BMW 1M Coupe: The Definition of Driver’s Car

By Daud Gonzalez - January 2, 2020

Why is a decade-old 1 series worth as much as a brand new M2? Watch this video to find out.

BMW built around 6,000 of the limited-production 1M Coupe using the E82 Coupe chassis. It used the legendary N54 inline-six turbocharged engine that became famous among tuners in the 335i community. Extremely rare in today’s market, the cars have actually become an investment and now cost well over their original MSRP. Considering the unique styling, character, and intention of this vehicle, we aren’t surprised.

But is it still worthy of the hype? Would you rather buy a 1M Coupe or a new M2? Thanks to HeelandToe.Blog on YouTube, we get to see why the 1M Coupe might just be the ultimate driving machine.

The owner of this particular 1M has made a couple of modifications to bring this already special vehicle to the next level. Some might say modifying this car is blasphemy all together, but we disagree. The owner added seats, harnesses, and a half roll cage. In addition, he did a few minor aesthetic touches to the exterior. A set of 18×10 wheels with 265/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi-slick tires finishes off the look. KW Clubsport coilovers, Audi A8 8-piston front brakes, you name it, this car is prepped for some serious driving.

If you doubt this is the case, feel free to watch towards the end of this video where this 1M destroys a set of rear tires with ease. If we were to decide how much we loved a car by how much fun it seemed, this would without a doubt be at the top. Maybe there is just something about British Racing Green? We aren’t sure. What we do know is that we love this car.

Unfortunately, it seems like BMW will never build a car like this again. Their cars are getting more and more technologically complex every day. With this, the raw sensation of driving gets lost in the intricacy of the electronics and computers controlling everything. Having that visceral connection to the steering and pedals is an underlooked factor nowadays.

However, as people get more and more disconnected from their driving, enthusiasts are looking at cars like the 1M Coupe and enjoying the older, analog days of BMW. With a 1M Coupe, driving dynamics are king and everything else is secondary.