On Board 1M Coupe With Chris Harris [Video]

[UsualSuspect]

I'd love to see the pricing! I'd actually like to know if it's just the same if I add a proper limited slip to my car?

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

I'd love to see the pricing! I'd actually like to know if it's just the same if I add a proper limited slip to my car?

Really???

[leeor]

Originally Posted by Caleb

I love it how the guy asks a bunch of technical questions, and the driver is all awkward and doesn't answer...

Q: "whats under the bonnet?"
A: "just listen to it! just feel it!"

Q: "its a turbo 6?
A: "it sounds good!"

Q: "def has a locking differential?"
A: "I would guess?"



Interesting the driver said built in over-steer...

What I want to know is, where do I apply for the job to drive journalists around in development ///M cars?

+1 lol he was trying not to give away info...

the car looks good from the rear & at the end it looks like it can really move!

[spiderz17]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

I'd actually like to know if it's just the same if I add a proper limited slip to my car?

No.

[as7920]

Originally Posted by maxnix

I am thinking not until DCT is offered, as it surely will be.

I personally prefer the idea of a manual but I admit to never having driven a DCT BMW. I have driven the Audi DSG and although good, I still prefer being in control.

Maybe I should take an M3 MDCT or 135i DCT out for a spin first!

[TunedM2C]

I've never seen so much built up press for a M car. This should be a great car and Harris should have been the one driving it.

[Future M1 owner]

Originally Posted by E82tt6

He seems to say that they're still not done with the exhaust sound, if I heard him right.

Yes, but I think we need to curb expectations here, a tuned N54/N55 with 50-60hp (at best) extra isn't going to sound fundamentally different than a 135i with the BMW Performance Exhaust.

[Oulixes]

Right you are - it is the video we have seen so far.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by Redline

I'm probably gonna get attacked...

but didn't the revised WRX STI get 7:55? I know there was rollcage in there, but come on...BMW M3 (420) only gets 8 minutes on the ring?

I just found that video it is impressive. But the 8min 39sec of the 135i is if I believe realised by a non-professionnal driver. There is a record of a e92 335i doing 8min 26sec. So if the 1M has a weight reduction that bring it around 1450kg and we have 360hp and possibly 360ft-lb with the 7k redline maybe we can get somewhere near the m3 csl (360hp 273ft-lb 1421kg) 7m 50sec and at least beat that subaru! But that is pure speculation.

[Malek@MRF]

Having owned 2 335i coupes (both MT and both modified) and now an E92 M3 and tuning and building countless other 335i's, I will say this... No matter what they do to the N54 in that car, it will never give the driver the feeling of sheer driving pleasure a real naturally aspirated highly strung ///M motor would provide. My 1991 318iS provides more driver feedback from the engine than the N54 does.

Most already know that 335i's and 135's can interchange many M3 suspension components and add the LSD to the car and still be well below the price of an M3. But one thing that can never be achieved in those car's is the driving feel and pleasure of the motor, it is just far too refined and posh and runs out of breath up top.

I guess I may be stirring up a storm by posting this, but a true M car shouldn't use an engine that was derived on efficient dynamics. I had the chance to speak to a BMW engineer in Germany, and he was quite saddened the route BMW is taking with their future M cars. Needless to say, I agreed.

Engine Sound... If guys are expecting it to sound raw and pure like the S14, S54 and S65 and etc, it's never going to happen. Sure it will sound better than the standard N54 cars, but that's where it stops.

-Malek

[Minimization]

I really want to know, can this 1 ///M Coupe spank a '79 ///M1 3.5i on the 'ring? How cool would that be!

[cracka]

Here is Chris's accompanying blog entry from evo:

At the M3 GTS launch yesterday BMW also rolled-out a 1 Series M development hack. This caught us all slightly unawares, especially when they said they'd do a few passenger rides. So, in the true spirit of low-quality, gorilla video I did my best to capture something.

The car is very interesting and should help drag BMW M back towards its heartland. It's currently running a 135i motor with a re-map and different exhaust, so the sound was slightly disappointing. It felt quick though. expect around 340bhp from the production car Q1 2011.

Chassis wise it's a load of E92 M3 bits wedged underneath a set of wider wheel arches. It's a very interesting looking thing: it's almost square. The cambers give it that classic M-car look.

Here's the video. I only had one lap so tried to ask a few questions.

[E82tt6]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

Having owned 2 335i coupes (both MT and both modified) and now an E92 M3 and tuning and building countless other 335i's, I will say this... No matter what they do to the N54 in that car, it will never give the driver the feeling of sheer driving pleasure a real naturally aspirated highly strung ///M motor would provide. My 1991 318iS provides more driver feedback from the engine than the N54 does.

Most already know that 335i's and 135's can interchange many M3 suspension components and add the LSD to the car and still be well below the price of an M3. But one thing that can never be achieved in those car's is the driving feel and pleasure of the motor, it is just far too refined and posh and runs out of breath up top.

I guess I may be stirring up a storm by posting this, but a true M car shouldn't use an engine that was derived on efficient dynamics. I had the chance to speak to a BMW engineer in Germany, and he was quite saddened the route BMW is taking with their future M cars. Needless to say, I agreed.

Engine Sound... If guys are expecting it to sound raw and pure like the S14, S54 and S65 and etc, it's never going to happen. Sure it will sound better than the standard N54 cars, but that's where it stops.

-Malek

That's how BMW is going though...

I don't really mind FI motors if they're done correctly. If this motor peaks at 5,700rpms like the N54, it'd be a shame. If it's mechanically identical to the N54, I don't think I'll be buying it.

On the upside, you can extract A LOT of power with very simple modifications.

It's tough to give an "M" exhaust sound to a turbocharged car, especially if they have two sets of cats in it like most US BMWs have.

I think they can do a bit better than what we heard, though.

I mean the I6 GTRs sound awesome.

[E82tt6]

Originally Posted by cracka

Here is Chris's accompanying blog entry from evo:

A little sanity in the endless speculation:

Monkey Harris at 10:18 AM 16 July 2010
lads lads, come on - I've only spent three minutes in the passenger seat!! Can't tell you anything about the specifics of the thing, but as you heard from The Man, it'll be a proper M-chassis, so a diff and set to oversteer, so it shouldn't be quite the flabby mess the 135 is. It didn't feel like he was managing too much understeer.....

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by as7920

I personally prefer the idea of a manual but I admit to never having driven a DCT BMW. I have driven the Audi DSG and although good, I still prefer being in control.

Maybe I should take an M3 MDCT or 135i DCT out for a spin first!

As good as the DCT's are supposed to be, I'm still leery due to issues like this that some M3 owners are experiencing. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=406735&page=1

[IS3andME]

Anybody notice that the car C&D were in and others in the beginning had black rims, and either a quieter exhaust and this one has silver rims and a louder exhaust? Of course it could be mic quality as well that can account for the sound.

[E82tt6]

Originally Posted by IS3andME

Anybody notice that the car C&D were in and others in the beginning had black rims, and either a quieter exhaust and this one has silver rims and a louder exhaust? Of course it could be mic quality as well that can account for the sound.

The one in that new video seems completely different in terms of exhaust sound. I wish I could understand the language... What is it, Romanian?

[BForbes]

You guys are definitely wild for paying extra for cloth seats! I could never do that. Just give me some kick ass seats that hold my 5'9 160lb frame into place.

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by E82tt6

That's how BMW is going though...

I don't really mind FI motors if they're done correctly. If this motor peaks at 5,700rpms like the N54, it'd be a shame. If it's mechanically identical to the N54, I don't think I'll be buying it.

+1

Although I have a deposit on it, if it's just a tune on n54 with bigger fans, I will cancel the order.

Minimum requirement will be a twinturbo on a N55 (as Scott had said), or if better, a twinscroll twinturbo.

It sounds alright, but the GTR definitely sounds more like a beast. Still it's only early days.

[tkbr0wn]

Well, if the hype keeps building, its going to be harder and harder to keep my spot in line and not sell it to someone that wants to pay 4k over sticker. I'd have a hard time walking away from 5 grand and not just waiting a couple of months to buy either a used one that someone couldn't afford or just picking up a 2012.

[Garduna]

looking good

[E82tt6]

Originally Posted by BForbes

You guys are definitely wild for paying extra for cloth seats! I could never do that. Just give me some kick ass seats that hold my 5'9 160lb frame into place.

Hah!

Have you ever seen/sat in the cloth seats? Maybe I am nuts, I know cloth is considered "down market", but the cloth seats in the 135i I saw were fantastic. More comfortable than the leather, and grippier to boot.