it only ran the quarter in 13 seconds. of course it weighed over 2 tons.

[Franken///M]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

I really wish they would test the M3 with a manual gearbox against the 1M.

+1000000

[as7920]

Excellent

[BMW86]

This review was a bit lame. Wish they did some lap times or some runs. They merely stated the obvious, both cars are great but the M3 has the name.

[BBK]

Cool video, but the guys contradicted themselves by saying they use the same suspension parts, but at the end say the M3 is better because it has 'excellent' suspension, 'excellent' brakes etc.

When really, the only difference is the engine. The 1M should handle better due to being lighter and shorter!