The BMW 1M is considered one of the carmaker’s finest performance models ever. This example, though, is not exactly what it seems.
When it was in production, the 1M was sold exclusively with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 335 hp and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. The owner of this car obviously wanted some extra grunt and has replaced the standard engine with the S65 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 of an E92 M3 that delivers 414 hp (420 PS) and 400 Nm (295 lbft) of torque.
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Coupled to this engine is a six-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Obviously, the new engine makes this 1M much faster than a normal one but does it handle as well?
This is one of the questions that Drivetribe had when it arranged a drive of the car. Within 5 minutes, the reviewer notes that the extra weight of the V8 doesn’t upset the handling balance in the slightest and that it continues to perform superbly.
As impressive as this car is, however, it isn’t actually a genuine 1M. Instead, this particular car started out life as a standard 1-Series that has then been upgraded with the M3’s drivetrain. Those living in the UK can buy a car just like this from a local builder for around £30,000 (~$40,000), and that includes the price of a donor 1-Series, the M3 powertrain, and all the labor needed to make it work. This is roughly half the price of a well-maintained, genuine 1M you’ll find on the used car market. Sounds like a good deal to us.