1M is here. for people who don't read autoblog everday

[harv]

The standard 135i makes 300hp and 300ftlbs last I heard.

I think the big differences 135 to the M are a wider track, flared fenders, M rear diff.

I guess I like it.... Whatever...

What BMW should do is create a racing series with 4 cylinder 1 series. That way we can literally push the reset button and get back to what matters. I mean,,,, how fast are they going to make the next M3? 0 to 60 in 1 second? 5 min around the Nürburgring?

Who cares. They need to spend some time in an M42 powered car.

John

[tjts1]

What BMW should do is create a racing series with 4 cylinder 1 series.

Yes please. I'll take a 4 cylinder turbo hatch 1 series over this mess.

[Nic01101011]

I realize that turbos are the way of the future and a nessesary tool to meet CAFE standards and increase fuel economy in general, but I hate seeing them in M vehicles. The M division earned BMW its Motorsport cred by following three principles - light weight, normally aspirated, and high reving.

This view point is idiotic. The racing CSLs and e21s of the 70s were turbocharged.

[VicSkimmr]

I want that steering wheel in my e30 IMMEDIATELY.

[bmw2002tiiagave]

I was hoping for more power. You can easily JB3, catback, intercooler, downpipe & intake and make more than that. Get a wide body kit, coils, and a lsd and you got yourself a faster 1 series than the M lol.

[Evan12]

i would take one no doubt. BMW ///M is turning into velvet ropes. I agree, they need to jack up power, suspension, brakes, etc. and put it all in the hands of the driver, no on/off button, just all the time. needless to say i would still take one

[VacMan]

LOL at George's comment. I think it captures the general R3V sentiment quite well. :)

Simple intake/chip/downpipe and the N54/55 can make over 350whp easy. They had to keep this car slower than the M3 in stock form, but I'm betting good money that they'll have BMW Performance parts to let the potential out of this powerplant. Check out Vishnutuning.com or youtube.com.

http://procedetuning.com/BMW/n54/dyno/dyno.html

[e30e]

People stating that buying an lsd, wide body kit, coils, jb3, horse semen, and jay z's nut butter would make 135i better and cheaper are tools.....LSD isn't going to give this car aluminum hybrid mix of this and next generation m3 suspension parts and LSD's for this car go almost a grand. This car is 10 seconds faster than e46 m3 around nurimbring, that's impressive. Name one body kit, let alone a wide body kit for any new bmw that isn't at least 2-3k plus paint that isn't complete shit. Once you mod your 135i out your saving your self what, 2-3k compared to a 1M for a car that never regain value?

This car is even cheaper than the 335iS, z4 3.5iS, TT-RS, and Cayman, and it completes with all of them as does better or as well as them.

Haters can hate, but this is a good car; much better than a lot of previous BMW products offered.

[BeirBrennerE30]

I was actually going to buy this car... Talked to the dealer and was all ready to put a deposit down. but 335hp??? seriously? Thats only 35 more hp than my 135 and 80 less than my M3. I guess I dont know what I was expecting but I was thinking in my head something closer to 360-375. I also having a hard time justifying paying the premium for the car for essentially just a widebody kit. Before when you bought an M car you got an exclusive engine with a racing pedigree... With the new M cars you just get a juiced up regular engine with more boost. I dont need M to do this for me... I can buy a chip myself and get way more than 35hp. I guess I may not have felt so let down if this wasnt hyped for so long as being the successor to the e30 M3. This is more like a US spec e36 M3... you get bodykit, leather and a warmed over non-m engine.

[Evan12]

i love this car no doubt. i just think its stupid that they are keeping it underpowered for the m3's sake.

[bimmer_E30]

This is more like a US spec e36 M3... you get bodykit, leather and a warmed over non-m engine.

Lol.

[e30e]

I was actually going to buy this car... Talked to the dealer and was all ready to put a deposit down. but 335hp??? seriously? Thats only 35 more hp than my 135 and 80 less than my M3. I guess I dont know what I was expecting but I was thinking in my head something closer to 360-375. I also having a hard time justifying paying the premium for the car for essentially just a widebody kit. Before when you bought an M car you got an exclusive engine with a racing pedigree... With the new M cars you just get a juiced up regular engine with more boost. I dont need M to do this for me... I can buy a chip myself and get way more than 35hp. I guess I may not have felt so let down if this wasnt hyped for so long as being the successor to the e30 M3. This is more like a US spec e36 M3... you get bodykit, leather and a warmed over non-m engine.

Read my previous post, its not just a body kit; its obvious you have awesome cars please tell me when buying/building your cars it wasn't just about horsepower. You seem smart you damn well know why it ONLY has 335 hp, to protect its big brother kinda like everyone knows that a cayman with 3.6 would stomp on a 911 but Porsche won't do that. It has a product to protect.

[kishg]

it's no true M but if they managed to drop 300lbs or so, it'd make a competent track weapon. I dislike the side view. They should have done the hatch. M = Marketing these days anyways. I'd take a cayman s over it.

[vegaskyle]

I discount it as a true M car for the same reason I discount the US spec e36 M3, the engine. Just a dialed up version of the one in the 135i. I agree, it looks awesome, but I'd have loved to see a true M powerplant under the hood. I'll get flamed for this, but if I had my way it would be a turbo 4 cylinder, but I know that would never happen.

The standard 135i makes 300hp and 300ftlbs last I heard.

I think the big differences 135 to the M are a wider track, flared fenders, M rear diff.

I guess I like it.... Whatever...

What BMW should do is create a racing series with 4 cylinder 1 series. That way we can literally push the reset button and get back to what matters. I mean,,,, how fast are they going to make the next M3? 0 to 60 in 1 second? 5 min around the Nürburgring?

Who cares. They need to spend some time in an M42 powered car.

John

I agree.

If they want to pay homage to the E30 M3 I think BMW has the technology to make a reliable S42 type motor for it. That way you wouldn't steep on the toes of the V8 powered M3 and the lower HP number wouldn't be such a draw back. Combine that with aggressively cutting weight and you get a far different driving experience.

I don't know that it has to be a turbo, until now that was always trade mark for ///M. I think the high output NA motors are what landed them the Mclaren F1. Not to mention it would be a true M motor.

[Cloudbase]

Originally Posted by Cloudbase
A friend of mine emailed me this link and asked me my opinion. Here was my response:

"If I were going to buy a new BMW it would probably be a 1 series, the plain old 128i, but I would never buy a new BMW. Ha, as if I could afford one anyway! I think the company has long ago lost it's way and taken the M division with it. That said I applaud the move to make a lighter weight, less complicated M car. It's also only going to be offered in a manual, no flappy paddle gear box! It's too bad its motor, the twin turbo N54, just got recalled fleetwide for long known fuel pump problems. I realize that turbos are the way of the future and a nessesary tool to meet CAFE standards and increase fuel economy in general, but I hate seeing them in M vehicles. The M division earned BMW its Motorsport cred by following three principles - light weight, normally aspirated, and high reving. Incidentally, consumer reports just ranked the only non-turbo M vehicle, the M3, BMW's overall most reliable. All that said, I'm undecided on the 1 Series M Coupe. It's kind of like politics, it's the lesser evil in our modern world of automotive crap, electronic overcomplication, and obessety that mirrors our people. Glad I got my hands on the original S54 powered M Coupe when I did. In addition, my daily driver E30 is pure bliss. I'm planning on driving one for years to come!"

This view point is idiotic. The racing CSLs and e21s of the 70s were turbocharged.

I didn't say that there were never turbocharged BMW's in motor sport. I was referring to the origin of the production M vehicles which were born through the homologation needs of the E12 M535i, M1, and E30 M3, none of which were turbocharged. The only idiotic thing there is how bad you missed my view point.

That said I don't like the idea of turbos in M cars. I've driven a 335xi, multiple WRX STI's, and a EVO X MR. On the track I drive the M Coupe in the same group as a 335xi, an EVO 9, and a 135. At 5500' above sea level the N54 powered cars have a HP and TQ advantage over the S54. Granted there are many other variables to consider, but the S54 is just so much more at home on the track and my track skills don't give it any advantage! Sure turbos are the way of the future and can't be beat from a power vs fuel efficiency perspective. I would love to have a twin turbo 123d hatch for my daily commute to work. They just don't have the feel I've grown to expect from an M engine.

I agree with the E36 M3 comparisons of the 1 Series M Coupe. I would really have liked to have seen an M specific power plant. Like I said to my friend, I'm undecided. It might be the lesser evil considering weight, pricing, and the direction BMW is headed. I would love to see a light weight, 4 cylinder incarnation of the original M3, but I'm not holding my breath!