Here’s Your Chance To Own One Of The Finest BMW M Cars Ever Made

There’s no diminishing the breadth of ability offered up by BMW’s current range of M cars. Charismatic and engaging, all of them – from the M2 to the M8 Convertible – have been designed to engage the driver with crisp steering, responsive powertrains, and evocative exhaust notes. They’re not subtle machines, though. Painted in Sao Paulo Yellow, the M4 Coupe can be spotted from miles away.

In the past, M cars were considered to be the ultimate factory sleepers. This ethos is captured best by the car seen in the images below. Introduced in 2011, the 1M appeared to be a slightly sportier-looking variant of the regular 1 Series Coupe. Underneath the quietly menacing body kit and styling add-ons, however, beats the heart of a truly incredible sports car. Many consider the 1M to be the best M car ever made.

With production limited to just 6,309 examples, only a handful of lucky individuals got the chance to purchase one new. Fewer still are willing to part with the keys; it boasts a truly great driving experience. So, when one does come up for sale, enthusiasts sit up and pay attention. Now offered on Bring A Trailer, this 2011 model will make the perfect addition to any BMW collection.

The Black Sapphire Metallic paintwork suits the restrained aggression of the compact coupe and pairs favorably with the 19-inch Style 359 wheels. Aside from an unfortunate blemish on the front bumper, this 1M presents as perfect. Inside, the cabin receives a pop of color from the Valencia Orange stitching but, other than that, it’s somber in typical Germanic fashion. The black Boston leather still looks box fresh.

That should come as no surprise, though. Incredibly, this Bavarian rarity has covered less than 7,000 miles since it was delivered new by Texas-based Mike Pile BMW.

While the spec list is impressive – this particular model has adaptive xenon headlights and navigation – few buyers could care about the luxury features; performance matters most here. Beneath that sleek hood hides the 3.0-liter inline-six N54 engine, which sends 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission. Naturally, the 1M left the factory with a limited-slip differential.

While BMW replaced the 1M with the aforementioned M2 – and is currently putting the final touches on a new model – the 1 Series M Coupe will always be remembered for being the finest of the breed. Simply put, if we had the money, we’d be bidding on this future classic ourselves. With the auction set to end in four days, the current bid stands at $60,499 and we’d be surprised if that doesn’t inflate in the coming days. Interestingly, it’s already surpassed its original sticker price of $46,135.