I never cared much for the old BMW 1 Series. It has almost a depressed look to it, like it’s upset because it knows it looks like BMW haphazardly shrunk a 3 Series in Photoshop, and that it was destined to be overlooked on dealer lots by yuppies dead-set on scoring a good X3 lease deal.
BMW, once known for its rear-wheel-drive “ultimate driving machines,” has made quite a few models over the decades that didn’t quite fit what many expect from the German luxury brand. Which model deviated the most?
Just what is up with the BMW 1-Series these days, anyway? The small coupe we Americans get was replaced with a new three- or five-door hatch in the European market back in 2011 called the F20. That hasn't come stateside yet, and reportedly, its successor might not either.
Of all the current BMWs we don't get in the U.S., my favorite is the M135i. You know, the hatchback with rear-wheel-drive and a turbocharged straight six good for 315 horsepower. The headlights are kind of goofy, but the rest of car is so awesome that I'd let that slide.
The Europeans pretty much invented the premium hot hatchback, and they still hoard them like Galaxy Bars and Wine Gums. Still, it's always the things we can't get that make us the most hot and bothered, which is why seeing the Audi RS3 face down the BMW M135i gives us perverse pleasure.
Last month two Pacific BMW dealership employees posted video of themselves dangerously flogging a brand-new BMW 1M at high speeds on residential streets on YouTube. It ignited a firestorm of hatred against the dealership in Bimmer fan forums and on Los Angeles local television news shows.
Two unidentified individuals recently flogged a dealership-fresh BMW 1M at high speeds on residential streets. One of them caught it on video. That video wound up on YouTube. You can guess what happened next.
This dolled-up European BMW 1-Series may just be fitted with a modified M-Package, but more likely it's a performance concept set for an anticipated debut. Either way, this "BMW Performance Studie 1-Series" was recently spotted at a dealer presentation in Germany.
The inimitable Monkey Harris has given the BMW 1 Series M and Porsche Cayman R a typical sideways go-round in Bedford. Are these coupes really comparable, or was it just an excuse to burn down the rubber? Let's find out.
It's not the next-gen 1M — we're still reading the tea leaves on that one — but the new 1 Series with BMW's M appearance package. New bumper, new wheels and some interior bits style up the resident angry bird.
Images of the European 1 Series leaked to the web today, revealing a heavily massaged shape with much in common with BMW's recently updated 5 and 7 Series models.
We've already determined the BMW 1 Series M Coupe deserves its M badge, but y'know what would really make it deserving of M-itude? A CSL version. Apparently BMW hasn't ruled out building the lighter-weight, more-powerful 1M variant.
I told myself I would hate the BMW 1 Series M Coupe because no parts bin-built Bimmer could ever be worthy of the M-Sport badge. Right? Of course. I knew I would hate the "BMW 1M." I had to. But did I?
This young woman's plan to push her snow-encumbered car while in drive fails predictably when it crashes into the house. If only there'd been someone around to help her... (H/T everyone)
If you want a BMW 1M, hopefully you don't want both nav and bluetooth. [Bimmerfile]
BMW 1-Series M starts at near $45,000, of E30-style wideness. [Edmunds InsideLine]
After an eternity of strip teases, BMW's 1 Series M Coupe finally gives us the money shot. Hopefully, the manual-only mighty mini will bring us the horsepower we desire.
In the run up to his new show, Conan O'Brien throws crap into his head writer's BMW 128i convertible, which he correctly describes as a car "for a 16-year-old girl who just got a prom gift from her dad."
You saw the beginnings of the strip tease of the BMW 1M earlier today. Now see it live. [Bimmerfile]
