How would you improve the 1M?

[Moo]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

There are plenty of things to love with the 1M

What aspects would you change about it?

I will start:

1. exhaust drone at 2100-2400 RPM

2. excessive brake dust (problematic for most BMWs)

3. interior is cheap/drab for a $50K car - just look at the roof panel light, even Hyundai's & Toyota's have better quality

4. alcantara looks out of place, and collects lint/dust bunnies easily

5. first 30 seconds of "engine start" sounds epic - after that, not so much

6. factory headlights could be less yellow

7. Gas MPG rating only slightly better than (or same as) the new M5 with +800lbs and +200HP?

8. frameless window - personal pet peeve

9. rear seat plastic center console - should just be contiguous seating area instead

10. lurking HPFP stigma

How would you improve the 1M?

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by Moo

What bothers you about your 1M?

Nothing...What bothers me is people who look for things to complain about.

My glass if 1/2 full.

[b33g33]

That it's not here yet.

[Wild Bill]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

Nothing...What bothers me is people who look for things to complain about.

My glass is 1/2 full.

+1

[buckeyegirl]

Originally Posted by b33g33

That it's not here yet.

+1

[Moo]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

Nothing...What bothers me is people who look for things to complain about.

My glass if 1/2 full.

Originally Posted by Wild Bill

+1

I'm trying to illustrate the points I will bring up to BMW when they do the post-purchase survey call, and hopefully they will fix some of these issues in the future (or future cars). If you have nothing to contribute, GTFO

[robertm]

Only thing I find lacking is a front of dash located 12v power supply. I think this is a glaring oversight for a sports car and am dissapointed that whoever contented the US model could be so unbelievably out of touch with the owner's needs.

[bklounge]

I don't understand the gripes I've read about the interior. I love the sparse interior - it's minimalist and focused, which is exactly how it should be. This is a back-to-basics car. Yes, you bought a 50k (60k in canada) car, but the 1m is not focused on luxury - it's performance. And it does the performance thing very well.

With that said, you get leather seats, alcantara accents, and overall, a very sharp, simple, interior. If you expected an abundance of 'luxury' amenities, you bought the wrong car. You'll notice this immediately with the firm suspension on bumpy roads.

I can't think of a single issue with the 1m. I love it. Maybe the ridiculous torque at low rpm resulting in lost traction. ??? But can you even complain about that??? It just makes me grin. I'm coming from a 98 civic sedan followed by a 92 mr2 turbo, so it's possible that my taste isn't as sophisticated as the status quo bmw owner.

Whatever. I love my 1m.

[MusclezMarinara]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

Nothing...What bothers me is people who look for things to complain about.

My glass if 1/2 full.

[mikewills]

The post purchase survey is based off your personal experience, not the experience of others. Who cares what others think.

[FLEX///M]

I think that most of the things you don't like are pretty personal to you. I'll go through your list.


1. exhaust drone at 2100-2400 RPM- Doesn't really bother me.

2. excessive brake dust (problematic for most BMWs)as you said, it's not exclusive to the 1M, so I've already coped with it from my other BMWs.

3. interior is cheap/drab for a $50K car - just look at the roof panel light, even Hyundai's & Toyota's have better quality I think the 1M's interior is one of the best I've seen so far come out of BMW. NOT TO MENTION OUR CLUSTER IS THE BEST BMW CLUSTER I'VE SEEN TO DATE

4. alcantara looks out of place, and collects lint/dust bunnies easily Again, the interior is beautiful to me. I think it is what people compliment the most. M3 guys absolutely love that we get color matched stitching AND alcantara.

5. first 30 seconds of "engine start" sounds epic - after that, not so much

6. factory headlights could be less yellow- Do you mean the angel eyes?

7. Gas MPG rating only slightly better than (or same as) the new M5 with +800lbs and +200HP? This always depends on how you drive it. It's hard to drive the 1M like your not in a race.

8. frameless window - personal pet peeve Idk about this one. I like the look but from past experience, it COULD become a problem in like 5 years.

9. rear seat plastic center console - should just be contiguous seating area instead Impossible. This was meant as a hard core enthusiast/track guy car. Making it a five seater would totally go against that.


-The only things I can think of that would have made the car 150% would have been:

-Carbon Fiber Roof
-Alcantara headlining in the interior and pillars
-That the amber in the headlights would have been part of the bumper like the 3 series guys and not inside the headlights.
-The leather in the seats could've been like the leather found in the other M cars.

That's about it. Nothing I hate, just some things I think would have been cool.

That's about it.

[Simsims]

Originally Posted by b33g33

That it's not here yet.

+1 the wait is too long

[hlmiii]

Originally Posted by Moo

I'm trying to illustrate the points I will bring up to BMW when they do the post-purchase survey call, and hopefully they will fix some of these issues in the future (or future cars). If you have nothing to contribute, GTFO

The word "hate" - especially in caps - sets a degree of doubt about whether the post is just an "illustration," has to do simply with a survey, and is really based upon "hope."

Something worded less harshly would be seen better as a "contribution."

[nachob]

Here is my list of 1M Hate:

The buying process was terrible for me, but once I made the deal with my dealer, they took good care of me. All the other dealers I dealt with, was a mess. I have a bitter taste in my mouth after this.

Part of the amazing brake feel, linear response and parts not glazing has to do with the brake pad compound. This is a performance car designed to be able to tour at high speeds and stop when it needs to. I think it's unfair to complain about brake dust when the overall performance is so good. Yes, there are better pads for track but they are usually not as good cold and vice versa, but overall, I find the brakes on my two BMWs to be outstanding. My GTI has no brake dust at all but the feel is lousy. The car stops but not linear. I care more about performance and would happily put up with some brake dust to get better braking feel.

So my only "hate" is buying process and dealer response to the 1M.

Some things I don't hate but would change are:

1. Ability to make M Dynamic mode the default setting.

2. The windows hit hard when closing. My previous car didn't do that. Almost like the window hits metal when closing.

3. Don't care for swiveling headlights. Prefer fixed bulbs.

4. Don't care for chrome on the car...grill, side markers.

5. Door handle too far forward. Door wants to swing out and not a lot of leverage to control with handle so far forward.

6. Wish I could've gotten Interlagos Blue

7. Still prefer a dipstick and spare tire option.

These are things I might change but not a hate.

I love everything else about the car.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

Nothing...What bothers me is people who look for things to complain about.

My glass if 1/2 full.

Agreed... not much to complain about here...



1- not a fan of the J hook tie downs under jack pad thing...but I can use them.. separate jack pad locations would be nice.

2- wish it had come with a square setup on wheels and tires.

3- inability to make MDM an automatic setting...

that's about it.... very happy with mine!


Nacho... I LOVE the swiveling headlights... of course if you don't want yours to move... just switch the headlight lever to the right, don't use the Auto setting at left.

[135iiiiii]

The MSRP mark up at the dealer and availability

[PyratOne]

I gotta agree "HATE" is a tough one. Ive only got 1400miles logged, but there is nothing I hate about the car.

I'll tell you what I did hate - the endless tease campaign!! Some will argue "it was a marketing strategy to increase desire, blah, blah, blah..." I found it annoying - this car was going to sell out regardless.


Oh, I HATE that there wont be a CSL. Can you imagine a 1M CSL??

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by nachob

So my only "hate" is buying process and dealer response to the 1M.

Some things I don't hate but would change are:

1. Ability to make M Dynamic mode the default setting.

2. The windows hit hard when closing. My previous car didn't do that. Almost like the window hits metal when closing.

3. Don't care for swiveling headlights. Prefer fixed bulbs.

4. Don't care for chrome on the car...grill, side markers.

5. Door handle too far forward. Door wants to swing out and not a lot of leverage to control with handle so far forward.

6. Wish I could've gotten Interlagos Blue

7. Still prefer a dipstick and spare tire option.

These are things I might change but not a hate.

I love everything else about the car.

#1 is against the law in the U.S.

[SpencerMH]

Coming from a 3 series, the plastics used in the interior are quite cheap. I have the rattle in the back seat, the front ride height is too high and that's about it. The Alcantra is awesome IMO, it would be have been a good addition to use it for the headliner.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

#1 is against the law in the U.S.

WHY?

M Dynamic is traction control just not as intrusive as default. I know NO traction control would be against the law, but M Dynamic should be fine.

I also agree with HATE being a tough one, the only hate, sorta, that I feel is for the way so many dealers treated me and my fellow 1M guys..not returning phone calls, arrogance, no ED, crazy markups, telling you that you HAVE to take it fully loaded...etc. Even then, it's NOT really hate, but for the sake of the discussion I used it losely. For example, sometimes you say somethign sucks or blows...etc. I doesn't literally suck or blow...just putting some context to it.

[MAXOM3]

Originally Posted by FLEX///M

I think that most of the things you don't like are pretty personal to you. I'll go through your list.


1. exhaust drone at 2100-2400 RPM- Doesn't really bother me.

2. excessive brake dust (problematic for most BMWs)as you said, it's not exclusive to the 1M, so I've already coped with it from my other BMWs.

3. interior is cheap/drab for a $50K car - just look at the roof panel light, even Hyundai's & Toyota's have better quality I think the 1M's interior is one of the best I've seen so far come out of BMW. NOT TO MENTION OUR CLUSTER IS THE BEST BMW CLUSTER I'VE SEEN TO DATE

4. alcantara looks out of place, and collects lint/dust bunnies easily Again, the interior is beautiful to me. I think it is what people compliment the most. M3 guys absolutely love that we get color matched stitching AND alcantara.

5. first 30 seconds of "engine start" sounds epic - after that, not so much

6. factory headlights could be less yellow- Do you mean the angel eyes?

7. Gas MPG rating only slightly better than (or same as) the new M5 with +800lbs and +200HP? This always depends on how you drive it. It's hard to drive the 1M like your not in a race.

8. frameless window - personal pet peeve Idk about this one. I like the look but from past experience, it COULD become a problem in like 5 years.

9. rear seat plastic center console - should just be contiguous seating area instead Impossible. This was meant as a hard core enthusiast/track guy car. Making it a five seater would totally go against that.


-The only things I can think of that would have made the car 150% would have been:

-Carbon Fiber Roof
-Alcantara headlining in the interior and pillars
-That the amber in the headlights would have been part of the bumper like the 3 series guys and not inside the headlights.
-The leather in the seats could've been like the leather found in the other M cars.

That's about it. Nothing I hate, just some things I think would have been cool.

That's about it.

+1

[mayhewjr]

Originally Posted by Moo

There are plenty of things to love with the 1M

What aspects do you hate about it? Like others here, my minor quibbles fall far from "hate". First, your complaints:

I will start:

1. exhaust drone at 2100-2400 RPM
I know I shouldn't, but I love this. Sort of like the moans of an ecstatic lover.

2. excessive brake dust (problematic for most BMWs)
Exactly...ALL BMWs I think.

3. interior is cheap/drab for a $50K car - just look at the roof panel light, even Hyundai's & Toyota's have better quality
Not the ones I've seen. But to be honest, I don't see inside these kinds of cars very often.

4. alcantara looks out of place, and collects lint/dust bunnies easily
Haven't noticed yet. Hoping for Playboy bunnies.

5. first 30 seconds of "engine start" sounds epic - after that, not so much
Granted. Turbo engines tend to be that way. BMW has done a good job with what they have.

6. factory headlights could be less yellow

7. Gas MPG rating only slightly better than (or same as) the new M5 with +800lbs and +200HP?Only slightly worse than my 135i, so I'm OK with that.

8. frameless window - personal pet peeve

9. rear seat plastic center console - should just be contiguous seating area instead
I don't expect to use the back seat. Everyone else should be happy I let them in at all.

10. lurking HPFP stigma

What bothers you about your 1M?

Now, I do have a couple of complaints:

1. I wish they had the electrical outlet in what used to be an ashtray. Hasn't BWM heard of radar detectors?

Need to fill up in less than 250 miles.

Agree with others that one should be able to set M mode etc. as default.