BMW M1: Forgotten forefather
Friday January 05, 2007
Today's BMW M5, BMW M6 and recently-departed BMW M3 (and M3 CSL) are formidable performers and icons of speed. They all have one thing in common – besides being BMWs of course – and that is the “M” badge at the beginning of their model names. To all BMW enthusiasts, the "M" badge means something special. It signifies, literally, the hand of BMW's Motorsport GbmH division in engineering and development. The first Motorsport GmbH project to be offered on sale to the general public was BMW's mighty M1 from 1978. Today it is hardly remembered, but in the early eighties it ranked up there with the Lamborghini Countach as first choice for teenage boys when considering posters for their bedroom walls. Ironically, Lamborghini were contracted to do the initial development and engineering work, but their precarious financial predicaments meant that their involvement was not continued. Bauer stepped in to take over the production that Lamborghini was unable to undertake.
Given the model number E26, the BMW M1 had a longitudinal mid-engined straight six, based on the current 3.5 litre mill found in various contemporary BMW models like the BMW 635i. Motorsport GmbH equipped it with 4 valve cylinder heads and a dry sump lubrication system. Kugelfischer-Bosch mechanical fuel injection replaced the Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection and compression was lowered slightly from 9.3:1 to 9.0:1. The 93.4 mm and 84.0 mm bore and stroke were retained, and the capacity remained at 3453 cc. The unit ran in seven main bearings, and had a cast iron block and light alloy heads. Power output was a healthy 277 PS (273 bhp, 204 kW) at 6500 rpm, up from the standard engine's 218 PS (215 bhp, 160 kW) at 5200 rpm. The gain in torque was not as impressive, but it still went from 304 Nm (224 lbft) to 330 Nm (243 lbft), peaking 1000 rpm higher at 5000 rpm.
The relatively light weight of 1300 kg gave the M1 impressive performance numbers and a power to weight ratio of 210 bhp per ton. The 0-60 mph sprint was dispatched in a scant 5.6 seconds, 100 mph in just 13.1 seconds, and the standing quarter mile was completed 0.7 seconds later. Top speed was a cracking 262 km/h (163 mph), putting it amongst the top performers of its time.
The body was a direct development of the 1972 BMW Turbo Prototype executed by Paul Bracq. Giugiaro's ItalDesign helped refine the body, and as a result it has a distinctly Italian flavour to it. Dimensions grew in almost every respect: wheelbase went from 2400 mm to 2560 mm, length was up from 4144mm to 4360 mm and height increased to 1138 mm from 1100 mm. Overall width decreased from 1880 mm to 1824 mm. The weight distribution was 44/56 percent front/rear, which is not ideal, but close.
Shortly after its introduction at the 1978 Paris motor show, the M1 featured in its own one-make racing series, Procar. This helped elevate its image during the difficulties encountered whilst the switchover from Lamborghini to Bauer was taking place. Just under 460 examples were produced before series production ended in September 1980. The E26 BMW M1 should be remembered for being BMW's only mid-engined production road car as well as the first production vehicle from Motorsport GmbH, which is still the driving force behind BMW's important performance image.
Given the model number E26, the BMW M1 had a longitudinal mid-engined straight six, based on the current 3.5 litre mill found in various contemporary BMW models like the BMW 635i. Motorsport GmbH equipped it with 4 valve cylinder heads and a dry sump lubrication system. Kugelfischer-Bosch mechanical fuel injection replaced the Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection and compression was lowered slightly from 9.3:1 to 9.0:1. The 93.4 mm and 84.0 mm bore and stroke were retained, and the capacity remained at 3453 cc. The unit ran in seven main bearings, and had a cast iron block and light alloy heads. Power output was a healthy 277 PS (273 bhp, 204 kW) at 6500 rpm, up from the standard engine's 218 PS (215 bhp, 160 kW) at 5200 rpm. The gain in torque was not as impressive, but it still went from 304 Nm (224 lbft) to 330 Nm (243 lbft), peaking 1000 rpm higher at 5000 rpm.
The relatively light weight of 1300 kg gave the M1 impressive performance numbers and a power to weight ratio of 210 bhp per ton. The 0-60 mph sprint was dispatched in a scant 5.6 seconds, 100 mph in just 13.1 seconds, and the standing quarter mile was completed 0.7 seconds later. Top speed was a cracking 262 km/h (163 mph), putting it amongst the top performers of its time.
The body was a direct development of the 1972 BMW Turbo Prototype executed by Paul Bracq. Giugiaro's ItalDesign helped refine the body, and as a result it has a distinctly Italian flavour to it. Dimensions grew in almost every respect: wheelbase went from 2400 mm to 2560 mm, length was up from 4144mm to 4360 mm and height increased to 1138 mm from 1100 mm. Overall width decreased from 1880 mm to 1824 mm. The weight distribution was 44/56 percent front/rear, which is not ideal, but close.
Shortly after its introduction at the 1978 Paris motor show, the M1 featured in its own one-make racing series, Procar. This helped elevate its image during the difficulties encountered whilst the switchover from Lamborghini to Bauer was taking place. Just under 460 examples were produced before series production ended in September 1980. The E26 BMW M1 should be remembered for being BMW's only mid-engined production road car as well as the first production vehicle from Motorsport GmbH, which is still the driving force behind BMW's important performance image.
