Mar 22nd, 2012
Windows down, sun in my face and the lake off to my left. This is how to properly wake an M car from the typical Chicago winter hibernation. Yet there was a problem this year. Winter almost never came. Instead we got a few cold snowy days (during which the 1M was tucked as far back in the garage as possible) and (what I refer to as) a smattering of clean pavement 40+ degree “opportunities”. Those opportunities have allowed me to never be away from the 1M for more than a couple weeks at a time. And they also allowed me to tack on more mileage – now up to 3,500.
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Mar 15th, 2012
A few months ago I went on record in saying that I needed to go bigger. I needed to move from my E46 3 Series ZHP as the family in residence to something with more space. Today I’m happy to announce I found my solution. But first, lets back-up.
What does a BMW enthusiast do when a 3 Series proves too small? Naturally start looking at the 5 Series. That’s exactly what I began to do about two months ago thanks to the happy addition of another child to the house. But the constraints of a sedan wouldn’t do. I needed something with more utility yet something that behaved as if it were a sports sedan. Enter the E61 5 Series wagon.
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Dec 15th, 2011
Dunlop M3 Winter Tire
I have been drafting a post on why your car should be wearing snow tires in winter since I made a joke about xDrives and summertires a day or so ago… Well BMW beat me to the punch by releasing an “official” get your car the proper tires communication. It hits home on all the points for winter tires.
We recommend you shop around for the best deal you can or see if you can get prices matched as there tends to be a huge swing in prices with tires. There are run flat options available, including the pictured Dunlop M3 Winter tire- which I have used in a variety of applications over the last half dozen years or so.
Official Release: Do you wear Flip Flop or Sandals in the winter? – From your tires point of view, winter starts at 45 ° F.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – December 15, 2011…
Like flip flops and sandals, summer and all-season tires are not the best in winter weather, especially if walking / driving on icy and snow packed roads. In contrast, boots and Cold weather tires have treads with more biting edges for better grip on snow and ice, while their softer compound remains flexible even in extremely low temperatures using specialized rubber compounds and tread designs to handle the cold temperatures.
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Nov 10th, 2011
Over the years I’ve driven countless BMWs. I’ve put mile after mile on new, used and just plainly old BMWs in every condition imaginable. And yet I’ve never been more excited about one as I am with the little white car parked in my garage.
There is nothing quite like the 1M in BMW’s product mix. Small, relatively light (by modern standards) and stuffed full of M3 components, it’s a 1 Series that looks like it’s been in the gym for the last three years. And in some ways it has with the M division having endowed it with heavy doses huge wheels, fat tires, wide fender flares and air intakes seemingly everywhere.
Then there’s the engine. However as much as the twin-turbo N54-B30TO makes for a great motivator under the hood, the experience is dominated by the M3 influenced chassis, suspension and brakes. Yet it’s so much more and less than an M3. take away 600 lbs and shorten the wheelbase and you’ll understand why, in our first review of the car, we called it likely the best small M car ever. And because of it all it’s easily one of the most endearing BMW’s in recent memory. But how would it hold up to 2,000 miles? Are there cracks in the armor or is the 1M as good as we initially believed?
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Sep 4th, 2011
OEM Plus. It’s a philosophy I’ve used for a number of my recent cars and the 1M is no exception. The idea is simple – add only BMW designed, engineered or inspired accessories that enhance the look and feel of the car. And while it’s only been two weeks and 400 miles since taking delivery the big changes have already been made.
First up was the BMW Performance Carbon Fiber spoiler. A tricky install that requires a methodical approach, the spoiler slots onto the back of the 1M perfectly completing the lines of the deck-lid. It also harkens back to the classic E28 M5 and 535is spoilers from the 80′s (some of my personal favorites). But you can’t add one piece of CF without another.
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Aug 28th, 2011
The wait has stretched for years. And now it’s over. Last Monday, with an impromptu crowd of customer and employees looking on, I drove my 1M out of the dealer showroom.
Last week we published our full review of the 1 Series M Coupe. And as you likely remember, we loved it. Now it’s time for us to walk the talk a bit and actually live with one. And that starts with paperwork and something called a break-in period.
After being on the waiting list for many years it was almost anti-climatic as I signed the paperwork and took procession of the keys fobs. That said there’s something entirely satisfying about buying a new car and the 1M is obviously no exception. (Full gallery after the break)
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