2010 BMW 1 Series M Coupe (E82) 3.0L 6MT RWD (340 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW threw in all the best parts and pieces that it had in its basket and could fit under the bodywork of a 1 Series, and when it didn’t have enough room, it created more to build the M Coupe.

The German automaker claimed that designers and engineers drew their inspiration from the phenomenal BMW 2002 Tii from the ’70s when it made the 1 Series. Unfortunately, the results were not that much appealing to its fans. While it was understandable why the biggest parts of the sales went to the five-door hatchback, there was no flagship model in the lineup. But then, the carmaker’s M department took a second look at the famous E30 M3 from the 80s and considered creating a bonkers version of the 1 Series. However, the automaker didn’t want to use the M1 nameplate for the new version since that moniker had been used on the famous mid-engined supercar from the late 70s, so it used the M Coupe instead.

Right off the bat, the car’s front looked far more aggressive than any of its stablemates. The 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe had standard Xenon Adaptive Headlights adorned with LED elements inside. It sported the already famous corona rings daytime running lights. These were known parts for other versions of the 1 Series, but things went wild for the rest of the front fascia. The bumper was oversized and featured a broad, trapezoidal air intake in the middle of the apron, flanked by a pair of side scoops. In addition, BMW’s aerodynamics department created a second set of vents that created an air curtain around the wheel arches to improve the drag coefficient. Furthermore, it was impossible not to notice the flared wheel arches, which had to be like that to accommodate the front suspension carried over from its bigger sibling, the M3.

From its profile, the 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe revealed its lower ground clearance than its stablemates. Furthermore, the automaker installed side vents behind the front wheel arches to release the air trapped inside the wheel well and reduce lift. Unlike any other of its siblings, the M-powered version came with standard 19-inch multi-spoke forged alloy wheels. The sportiest version of the lineup was available exclusively as a two-door-only affair. At the back, the 1 Series M Coupe featured a lip spoiler on the trunk and a completely new rear bumper in the back. A quad-exhaust system was installed to visually confirm the sport-oriented vehicle and the inline-six breathing abilities.

Inside, the BMW created a sports-oriented cabin fitted with high-bolstered sports seats at the front, which sported the M badge embroidered on their headrests. Fronting the driver was the same instrument cluster as the rest of the range but with different dials that sported the M badge. In addition, the car manufacturer installed an oil-temperature gauge inside the rev counter, besides the fuel-level one placed at the bottom of the speedometer. The abundance of red stitching on the leather upholstery, the center console, the armrest, and the Alcantara-covered dashboard dramatically improved the car’s interior. In the back, the automaker installed a bench seat profiled for two, with a storage compartment between them.

However, nobody bought the limited production 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe for the quality of the leather or the flared wheel arches but for the mechanical bits and pieces. The automaker installed a bi-turbocharged N54 straight-six engine tweaked to produce 340 PS (335 hp) sent to the rear axle via a six-speed manual only. Furthermore, the automaker installed the same brakes as the V8-powered M3 and the same oversized electronically-controlled differential that could send the most torque to the wheel with the most traction. As a result, the car could rocket from naught to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in 4.9 seconds on its way to a capped top speed of 155 mph (250 kph). BMW sold less than 7,000 units of this car worldwide.