In less than 48 hours from now we’ll be sitting in a production 1 Series M Coupé, getting to know it’s unique features and learning just how special M Division’s new entry-level model really is. Despite initial reservations when the M Coupé was first revealed, I’m really looking forward to seeing and touching it for myself.
We’ll be spending time photographing it, speaking with BMW personnel and getting to know every nook and cranny so that we can convey as much about it to you as possible. What we’d like to hear from you in the next 40 hours and 20 minutes (and counting) is, well whatever it is that you’d like us to discover. Think of us as your very own secret agent.
Details of the 1 Series M Coupé will be held under embargo until Thursday at 11:59pm, so we can’t tweet live from the photoshoot, but I promise to be on Twitter for an hour or two after embargo to answer any further questions.
To remind you about what we know so far about the specification of the 1 Series M Coupé, take a look at our previous article – “BMW 1 Series M Coupe – Interview with Albert Biermann” in which Biermann talks about the engine’s power output, the car’s unladen weight and what we can expect in terms of its driving dynamics.
Other articles worth taking a look at for reference include;
- BMW’s 1 Series M Coupe visits Paris [6-10-2010]
- BMW partially reveals the new 1 Series M Coupe [27-08-2010]
- New in-car video of BMW’s 1 Series M Coupe. But is it an M car? [12-07-2010]
- BMW previews the 1 Series M Coupé [12-07-2010]
Exciting eh?
Whatever you may think of the 1 Series, this M Coupé is something really rather special, unfortunately for UK customers there are only 450 cars currently due to being imported, so if you’ve been sitting on the fence trying to decide whether to buy one… now might be a good time to make your mind up, and even more reason to tell us what you’d like to know.
Feel free to either post your thoughts and questions in the comments below, or tweet me on @DriversRepublic.
[styledbox type=”information” ]A big shout out to the folks from 1addicts.com who have kindly agreed to add their voices to this thread and help make the subsequent feature as relevant as possible. You can follow the thread at the following link 1addicts.com – BMW 1 Series M Coupé – what would you like to know? 1addicts.com is part of the @bimmerpost series of forums, which is a great resource of knowledge and insight for all things BMW.[/styledbox]
VIDEO from last weekend’s Autosport Awards
Written By
Steve Davies
Steve is an investor, private equity advisor and former Partner at KPMG, PwC and Bain. Most importantly he's a life-long car enthusiast, mountain biker and active sports enthusiast. He designs and builds technology platforms and is the architect behind Transmission.
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In no particular order, here are some of the questions that I hope will be addressed:
Is the motor identical to the N54 in either the 335is or the Z4is? If there are differences, what are they specifically (larger turbos, etc.)?
Is the oil cooler the same as that which is currently installed on the 335is or is it larger?
Is the intercooler the same as that which is currently installed on the 135 or 335is or is it larger?
What options will be available?
When will 1M be available at U.S. dealers?
When will 1M be available for European delivery?
How much will the 1M weigh?
Exactly how will be overboost feature operate and what are the boost levels?
How does the exhaust sound? Several of the early reviews suggested it was too muted.
All for now, though I’m sure I’ll think of some more later.
MDORPHN
Wash, DC
@MDORPHN, thanks for your questions. We’re already aware that the 1M will weight around 1500kg (from the Albert Biermann interview), but I’ll find out exactly on Thurs. Also let me see what I can do about describing its exhaust sound..
Will the car have fold-down rear seats?
Looking forward to your opinions and more pictures.
As per 1addicts post. Will carbon fibre roof be an option?
Will euro delivery or more specifically euro collection be available to UK buyers?
When will first deliveries arrive in UK? Looking to get mine in June?
Cheers.
Hi Mark, you’ve got mail..
Hey Steve
I believe my question will determine whether or not I purchase one of these beauties. Will this become available in a DCT option in the future, like the 135i?
I am based in South Africa when will it be available over here. Looking forward to your earliest response.
Hey Ryan, the straight answer to your question is ‘No’ the 1 Series M Coupe will not be available with a DCT option, at least not in this current incarnation. The reason being that this is a run-out special as we near the end of this current 1 Series lifecycle and will therefore only be made to a fixed production run lasting no more than 6 months. There simply isn’t the opportunity therefore to offer any substantial variations in its drivetrain or chassis.
Given the levels of interest in the 1 Series M Coupe, I’d say it is very likely that BMW will re-introduce the model for the next generation 1 Series which will emerge in 2012, but that probably means we won’t see the next 1 Series M until 2014 at the earliest.
If I were you I’d get a car now fitted with the 6-speed manual box, it’s a beautifully short-throw mechanism and is a real pleasure to use. I’m a big fan of DCT (and SMG III before it) but BMW have really made an effort with the manual box in the 1 Series M Coupe, not just in terms of the gear linkage but also the ratios.
Hope that helps – let me know what you decide to do.
Thanks for your swift response Steve, much appreciated. I jus don’t know whether I can go back to driving a manual car again, this DCT is really something else and one of a kind. The look of this coupe however is really beautiful with the bigger rims and it’s M appeal. I have a tough decision to make here Steve.