It’s almost unbelievable to think a car now so revered as the BMW 1M was once the controversial M car. Back in the early '10s, the purists sneered at its ordinary engine (the N54 twin-turbo straight six, when all M cars before it had an ‘S’ designation motor), its borrowed parts (including an M3 rear end) and its not-quite-coupe design. Imagine what those people must think about M cars now. The 1 definitely represented a different approach from M, less lavish and complex than some other cars in the range at the time, though was none the worse for it. Quite the opposite, in fact.
All the good bits were spot on, from engine character to handling balance, and at a time when enthusiasts were being bamboozled by driving modes, the simplicity was hugely refreshing. It was manual only, with passive dampers, and configurability extended to an M button. That sharpened the throttle response. It was an honest, authentic, heart-on-its-sleeve fast compact BMW, the 1M, which is what endeared it to so many people so quickly. Media drives raved about it, and the UK allocation of just 450 cars sold out very quickly.
The 1M’s significance extended beyond just being a great little coupe, however, as its success validated BMW’s initial idea. Far from tarnishing the brand as the die-hards suggested it might, the 1M proved that people wanted a more accessible model below the M3. It wasn't a coincidence that the first M2 also featured an ‘N’ engine, passive (fairly unapologetic) suspension and a manual gearbox. Sure, it had inevitably become more advanced, with a DCT optional, but the attempt to emulate the car that came before was plain to see.
All these years later, the 1M remains a hugely likeable and very collectable M car. Partly that’s because so few came here, of course, though also because the baby bruiser hails from that time when fast cars could still be relatively straightforward. So there’s a conventional limited-slip differential, and an MDM traction control setting to get the best from it. Bluetooth was an option, but there’s no ugly old screen inside. It’s new enough to travel hundreds of miles in a day without drama, and old enough to be fun in almost any situation.
This Alpine White 1M is notable for having actually been driven; many are offered up for sale with paltry mileages, the car’s revered status seemingly outweighing its reputation as one of the great BMWs. Owned by its current keeper for three years, it’s been serviced annually and treated to chrome exhaust tips, an upgraded turbo wastegate pipe and retrimmed steering wheel. Inside and out it looks a treat, smart and simple in the best small BMW tradition right down to its manually adjustable seats. To think this was the M car brimming with attitude not so long back - it looks almost modest nowadays.
That 1Ms have sort of always cost what they did new reflects the esteem in which they’re held, and that doesn’t look like going anywhere for the foreseeable future. There hadn’t been a car like this before the 1M and there wasn’t one after it; the M2 was similar in spirit, though arguably a more conventional model compared to the skunkworks special. For those reasons and many others, the 1M will be loved for a while yet - here’s to many more happy miles.
SPECIFICATION | BMW 1 SERIES M COUPE
Engine: 2,979cc, straight-six turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340@5,900rpm
Torque (lb ft): 369@1,500-4,500rpm
MPG: 29
CO2: 224g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 80,000
Price new: £39,990
Price now: £38,000
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