BMW 1-Series M Coupé

BMW's storming 1-series promises to be best M car in the range. We see if it delivers on track.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Text: Gerald Czajka / Photos: Autobild

April 2011

Rating:

Could this be the best M car since the original E30 M3? The new 1-Series M Coupé is about as back-to-basics as BMW’s performance models get these days – it’s a simple formula of a powerful engine, a manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive.

Factor in compact dimensions and you should have a spiritual successor to one of the most-loved M cars in history. But is that the case? Auto Express took the wheel of a left-hand-drive version ahead of its official UK launch to find out.

Lay eyes on the newcomer for the first time, and you can’t help but be impressed. With a wide front splitter featuring aggressive air intakes, quad exhaust pipes and fat tyres covered by flared wheelarches, it has the look of a lightweight boxer – small and lean, but very muscular.

Inside, the standard 1-Series cabin is embellished with all the right M Sport extras, including a special gearknob, dials and seats, plus a chunky steering wheel, with leather and Alcantara suede throughout. There’s plenty of equipment, too, with standard climate control and Bluetooth.

As with all BMW’s M cars – with the exception of the CSL and M3 GTS – this is no stripped-out racer. Thumb the starter button and the 335bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine – an uprated version of the unit from the 135i – barks into life. And as soon as you pull away, it’s clear that this is a very agile, driver-focused machine. Throttle response is sharp and the steering, although heavy, is full of feel.

This is quite a lightweight car, weighing only 1,495kg, and pace is blistering as a result. BMW claims a 0-62mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds, and it feels every bit as fast as that, while top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.

Twin-turbochargers help to liberate 500Nm of torque under full throttle, so the M Coupé is incredibly rapid in-gear, too. Even if you plant the accelerator in sixth at motorway speeds, the car surges forward.

Extend the six-cylinder unit to the 6,500rpm red line in the lower ratios, and you’re rewarded with savage response and a zingy, metallic engine note. An M Dynamic Mode also offers a more flexible engine set-up, which can switch between relaxed and torque-oriented or tuned for maximum power at the touch of a button – but that’s as gizmo-laden as the 1-Series M Coupé gets.

No twin-clutch gearbox will be offered – instead, there’s a gorgeous six-speed manual with a short throw. And the handling is just as refreshingly old-school. The entire rear suspension comes from the current M3, so the car is now 80mm wider at the back, while the front track has been increased, too. Add 19-inch wheels and an M Sport differential, and there’s plenty of grip and throttle adjustability.

Turn off the ESP and you can indulge in tail slides, although firm but compliant damping means it’s easy to cover ground at pace, revelling in the meaty steering and limited body roll.

With its compact dimensions, this is a sports car that’s nimble and quick to respond to steering, brake or throttle inputs – and as a result, it’s a real pleasure to drive at any speed.

It should also be comfortable and easy to live with. The best M car for a long time? Undoubtedly.

Rival: Audi RS3
Hottest A3 is the same price and just as powerful, but uses a different approach. It has a five-door body, twin-clutch gearbox and four-wheel drive – and ultimately isn’t as much fun.

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous Next >

10 Comments

"This is quite a lightweight car, weighing only 1,495kg,"......get real. 1.5tons or is it tonnes is lardy!! The only way they were going to give it any poke was with a big engine. Having seen the non-existent leg-room in the rear of a 3 coupe, this will definitely only be a 2 seater. BMW and MB are still obsessed with heavyweight inefficient cars.

By barina47 on 21 April, 2011, 9:53am

BMW won't call it the M1 but most users and wannabe-buyers will

By backdoorman1 on 21 April, 2011, 1:14pm

lightweight...

It really is a relative word.

An opel astra 1.4T 140 ps weighs in at 1440 kgr, so does a fiat bravo. But then again so do most of super gtis like the mazda3 mps or the leon cupra R.

Still, one generation back M5 weighed in at 1590 kgr, just 100 kgrs more and had a solid chassis, huge body compared to all of that and V8 engine.

Again, the solidity of todays constructions partially makes up for that. I remember a mechanic from BMW stating that todays X5 chassis is stiffer (and by a wide margin) compared to the previous DTCC M3 touring car he worked on!!! At least you get your money and kgrs worth at something.

By giorikas81 on 22 April, 2011, 12:02pm

Its a fairly big engine for a small car and you can't knock one of the few manufacturers that is prepared to offer a small car with RWD.

All of that said, none of those figures really jump on the page at me. Considering the cash and alternatives for a really focused drivers car.

I would still rather have one of those than the RS3.

Wonder if they'll do an actual stripped out / csl type version, that I would like to see.

I generally buy cars on performance, however, can't help thinking I'd feel a bit of a numpty in one of those.

By nickeroo on 24 April, 2011, 2:40am

Heavyweight price too!

Quite fun but so expensive! With regard to Nickeroo comments on a lightweight version then as long as your prepared to do without carpets, aircon, radio, sound deadening etc and then be happy to pay an additional £7-£10K on top of the standard cars' £40K and hand and even bigger profit to Munich, then I suppose it's fine. Buy an older gen V8 M5 or an Alpina 3 series for third the price and get some real value. You can carry some passengers too boot!

By thorntonjames on 26 April, 2011, 2:21pm

Big engine, manual, rear drive. Love it.
Gotta respect they offer a manual...knowing that it will be slower in real life than twin clutch of rivals
There is already a 30 year old BMW called an M1 so cant call this the M1

By buecrusader on 30 April, 2011, 5:36am

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Small, impractical, expensive, high insurance and running costs plus it's a BMW!!! ~~~~~ I WANT ONE!!! (aha, had you fooled there ;) )

By sgtgrash on 4 May, 2011, 12:23am

Lovely but £40,000!!

Yes BMW you have got this car right by the look of it. We'd all love one but £40,000. It is silly money. I think I'll stick to an Impreza . Faster and half the price. Thanx but no thanx at that price. Shame because you have missed a big way of introducing BMW to the masses and increasing your sales.

By PeterJK on 4 May, 2011, 6:15pm

Finally....but the price is a killer!

Just when the M Division looked like they were rediscovering the secret recipe they used for the E30 M3 (been lost since probably the E39 M5), they botch it with a price tag which is just pure price gouging (in Oz this car costs 0,000)! Stupid as they would have had the market to themselves if they had not been so greedy.

By noddy222 on 5 May, 2011, 6:48am

MPOWER shopping trolly for sale

£40'000'00p only... A car for BMW man and lovers of fast shopping trolleys only

By liverpool on 24 June, 2011, 8:46pm

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.

Pictures

FIRST OPINION

While rivals such as the Audi RS3 quattro trade involvement for traction and ground-covering ability, the 1-Series M Coupé puts driver appeal at the top of the agenda. It’s enormous fun, evoking memories of the E30 M3 – although it’s much faster and more capable than that model ever was. Not only is this the best M car in the range, it’s also the cheapest. But with a mere 450 right-hand-drive examples coming here, any interested buyers need to act fast.

AT A GLANCE

Price:

Engine:

Transmission:

Power/torque:

0-62/top spd:

Econ/CO2:

Equipment:

On sale:

- Advertisement -

BMW 1-Series M Coupé