BMW M1 spotted during cold weather testing (and official teaser images)

[PrimoM3]

Frozen Gray Metallic would be my third choice.

[Mike@F1 Autohaüs]

Can't wait until the full unveiling. It's going to be nice

[ChrisK]

Estoril Blue FTW

[Driver72]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Frozen Gray Metallic would be my third choice.

That's bitchin.
Almost looks like a matte color, but not.
Has a bit of a stealthy look to it.

[TunedM2C]

^ BMW individual special order I assume? I'd seriously consider this color!

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by Tuned1

^ BMW individual special order I assume? I'd seriously consider this color!

That one is, but BMW is said to be perfecting Matte White, black, and silver for upcoming models. Not sure if they will only be offered on ///M's, but that would be nice.

[BBK]

If this car is supposed to 'embarrass' cars twice or three times the price, doesn't that mean it should...

a) beat an Audi TTRS
b) beat a Cayman S
and...
c) beat an M3


These cars are premium, luxury, german sports cars that cost more than a 135i. If what Scott says is true, then it should be able to beat them all.

But the rest of what Scott says, means it won't beat an M3 which means it might not beat the other two cars. In other words, what cars could the M1 'embarass'?!?! Doesn't the TTRS do 0-100 in 4.6s? That's as fast as an M3...

Frankly, if the M1 can't beat a TTRS then BMW has failed...

[Jaguar66]

!

[BMW269]

The M1 E82 will be very close to the M3 but never be faster in stock form because:
1. L6 TT is equal to V8 NA, so M1 E82 will have only 345 HP
2. Next M3 F30 will also have L6 TT but with up to 450 HP, and it has to be faster than M1 E82 with L6 TT
3. Why does not BMW make the M1 the new M flagship? Because the next 1 Series and so M1 F20, will no more have L6, as the next 3 Series and so M3 F30 will no more have V8. The next M1 F20 will have L4 TT about 350 HP, and the next M3 F30 will L6 TT about 450 HP. Which one shall be faster?

Then, that a 135i should get close to an M1, you will have very much to mod. A heavily modded 135i will never beat a slightly modded M1. Just look at my thread in 5post about 550i vs. M5 (X6 xDrive50i vs. X6 M):http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343039

When BMW M tunes a BMW it is not done half. So you should then know why the new Z4 is not Z4 M but Z4 sDrive35is.
As for the Z4 M, I still think there will be one with the M3's 4.0l V8 S65 in it, so as it was with the previous generations: Z3 got M3 E36 L6, Z4 (E85/86) got M3 E46 L6, and Z4 (E89) should get M3 E92 V8.

[sparoz]

Need Dakker Yellow on the M1

[Numb3rs]

Originally Posted by RobMason

Many don't quite remember the reaction the original E30 M3 had. Most reviewers liked it but were not knocked out by it. Thsy praised its handling/steering, and braking but were not overly enthused with its acceleration or its "boy racer" looks. Only afterward did the car enjoy almost cult status, and since it was of a limited production, it has become somewhat collectable. I remember buying mine for $30K (MSRP was $34K), and sold it 7 years later for $10K after about 120,000 miles. It was not a king of the hill car by any means.

I am hoping BMW can capture the qualities that the original had, awesome braking, steering/ road feel. Upgraded body looks, (I loved the front/ rear end with the wing, as well as the changed roofline over the standard E30). I loved the radio antenna over the middle of the top front of the roof). And I loved the BBS style wheels (so difficult to clean) plus a fifth wheel. (won't be seeing that.) I for one was not overly enthused with the little buzz bomb 4 banger. The gear shift lever would buzz so much that my hand was numb. But, I only hope BMW can replicate this same look and feel, with all the elements of the car excelling to produce a small, superbly handling/performing 2 door coup. Not a screamer at the strip, not a slot car, but an all around package. Just a superb small bodied, relatively economical, hi performance, excellant handling, comfortable, reliable 2 door sport coup, and to have the sum of its qualities beat the competition the same way the original M3 did its competition.

It doesn't have to beat the M3 in acceleration, but be just fast enough. Remember back in its day the M3 wasn't allowed to better the 6 series coupe, the high performance king in BMWs lineup of its day. The M3 is today, what the 6 series was then.

I have confidence BMW will pull this off. The new 1M1 will be to the 135i as the E30 M3 was to the E30 325i.

3 things that sadly the new 1M1 will never accomplish. 1. Normal aspirated power. 2. Light weight 3. Spare tire on board

+5

I've been waiting for a car like this for 10 years.. the DNA of this car is very exciting to me. The name M1 is very fitting..

Here, the following pic is exactly how I see this //M1.

BMW M1's progeny:

[Mark M]

As eager as I try to be for a real awesome cult car created in the spirit of the E30 M3 part of me is remaining grounded.

I tune in here with excitement and I carefully take in Scott's words digesting them for clues as to the real deal, but again, recent M car developments have me remaining grounded, as if in half a sense so as to not be surprised if the final product falls short in some manner.

While I sincerely do appreciate Scott taking the time to write in here and others for their valuable feedback, at the end of the day, BMW is a company, and like all other companies, they are here to make money. To do that they have to balance target markets, estimated sales volumes, estimated desired features, R/D costs, Production costs, Government regulations, etc. Alas making me come to my senses to not expect a full on E30 M3 reincarnated.

Secondly, I am somewhat puzzled by this endeavor / timing on the part of BMW. It sounds like this project will be the last ditch breath of air for the E82 before she is shoved into the casket in favor of the new generation. In light of that, I am not sure it is wise to expect significantly new and wild R/D developments for this M1. As a board member or exec would you authorize millions of Euros in development capital for an aging platform and for one which will not see Motorsport action? Flashback, the E30 M3 development began early on in the E30 platform's life (1984 - 1992). Recall the concept E30 M3 first appeared at European auto shows ~1985 and the real car was released in late 1986 in Europe.

Keeping real, I hate to say it, but I speculate the M1 will just be a juiced up 135i with a fist full of marketing dollars thrown at it to generate a last ditch sales boom before the doors close on the E82platform lifespan.

Scott has possibly eluded to this already by saying it will be an 'affordable M car' and by saying it will be based off the N55 engine. My guess is they will be using mostly off the shelf M3 parts for suspension / final drive / brakes. It will get new wheels and some body panel changes, but I would not expect a river of Carbon Fiber or anything like that.

Like all of you, I am eager and excited for a real pure track star BMW again, but if the M1 was to be that car, it would have to have significant development money behind it and be part of a factory race program. Keep your expectations grounded boys!

Edit-----and yes....I have an E30 M3 in my garage with which to benchmark from!

[larryn]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Keeping real, I hate to say it, but I speculate the M1 will just be a juiced up 135i with a fist full of marketing dollars thrown at it to generate a last ditch sales boom before the doors close on the E82platform lifespan.

Scott has possibly eluded to this already by saying it will be an 'affordable M car' and by saying it will be based off the N55 engine. My guess is they will be using mostly off the shelf M3 parts for suspension / final drive / brakes. It will get new wheels and some body panel changes, but I would not expect a river of Carbon Fiber or anything like that.

I've had similar past sentiment, and it seems you and I are in agreement.

Since the e9X m3 parts are already being employed by many of us, and we can pretty much guarantee that the M1 will also use them. The differences really boil down to:

• an M variable diff
• dampers/springs
• N55 tweaks
• Wider tires/wheels
• likely CF roof to counter the additional weight of the heavier diff and suspension
• M body tweaks, like gills, power bulge hood, and fatter fenders
• M3 sourced seating and other slightly nicer interior pieces (but don't expect leather dashboards)

I think it's going to be fairly easy to equal or exceed the driving qualities of the new M1 with our current 135i, BUT we wont be wearing the badge.

If I were just starting out shopping for a 1 series right now, I'd wait for the M1, instead of pouring money into the 135i. Since I feel I'm likely approaching or exceeding what the factory delivered M1 will do, I'm holding off until the F20 unveils.

Just as you said, Mark, they're not going to sink too much dev time and money into a 1 year car. They'll make it "good enough".

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by larryn

If I were just starting out shopping for a 1 series right now, I'd wait for the M1, instead of pouring money into the 135i. Since I feel I'm likely approaching or exceeding what the factory delivered M1 will do, I'm holding off until the F20 unveils.

Just as you said, Mark, they're not going to sink too much dev time and money into a 1 year car. They'll make it "good enough".

I have thought about waiting too--but a couple of things will keep me from waiting:

--since we haven't truly seen the car yet, we do not know how good it will be. So I am reserving judgment.
--the F20 M1 won't be here for what, 4 more years? That seems like a long time to wait. And since I have an E82, and like how it looks, I wouldn't care too much to have the E82 M1 when the F20 1er or M1 comes out.

But I understand what you and Mark are saying.....

[BMW269]

No modded 135i will be better than the M1, so what to say about a modded M1?????? It will beat the M3 for sure. After that I like the NA M3's V8.

[Jaguar66]

!

[RäDIOCLäSH]

In comparing what is already out on the market,there hasn't been a lot of mention of the capabilities of a full blown Dinan 135(like the one in Roundel's article).It seems that with the exception of the badging and cosmetics the m1 will bring,we already have an"M like" performer in a full Dinan car.I would think that the M division needs to soundly surpass the stats of the Dinan cars.Can the Dinan folk chime in?

in the end,I would be content with a well supended,uber light car that has enormous flares and sits as wide as a manta ray

[Mark M]

Levi,

I think the point behind out speculation is to say that in all likelyhood the M1 will not be a rare purebread motorsport pedigree. It is too late in the platform lifecycle, limited capital infusion, lack of real motorsport track program involvement.

Reality points to the following: Lagging E92 M3 sales with existing R/D and parts costs already on the books. E82 platform on the down-swing, BMW desiring to give it one last boost of momentum before the door shuts. Ok, M boys, grab some parts off the shelf from the E92 and see what you can muster up within reason and budget.

My prediction:
N55 with twin turbos, bigger radiators / coolers
6 speed or DCT
Revised e92 M steering rack
Revised e92 M final drive
Revised e92 M suspension components
Revised e92 M brakes
Wider wheels / Tires
No Carbon Fiber....not in the budget.
M body panels and interior cues.
M 4 point exhaust pipes.

Sure it will be a fun, fast, exciting car. It will likely be my first choice in the BMW stable of offerings, however, keeping real, I don't think it will be the pure motorsport track star we are hyping ourselves up for. Economic, production, timing, and regulatory limitations are just too great to achieve such a beast.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Mark M

My prediction:
N55 with twin turbos, bigger radiators / coolers
6 speed or DCT
Revised e92 M steering rack
Revised e92 M final drive
Revised e92 M suspension components
Revised e92 M brakes
Wider wheels / Tires
No Carbon Fiber....not in the budget.
M body panels and interior cues.
M 4 point exhaust pipes.

This is pretty much the same list I have been speculating, with a few exceptions. I still think they would try to fit a carbon fiber roof to tie it in with the M3 and M6. I imagine we'd see slightly different seats as well, and possibly keeping the Brembos or similar brakes.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Levi

When BMW M tunes a BMW it is not done half. So you should then know why the new Z4 is not Z4 M but Z4 sDrive35is.
As for the Z4 M, I still think there will be one with the M3's 4.0l V8 S65 in it, so as it was with the previous generations: Z3 got M3 E36 L6, Z4 (E85/86) got M3 E46 L6, and Z4 (E89) should get M3 E92 V8.

The last couple years of the Z3 M also had a version of the E46 engine (S54). I think it would be fantastic to see a new Z4 M with a fixed roof and the M3's V8, but I just don't see it happening.

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by Mark M

My prediction:
N55 with twin turbos, bigger radiators / coolers
6 speed or DCT
Revised e92 M steering rack
Revised e92 M final drive
Revised e92 M suspension components
Revised e92 M brakes
Wider wheels / Tires
No Carbon Fiber....not in the budget.
M body panels and interior cues.
M 4 point exhaust pipes.

Not likely anymore expensive from/for the factory vs. the metal with sunroof and glass. Might even be cheaper and less laborious TBH. Plus, carbon fiber has become much less expensive in recent years, even with the shortages in 2008.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Not likely anymore expensive from/for the factory vs. the metal with sunroof and glass. Might even be cheaper and less laborious TBH. Plus, carbon fiber has become much less expensive in recent years, even with the shortages in 2008.

Carbon fiber costs a lot of money because of the time involved. It's hard to produce the stuff fast enough to keep up with the production line because of the long cure times. They end up having to make a lot of molds, so the tooling cost drives the price way more than the materials. If the automakers could figure out a way to economically mass produce the stuff, you'd see it used across the board in a matter of a couple of model cycles, but so far they haven't figured it out.

If they sell 5000 M1s annually (and I'm just pulling that number out of my ass as an example) they'd have to build 20/day. That's a lot of expensive tooling for not a lot of volume.