BMW M1 to feature highly optioned cosmetic personalization program !

[BrokenVert]

Its sad that the M1 will suffer from Camaro syndrome.

To all the BMW employees watching this site. You missed a great chance with the 135i by giving it sloppy handling. Please, please dont make the same mistake with the M1.

[billspreston]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Its sad that the M1 will suffer from Camaro syndrome.

To all the BMW employees watching this site. You missed a great chance with the 135i by giving it sloppy handling. Please, please dont make the same mistake with the M1.

This sloppy handling thing is blown way out of proportion. If the E82 is sloppy than so was my E92. Sure the 135i is sloppier than an M3, but that's to be expected. If you cared about handling in the 135 so much why are you driving a vert?

[ChrisK]

I must not have ordered the Sloppy Handling Option

My car drives like a Go-Kart - what sloppy handling problem?

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by billspreston

This sloppy handling thing is blown way out of proportion. If the E82 is sloppy than so was my E92. Sure the 135i is sloppier than an M3, but that's to be expected. If you cared about handling in the 135 so much why are you driving a vert?

Im not getting to that last point. But the car has a lot of body roll and under midcorner dips the back will walk out unexpectedly.
It took some time for me to learn how to properly push the 135i to the limit safely.
An M car shouldnt have these issues, it should have limits that are easily read, as opposed the unsettling feeling that so much body roll gives. If they didnt rectify these issues, then the customization program is just as poser as it is on a Scion.

[Mark M]

Yes, the handling on the stock 135 is sub-par. It might be great in a Mazda, but for a BMW it is lacking.

I installed KW-V2 coilovers in my first 1600 miles. Never looked back. Next step non-RFT tires.

BrokeVert, does yours have an oil cooler? Heard heresay that the verts did not have the oil cooler?

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by billspreston

This sloppy handling thing is blown way out of proportion. If the E82 is sloppy than so was my E92. Sure the 135i is sloppier than an M3, but that's to be expected. If you cared about handling in the 135 so much why are you driving a vert?

I would have to agree....my E92 328i was pretty front heavy and sluggish in certain regards, which led me down the road that put me in the 135....

I see this as a chance for BMW to do something special....hope it works out that way....

[ChrisK]

I noticed a big handling difference when I got rid of the RFT's. They are so firm that the car seemed to bounce all over the place when riding on un-even or rough surfaces.. Since I put the Yoko S-Drives on the car, it is much more predictable and stable over un-even or rough surfaces.

Getting rid of the RFT's gave me the type of feeling in drive characteristics as changing doing the CDV mod.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Im not getting to that last point. But the car has a lot of body roll and under midcorner dips the back will walk out unexpectedly.
It took some time for me to learn how to properly push the 135i to the limit safely.
An M car shouldnt have these issues, it should have limits that are easily read, as opposed the unsettling feeling that so much body roll gives. If they didnt rectify these issues, then the customization program is just as poser as it is on a Scion.

You bring up an interesting point--I am not sure that M cars aren't just as "different" as the lines that each represent. I have spent a lot of time behind the wheel of a 2007 M Coupe, as well as a 2008 M3--and those cars are REALLY different at the limit. The M Coupe is much more tail happy, but sharper somehow than the M3....

My point is that we don't really know how the M1 will "fit" into the ///M lineup...if they change enough things, I would be willing to bet that the M1 won't feel very comparable to the 135...again, because the ///M cars have a different purpose....

We shall see....

[billspreston]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Im not getting to that last point. But the car has a lot of body roll and under midcorner dips the back will walk out unexpectedly.
It took some time for me to learn how to properly push the 135i to the limit safely.
An M car shouldnt have these issues, it should have limits that are easily read, as opposed the unsettling feeling that so much body roll gives. If they didnt rectify these issues, then the customization program is just as poser as it is on a Scion.

My apologies for being harsh about the vert. I think the overall handling is fine for what the 135i is and while there are some subtle issues like you mention, we are still talking about a stock 3200lb. luxury sports car with run flat tires. I have confidence an ///M version of this chassis with ///M suspension bits and proper tires will be as solid and predictable as can be. We've all seen what the stock bushings look like on the 135i and well I think you may have found the main source of your sloppiness right there.

[Numb3rs]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Its sad that the M1 will suffer from Camaro syndrome.

To all the BMW employees watching this site. You missed a great chance with the 135i by giving it sloppy handling. Please, please dont make the same mistake with the M1.

What..?

The 135i is a great handling car.. though it has designed understeer into it! Sways fix most the unbalanced feeling. Other than that... what is wrong with how the 135i handles..?

Compared to the 3 series..?

[Mark M]

BMW Should give us the 'Fan Car' to enhance the handling!!!

The Brabham BT46 was a Formula One racing car, designed by Gordon Murray for the Brabham team, owned by Bernie Ecclestone, for the 1978 Formula One season.
The "B" variant of the car, also known as the "fan car", was introduced at the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix as a counter to the dominant ground effect Lotus 79. The BT46B generated an immense level of downforce by means of a fan, claimed to be for increased cooling, but which also extracted air from beneath the car. The car only raced once in this configuration in the Formula One World Championship—when Niki Lauda won the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp. The concept was declared illegal by the FIA before the car could race again. The BT46B therefore preserves a 100% winning record.

[ZER0_C00L]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I hadn't realized that--which makes sense if you think about it. Why go even further if the M1 doesn't sell well, right?

I think the M1 could definitely be better--I just don't think you will see it from the factory, just because the M3 is the most iconic BMW, name wise. The 3 series is their best selling line by far, and the M3 is the flagship.

Scott26 has mentioned several times that the M1 would be limited to ~350 HP to "not tread on the M3's toes", which leads me to believe that the M1 will not quite be the car that it could be--AKA the Cayman S versus the 911.

I think BMW is trying to satisfy a need in the market, but they are not going to sacrifice the bread and butter so to speak by making the M1 too close, performance wise, to the M3.....

Simple, don't make it close... the R8 didn't step on anyone's toes down at Audi, because it was a true flagship for the marque (same can be done here, why settle for less?), plus performance can be realized in different routes, i.e. Porsche GT3 RS vs Turbo/GT2

Originally Posted by ARES45

I just hope BMW only hinders it on power alone, that will be an easy fix by Dinan or whoever you choose. If they hinder dynamics, that gets a little more tricky.

lack of power is a simple problem to solve, weight and handling is harder, and aftermarket solutions can't always equal a good design at the manufacturer's level

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Im not getting to that last point. But the car has a lot of body roll and under midcorner dips the back will walk out unexpectedly.
It took some time for me to learn how to properly push the 135i to the limit safely.
An M car shouldnt have these issues, it should have limits that are easily read, as opposed the unsettling feeling that so much body roll gives. If they didnt rectify these issues, then the customization program is just as poser as it is on a Scion.

+1, but apart from the Carbon bonnet and lid, there are really not that much performance gain from the package. The M should fix those problems you mentioned, with M3 suspension geometry, lighter and stronger suspension, wider tracks, LSD, and non-RFT.

So, yes, it is probably a poser program, but hey, I will get into it. . It would be good if you can order a painted option on the CF parts.

Originally Posted by Numb3rs

What..?

The 135i is a great handling car.. though it has designed understeer into it! Sways fix most the unbalanced feeling. Other than that... what is wrong with how the 135i handles..?

Compared to the 3 series..?

As a stock, performance orientated BMW - it understeer more, and rolls more. The reason is BMW insistance of RFT, and they have soften the 1er suspension which isn't the case in the 3ers or the 1er hatch. Handling wise, it is still more direct then the 3er, but with the 3 series wider track and firmer suspensions, it do produce less body roll.

I know the sway fixes most of the problem, but really we should be comparing the stock car, and compare to my previous BMWs it has more body roll. Handling wise, it was as close to the e46 I previously had.

[PrimoM3]

Scott, post something - it's Monday and I need an ///M1 fix!

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Scott, post something - it's Monday and I need an ///M1 fix!

he has been quiet.....

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

he has been quiet.....

Probably because Geneva is so close. I guess we'll just have to be patient..?

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Probably because Geneva is so close. I guess we'll just have to be patient..?

When is the Geneva start date? I can't remember....

Regardless--he was dropping hints like every other day for about a week or so...and now he is being a little more quiet. Such a tease.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

When is the Geneva start date? I can't remember....

Regardless--he was dropping hints like every other day for about a week or so...and now he is being a little more quiet. Such a tease.

March, 4th is the official start date.


Best regards,
south

[ChrisK]

Geneva Auto show is March 4th-14th.

[ChrisK]

BMW Fix

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by southlight

March, 4th is the official start date.


Best regards,
south

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Geneva Auto show is March 4th-14th.

Thanks guys--not too long at all then.

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

BMW Fix

Nice job, Chris.

Now make a better ///M1 logo than my half-assed job (below).