Video: Top Gear Glows About BMW 1M. Beats M3 CSL On Track!

[Shost]

Great great review. I was never gonna cancel my order if he panned it. I brought a FN2 Type R after he said it was the worst car ever.

But absolutely overjoyed now and can't wait for mine to arrive. Nor can the family or the girlfriend!

This will probably help sure up residual values that everyone was worrying about. I think Autocar were the only people not to rave about it. And they still gave it four stars.

[Capt Slow]

Good review, even with those stupid graphics from Richard's Lexus LFA review.

Would love to see Top Gear do the Evora S v the Cayman R.

It seems a much more suitable comparison than the Cayman R v 1M comparisons that are everywhere. Wonder how they would fare on the track...

[Sylon]

"Well we have a straight 6 at the front, a manual gearbox in the middle, and drive goes to the back. That is page 1, chapter 1 of the petrolsexual handbook."

[Pinta]

Originally Posted by TK-421

Great segment and the result is just as I thought - the 1M really did well on a short, technical track like the Top Gear track as opposed to the high-revving CSL and E92.

But you have to remember that the CSL did a wet lap on Pilot Sport Cup tires which, as anyone who's driven on a very wet and curvy road at high speed with them equipped, really cuts down on handling to say the very least. I think a dry lap would yield a different result.

Everyone loves the CSL, it's an amazing car. It wasn't actually wet when the CSL went around the track and did a 1:28:00 it was damp and designated as wet because the Pilot Sport Cup tires don't work well in the damp or cold.

The fact is that this review proves beyond any doubt that the 1M is a modern day icon like the CSL was in 2004!

[RC3]

Win for the 1M. May be not for the look, but otherwise sensational.

[Aussie_in_London]

Hmmmm 5 months wait for delivery!

Now how do we past time and forget about it........I know I think I will start painting the house again, that should kill a couple of weekends lol

If you ever get a chance to a recording of the show (no doubt many wont lol) don't pass it up, we went a couple of years ago and its bloody funny, 6 hours and plenty of entertainment you don't see on the show.....

[EmmDrei]

Fact is: the CSL will still be a legend, no matter how much faster any other car will ever be able to go anywhere. Comparing a CSL against a 1M is as pointless as comparing a "Ravaglia" (e30) or an M3 GT (e36) against a 1M. Those cars all set the standard at the time they were released. Comparing any one of them to a modern car is pointless and doesn't do them justice. Nobody in their right mind would compare a 1M with a GTS and that is how far away those cars were from anything else in the BMW product range at that time.

It doesn't really surprise me, that TG review the 1M as they did. And the laptime? Different driver, no true comparison possible. To me, the review is great entertainment... no more, no less. And the run-off? Look at the way the current Stig always uses every last bit of the black stuff... I am sure, that he has had many more run-offs and this is just one they showed. To me no big deal... if you push a car to the limit, you'll overcook it sooner or later. And that's what happened.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Pinta

Everyone loves the CSL, it's an amazing car. It wasn't actually wet when the CSL went around the track and did a 1:28:00 it was damp and designated as wet because the Pilot Sport Cup tires don't work well in the damp or cold.

The fact is that this review proves beyond any doubt that the 1M is a modern day icon like the CSL was in 2004!

Exactly!!! Its no surprise that the 1M is quicker. The 1M has very similar dimensions to the e46m3, and adds more power, more torque, and a better suspension ( the leaps in suspension technology from one M3 to another are nearly as impressive as the power figures!).

The 1M also has such a MUCH better feel than the e46m3. I've not driven a CSL since I'm a Yank(ee).
Switching on the M button gives the 1M steering and handling reminiscent of the e30M3. It's still nowhere as good as an e30m3, but then again it's got a ton more power and torque, and to a great extent, the 1M can be tossed and throttle steered like an e30, but when you get over your head it will send you around (or off, potentially). whereas an e30 is always forgiving.

The 1M is the best performing BMW ever on the Top Gear test track, a pretty amazing feat in it's own right.

[evolution80]

almost bought a used csl this spring but then ordered a 1M - but a CSL is coming some time - i have only seen one single csl in person so far and one gts last week - i would take the csl

but first i have to save up for a marauder LOL

[Racing Teatray]

It should be pointed out that it looked very greasy on track - the 1M had the wipers on all the way round and you could see the drizzle streaming on the windscreen.

Looked fun but a proper handful! Sideways through the follow-through? Not sure I've seen many other cars do that!!

Imagine how fast it would be in the dry on really sticky tyres...

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by Sealobo

JC said the rear axle is from the "old" M3?

The 'M Diff' is the same one from the E46. That's probably what the 'Orangutan' was trying to say. I believe the E9O/92 have fire same one.

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by blipit

It is not quicker. The CSL is in another league.

Nurburgring times (sportauto):

CSL - 7:50

1M - 8:15

We have another one for the 'ring run. It's faster on the TG track.

[Schnorbitz]

I'm amazed the idiot gets cut so much slack by some people, the review was very inaccurate; 3 fails I picked up on, probably more:

The car has current M3 suspension, front and rear.

The car has 335hp, not 340hp.

The M button changes nothing more than the throttle map.

The man is a fucktard.

[thez99]

Originally Posted by Schnorbitz

I'm amazed the idiot gets cut so much slack by some people, the review was very inaccurate; 3 fails I picked up on, probably more:

The car has current M3 suspension, front and rear.

The car has 335hp, not 340hp.

The M button changes nothing more than the throttle map.

The man is a fucktard.

I think u just wish u had his job..

[dj john]

To they ho own the m1..best buy

[bavarian19]

Great review!

[MrRoboto]

List of the TG track times for those interested.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/powerlaps.shtml

[as7920]

Originally Posted by Schnorbitz

The car has 335hp, not 340hp.

BMW UK website says otherwise!

There may be some mathematical "lost in translation" somewhere BHP as opposed to HP?

US figures are 335.

340PS = 335BHP

[heyimsam]

I think we can sum this video up in one word.. WINNING

[catalyst]

2 thoughts:

Can you imagine what BMW will do with a M2 style vehicle, built from the ground up? If they can pump out something this good that is tweaked 1 series, I can't wait to see what they do for the next generation!

Is anyone slightly concerned by how *insanely* tail happy this car is? I know that's the fun, but damn, I've never seen a car go through the follow through that sideways....

Also, if the Stig can't keep a handle on it, I am really worried about the folks out there that think they can thrash this thing with DTC off and end up wrapped around a tree.

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by catalyst

2 thoughts:

Is anyone slightly concerned by how *insanely* tail happy this car is? I know that's the fun, but damn, I've never seen a car go through the follow through that sideways....

Also, if the Stig can't keep a handle on it, I am really worried about the folks out there that think they can thrash this thing with DTC off and end up wrapped around a tree.

Keep the nanny on in the wet .

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by catalyst

2 thoughts:

Can you imagine what BMW will do with a M2 style vehicle, built from the ground up? If they can pump out something this good that is tweaked 1 series, I can't wait to see what they do for the next generation!

Is anyone slightly concerned by how *insanely* tail happy this car is? I know that's the fun, but damn, I've never seen a car go through the follow through that sideways....

Stickier set of tires and problem solved.