Orange M3 GTS White 1M. Tommy Milner at BMW M in Garching.

[Jason]

Via M-power.com



Do you have a special relationship with the BMW M3 if you won the team and manufacturers' title of the American ALMS series last season in 2010? It's certainly very likely. And this is just what is suggested by the look which Tommy Milner gave the BMW M GmbH's sportiest automobile in 2010 - even though this is still just a miniature model.

Tommy's sporting success brought him to Germany, accompanied by his dad. But before the celebrations took place they paid a brief visit to BMW M. In fact this is almost becoming a tradition - the two of them came to Garching together last year as well.





As they toured the workshops Tommy gave lots of autographs...





... and took a look at various BMWs here and there being built at the time.







Tommy was especially fascinated by the BMW M3 GTS - now life-size, so to speak - which was undergoing construction in various sections of BMW M's manufacture:




Before addressing the question of whether it was possible to actually have a drive in a BMW M3 GTS - there was deep snow on the ground outside - Tommy's attention was attracted by something else coloured white which quickened his heartbeat even further (and not only Tommy's, as we now know):







Tommy got BMW M Head of Development Albert Biermann to explain the details of the latest M automobile. Incidentally, as on-site observers we constantly come to the conclusion that whichever of the three available paint finishes you see the BMW 1 Series M Coupé in "in natura", you always have the impression that that particular colour is the one it looks best in. So depending on your point of view, this means either that people will be spoilt for choice when it comes to ordering - or else you simply can't go wrong anyway (except perhaps spend too long thinking about it).


Tommy Milner will have to wait a while for a ride in the BMW 1 Series M Coupé, but he certainly wasn't going to miss out on a ride in the BMW M3 GTS.





When you see the white splendour of the snow in the background, you quickly realise why the sportiest BMW M3 has different wheels mounted for the road.



Tommy Milner, here with M3 GTS Project Manager Reinhold Otten, was not put off by it at all. He turned out to be extremely taken with the M3's agility.




Those whose BMW M3 GTS is currently construction can count themselves lucky (this M automobile has long been sold out). The rest of us ought to not to spend too much time wondering which colour we would like to order the BMW 1 Series M Coupé in…

[saeedg48]

both AMAZING machines - one lucky guy.

[Marioalex24]

Both great cars. I wish I could have both

[EuroCarsOnline]

Originally Posted by shift@red

I dont think the M3 GTS looks all that great, but the 1M looks downright awful in comparison.

Both look incredible in person. I didn't get to drive the 1M, but I did get hot laps in the GTS. It looks better going sideways around a 90 degree turn, trust me!

[008]

Is he going to be racing a BMW next year? Maybe his dad will bring PTG back in the fold in the world challenge series or the grand am cup.

[M_Time]

Great pics !! Awsome down to earth guy !!

Can't wait til' the 12 Hours of Sebring March 16-19.

He recently relocated from VA to FL.

Hopefully I can get my dash signed soon..

[008]

"Two new BMW M3 GT race cars are being constructed by the Team for returning drivers Bill Auberlen, Joey Hand and Dirk Mϋller. BMW Motorsport driver Dirk Werner will replace Tommy Milner who has left to pursue other opportunities. Werner co-drove with Auberlen and Milner at the Twelve Hours of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans in 2010."


http://www.rahal.com/alms/news/

[VSmotorsports]

The GTS is sick! Just wish the US would get something as rare and performance oriented from BMW.

[mkoesel]

Does the 1M also have winter tires on it? If so, I wonder why they felt the need to change the wheels on the GTS to mount winter tires and not the 1M seeing as how they use the same wheels (in different colors).

[Tallest]

white 1M coupe looks best? Wanna bet it will look better in Avus or LeMans blue?

[NYCMCBM3]

GTS

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by research

white 1M coupe looks best? Wanna bet it will look better in Avus or LeMans blue?

Yeah enough with the white M cars. Bring back LSB, DY, PY, etc.... I wanna see more crazy color combos. Not a crazy color but his MR one looks hawt. Initially I didn't like the idea and execution of the 1M but I got to admit it's growing on me.

[NYCMCBM3]

^love that interior

[bavarian19]

nice!

[southlight]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Does the 1M also have winter tires on it? If so, I wonder why they felt the need to change the wheels on the GTS to mount winter tires and not the 1M seeing as how they use the same wheels (in different colors).

They didn't let him drive the 1M (yet), or so they said:

Tommy Milner will have to wait a while for a ride in the BMW 1 Series M Coupé, but he certainly wasn't going to miss out on a ride in the BMW M3 GTS.

Best regards,
south

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by NycE93M3

^love that interior

Dare I say it looks better than the M3? Love the suede accents on the instrument cluster, doors and dash! And the colored stitching!!! Mmmmm! I must correct myself the ext color is Valencia Orange, also pretty nice!

[OwnAge]

damn thats fun

[mdosu]

Awesome post! First time I ever saw an authentic pic of the 1M in full view.

The rear bumper looks really out of place, front is okay. I wonder if the alcantera stitched dash will make it to production?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by southlight

They didn't let him drive the 1M (yet), or so they said:

Yeah I did see that south. I guess I figured that the cars were there not just for him to drive but for other evaluation purposes by engineers and such. So, with that in mind I thought they should both be set up to drive in the cold.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Yeah I did see that south. I guess I figured that the cars were there not just for him to drive but for other evaluation purposes by engineers and such. So, with that in mind I thought they should both be set up to drive in the cold.

I see, the white 1M is most certainly a show model meant for display at events and car shows.


Best regards,
south

[MonteCarloM3]

love the wheels on the M3, what are they?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by MonteCarloM3

love the wheels on the M3, what are they?

BMW Style 179, I believe.

http://www.google.com/images?q=bmw+style+179

In looking at the pics of the GTS above, you may notice the offsets are wrong (especially rear). That's because these are 3 series wheels, not M3 wheels. Ok for a winter setup, but not great for a permanent M3 wheel, IMHO.