E90 M3 or 1M

[Headhunter.M3]

Originally Posted by akkando

Size an chassis make a big difference when it comes to fun even if the engine isn't as interesting. An interesting engine in a boat, is still in a boat.

Also how is a 1m a chick looking car because it's small but the z4m isn't?

Ok none of these vehicles are anything close to a boat and the e90 chassis is amazing. It's so tight with very little to no body roll and simple mods make is close to perfect with a 8300 rpm v8!

Z4m inline 6 is amazing. Same motor as the e46 m3. Screaming inline 6. It is just my opinion on the looks of the 1M. I like the looks of the Z4m better and definitely the looks of an E90 m3 better than both of those. 2 Seaters are cool and make great weekend cars. 1M just doesn't look like a 60k+ car to me. Looks like a 20k car while the Z4M is timeless. 1M chick car maybe, maybe not a total chick car but definitely a little brother/sister of an E92 M3.

[Headhunter.M3]

Both good looking cars but the E90 is timeless

[wyatth]

Originally Posted by SunDevil_M3

... 1M costs a premium for a reason. I could care less about the speed, more so interested in what makes that 1M special. Low production numbers, one year only, and you will never see a car like it again most likely.

M2 is the same formula, no? Okay maybe steering is not great, but I wouldn't say that alone makes the 1M a classic or so unique.

I'd mix it up if you're over the E90. But $60K for a 1M doesn't sound tempting to me.

[pbonsalb]

The guy is not into performance. He just wants a rare car. I could build a 135i that will spank a 1M for less. But he is not into that sort of thing. He wants a collector car. And there is no doubt the 1M is much more rare than an E9xM3.

[Bartledoo]

I would take an S54 M coupe over the 1M if you want a rare car with character. Also, more rare if I'm not mistaken.

[pbonsalb]

50% more S54 Z3M Coupes than 1M, but the 01-03 Z3 M Coupe is still rare.

[Obioban]

Man, that's a tough call.

I prefer everything about the 1M over the e9X M3 other than the engine.

... but the 1M engine is so meh, and the e9X M3 engine is so good, that I could completely seeing going either way.

S65 swapped 1M is the answer.

[pbonsalb]

It would be cheaper to buy a 135i, add the M3 suspension and swap in an S65. If you swapped the S65 into the 1M, I doubt the value would go up by the cost of the swap, and a rare car would no longer be original.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

It would be cheaper to buy a 135i, add the M3 suspension and swap in an S65. If you swapped the S65 into the 1M, I doubt the value would go up by the cost of the swap, and a rare car would no longer be original.

Body work isn't cheap...

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

50% more S54 Z3M Coupes than 1M, but the 01-03 Z3 M Coupe is still rare.

Only 678 U.S. S54 M Coupes produced, and 740 1M sold in the U.S. from what I googled.

[pbonsalb]

I saw a figure of over 1100 for S54 M Coupes but maybe that was global. How many 1M globally?

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I saw a figure of over 1100 for S54 M Coupes but maybe that was global. How many 1M globally?

For the 1M globally, I've seen 6309 and 6342 as total production figures.

[SAMM3Y]

1M because Valencia Orange.

Or this


https://showroom.windingroad.com/listings/product/4940/

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

For the 1M globally, I've seen 6309 and 6342 as total production figures.

Ok. Then 01-03 S54 M Coupe is more rare. The OP should be able to buy one of those for less than a 1M.

[New2Roundel]

I can't say I'm a big fan of the 1M. I don't like the styling, I think the interior looks horribly cheap, and I don't like the regular-spec engine. The e9x is just a much better car IMO. To someone elses recommendation, I'd go with a 135 if I just had to have a 1-series.

If it was my money and I really had to get back into a BMW, I'd opt with what others are recommending: M2 comp or M coupe. You've already done the e9x thing, why do it again? Life is just too short to keep buying the same car.

[chocstraw]

Originally Posted by SunDevil_M3

I think with proper maintenance and care the N54 can be as reliable as any other M motor. I think the N54 gets a bad rap from the cheap group with the 335's.

The N54 deserves somewhat of a bad reputation, but it has had so many parts revisions that the later models with all of the revised components are decently reliable cars. I think the injectors had 6-8 revisions, the HPFP had 4 or 5, the turbos had a few, and so on. It does not reward you for proper care, it rewards you for paying M3 level repair costs to get the revised components. They just issued another injector recall. The 1M had a different flywheel, better response, some changed internals iirc.

Early models are really a nightmare, but I think the 2011+ N54 (1M & Z4 35is) were fine. I can't say for certain but the electronics in the early N54 cars seemed worse too. Many gremlins. I think this had to do with some CFO or other bean counter cost-cutting in the electronics at that time. Wiring insulation felt like hard plastic, and overtime it'd just flake off and short in some areas. Working on the N54 is generally worse than the S65 too. It feels less well thought out.

The E92 M3 hydraulic rack is maybe the best selling point for the 1M

Originally Posted by Obioban

Body work isn't cheap...

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-prior-de...0609890549~pd/

Then you need E9x M3 subframes, diff, driveshaft, steering rack - all integral to the feel. Then electronics and interior bits.

It would probably still be cheaper but a huge PITA.