Picked up my 1M last night - Comparison to my current 335xi and previous M3's...

[ADVANT123]

Picked up my Valencia Orange 1M last night from Circle BMW last night. I was having second thoughts about ordering VO since recently I've seen some really nice AW 1M's posted here on the boards, but when I saw my car in person last night, all those doubts went away - the car is beautiful.

For those of you who don't know me, here is a quick history of the cars I've owned in the last 10 years and the cars I'm comparing the 1M to:

1997 M3 (still own) equipped with coil-over and aftermarket turbo kit making over 400whp
2006 M3 Competition Package - Stock - Sold in 2008
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X - Modified - bolts ons making ~360whp - Sold in 2008
2009 BMW 335xi - Stock - Current Daily driving with 55k miles on the clock

Exterior - Car reminds me of my 2008 Evo X with the wide body look - proportions are awesome and the front and rear of the car look mean! Wish the car was 1-1.5" lower from the factory,but its nothing a set of coil-overs can't fix. One thing I was disappointed with is that I found 2 very small paint defects from the factory(one on the hood and one of the passenger side A-Pillar). It looks like during the painting process little specks of dust somehow made their way onto the car - its not extremely noticeable, but being as anal as I am - they caught my eye. Out of all of the BMW's I've owned, none of them had this problem

Interior - Very simple, low key interior. Fit and finish were on par with my current 335 and much better than my 1997 M3. I still like my 2006 M3 interior the best. Love seats - so much more comfortable then my stock 335 seats (non-sport) and remind me of my 2006 M3 seats. However, of all the cars I've owned, the Mitsubishi Evo X Recaro seats still are in my eyes, the best "performance seats" that I've owned (not comfortable on long trips though). I haven't warmed up to the i-Drive/Nav system yet, part of me is starting to regret purchasing it. When you drive this car- you'll understand- it truly is a drivers car and you won't care about the audio system or Nav system the minute you hear the exhaust or take your first high speed turn with the car. You won't need the Nav because quite frankly - if you get lost - you won't care because it just means spending more time behind the wheel to get to your destination....

Steering/Handling/Suspension Comfort - a very close tie to my stock Mitsubishi Evo X suspension in terms of steering feel, handling, and comfort. My 1997 M3 with coil-overs is certainly the best handling car I have, but its by no means comfortable. I like the 1M suspension better than the suspension on my 06 M3 Comp Package in terms of steering feel - the 1M just feels "connected". I think BMW hit a home run with this setup - plenty aggressive for 90% of the people who will be using this car on the street but actually much more comfortable than the stock suspension (again - non sport package) on my 09 335xi (Yes.. you are reading that correctly!). I have always felt the standard E90/E92 BMW's have way too harsh suspensions from the factory - even without the run-flat tires they are just terrible. Can't wait till my shocks blow on my E90 so I can put a "real" suspension on that car.

Brakes - Very powerful brakes with great feel - on par with my Evo X and 06 M3, much better than my 1997 M3 and 335 brakes. Love the look of the cross drilled rotors behind the 19" wheels, wish they would have put a nice "looking" caliper on the car, but I won't lose any sleep over it.

Engine - Before I bought the 1M, I never had an opportunity to test drive one. I was expecting the car to feel like my 09 335xi since they were basically the same engine. Boy was I surprised. Maybe I haven't put enough miles on the car yet, but for some reason, I prefer the throttle mapping on my 335xi over the 1M in the standard throttle mapping mode. Maybe I'm afraid to give the 1M enough throttle (since I'm trying to avoid WOT during break in), but to me, it just seems to me that my 335 accelerates "quicker" with a small input of throttle compared to the 1M. In the "M" mode, the 1M acts more like my 335, so I prefer this setting. Another strange thing I noticed- in 6th gear, I feel that my 335 has more "low end" grunt then the 1M - again, this just might be me afraid to give the car enough throttle. However- once you are into the boost with the 1M, its lights out - easily much faster than my 335xi and boy does it feel good! Can't wait to hit 1200 miles so I can let this sucker rip!

Engine Noise/Exhaust - No Competition - the 1M easily is the best sounding "stock" car I have ever owned. In fact - it rivals my 97 M3 (which has had different aftermarket exhaust systems installed over the years). I think BMW nailed it with this car - loud enough to get noticed, but not loud enough to be obnoxious. It's also quiet enough on the highway to take long road trips. I know there has been a lot of talk recently about "drone" on stock cars. When I was driving home yesterday, around 70mph, I finally think I heard the "drone" that people are referring to. Its nothing crazy (especially coming from an M3 that had straight pipes at one time), but I can see why some people are talking about it - I personally love it.

Stereo - Can't comment. Honestly, I drove the car for well over an hour yesterday and didn't even turn the radio on, the exhaust sounds that good. Maybe in a couple of more days once I get over the "Wow" factor of dipping my foot into the throttle.

Overall - I'll admit- I was a bit reluctant to buy this car at first. I mean, how can they call this thing an "M car" without an "M" engine. The answer is easy- I forgot what M cars are all about- they are about a "total" package. After driving the 1M I get it now and it brings back feelings from 11 years ago when I test drove my 97 M3- M cars just have a special "feel" that you don't get in standard BMW cars. Out of all of the cars I've owned - this is my favorite - I won't be looking to replace this car anytime soon. Now I just have to convince my wife to let me get an E90 M3 to replace my 335 as a daily driver....

Happy Motoring Fellow 1M owners!

Joe

[rogbmw]

I agree with you - plus, the Smiles-per-mile will be awfully hard to beat. Another thing - the 1M is a car you can turn around and look at as you walk away and bring a smile to your face.

[James T. Kirk]

Fantastic commentary. Very good perspective.

Can you comment on the 1M vs. any experience with the M3 E9X?

[ADVANT123]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

Fantastic commentary. Very good perspective.

Can you comment on the 1M vs. any experience with the M3 E9X?

Thanks, unfortunately, I haven't driven an E9X M3 yet, not because I haven't had the opportunity to - but mostly because I'm afraid too- I'm fairly certain that if I test drive one, I'll be driving one home and the wife might kill me.... The M3 holds a special place in my heart and truly is one of the greatest cars on the road.

[James T. Kirk]

All the money in the world, but only space for one car in the garage... which would you pick? The 1M or the M3 (E9X)?

[evolution80]

congrats

nice writeup of your impressions

i drove an evo VIII and X for some time - really good cars - cool that you find the steering/handling/suspension comparable - that said i have only owned powerful allwheeldrive cars so far - this will be my first rwd - i hope i get used to it before i build up too much confidence and end up wrecking the car

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

All the money in the world, but only space for one car in the garage... which would you pick? The 1M or the M3 (E9X)?

sounds like he already did..

[ADVANT123]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

All the money in the world, but only space for one car in the garage... which would you pick? The 1M or the M3 (E9X)?

Depends on your needs - but probably would lean towards the M3 since it's a very capable "all-around" car.

[Sy546]

Originally Posted by ADVANT123

Thanks, unfortunately, I haven't driven an E9X M3 yet, not because I haven't had the opportunity to - but mostly because I'm afraid too- I'm fairly certain that if I test drive one, I'll be driving one home and the wife might kill me.... The M3 holds a special place in my heart and truly is one of the greatest cars on the road.

Well i can . i come from a honda s2000. Pure drivers car. Heavily modded. Small, connected, high revving, very stiff.

Driven the e9x m3 many times.
Now the e9x M3 engine is absolutely amazing. But the car feels like more of a GT cruiser. It is soft for what an m3 should be. Coming from a s2000 it's a luxury car to me. Main reason why i never bought it/

Just drove my friend's 1 M.

WOW. Amazing. To me this should have been the e46 m3 replacement. It's small, stiffer, and greatttt engine. Very easy to throw around. Great balance with enough power to still bite you in the ass. Even for the same price id take a 1M over the M3 any day. I can't wait till i get one

[Sy546]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

All the money in the world, but only space for one car in the garage... which would you pick? The 1M or the M3 (E9X)?

1M. BUT I'm the kind of guy that DD'ed a modified, stiff as hell, lowered honda s2000. To me the 1M is the perfect balance of luxury and sports car.

[ADVANT123]

Originally Posted by S.hasan546

Well i can . i come from a honda s2000. Pure drivers car. Heavily modded. Small, connected, high revving, very stiff.

Driven the e9x m3 many times.
Now the e9x M3 engine is absolutely amazing. But the car feels like more of a GT cruiser. It is soft for what an m3 should be. Coming from a s2000 it's a luxury car to me. Main reason why i never bought it/

Just drove my friend's 1 M.

WOW. Amazing. To me this should have been the e46 m3 replacement. It's small, stiffer, and greatttt engine. Very easy to throw around. Great balance with enough power to still bite you in the ass. Even for the same price id take a 1M over the M3 any day. I can't wait till i get one

I agree- the 1M to me seems like more of an E46 M3 replacement. A lot of similarities between the two cars (a good thing!)

[mPlasticDesign]

Oh wait.....

[!mspinster]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

All the money in the world, but only space for one car in the garage... which would you pick? The 1M or the M3 (E9X)?

It seems like everyone has a M3 and 1M is more exclusive and unique.

All the money in world I would get a bigger garage.

[ADVANT123]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

Oh wait.....

I'll post pictures tomorrow once I get a new toy I bought installed - my 97 M3 and the 1M are fighting for space in their bedroom, so I bought them bunkbeds - a BendPak HD-9 4 post lift. Gets installed tomorrow morning

[Hotrod99]

Welcome to the club!

[Romo]

Maybe I'm afraid to give the 1M enough throttle (since I'm trying to avoid WOT during break in)

What means WOT?

Great write up IMO, I do agree about the interior of the E46 M3 (I did own one) it is by far the most beautifull dash I`ve ever seen on a Bimmer.....I realy do miss it......

[Denso]

Originally Posted by Romo

What means WOT?

Great write up IMO, I do agree about the interior of the E46 M3 (I did own one) it is by far the most beautifull dash I`ve ever seen on a Bimmer.....I realy do miss it......

WOT = Wide Open Throttle, you have to wait until after the break in service to do this

[Romo]

Originally Posted by Denso

WOT = Wide Open Throttle, you have to wait until after the break in service to do this

Thanks for explaining

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by ADVANT123

I'll post pictures tomorrow once I get a new toy I bought installed - my 97 M3 and the 1M are fighting for space in their bedroom, so I bought them bunkbeds - a BendPak HD-9 4 post lift. Gets installed tomorrow morning

Oh I have to see that lift. I am actually looking into a 4post myself. My brother-in-law is a dealer in the midwest so I will be getting a lot of advice from him.