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BMW 1-Series Coupe M road test report

M

Distil everything you think a BMW M car should be into one package and you have the 1 Series M Coupe. It’s blisteringly fast, handles with lizard-like agility and yet still manages to be a car you could use every day. It’s a magnificent machine with just one failing: BMW is only bringing 450 to the UK.

Road Test Reports Says 5 star rating
A front-facing image of the BMW 1-Series Coupe M

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ALISDAIR SUTTIE SAYS

Performance Performance - 5 stars

There’s nothing dainty about the BMW 1 Series M Coupe’s motive power. It uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with not one but two turbochargers to release 335bhp at 5900rpm. That’s sufficient to see if from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, and BMW insiders reckon it’s even quicker than that but the official figures have to be careful not to tread on the toes of the much more pricey M3. On the road, the 1 M certainly feels quicker than its stated 0-62mph time suggests. It brawls its way off the line with so much vigour it feels like a rocket has been fired and the BMW then continues to pile on the pace. A six-speed manual gearbox is a welcome treat after the slew of double-clutch paddle shifters used in many sports cars of late and the 1 M’s is as watchmaker precise as BMW lore dictates an M car’s should be. The ratios are also very well arranged, allowing for great flexibility and in third, fourth and fifth, yet sixth is long enough for relaxed motorway work. However, it’s on roads away from the humdrum of the motorway where the 1 M truly shines. Its engine is a searing, snarling sensation that loves to rev and yowl from its four exhaust pipes. Overtaking slower traffic is only a toe-squeeze away and the 1 M is always eager to dig in and provide ever more go. This side of some very serious supercar machinery, the 1 M is the fastest car you could ever want on real roads.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

The 1 Series M Coupe will not suit everyone looking for a compact four-seat sports car as the ride is firm and those sizeable 19-inch alloy wheels can pick up on some smaller road pimples. However, five stars has to be the score here as the 1 M still manages to mix all-day comfort with a balanced poise during hard cornering that only a handful can match. Notably, Audi’s RS3 that is the 1 M’s only true direct rival can get nowhere near the BMW’s sublime blend of comfort and grip. With comfort covered off, the real purpose of the 1 M becomes blatantly clear at the first country road corner. There’s enough give in the suspension for it to work with whatever grip and traction is available so the 1 M can deploy its prodigious power to best effect. The fat tyres do their sticky stuff and keep the 1 M suckered to the road, while superb steering feel and a brilliantly direct action let the driver know exactly what’s going on and how much input is required. BMW’s traction control system is subtle and unintrusive and, when switched off, lets the rear wheels have some fun for track use. For more mundane duties, the 1 M is quiet and refined for everyday commuting, the engine keeps its bark in check at lower revs and the whole car feels very easy to use and live with. This is the genius of the best BMW M cars: they are all year usable, but at the press of the throttle they light up to become beacons of all that is good in the performance world.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

It’s a BMW 1 Series, so it’s well put together and the materials all feel robust, but the 1 M goes a bit further thanks to some stitched Alcantara for the dash. There’s more of this material draping the seats and it has the effect of lifting the cabin to a new level. As for the engine and gearbox, they’re based on proven units from BMW’s back catalogue, so you should have no worries here and it’s all backed by BMW’s usual warranty.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags offer fine protection to the 1 M’s occupants should the worst happen. Then there’s anti-lock brakes, BMW’s Dynamic Traction Control and Corner Brake Control, which applies the brakes to the inside wheels during cornering to help the car steer round if the car senses a loss of traction. A puncture warning system is standard for the 1 M, as is an alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks to keep it parked where you left it.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 3 stars

The word ‘coupe’ in the title is a giveaway this BMW is not going to be one for taking lanky passengers long distances in the rear seats. There’s enough room in there for a couple of kids, but access for adults is awkward due to the narrow gap when the front seat is tilted and slid forward. Still, up front the driver and passenger are treated to superbly supportive sports seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara with orange stitching to give a touch more visual appeal. The chunky steering wheel is also a delight to hold and adjusts for height and reach to combine with the multi-adjustable, and part electrically operated, driver’s seat for offer a fine position for all. All-round vision is reasonable and aided by rear parking sensors. The 1 M’s boot is the same size as any other 1 Series Coupe, so it’s big enough for most needs, but don’t expect to make just one trip to Ikea, even if you fold down the 60/40 split and tip rear bench.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 5 stars

With only 450 1 Series M Coupes earmarked for the UK, this M car is destined to be a collector’s item from the get-go. Its performance and driving feel guarantee it iconic status, and that is always good for residual values. Already being touted in the same breath as the M3 CLS, the 1 M will always have a ready queue of buyers waiting, so depreciation will be gentle. Running costs are also nowhere near as savage as many of the supercars the 1 M can be justifiably compared to. Average fuel economy of 29.4mpg is decent, while emissions of 224g/km mean a 34% Benefit in Kind rating. Admittedly, these figures are not quite as good as the Audi RS3’s, but the BMW more than makes up for this with its far superior driving dynamics. The 1 M also comes with air conditioning, CD stereo MP3 connection, leather and Alcantara-clad sports seats and electric windows, though satellite navigation is an optional extra.

Submitted: 03/08/2011 11:26:33

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