Valencia Orange has been the preferred marketing color for the new BMW 1M, but many BMW fans and potential buyers have become increasingly anxious to see the new “baby-M” in other colors as well. The exclusive and limited 1M also comes with a limited choice of paint jobs, the aforementioned Valencia Orange, the classic Alpine White and the bold Sapphire Black.
Beside the Brussels Motor Show where the 1M appeared in the Alpine White color, all the other auto shows hosted the 1M in the new exclusive orange. Even the prototype we first spotted in the United States was featuring the same color.
Nearly three months later after its official debut, the first online configurator of the 1M went live on bmw.co.uk and for the first time, we had the opportunity to see the three colors one next to each other.
Interesting enough, in the UK, Alpine White paint comes at no cost, but Sapphire Black and our favorite Valencia Orange Metallic have a surcharge of $830. Our top choice remains Valencia Orange, followed shortly by the classy Alpine White, but the black paint will certainly have its own fans. In the US, the first 1M will arrive in May with a base price of $47,010.
BMW 1M is powered by the N54 twin-turbo 3.0 liter engine that produces 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The 1M at its current weight is rumored to be faster than the previous generation E46 M3 and on pair with the current M3 Coupe. Official Nurburgring numbers are expect to be released in the Spring.
Here is a collection of thoughts on the 1 Series M:
- The engine power figures will be disappointing to a large number of enthusiasts.
- The chassis is the weak link in the 135i, especially at higher speeds. And anytime you can dump the runflats . . .
- The ‘air curtain’ wheel airflow management technique is really good tech. If Hummer had done that with its H2 they may have increased it highway MPG number.
- The styling does a good job of hiding a heavy set of shoulders and hips now the track has been widened front and rear.
- Why oh why can’t we get cloth seats on any 1er, let alone the performance 1 Series M where that slippery leather will leave you slip sliding away in the esses.
- And why do they insist on the silly cast bridges that keeps the brake pads from being changed without having to drop the calipers from the rotors.
- It will be interesting to see if the ride comfort is acceptable. In the best of all worlds, the driver will get more feedback from the suspension and steering, while the passenger feels a barely perceptible difference at normal speeds. The handling difference between the 1 Series M and the 135i should be like the difference between the E46 M3 and E46 330i ZHP.
- While pricing has yet to be announced, it would be worth speculating that US pricing will be constrained by the presence of the 335is in the lineup. Price the 1M beyond the 335is
- In fact, who would consider the 335is as an alternative to the 1M?
- The lack of any form of automatic transmission automatically (pun intended) limits the audience for this car. And maybe that’s a good thing.
- The 19×9 inch wheels up front hopefully will banish understeer to the sixth circle of hell.
- BMW claims the 1 Series M will do 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. Which buff book will fix that number below 4.2 first?
- I wish that the peak power would be extended to about 6500 RPM and make that last surge to the redline at 7K worth the effort. But then they’d be stepping on the toes of the M3. However, if you just extend that fabulous fat/flat torque curve to 6000 RPM, the HP number goes to about 380; still well below the M3.
Editorial: My 135i Wants To Be a Pirate When It Grows Up
