Sport Auto 1M Review: Beats M3 at Hockenheim! - "All You Need In A Sports Car"

[Pauldramos]

Originally Posted by Diver

So much for a high revving NA V8. Just what does it take to go fast? Some folks around here need to stop bitching about turbocharging.

Did you see the M3 supercharger in the latest issue of bimmer mag? For 15k takes you to 650hp. Damn!!!

[Raine]

Amazing.

The M Division did a good job on the 1M. At 47k USD too WOW.

BMW keeps improving!

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by gs/e60/1m?

Not bad for a bin car eh!!!
M3 adjuster he knew it, he knew the potential of this beauty all along.
But now it's high time for me to take some advanced driving lessons, cuz IT'S COMING

Thank you kind sir! (takes bow).

"You will love it! But you have to wait ....." ( just a little longer....).Congrats!!!!

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Dan Parker

It's a simple equation. Lighter, more torque, same suspension, diff, etc. There's no reason it shouldn't be faster then the m3 on some tracks. Sure the DCT shifts faster but with the right driver the 1m should be right with its big brother.

Exactly... I've been flabbergasted for months over how several people on this forum have been saying that the 1M was castrated so that it wouldn't better the M3 and that BMW always wants to protect the M3. I'm pretty sure that the call didn't go out to the M engineers to make the 1M good, but not better than the M3.... or else! or ... hey M engineers we need you to make a car but shoot for second best. Forget who the car is competing against in the market place, because we have this M3 over here...

The 1M very well may be the most important car in the current M lineup because it is a move back to the roots of getting an M car back towards being a 2 sports car and less of a 2/4 door GT like the E9x M3 has become, which is basically what the E28 M5/E24 M6 were.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Dan Parker

Is that a new color?

I believe it's called... Smoky burnout... . the 1M can light up the rear tires and go opposite lock better than any BMW ever made.

[biggles]

Can you imagine how quick the 1M will be after a £500 remap....extra 40bhp and 40-50 lb ft of torque!?

[rjd598]

My view on this car has changed and it's in a good way. Still before and now I still would like to own one. I feel like it would actually be an extremely fun car to drive

[phil200tdi]

I'm just saying 335i is a good compromise given the desire for power/torque, noise and economy. I have a manual and regularly have over 450 miles on the tank.

Let's not forget the n54 is in the 1M.. If you want something special and don't care about economy buy a c63amg!

[phil200tdi]

Sounds like you should go window shopping down at the Mercedes dealership and drive a c63AMG.

[knifegun]

I was waiting to find an article testing the M3 against the 1M. Awesome performance in a nice small package! Now image what it would do with some weight loss, more power and suspension upgrades!

[Alpine*]

Just to stir things up a bit, I posted the below comment in the 1Addicts Australian section a couple of weeks ago....

I have no evidence to substantiaite the comments, only the detail from the individual I spoke to from a Nurburgring Hire Car Company.

"I had a chat with one of the hot shot drivers from our Ring Hire Company today while doing our Lotus Nurburg Ring tour. He has it on good authority that the much publicized performance of the M3 GTS around the Ring and the fact that it is the fastest M car to date to lap the circuit is untrue. He has seen the BMW logs and spoken to the BMW test drivers and they indicated alledgedly (for legal reasons) that the 1M was quicker by around 8 seconds than the GTS

Believe it or not!!


BTW, this driver actually drove the ring in the BSM 1M when it was there over the weekend. He wants one!"

[Dan Parker]

I'm pretty sure that the call didn't go out to the M engineers to make the 1M good, but not better than the M3.... or else

Slightly off topic but that sounds like the Cayman S with the 911. Don't give it a diff and the engine it deserves so it doesn't compare to the 911. Engine placement/balance being better in the Cayman S but handicapping it with less power and an open diff put it in the place that Porsche want it. They won't step on the toes of 911 owners and this is where BMW can tread with the 1M. The M3 is a great car but BMW isn't afraid to go back toward the roots (E30 M3) and make a more affordable, tossable, M car again.

Of course, now the Cayman R gets the goods but I'd like to see lap times vs. a 911S.

[Grey Dove]

Originally Posted by AlpineM3E92

Just to stir things up a bit, I posted the below comment in the 1Addicts Australian section a couple of weeks ago....

I have no evidence to substantiaite the comments, only the detail from the individual I spoke to from a Nurburgring Hire Car Company.

"I had a chat with one of the hot shot drivers from our Ring Hire Company today while doing our Lotus Nurburg Ring tour. He has it on good authority that the much publicized performance of the M3 GTS around the Ring and the fact that it is the fastest M car to date to lap the circuit is untrue. He has seen the BMW logs and spoken to the BMW test drivers and they indicated alledgedly (for legal reasons) that the 1M was quicker by around 8 seconds than the GTS

Believe it or not!!


BTW, this driver actually drove the ring in the BSM 1M when it was there over the weekend. He wants one!"

If this is true the GTS did it in 8.20. Or are you suggesting the 1M did in 8.00 straight?
That's a little far off would'nt you say

[Diver]

If the 1M is making these incredible lap times, it must really stay glued to the road because it does not have huge amounts of horsepower. Based on reviewer comments, it might ride a bit on the stiff side for a daily drive (at least for my candy ass.)

[Imola.ZHP]

e46 M3 CSL > *

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Diver

If the 1M is making these incredible lap times, it must really stay glued to the road because it does not have huge amounts of horsepower. Based on reviewer comments, it might ride a bit on the stiff side for a daily drive (at least for my candy ass.)

The grip is really phenomenal.. and there is a ton of torque to bring you out of corners. The ride is firm but not bone jarring or abusive. If you live on a cobblestone road, it might be too much to deal with... otherwise... it's very liveable, unless your current daily driver is a Lexus or Mercedes.

[Raptor04]

is there any difference between type of tire installed on 1M and 135i?

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Raptor001

is there any difference between type of tire installed on 1M and 135i?

sure.. but the biggest difference is contact patch.
19 x 9 front, 19 x 10 rear; 245/35 front and 265/35 rear vs 18 x 7.5 front, 18 x 8.5 rear; 215/40 front, 245/35 run flat tires.

Yes the compound is a stickier tire, but wheels 1.5 inch wider front and rear allow for much larger contact patch.

The 215/40 on the front of the 135 is really skinny anyway. I'd take a 235/40/17 on an 8.5 wheel over that all day long.

[Raptor04]

I just wonder if the 3 second difference in times between 135i and 1m would be as great if 135i was equipped with similar tires and tires size? I also love the 1m, but I hope they offer some type of lightweight version. I think this car would take the cayman s if it losts about 300 lbs of weight. It's still too heavy, but then it would be more expensive to make it lighter. So overall, it's a great package.

[Dackelone]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor001
is there any difference between type of tire installed on 1M and 135i?

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

sure.. but the biggest difference is contact patch.
19 x 9 front, 19 x 10 rear; 245/35 front and 265/35 rear vs 18 x 7.5 front, 18 x 8.5 rear; 215/40 front, 245/35 run flat tires.

Yes the compound is a stickier tire, but wheels 1.5 inch wider front and rear allow for much larger contact patch.

The 215/40 on the front of the 135 is really skinny anyway. I'd take a 235/40/17 on an 8.5 wheel over that all day long.

One other BIG difference is that all M models have regular tires while the 135i has heavy run flat tires with stiff sidewalls.


Dackel

[GhostyM]

I cannot wait til one gets some procede software, catless downpipes and a meth kit.


400whp and handles better than an M3?

Holy crap i can't wait.
I bought an E93 M3 just so I won't get embarrassed by my son in his 1M when he gets it. :P

[clived]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

If you want something special and don't care about economy buy a c63amg!

I've got to 100% disagree about that.

I test drove a C63AMG, fully expecting to love it and order one. I was massively massively dissapointed. I currently have a 135i, and compared even to that (let alone the 1M) the handling is wallowy, lane changes dull-witted - all that weight up front. Additionally, the auto-box is totally uninvolving. Sure, on the occasions you'll find yourself in the right gear to be utilising the power (which mostly lives at the top end of the rev range), it is of course instantly very quick indeed. But in the real-world, performance on anything other that dual carrigeways and motorways would be frustrating, both in terms of chuckability and pace.

Have you spend much time driving a C63?