2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe Starts at $47,010

marcopolo1 says:

08:05 PM, 02/12/2011

COMMENT ON M-BADGE "WORTHINESS" of this BMW 1-M....

Ahhh...this thread brings back fond memories!   As a former BMW M3 owner (the infamous E-30, with the wing on back) I remember bashing the US-spec, 2nd generation E36 BMW M3 (1995-1999) for similar reasons.   In fact, my editorial thrashing graced the pages of "Autoweek" Magazine back in 1995 (pre-web days boys...) so give me some props here!

For those of us who remember,  European's received a hot E36 M3 with a unique (but damn expensive) hand-built engine.  It had individual throttle bodies, numerous butterfly valves, and all the exotic hardware.   The engine had a much higher redline and was comparable to the M5 engine.   Output was 286 HP DIN - kick ass for that day/age.  In short, it was another masterpiece by BMW Motorsport (renamed BMW M)!

In the US, however, BMW NA announced that it would NOT import the M3 because the Euro engine was expensive to build, would cost too much to meet our tight smog requirements and would price the car beyond what they believe most US customers would pay for a 3-series.   Instead, we received a Special Edition 325is with M-sport exterior and trim.  

But after a mass campaign (largely orchestrated by the National BMW Car Club) , BMW AG listened and eventually brought us an special US-Spec E36 M3 - which featured a tuned-up version of the 325i motor.   Compared to the 325i motor, this M3 motor had more liters (from 2.5 to 3.0), more maximum torque (at a lower RPM range) and more HP - to 250HP.  It was later tweaked to around 260HP.

A marketing argument was made that this US M3 performed on par with the more expensive Euro M3 for our (slower) driving conditions here in the US (0-60 speed, 0-90 and braking) - and was easier on our wallets.

The marketers were right.  This US M3 car sold like hot-cakes and was one of the best-selling M-cars of all time!   They even created a 4-Door version for the US.  So from a sales and profit perspective, the US M3 car was a huge "success".  

HOWEVER, with this noteworthy marketing move came at the expense of what many hard-core BMW M enthusiats considered to be the weakening or "watering-down" of the BMW M image.   There was more concern placed over the number and size of **Cupholders** than the heart of the Beast itself.   While this US M3 "performed" similarly to its Euro cousin, the VISCERAL impact of that magical Euro motor - (with all of it's unique sounds and characteristics) was never to be found or experienced in the US M3.    

Sure there was an "M3" badge on the car,  it looked and smelled like an M-Car, it even had a "BMW Motorsport" engine cover proudly displayed.  But you knew - just by looking at the motor -(and more importantly in your minds...) it wasn't the real-deal!  

So in that sense, I believe the earlier post which slams the 1-M motor has a very valid point.  

My zealot roots incline me to proclaim any BMW wearing an "M Badge" should - first and foremost -have a entirely special engine beneath it's bonnet.   This should be the CORE CRITERIA.  We should not settle for any M-badged car with only a mild derivative of an existing model's engine

This 1-Series M could very well be the US E36 M3 reincarnated, created for boosting sales and building the 1-Series image.  It could also very well be yet another slap in the face for BMW M enthusiasts.

People, you cannot put a number or price on SPIRIT!   BMW Marketing - take note!

Word! - Marc

marcopolo1 says:

07:04 PM, 02/12/2011

test

m_m_m_m_m_m says:

12:42 AM, 01/20/2011

2002 M Coupe is the dog's bollocks... no other M need apply

still blows the doors off 911s

neokaitiger says:

03:21 PM, 01/13/2011

@copmotor440cid

I have no problem with people stating their opinions, but when people post wrong information and make judgement on false information I feel compelled to correct them. The N54 has been phased out, and the current line up now uses the "twinpower turbo (twin scroll)" single turbo setup with the N55 engine. So actually, even the 2011 135i comes with a different engine than the 1M. So does the 335i...etc.

So now that we have that straightened out, this N54 was chosen by the M division over the current single turbo N55 because of it's powerband advantages over the current single turbo setup. It was modified by the same people who built your coveted 3.2l I6, 4.0L V8, and 5.0L V10. And now it has found it's way into JUST the 1M.

I do respect your opinion though, my intention wasn't to come across as pushing something on you, I just felt compelled to correct and maybe explain this car from BMW's point of view, but most people don't seem to want to hear any of it. Time will tell, and once the car is out and word spreads about the driving experience I'm sure it will be one of the all time greats.

colorado1974 says:

01:02 PM, 01/13/2011

Neo, sorry but most bmws have hard plastic interiors Eilat the challenger does not.

copmotor440cid says:

11:10 AM, 01/13/2011

I am well aware of the reasons for adoptying the turbo engines across the M range. I read all that too thanks. I am sure this car will perform nearly as well as the V8 M3. The N54 is a great engine but IMO it is not an M worthy engine. The emissions+fuel economy argument is a tough sell to me since this car (and M cars in general) are very limited production models. As the article states, there will be fewer than 1000 available in the U.S. That volume ain't gonna make much of a dent in BMW's CAFE numbers. Nothing wrong with the chassis on the 1 series M or the suspension/tire/cosmetic upgrades. If i wanted to write a 30 page post I could also recite the history of BMW for the last decade but I am just trying to make a simple statement of OPINION.

neokaitiger says:

09:42 AM, 01/13/2011

@copmotor440cid

Again, times are changing...BMW can't get away with their old high compression high revving engines and still sell the cars legally in the states. They are simply adapting to the laws that are out of their control. What would you have them do? You say how the M3 is a great car and it's justified, yet you forget that the V8 is literally the M5's V10 with two cylinders lopped off. That's alright, yet revising their award winning N54 for their lightest M car is a travesty? You forget to mention that the M3 it's grown to almost two tons over the past few generations, and personally after driving the e9x M3 I was hugely dissappointed, and I'm far from the only one who felt that way about the new M3. You still haven't made anything obvious, you are just stating redundant facts. Yes BMW's M division isn't what it used to be, that's obvious to everyone. We can agree on that. But just because they are taking a new approach doesn't mean they deserve all the hate. Until you actually drive one of these cars with the N54 I don't understand how you can talk smack, it's a powerhouse of an engine that makes V8 power and sips V6 gas, yet you rant on about how a 3800 pound car with 295 lb-ft of torque is what a real M car is all about.

It's not like these engines are cheap either, they are works of art even if they aren't hand crafted by a dude in a building with a big M on it. In reality that's all you're paying for. You are just coming across as another person who buys the car for the M badge. Any M3 buyer would be intimidated by this little beast. It's cheaper and probably faster. Time will tell, can't wait for a review. All the reviews of the car so far have been glowing, unlike the M3 when it came out a few years ago which had complaints about the weight, price, lack of torque, and brake fade.

copmotor440cid says:

12:27 AM, 01/13/2011

@ neokaitiger

I guess i should have explained what obvious meant. BMW isn't about to offer the same V8 engine as the M3 in a $12k cheaper "entry-level M". That is obvious.

"You mentioned detuning the V8 to put in the 1M? Why? This isn't GM, Chrysler or Ford we are talking about, where you can get away with building a car from the parts bin, this is BMW's M division. They create one off engines for each of their M cars that are specifically designed for the dimentions and weight of the cars."

Thank you for proving my point. This used to be true of the M division. Changing the cooling system or boost level of an engine for different applications hardly qualifies as a "one-off engine specifically designed for a given car". Past M cars have had unique engines. the 3.2L six in the previous gen M3/Z4, 5.0 V10 in the M5/M6, and 4.0 V8 in the current M3 come to mind. The X5M/X6M and upcoming M5 are not at all similar weight vehicles, and yet they will share the same basic twin-turbocharged V8. BMW M division becomes more like AMG every day. This 1 Series M uses a VARIATION of the same turbo six used across the entire BMW lineup. That is not special or exclusive and not deserving of the M badge IMO. This car would be absolutely appropriate had they simply called it the 135is and knocked $5k off the sticker.  

copmotor440cid says:

06:27 PM, 01/12/2011

Thank you I will. And I will enjoy my useable, comfortable back seat when i outrun your 47k mini bimmer. Oh yeah, just to make it clear the first thing I do when i test drive a performance car is rub and caress the interior panels to make sure they are snuggle soft. By the way, I would love to drive this car and i respect it's performance potential, I just wouldn't spend $47k on a car that doesn't give me the most bang for the buck OR the best driving experience. The old M cars may have been slower and less fuel efficient but they had character (The current M3 still does). There is a reason supercharged AMG's were faster than their M counterparts but most magazine editors still preferred the BMW's.