Carfection: Is the BMW 1M Coupe is the Best M Car Ever

[Brake_Late]

Originally Posted by stefan

can't tell if you're trolling or not. The E46 M3 is a legend and so so engaging. There's a reason it's a modern classic.

indeed

[Brake_Late]

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by FIRSTM

I've never own the E46 m3, but have driven one, I've have always love the E46 combination of engine and chassis, and the best looking M imho. Even though I have the 1M since 2011, love it and would never sell it, I still believe the E46 is the best M. Thats the reason why the MT E46 still holding value/ and even going up as we speak.

While the E46 M3 is loved by many many fans , and it is considered by *many * to be the pinnacle of M ... two vehicles that began appreciating at at a faster rate than the E46M3 are the E30M3 and the 1M.

I don't expect the price of a good condition used E46 M3 to ever eclipse a similar condition example of those two.

In addition , The Z4 has also been appreciating or at least holding its value really well recently , likely due to also having an S54 under the hood and being more rare than an E46 M3.

Indeed a true E46M3 CSL would be a killer..

[duder13]

Originally Posted by okusa

Maybe if it had a longer wheelbase. I've heard it's a bit twitchy at track speed.

I'm not sure I understand about the wheelbase comments. Lots of cars have shorter wheelbases than the 1M, including the Cayman and 911. The 1M wheelbase is actually kinda long in proportion to the overall car length.

[10"]

Originally Posted by duder13

I'm not sure I understand about the wheelbase comments. Lots of cars have shorter wheelbases than the 1M, including the Cayman and 911. The 1M wheelbase is actually kinda long in proportion to the overall car length.

Agreed. People are sheep...they believe anything they read. Lol. It's not that short of a wheelbase...if anything the length of the car is short (172) but not the wheelbase (104). Much longer than a 911 (96).

[duder13]

Originally Posted by 10"

Agreed. People are sheep...they believe anything they read. Lol. It's not that short of a wheelbase...if anything the length of the car is short (172) but not the wheelbase (104). Much longer than a 911 (96).

Yeah, my Cayman was the same length, but the wheelbase was about 9" shorter.

[FIRSTM]

its really hard to find an E46 with 6sp MT under $30k that are in decent condition, or $35k
Most I've seen have been beat up or want too much for it. Found a really nice one at my dealer in 2010 for $29,500 on a Sunday, came back Monday the day after to get it because they close on Sunday, and they sold it first thing in morning, was told the fella waited in the morning before they open up. Soo thats how I ended up with the 1M, I try test drive the cayman, no rear seats, at that time its the only thing that fit my bill as a everyday fun car, until I found out about the 1M, put a deposit without even seen it, waited for months, 8 to be exact, for it to built.
1M is special, but I'm still in the hunt for a nice e46.

[Tornado1M]

I like this video....I especially like how he says "Coupe"

[Moupe]

"It's a lot like nothing else."

[10"]

Originally Posted by Moupe

[SIZE="3"]"It's a lot like nothing else."[/SIZE]

Good cars.

No back seat = cannot be the best M car ever.

[nachob]

If I had to pick the best M car of all time, it would be the E46 M3 Competition with a manual. I believe it was the pinnacle of the normally aspirated BMWs with the right blend of power, weight, styling, handling, sound and the je ne sais quoi. It is a beautiful machine that that still looks timeless and beautiful, makes great sound and is the perfect size. The 1M is special because it was the last of the M cars that still had some of its attributes and gives you more power and torque but the torque comes at the cost of throttle response and linearity that the E46 M3 had.

The 1M can be more fun than the E46 M3 and faster and there will never be complete agreement but I feel that if you polled all BMW fans and assigned points to each M car they picked, even if the E46 came in 2nd, so many people would have it 2nd that on points it would be the winner.

I still prefer the 1M myself slightly to the E46 because of the subjective side that the 1M was a labor of love by BMW M guys to build one last pure M car. This tips the scales for me in that respect but if it were not for that subjective part, then the E46 M3 Competition Manual is tops for me. Not the CSL because despite being the best at everything else, they ruined it with the SMG.

That's my 2 cents worth.

[MartB]

I have both a e46 manual coupe and 1M and have owned both of them from new.
Whilst I love both cars they are very different from each other, the 1M feels like a complete hooligan next to the M3's classic M car approach.
I've modded both over the years I've owned them to turn them into my ultimate road spec m cars.
My m3 has CSL faster steering rack, CSL wheels, ap racing brakes, ac schnitzer rs suspension, short shift, 100 cell cats, carbon induction, recaro seats, remap and has covered just 7900miles and is in time warp condition.
My 1M has bmw performance seats, forge intercooler, solid charge pipe, ac schnitzer rs suspension, n55 mids, Akrapovic exhaust, 18inch 260m wheels and will have a big brake kit fitted this year and has currently done 7800miles.

[MartB]

[MartB]

[MartB]

[MartB]

gas stations around me open

[MartB]

[MartB]

[nachob]

Originally Posted by MartB

And you're probably married to Jessica Alba too! : )

What a pair! Wow.

[Brake_Late]