Car and Driver's Prototype Drive of the 2012 BMW 1-series M Coupe

[esquire]

Wow. 4.3 seconds to 60mph is phenomenal. And a simple chip/piggyback ECU will shave off a few more tenths of a second off that. Very exciting news.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by esquire

Wow. 4.3 seconds to 60mph is phenomenal. And a simple chip/piggyback ECU will shave off a few more tenths of a second off that. Very exciting news.

M3 3.84 diff for the win!

[BForbes]

4.3sec to 62mph sounds a bit off to me. BMW would never publish that IMHO as they're quite conservative with their numbers. I dont doubt for a second that the 1M will be that fast stock. Chipped/Reflashed 1M's will be scary cars with the suspension to back it up.

[BBK]

No way it will do 4.3 to 62mph (100kmh)... Maybe 4.3 to 60, which even then is a stretch.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by BBK

No way it will do 4.3 to 62mph (100kmh)... Maybe 4.3 to 60, which even then is a stretch.

I dont see it as much of a stretch. The 335is does it in 4.6sec and weighs almost 300more pounds. Stock for stock a 135i is already a tick faster than the 3er.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...take_road_test

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by BForbes

I dont see it as much of a stretch. The 335is does it in 4.6sec and weighs almost 300more pounds. Stock for stock a 135i is already a tick faster than the 3er.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...take_road_test

BMW posts very conservative numbers. The 335is does 0-60 in 5.1 seconds according to BMW.

We all know magazines post better times. I think Car and Driver's best 0-60 time in the M3 is 4.1 seconds while BMW says 4.7. I remember another magazine posted 3.9. If BMW posts 4.3 officially for the 1M coupe, that means it would probably do 0-60 in under 4 seconds.

[spiderz17]

Originally Posted by Robert

43 base! meaning no nav, power seat, leather, and other creature of comfort like ipod integration, hdd mp3 storage but who cares, you are buying a sports focused car.

Exactly, they can keep all that crap. That's what my wife's 5er is for. I'd gladly take $2-3k off the base price to have manual, cloth seats and a plain ole radio w/ cd player.

[as7920]

Originally Posted by spiderz17

manual, cloth seats and a plain ole radio w/ cd player.

LOL, sounds like UK base spec without the $2-3k saving!

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by Scott Lawrence Mosher C/D

@ Haywood: I went with a manual. How are you liking your 2011 135?

This is my 2nd 135i. I had an '08 and I really like the '11 much better. The new iDrive is so much better than my old one. I also like the N55 exhaust note over the N54. So far, so good with exception of a cracked 3rd brake light!

[BrokenVert]

Rpm 90

If the 1M is indeed using an M3 driveline then it has a 3.84 final drive and is geared for a much less torquey car I can believe 4.3 but BMW would say 4.7 or something like that. What does BMW claim as the M3s 0-60 time?

[mbanshchikov]

wow maybe I should cancel my order for the 2011 135i and wait until this car comes out!

Hey Scott love C/D by the way, always great articles, reviews, etc.

[Kurt_OH]

BMW claims 4.7 / 4.5 for M3 manual / dct.
Stock 135i diff is 3.08 and M3 is 3.85.
If they did drop 3.85 geared M3 diff in, then 1M will EASILY be fastest M up to 1/4 mile anyway. That is a HUGE difference.

[GO135i007]

Looking forward to seeing one of these in person.

[My135]

I think the 43-45 K$ is the right price. BMW did the right thing to keep the price low by not loading it with a lot of luxary features (like power leather seats, smart key, navigation ... etc).

I may trade in my 1 for the M1.

[amalgamman]

I just can't see this car doing 0-62 in 4.3. I especially can't believe BMW quoting this figure, since as some have pointed out, their estimates are on the conservative side. Haven't most other reviews quoted a 0-62 in 5 flat? IMO there is no way BMW will make this car quicker than an M3.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by formula M

Dude, nothing you just said is even logical.

If it has more torque, then it will have taller gears. (Thus, second gear might take u to 50+mph..)

Secondly, If the 1M rev's quicker, due to better/efficient breathing, then it can rip gears quicker. Thus eat up tarmac faster.

Lastly, the power transfer is engine>tarmac, not the other way around. You gear the car, that way too.

I can't discuss logic with someone who obviously lacks it.

In the current 135i MT, 2nd gear goes beyond 60mph.
If you change 2nd gear to be "taller", then it will have MORE MPH, not less, like your incorrect example.

Now, go outside and play while the adults talk.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Rpm 90

If the 1M is indeed using an M3 driveline then it has a 3.84 final drive and is geared for a much less torquey car I can believe 4.3 but BMW would say 4.7 or something like that. What does BMW claim as the M3s 0-60 time?

Yeah, the shorter FD will make a difference in accel for sure.
Even the 135i with that FD would move out quicker.
The gearing is helping.

Looking at the M3's individual gear ratios, it's amazingly close to the MT 135i, given the different engine characteristics.
5th is 1:1 in both.
The M3 doesn't make big torque at low revs, but it carries that torque all the way into 414hp at 8300rpm. That kind of power band can really take advantage of gearing.

Still, you have to match the gearing to the engines characteristics. They may be using the M3's MT, but we'll have to wait an see what gears are choosen, whether they swap it as is or change things.

I just find it interesting that only C&D have made a 0-60 claim within that time. It doesn't seem like a BMW number.
That's .7 seconds quicker to 60 than the MT 135i's BMW listed number.

I'm sure the real work accel runs will probably put the 1M at or near 4.3, considering the 135i MT has achieved 4.6 to 60.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by amalgamman

I just can't see this car doing 0-62 in 4.3. I especially can't believe BMW quoting this figure, since as some have pointed out, their estimates are on the conservative side. Haven't most other reviews quoted a 0-62 in 5 flat? IMO there is no way BMW will make this car quicker than an M3.

C&D had 4.1 MT and 3.9 DCT for the M3.

But, there is still the 1/4 mile and 0-100+, where the M3 with 414HP probably won't lose.

335-340hp for the 1M isn't going to translate to higher speed for the 1M, especially given the aerodynamics of our portly cousin.
I'll be BMW is probably going for a track like close ratio trans, more for hard accel to lower speeds rather than autobahn barn burner.

[Evan135]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Yeah, the shorter FD will make a difference in accel for sure.
Even the 135i with that FD would move out quicker.
The gearing is helping.

Looking at the M3's individual gear ratios, it's amazingly close to the MT 135i, given the different engine characteristics.
5th is 1:1 in both.
The M3 doesn't make big torque at low revs, but it carries that torque all the way into 414hp at 8300rpm. That kind of power band can really take advantage of gearing.

Still, you have to match the gearing to the engines characteristics. They may be using the M3's MT, but we'll have to wait an see what gears are choosen, whether they swap it as is or change things.

I just find it interesting that only C&D have made a 0-60 claim within that time. It doesn't seem like a BMW number.
That's .7 seconds quicker to 60 than the MT 135i's BMW listed number.

I'm sure the real work accel runs will probably put the 1M at or near 4.3, considering the 135i MT has achieved 4.6 to 60.

I agree they will match the rear axle ratio to match engines. I have been through several gear ratio verses speed calculations for many manual transmission BMW's. I am a little obsessed with gearing as it is as important as the engine with how a car feels to drive.....to me anyway

All Bmw's I have run numbers on have the car hit 62 mph in second gear. There may be exceptions, but I am not aware of them. The 1M is using a 265/35/19 tire that is about 6% taller than the stock 245/35/18 135i tire. The 1M engine has about 500 rpm more useful rpm the the stock N54, or about a 7% wider power band. My guess is that BMW might use a 3.46 to cover those 2 differences.

Don't shoot me if I am wrong, but it would match what they have done elsewhere. They might use something a little lower like a 3.23 if the 1M is getting too close to the M3.

I am glad this has come up. One of the reasons M cars are always quicker and feel better is that they are geared for performance not mileage and they usually get all the gear they can use to make it to 62mph in second.

[Kurt_OH]

Originally Posted by Evan135

I agree they will match the rear axle ratio to match engines. I have been through several gear ratio verses speed calculations for many manual transmission BMW's. I am a little obsessed with gearing as it is as important as the engine with how a car feels to drive.....to me anyway

All Bmw's I have run numbers on have the car hit 62 mph in second gear. There may be exceptions, but I am not aware of them. The 1M is using a 265/35/19 tire that is about 6% taller than the stock 245/35/18 135i tire. The 1M engine has about 500 rpm more useful rpm the the stock N54, or about a 7% wider power band. My guess is that BMW might use a 3.46 to cover those 2 differences.

Don't shoot me if I am wrong, but it would match what they have done elsewhere. They might use something a little lower like a 3.23 if the 1M is getting too close to the M3.

I am glad this has come up. One of the reasons M cars are always quicker and feel better is that they are geared for performance not mileage and they usually get all the gear they can use to make it to 62mph in second.

Makes perfect sense. BUT, my heart hopes your logic is wrong. I'd much rather they just stuck the M3's 3.85 differential in there, unmodified.

I'd be plenty happy with a 160 mph legit top speed and fabulous acceleration in each gear.

[discoboy1]

Might be a stupid question, but the 135,and M3, can they do 62mph in first gear? having to shift 1-2 adds a lot to the 0-62 times...

[Madozu]

Originally Posted by discoboy1

Might be a stupid question, but the 135,and M3, can they do 62mph in first gear? having to shift 1-2 adds a lot to the 0-62 times...

No