The E82 & F20 1 Series //M Cars Come into Focus

Sections: //M1\\, //M\\, E81/82/E87 1 Series, F20 1 Series Nov 14th, 2009 18 Comments

Last week M itself confirmed that a 1 Series product was coming over the next several years. It’s been assumed by much of the media that this will involve the F20 next generation 1 series and will debut around 2013. However as we’ve reported previously, M intends to come to market with a 1 Series derived product much sooner based on the current 135i 1 Series Coupe (E82).

The idea is to create a track day car similar to the E46 M3 CSL. Sources suggest the 1M will feature 19″ wheels, huge fender flares, carbon fiber roof, trunk and hood and a stripped out interior will dramatically reduce weight. Power will be upped over the stock 300 hp as well. However if the output rises over 320 hp then look for an entirely new transmission to handle the extra power and torque. It will put the power to the ground through the current ///M3s rear differential and axles. The look will be unique and more inline with the current M cars rather than the current “M Sport” aero kit on the 135i or even the BMW Performance aero kit.

Pricing? We’re guessing this will slot in around the $50,000 mark however there is one big caveat; the car may not come to the US at all. With the recent decision to not bring the M3 GTS over and the previous unavailability of the M3 CLS, it would seem that the writing is on the wall that BMW’s largest market will not get this fastest 1 Series.

However all is not lost for our US readers. M intends to follow-up this 1M with another based on the F20 and using a lightweight turbo-charged four cylinder with similar (if not slightly lower) output.

Written By: Gabe

18 Comments

Luis Nov 14th, 2009 Link

“1M will feature 19″ wheels, huge fender flares, carbon fiber roof, trunk and hood and a…” … Man, all this description almost made me get an orgasm! xD

Dan Nov 14th, 2009 Link

These decisions on not bringing these cars to the US continue to baffle me. It just doesn’t make sense why you’d develop a car and not take it to your supposed largest market. Wouldn’t it make more sense to target your largest market first, then think about elsewhere second?

Drill Nov 14th, 2009 Link

@Dan, Dude, I think that’s what they ARE doing. I don’t think BMW would find much of a market for a <$50k 1 Series. We enthusiasts would LOVE to see it, but most folks would be scared away by the cost (meaning less $$$ for BMW)

JonPD Nov 14th, 2009 Link

I personally have no issue with a 50k 1M if they truly make is something spacial.

Between the GTS and a solid 1M product I would go after the 1M every time. This is mostly due to the fact that the current 1 series is closer to the BMW’s that I fell in love with than most of the ever increasing size and weight of the 3 and 5 series. Also BMW to me doesn’t exist in the 100k + group of builders.

RJ Nov 15th, 2009 Link

BMW also has to look at the costs of federalizing the car, the cost of certifying a small handful of cars for US sale etc….it may not be worth the cost to BMW to do that.

Más potencia y menos peso para el BMW Serie 1 más radical — Diariomotor Nov 15th, 2009 Link

[...] BimmerFile En Diariomotor: Los futuros BMW Serie 1 y Serie 3 compartirán motores de tres cilindros | BMW [...]

Más potencia y menos peso para el BMW Serie 1 más radical : Blogografia Nov 15th, 2009 Link

[...] BimmerFile En Diariomotor: Los futuros BMW Serie 1 y Serie 3 compartirán motores de tres cilindros | BMW [...]

Bimmer1 Nov 16th, 2009 Link

Just give me a real limited slip diff and I’m good to go!!!

Primo135 Nov 16th, 2009 Link

Just give me an LSD… and a diet, some more room for wheels/tires, and a fuel pump that works.

Estará BMW probando un nuevo Serie 1 Motorsport : Blogografia Nov 17th, 2009 Link

[...] bimmerfile Publicado en: Motor 0 [...]

illegalprelude Nov 17th, 2009 Link

I thought the whole point of the 1 series was to also make an M version that more people can afford. If its gonna be $50k, I might as well go buy an M3?

Auto point: Es wird BMW sein, neu Reihe 1 Motorsport erprobend Jan 4th, 2010 Link

[...] absehen könnte, um von 1.560 Kg bis manche über 1.400 Kg herunterzunehmen. Berichtet: bimmerfile Posted by Eric Reed at 4:06 [...]

Voitures tuning: BMW sera en prouvant nouveau la Série 1 Motorsport Jan 5th, 2010 Link

[...] postérieure pour descendre des 1.560 kgs jusqu'aux uns peu plus de 1.400 kgs. Rapporté : bimmerfile Posted by Eric Reed at 3:17 [...]

Old muscle cars: BMW will be proving new Series 1 Motorsport Jan 5th, 2010 Link

[...] do without the rear stool to lower of 1.560 kg up to some little more than 1.400 kg. Recounted: bimmerfile Posted by Eric Reed at 4:04 [...]

Custom muscle cars: Будет BMW пробуя ново Серию 1 Motorsport Jan 5th, 2010 Link

[...] опускать 1.560 кг до одних мало более 1.400 кг. Отнесенный: bimmerfile Posted by Eric Reed at 9:11 [...]

Bimmer1 Jan 6th, 2010 Link

Why would anyone pay $50k for a 1 series M car when they can get a M3 sedan for the same price or a M3 coupe for a few thousand $$$ more?!?!?!! I’d just buy a base model 135 for $32k, get a real limited slip diff from diffsonline, dinan stg. II software, strip down the interior, some brembo brakes, and put a bilstein suspension on the car. Whaaaaala….1 series M car for under $40k that’s really ready for the racetrack! Sell off the brakes and other bits you take off the car and you’re coming in even cheaper than that. No manufacturer should be able to justify a cost difference of more than $20,000 from the base model level to loaded model of a car. Especially when it’s an entry level vehicle!!! The cost difference of the engine, suspension, and rear end cannot be anywhere close to the difference they are going to charge for the car. Maybe another $5,000 total their cost. Markup should not be more than $5000 over that. At a $40k entry level price the 135M would sell like hotcakes. Load it up with nav and everything else (although why would you) and then maybe you’d be at $46-48k. But starting at $50k and moving up from there will mean that practically no one that would want the car will be able to afford it. Can you imagine a $58,000 1 series? Who’s going to buy that? Not me or any of my diehard BMW friends that’s for sure.

Michael Jan 6th, 2010 Link

It is not going to be $50k it will come in the mid $40s, beneath the 335i E92. The 135i if I recall is priced at $34k right now. And no you can not build a better car than ///M for less money- can’t do it, especially with a CF roof, fenders and all the other tricks an OEM can do. Those wheels alone are $4k.

On a side note- remember the 1 is not an entry level vehicle in the US- we do not see stripped 116i cars with roll up windows- that is entry level

BMW1 Feb 13th, 2010 Link

The current base price for a 135i including destination charge is $36,925. I will be suprised if the 1M is priced much lower than $48,000-$50,000.

The price for a M3 sedan is about 56,000 and the coupe about 59,000 including destination.

The Fine Print

BimmerFile reserves the right to edit or delete any post for any reason. Derogatory comments of any kind will not be tolerated.

HTML Formatting Tips

To make something bold: <strong>Text to bold</strong>
To make something italic: <em>Text to italicize</em>
To make a hyperlink: <a href="URL">Text to link</a>
To quote something previously said, you can use <blockquote>text</blockquote>

Markdown Formatting Tips (advanced)

BimmerFile also allows use of Markdown formatting in the comment section. This accomplishes the same formatting as HTML but is typically easy to use.

_your text_	→	your text
your text	→	your text
`my code`	→	`my code`
* Bulleted list * Second item	→	• Bulleted list • Second item
1. Numbered list 1. Second item	→	1. Numbered list 2. Second item
[link name](URL)	→	link name
***	→	Horizontal ruler
<http://url> <email@add.com>	→	Auto-linked
![Alt text](URL)	→	Image

← The Next 3 Series (F30) Makes its Video Debut Two Wins for BMW at Scottish Car of the Year Awards →