Driven - Tuned BMW 1M
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Driven - Tuned BMW 1M
I was lucky enough to have a decent passenger ride in a BMW 1M on Sunday, which had been tuned to somewhere in the region of 480bhp and about 500 torques.
One word; Wow!
At this point of course the cynics amongst you might say that it isn't surprising to be impressed by a 40k plus car with another few thousand spent on tuning, but I comment totally on the 'completeness' of the package.
The looks, I love the puffed arches, the sharp bumper styling, and how refreshingly small it is compared to some of the other German supertankers!
Then you climb inside and it's a fantastic mix of expensive looking alcantara with red stitching, even the flat bottomed wheel (something I'm not normally a fan of) was beautiful and chunky in that 'M' division way.
Other details I was able to suck in was the fantastic sat nav, both in looks and functionality (although I can see why iDrive could frustrate some people) and the swish reversing sensor graphics. Even the seats were fantastic and soft, yet very supportive.
Now, being a S2k-er I enjoy my engines furious and wholly N/A, so of course I approached one of BMW's turbo efforts with some skepticism, secretly believing that the 3.0 straight six twin turbo in this car would of course be inferior in character to the joyous S54 N/A straight six in my E46 M3. I was wrong, dead wrong!
It began with a very pleasing rorty rip upon start up, and under small acceleration inputs it didn't sound like any forced induction engine I have ever heard. I did notice that with barely any throttle the DSC began interfering to keep the wheels from spinning on this dry, but very cold road surface. Too much torque then, just as I suspected.....
Once the engine was fully warmed up, we began using a bit more of the (very eager) rev band. After some initial wheelspin in the lower gears (DSC off of course by this point) the tyres heated sufficiently and began to dig in.
The acceleration was absolutely brutal, real face bending stuff. It seemed to exhibit none of the usual turbo laziness so common elsewhere, even Audi with their long term experience of making turbo engines could learn something from this twin turbo set up.
The fury begins at barely over tickover, and the punishing torque literally slingshots you down the road and to some frankly terrifying speeds! It feels so planted too. I have no idea how the standard rubber was able to deal with the thrust so well! All the while there is a popping, banging, growling jet engine symphony from the exhaust, coupled with some light whizzy chuntering from the front at various throttle stages. It truly is a fantastically exciting soundtrack!
Eventually; we came to some decent size roundabouts, which were pleasantly empty. Simply put; the short wheelbase and more than ample power mean as much fun as you dare! Really epic long, smooth drifts.
Anyhow, I've waffled enough! It's a fantastic car; rare too. It's also available in Orange, which is a big plus to this small boy trapped in the body of a 27 year old!
My last circa 500bhp twin turbo straight six experience came from my best mates' R32 GTR, which was of course a lot lighter than the 1M.
No offence to that legendary car; but BMW hasn't just improved the formula, they've re-written the book!
One does wonder how a standard car feels though......
Thanks for reading!
One word; Wow!
At this point of course the cynics amongst you might say that it isn't surprising to be impressed by a 40k plus car with another few thousand spent on tuning, but I comment totally on the 'completeness' of the package.
The looks, I love the puffed arches, the sharp bumper styling, and how refreshingly small it is compared to some of the other German supertankers!
Then you climb inside and it's a fantastic mix of expensive looking alcantara with red stitching, even the flat bottomed wheel (something I'm not normally a fan of) was beautiful and chunky in that 'M' division way.
Other details I was able to suck in was the fantastic sat nav, both in looks and functionality (although I can see why iDrive could frustrate some people) and the swish reversing sensor graphics. Even the seats were fantastic and soft, yet very supportive.
Now, being a S2k-er I enjoy my engines furious and wholly N/A, so of course I approached one of BMW's turbo efforts with some skepticism, secretly believing that the 3.0 straight six twin turbo in this car would of course be inferior in character to the joyous S54 N/A straight six in my E46 M3. I was wrong, dead wrong!
It began with a very pleasing rorty rip upon start up, and under small acceleration inputs it didn't sound like any forced induction engine I have ever heard. I did notice that with barely any throttle the DSC began interfering to keep the wheels from spinning on this dry, but very cold road surface. Too much torque then, just as I suspected.....
Once the engine was fully warmed up, we began using a bit more of the (very eager) rev band. After some initial wheelspin in the lower gears (DSC off of course by this point) the tyres heated sufficiently and began to dig in.
The acceleration was absolutely brutal, real face bending stuff. It seemed to exhibit none of the usual turbo laziness so common elsewhere, even Audi with their long term experience of making turbo engines could learn something from this twin turbo set up.
The fury begins at barely over tickover, and the punishing torque literally slingshots you down the road and to some frankly terrifying speeds! It feels so planted too. I have no idea how the standard rubber was able to deal with the thrust so well! All the while there is a popping, banging, growling jet engine symphony from the exhaust, coupled with some light whizzy chuntering from the front at various throttle stages. It truly is a fantastically exciting soundtrack!
Eventually; we came to some decent size roundabouts, which were pleasantly empty. Simply put; the short wheelbase and more than ample power mean as much fun as you dare! Really epic long, smooth drifts.
Anyhow, I've waffled enough! It's a fantastic car; rare too. It's also available in Orange, which is a big plus to this small boy trapped in the body of a 27 year old!
My last circa 500bhp twin turbo straight six experience came from my best mates' R32 GTR, which was of course a lot lighter than the 1M.
No offence to that legendary car; but BMW hasn't just improved the formula, they've re-written the book!
One does wonder how a standard car feels though......
Thanks for reading!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,297
Likes: 830
From: Nottingham
I think they look f@#king awful, toy town shit
But that's the subjective but I guess. Moff off here had a 135i coupe and it looked stupid, plain and simple. I believe they M'd that shape but even so.
They are very rare too. Wonder how durable it would be on that power, weren't these engines vulnerable to turbo issues anyway or is it different from the 135i/335i motor?
I drove a 335i dct and liked it but it was lacking a lot compared to the M3 for me
But that's the subjective but I guess. Moff off here had a 135i coupe and it looked stupid, plain and simple. I believe they M'd that shape but even so.
They are very rare too. Wonder how durable it would be on that power, weren't these engines vulnerable to turbo issues anyway or is it different from the 135i/335i motor?
I drove a 335i dct and liked it but it was lacking a lot compared to the M3 for me
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
The new three-door hatch version (BMW's nomenclature baffles me) looks quite decent/tidy for under thirty large, before options.
IF the reviews aren't biased beyond all recognition, that is...
I followed a flame-haired girl driving one round Enfield and she seemed to be enjoying driving it.
IF the reviews aren't biased beyond all recognition, that is...
I followed a flame-haired girl driving one round Enfield and she seemed to be enjoying driving it.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 11,504
Likes: 241
From: Sunny Norf*ck
I would only take a BMW under warranty and even then they can be picky about what is/not 'consumables'.
Excellent review except no thought for the view from without (so to speak.)
You would inflict a f-ugly rear on many innocent people.
Some of whom may be intelligent/sensitive.
Some will be bell ends*
(but WGAF
)
*Mr Graves graphical term
Excellent review except no thought for the view from without (so to speak.)
You would inflict a f-ugly rear on many innocent people.
Some of whom may be intelligent/sensitive.
Some will be bell ends*
(but WGAF
)*Mr Graves graphical term