The BMW 1M: A Legend in the Making
The BMW 1M is a legend in the BMW enthusiast community. If you didn’t know, it’s the most high-powered variant of the E82 1 Series Coupe. Made only from 2011 to 2012, it was far from the typical BMW M product. Using a wide-bodied version of the traditional 1 Series with performance parts from the contemporary BMW M3 and a twin-turbo N54 engine lightly breathed upon by the motorsport division, it was a labor of love. Reportedly, engineers worked through their vacations to ensure that the 1M would even see the light of day – after surprisingly warm reviews from the then-head of engineering, Albert Bierman. Codenamed Pyrat – after Guyana Pyrat rum – it was as feisty as any M product before or since.
Realistically, there’s a solid chance you already know most of the history of the BMW 1M. Rear-wheel drive, LSD, comically large 19-inch wheels from the contemporary M3’s Competition Package. Looks like a 1 Series with an artificially, er, “enhanced” rear and a seriously nice dress on. But there are still some untold tales behind this enthusiast holy grail.
The Greatest Story Never Told About the BMW 1M
Anonymous testimony has led BMWBLOG to believe that the 1M was originally planned as a high-powered four-cylinder. The dilemma is probably crystal-clear to the more wizened enthusiasts reading: a high-powered four-cylinder didn’t exist. In 2011 – or late 2000s, when the 1M was being developed – the best four-pot you had was in the 320i making less than 200 horsepower. Not exactly the Motorsport icon M was hoping for. It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to figure out how expensive it would be to develop a then-novel four-cylinder M engine. It also wouldn’t sound good. While that didn’t seem to matter during S55 development, it was a dealbreaker for the developers of the 1M.
So, as our unnamed storyteller says, a CEO change came up, and the engineering team had to – again – try to convince the powers that be to build the vehicle. Despite substantial hurdles, they got the approval as long as they could “make it work.” They decided that the twin-turbo inline-six N54 engine was the only one that fits the profile of the vehicle they wanted to work on. And set to work making it fit.
A Legacy That Keeps on Giving
Perhaps the most interesting component of our tipster’s tale is the fact that the BMW 1M was part of the pioneering forces that allowed the M product line to expand to what it is today. We’ve heard that convincing leaders that the M product line could function outside the usual parameters was quite tough. Vehicles like the X5 M and X6 M were tough to sell but eventually got through, and the 1M paved the way. Moreover, the vehicle’s cult following established a precedent for the impressive and already-legendary M2.
A Legacy That Keeps on Giving
Most enthusiasts need no introduction to the BMW 1M, so I won’t bore you with facts. And not many more would need a formal introduction – your humble writer included. What fascinates us here at BMWBLOG is that this now decade-old pocket rocket continues to excite, entice, and interest even the most jaded enthusiasts. Whether by driving dynamics or a truly remarkable origin story, here’s to the next decade, 1M fans.
