It was the year 2011, BMW E90 M3 was the entry-level M car, which has grown larger compared to the previous generations. The M3 was rocking the V8 engine while the M5 was equipped with the humongous V10. Undeniably, both the E90 M3 and the E60 M5 were brilliant, especially because the M5 could be specced with a 6-speed manual in the US. However, BMW needed something to make their M division models more accessible.
A void in the entry-level segment led BMW to think it was a good idea to experiment with the little 1 Series. They decided to test the waters with a limited production run of high performance 1 Series from their M division. Initially, BMW had decided to create just 2,700 examples globally, but that wasn't to be. Sometimes, things don't go according to plan. Occasionally, that can also be for good reasons. Over a decade later, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe (or simply called the BMW 1M) is still revered as one of the greatest works by the Bavarians, and highly coveted today.
Aren’t you curious to know what exactly is so special about the BMW 1M Coupe that people can stop drooling over it and then say no more!
Update July 2022: This article was updated with more information about the BMW M1 Coupe.
The 1M Coupe Packed One Beast Of An Engine
BMW launched the 1 series in 2004 in four primary variants, namely: 3-door hatchback-E81, 2-door coupe-E82, 5-door hatchback-E87 & 2-door convertible-E88. The 1M Coupe was the performance variant of the E82 series.
What’s deployed under its hood might surprise you altogether given the fact that BMW has tried to fit in too much in a compact coupe here. For starters, the engine is a N54 3-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 cylinder engine. The engine was the first mass-produced turbocharged motor from BMW. The engine was initially destined to debut in the E89 Z4.
Additionally, the enthusiasts' love affair really stems from the 6-speed manual transmission. Thanks to the stick shift gearbox, it plays a major role why the 1M is so appealing. The engine sends all the power to the rear wheels making it just the perfect machine to drive around twisty and winding roads.
The engine was tuned to develop 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. But on overboost, it would churn out 369 lb-ft with an additionally 37 lb-ft at your disposal.
The 1M Coupe Was Tuned To Handle To Perfection
Enough about the technical jargon now let’s move on to what it can do on the roads. Fascinatingly the 1M can accelerate from a complete standstill to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, while it takes only 10.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 mph. Its top speed as recorded is 155 mph.
The chassis construction for the 1M is inspired and borrowed directly from the E90 M3. The front and rear axles, pivot points, links supports are all the same used in the M3. BMW mostly used aluminum while constructing the chassis to add the element of lightweight to the 1M. All these features coupled with a perfect 50-50 weight distribution made a 1M a very versatile car that's fun to toss around in the corners and a great choice for beginners and experts all the same.
The 1M Coupe Draws Crazy Money Today
The 1M is available at a basic price of $47,010 this includes standard features and a variety of additional packages like Convenience packages and premium packages that can be acquired for an additional $2700 and $2400, respectively. BMW produced 6,342 units worldwide, out of which only 983 were US spec. Just the sheer lack of numbers and high popularity among the masses made the 1M a star in the market and the 1M sold out like hot potatoes. The sales of the 1M Coupe shocked BMW, and it performed far better than anyone expected it to.
However, with time the price of the 1M has appreciated instead of depreciating. What this means is that the 1M now available in the used markets is more expensive than it was when it was retailed in 2011. Today, if you’re in the market to buy a BMW 1M you will find a few available, but they now go for an average price of $60,000, accoringly classic.com. There are a few sellers out there that are asking the low six digits for a low mileage 1M. The Coupe is so widely loved that even Top Gear presenter Chris Harris couldn’t stop himself and paid “Crazy-Money” to buy a 1M in 2017.
BMW 1M Is Definitely A Modern Classic
For different people a classic car might hold a different definition, it’s like one size doesn’t fit all. Depending on individual tastes, preferences, and generation gap one model which might seem perfect to one may seem complete applesauce to someone else. So is there no proper guideline on how to decide whether we can consider a car to be a modern classic model? The answer is both yes and no because there are some parameters based on which we form an opinion whether a specific car's worthy of the modern classic title, but there may be exceptions. Such criteria vary from iconic features, the character of the model, demand, production units, price, premium features, and so forth.
Let’s answer these questions one after the other. Is it iconic? Yes, it is because before they launched the 1M BMW was deviating from what made its 3-series a brilliant car. The 3-series lost its path and was much bigger with immense power which took away some driving pleasure. Is it still in demand? Yes, there is still a tremendous demand for a used 1M in the market. Was it a limited production? Yes, BMW capped the production to 6,309 units. Is it popular among enthusiasts? Yes, enthusiasts love the little coupe. With great demand and love from the enthusiasts, the prices of the 1M are slowly appreciating to almost twice its original price in a frame of nine years.
All the questions answered above lead us to believe that the 1M is definitely a modern classic. It is among the last breed of gasoline-powered ultimate driving machines built by BMW which is true to its fun and dynamic driving experience.