Spy photos of the M1 / 1M in Sedona Red with completed front body work

[TunedM2C]

did anyone else spot the m3 seats?

Originally Posted by Zuzu

True..And if you look close enough it also seems to be a true ///M steering wheel with the multi coloured stitching.

Not to mention the differential, wider track, fine tuned suspension (as shown in the 'ring vid) and Scott's 'M'put. Yet to some, this is only a 135is because it doesn't have a four barrel exhaust.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by Tuned1

Not to mention the differential, wider track, fine tuned suspension (as shown in the 'ring vid) and Scott's 'M'put. Yet to some, this is only a 135is because it doesn't have a four barrel exhaust.

LOL. Does the 335iS have M3 seats?!?!

[TunedM2C]

Having owned several M cars in the past I can say the seats depicted here in the pic are indeed M seats.


Test mule



E90 M3

[BForbes]

Thanks, Tuned1. I edited my post after I did some research.

[zuggerat89]

Are you seriously telling me that the photographer got that close to the car and couldn't get a decent picture of the tach? UGH!

[mtla4]

The gauge needles are red(///M are red)
Non-M are white

And the steering wheel is from an ///M

[dkdurham]

it WILL be an M. I was at M in Munich last October and witnessed it at the source.

Good eye on spotting the M Seats!

Can't wait to get my hands on one of these!

-DK

[TunedM2C]

Originally Posted by mtla4

The gauge needles are red(///M are red)
Non-M are white

Nice one. I completely missed this.

[Robert]

Alright the guys who said it's not a M owes me a drink for reading all that tirade saying it's not.

[Spartikus]

You guys are good. The needles on that tach is definitely red.

[mtla4]

Like I've mentionned earlier the needles are red so does the E53 X5 in their 4.6 4.8IS version they had the moving redline along with the red needles...however these cars we're not Real ///M so this car could still be a 135is......

[Spartikus]

Originally Posted by mtla4

Like I've mentionned earlier the needles are so does the E53 X5 in their 4.6 4.8IS version they had the moving redline along with the red needles...however these cars we're not Real ///M so this car could still be a 135IS......

You make a valid point but can you explain the M3 seats? I still say not a chance in hell its a 135iS. For one, Scott says an M is definitely in the name even though they didnt bite the bullet name-wise. Two, the iS cars they released recently dont have red needles. Would they break from such recent uniformity? I dont think so. That makes the X5 4.8is almost an apples to oranges comparison. One could say that BMW ditched the red needles for iS cars.

[sid33]

Def the same steering wheel found in an M3 . I just test drove one 2 weeks ago and if you look close in the pic you can see the same blue and orange stitching on the inside of the wheel ...

[Spartikus]

Does non-//M BMW's have multicolored stitching on the steering wheel?

[Robert]

Maybe it's like the 318ti M sport ;-)

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121589

[///M///M Good]

Originally Posted by auggiem3

Correct me if I'm wrong but the argument holds true against a new product line with the introduction of the X5 M and X6 M - both cars released within 18 months of their newest respective models (the latest iteration of the x5 and, a relatively more patinated but still youthful X6) and both a first for bmw M.

As I've said before, we shall wait and see - I hope its a 1 series M but I'm leaning the other way. Obviously the fellas at M Gmbh haven't been sticking to the rules lately so lets hope they veer from their historic (granted more recent last 10 years) behavior.

Like you said, The X5 is in its 2nd generation. The X6 is an off-shoot of the X5. The 1 is in its 1st generation. The 1 is the only 1st generation vehicle in its line-up that isn't an off-shoot of another chassis. For example, the 6 series had an M version right away, but mechanically it's merely a 5 series coupe. So if you're going to have an M5, you might as well have an M6 since you've already done the engineering. This isn't the case with the 1 - it stands alone as a new model line without a mechanically related model.

[Harold Wood]

Just rendered it onto the Ring!

[ElMills]

Are those M3 Novillo leather seats I see?? noice

[Evan135]

Originally Posted by ///M///M Good

Your argument fails to take into account the fact that you are comparing established product lines versus a new product line. The current M3 is in its 4th generation as a version of a car line in its 5th generation. The current M5 is in its 4th or 5th generation (depending on whether or not you count the E12 M535i as an "M") as a version of a car line in its 5th generation. The 1 series was a completely new car line for BMW and, as such, you really can't make the same comparison. BMW didn't know if there was going to be a market for the car, especially after the 318ti's failure in the US (and 2nd generation failure everywhere else). So you can't compare a potential M version of the 1 series to the others, since you can't be certain an M version was a foregone conclusion of the model range like it is for the 3 and 5, which are well-established.

Also, if you look at the 335is, you see BMW doing an upgrade with off-the-shelf parts from the BMW Performance line . . . no LSD, no bodywork other than bolt-ons. The 1 series mules we've been seeing are clearly more substantial than that, and in more than one shot show LSD's with cooling fins, a bigger M trademark than the quad exhausts so many are focusing on.

I think you and Spartikus and right. The 335is has a performance engine kit, performance wheels, a simple body kit of front/rear bumpers and side sils, etc. No new fenders, no new brakes, no new rear axle, no different front track, no different rear track, no M sourced suspension arms, etc. The mules we are seeing are getting an M level of equipment and development. Anybody see current M3 style wheels and M3 seats in either "is"? They are here on these unfinished M1/M Turbo mules.

So much of the M3 will transfer to the M1/M Turbo from the M3 that it will be cost effective and quick too.

Also when the 1 series first came out the world was not in a reccession. There was a weak reason for an M1/M turbo as it could have hurt M3 sales. BMW now wants an affordable M due to reccesion and to build M brand loyalty. Toyota sells Scions to the young, so they can sell Toyotas to the middle age, to sell them a Lexus if they do well. Same sell up strategy here.

These mules, which have all M modifications, not performance parts, are far more M than "is".

Many think the lack of quads proves this is not an M. The reason you may not be seeing quads is that BMW will have to use a new floor pan in the trunk to make them fit. They had to do this on the e46 M3 also. The tooling may not be done for that yet.

We still do not know, but I see more evidence and a better business case for this to be an "M" .

[John Tanglewood]

I CANT WAIT for this car to come out and people to stop talking.

I really cannot fathom how BMW is going to squeeze this car in performance-wise between the 135i and the M3.

Think it will have 335is performance, even that may put it on par with the M3.

[Robert]

Oh, btw, adding something else to the MIX. BMW will build a Z4M or M coupe equivalent as soon as Audi (if) releases the R4.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by Robert

Oh, btw, adding something else to the MIX. BMW will build a Z4M or M coupe equivalent as soon as Audi (if) releases the R4.

Audi already has TT-RS.


By the way, who was able to get interiour pics of this "M1"? If he was so close to it he could get a pic of rev counter to see where the redline is, at 7K or 8K?

And, yes the M1 has M3 seats, but I want lighter seats than these. At least BMW Performance seats in M style stiching and M logo.