Let's play the game of "Which would you rather have?"

[MmmmmM2]

I've been really wanting to get a BMW 1M Coupe for a long time, but the prices are just out of my range. I would LOVE to drive one. I know the M2 Comp is probably a better car, but I just love the look of the 1M!

That being said, the E30 M3 is also very sought after. I've owned an E30 M3 and it was an absolute blast to drive. No it was not very fast, but man did it handle well.

So which one would YOU rather have??? I'd want a 1M at this point.

[Tambohamilton]

Older car for the rawness. For some reason not a huge fan of the 1 series coupe. Wouldn't mind having either...

[infinitekidM2C]

That's a tough one! I'll say the E30 because it's old school gangsta. I had a very tuned 135 so i know they are fun cars but i've been there.

[swunder]

Those are 1a and 1b for me in the history of BMW's. Nearly impossible choice...

[MmmmmM2]

I think I want the 1M because I already owned an E30. Can't find a 1M for less than $50K these days though. Nice ones are fetching upwards of $80-$100K.

[Biginboca]

I think the 1M has more of what I would want in a car (power, quick ratio steering rack) but the e30 is a true homologation race car. Very tough choice but I think I would do the 1m because I would just enjoy it more from behind the wheel and isn’t that the whole point?

[DanG]

My M2 is more fun for me than a 1M. So I voted for an E30 M3. Wish I could afford one of those BMWs. Closest thing to a race car that BMW ever released to the public.

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by DanG

My M2 is more fun for me than a 1M. So I voted for an E30 M3. Wish I could afford one of those BMWs. Closest thing to a race car that BMW ever released to the public.

So you have owned a 1M?

[frenzy757]

You can watch Chris Harris' 1m v m2 video. Sums up my thoughts. M2 is great, IMO 1M is more special and fun to drive from my perspective.

[nachob]

That's tough choice.. The E30 is the real deal in terms of history and pedigree but what makes the 1M special is that it's a very engaging car at any speed. The E30 thrives on windy open roads and sounds so good but the 1M is engaging on straight roads, curvy roads, stop lights, going through the drive thru lane. I would say it depends on where you live and how you will use it. If you live in Utah where they have those amazing sparsely populated windy roads, the E30 would be but if you live in a more populated area where you can't really wind out the NA motor, then the 1M would be it.

Great first world dilemma to have! : )

[BMWCCA1]

I did not see "both" as a choice so I did not vote.

M3 because I drove the first one home the day it arrived at our dealership and I have such fond memories. It's not a turbo, but its a 4-cylinder. It has incredible feedback but it's buzzy and vibrates anything not glued down in the cabin. It's underpowered but a real driver's car without any electronic nannies other than ABS.

I had the first M1 ordered designated for me but instead sold it to a customer. I've driven plenty and loved the car. Still do. My wife drives a 128i. The guy I gave up mine for had a tree fall on it and total it . . . with him in it! Once out of the hospital he told me to order him the first M2 when they came out. Two-years later I tried to reach him only find in an obituary he had died in a car accident! That's just awful Carma (sp). Downside for me is always the turbo. I'm just a NA guy.

They are not the same cars at all, and both are so expensive now that it makes a tough decision to pay that much for what, by price, is really a collector car and no longer a driver. What do you want to do with it?

[discoboy1]

had both, sold the M3... and regret it.

[blackmist222777]

I really like the E30 but the 1M is such a better driving experience IMHO.

[nachob]

Alright, I just got back from a Sunday drive all over San Diego...... Definitely the 1M now...I'm sure of it now. Had to get behind the wheel to be sure.

Yes, the E30 would own the flat-out twisties with great NA sound and balance but the 1M is a blast anywhere else and not bad at the twisties too.

[champignon]

Never drove an E30 M3; almost bought a couple of E36 M3s, but choked just before agreeing to buy them.

The 1M is kind of the culmination of the best of an analogue M BMW with a few modern features, such as Bluetooth cellphone integration. Being a 1-Series, it's also the size of an older E30/E36 3-Series car.

My first car was a 1973 2002 (not Tii), bought new. It lives on in my memory. Several years ago I had a chance to go out and test drive an old 320i, from the 1980s. I forget the exact year, but the car was about 40 years old, and a single owner car at that, begin sold by the original owner.

I spent an hour with this fellow; he was older and had recently moved to Boise, Idaho, from rural Oregon, for family reasons. I forget what he was now driving. The test drive was very interesting and gave me a little bit of insight into what my long-gone 2002 would feel like, were it still in existence and were I to have the opportunity to drive it. I enjoyed driving this old 320i, and it was great fun. Once I got done with the 5 miles I put on it, I felt like I had had enough. While fun to drive, the car was grossly underpowered, and not something I would want to drive regularly. I felt like I'd been in a museum. Although in remarkable shape, I could sense that lots of the parts in the car were nearing "end of life" status. A lot of those parts would be a real chore to source if they were going to be replaced.

I think you would have a lot of the same experiences with any vehicle of that age, and the E30 M3 is no spring chicken, either.

[jhall1957]

I've owned both. as matter of fact I've owned 2 E30 M3's, 2 E36 M3's, 2 E46 M3's, just unloaded a F82 M4 and still have my 1M and OG M2.

Easy, I'd rather have the 1M over the E30 M3. The only thing the E30 has over the 1M is its heritage, another words, it's old. The E30 is currently over priced by any other metric. If you are a car show kind of guy, but one. But if you would rather drive it hard and milk performance out of it, 1M far excceds all ascepts performance wise.

I know this will draw tons of hate but its true.

I sold my E30 M3 track car because the S14 I just knew would blow and I wasn't ready to spend $15k to get it rebuilt!

[Jay-K]

I am on my third 1m now.. to enjoy daily driving, canyon runs, track days its for sure still the 1m because it is not that old yet.

But honestly I really dont care. i'll take either one.

[lippstuh]

Originally Posted by jhall1957

I've owned both. as matter of fact I've owned 2 E30 M3's, 2 E36 M3's, 2 E46 M3's, just unloaded a F82 M4 and still have my 1M and OG M2.

Easy, I'd rather have the 1M over the E30 M3. The only thing the E30 has over the 1M is its heritage, another words, it's old. The E30 is currently over priced by any other metric. If you are a car show kind of guy, but one. But if you would rather drive it hard and milk performance out of it, 1M far excceds all ascepts performance wise.

I know this will draw tons of hate but its true.

I sold my E30 M3 track car because the S14 I just knew would blow and I wasn't ready to spend $15k to get it rebuilt!

Can you compare the e46 to the 1M?

[..Rush..]

1M for sure!

[Tornado1M]

Originally Posted by lippstuh

Can you compare the e46 to the 1M?

I would say not really! They are completely different platforms that handle and drive differently! 1M has much more low end torque for instance. Makes it fun on the streets and the twisties.

[jhall1957]

Originally Posted by lippstuh

Can you compare the e46 to the 1M?

E46 M3? Best M3 yet! No doubt, but the 1M beats it for low down torque and "beastie-ness". I never feel like the E46 will turn around and bite its master but don't turn your back on the 1M at speed! W45 M3 is a pure breed gray hound but the 1M is a quick but mean little pit bull!

[Goombeh]

Have driven lots of cars but never had the privilege of driving an E30 M3, drove an E30 318 if that's anything. Didn't like it.

But by all other accounts, sounds like it would be a blast. And in keeping with a lower speed fun playful car.

The worst thing I've done to my 1M is to replace the PS2s with PS4s' which nod to that same theory.

But I've never had a car I've not considered moving on until the 1M. That's my pick even though I've never driven the other.