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Sports Cars
Germany
1970s 1980s

BMW M1 E26

1978 to 1981
BMW M1 car history
Overview
ManufacturerBMW
Production1978–1981
453 built
DesignerGiorgetto Giugiaro
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Body style2-door coupé
LayoutRear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine3,453 cc M88/1 DOHC I6
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,600 mm (102.4 in)
Length4,361 mm (171.7 in)
Width1,824 mm (71.8 in)
Height1,140 mm (44.9 in)
Curb weight1,300 kg (2,866 lb)

 

The BMW M1 (E26) is a sports car produced by German automaker BMW from 1978 to 1981.

In the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation, but conflicts arose that prompted BMW to produce the car themselves. The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to 1981, as the BMW M1. It was the only mid-engined BMW to be mass-produced. It employed a twin-cam M88/1 3.5 L 6-cylinder petrol engine with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. A version of this motor was later used in the South African version of the BMW 745i, of which 209 examples were built between 1984 and 1986, as well as the E24 BMW M6/M635CSi and E28 BMW M5. The engine had six separate throttle bodies, four valves per cylinder and produced 277 PS (204 kW; 273 hp) in the street version, giving a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph). Turbocharged racing versions were capable of producing around 850 hp (634 kW).

  • PERFORMANCE
    max speed: 163 mph, 262 km/h
    max power (DIN): 277 hp (204 kW) at 6,500 rpm
    max torque (DIN): 239 1b ft, 32.9 kg m (330 Nm) at 5,000 rpm
    max engine rpm: 7,000; 80.2 hp/l (59.1 kW/l)
    power weight ratio: 10.3 lb/hp, (14 lb/kW), 4.7 kg/hp (6.4 kg/kW):
    Fuel consumption: 14.4 m/imp gal. 12 m/US,gal, 19.6 1 x 100 km (ECE method A 70).
  • PERFORMANCE:(Competition version)
    max speed 189 mph, 310 km/h
    power-weight ratio 4.8 lb/hp (6.5 lb/kW), 2.2 kg/hp (2.9 kg/kW).
    max power (DIN) 470 hp (345 kW) at 9,000 rpm
    max torque (DIN) 282 1b ft, 38.9 kg m (390 Nm) at 7,000 rpm
    134.3 hp/l (98.6 kW/l)

BMW M1 1978 side view

1978  BMW M1 side view.

Overview

The M1 coupe was hand-built between 1978 and 1981 under the Motorsport division of BMW as a homologation special for sports car racing. The body was designed by Giugiaro, taking inspiration from the 1972 BMW Turbo show car. Originally, BMW commissioned Lamborghini to work out the details of the car's chassis, assemble prototypes and manufacture the vehicles, but Lamborghini's financial position meant that BMW reassumed control over the project in April 1978, after seven prototypes were built. (N.B.: Baur, which was established in 1910, produced, among others, 1682 1600-2 Cabriolets, 200 2002 Cabriolets, 2597 E110 700 Sport Cabriolets and most of the 450 or so M1s for BMW, after Lamborghini could not fulfil its contractual obligations.) Only 453 production M1s were built, making it one of BMW's rarest models. Of the 453 produced, 20 were race versions created for the BMW M1 Procar Championship. The spirit of the M1 lived on in the M635Csi and the first-generation M5, which use a modified version of the M88/1 engine, the M88/3.

The M1 had various successes in motorsports. In 2004, Sports Car International named the car number ten on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s.

The M1 is not related to BMW's 1-series compact executive car which started production in the 2004 model year, nor is it related to the BMW 1 Series M Coupe which started production for the 2010 model year.

Procar

In 1979 the head BMW Motorsport, Jochen Neerpasch, devised a one-make championship using racing modified M1s. The series was created to aid BMW in building enough M1s to enter the Group 4 classification in the World Championship for Makes. The new series, known as the Procar BMW M1 Championship, served as a support series for Formula One, and included many current Formula One drivers in identical cars.

The series ran for two years, with Niki Lauda winning the 1979 season, and Nelson Piquet the 1980 season. After BMW met the standards for Group 4, the Procars were used by various teams in the World Championship as well as other national series.

BMW M1 Procar race

BMW M1 Procar

2008 Homage Concept

In April 2008, BMW unveiled the M1 Homage Concept to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the M1. The concept vehicle uses a mid-engine layout and borrows styling cues from both the original M1 and the Turbo show car.

The BMW Homage concept was released at the event Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d'Este 2008. The design was created by Giorgio Giugiaro who got his idea from the BMW Turbo concept which was designed by Paul Bracq. The BMW Turbo boasted many technical and advance innovations from BMW. The front of the car differs the most than the other parts of the car. The front sports double head lights are not the pop up light that are on the original M1, but the usual trademark of the kidney grills made it onto the design of the car. The Homage also incorporated the double badge in the back of the car as the original M1. There are no photos of the interior of the car or the car in action. The specifications of the car have not been released to the public. BMW has not confirmed if these will be released, although the upcoming i8 model, which is based on the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics concept, draws influence from the M1 Homage.

BMW M1 rear view

The BMW M1 rear view

Related items
Vehicles launched in 1978 | Giorgetto Giugiaro | mid-engined | Race Cars

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Technical

Service
  • BMW M1 E26 Service Guide (1978–1981)


    Fuel: 98 oct petrol
    Oil: engine 14.1 imp pt, 16.9 US pt, 8 1, SAE 10W-50 change every 3,700 miles, 6,000 km
    Gearbox and final drive: 3 imp pt, 3.6 US pt, 1.7 1, SAE 90, change every 18,600 miles, 30,000 km
    Greasing: none
    Sparking plug: Bosch X4 CS
    Coolant capacity: 21.1 imp pt, 25.4 US pt. 12 1.
    Carrying capacity: 661 lb. 300 kg
    Tyre pressure: front 34 psi, 2.4 atm, rear 37 psi, 2.6 atm.
    Tyres: 205/55 VR x 16 front. 225/50 VR x 16 rear (Competition version) 10/23.5 x 16 front, 12.5/25 x 16 rear tyres.
    Width of rims: 7" front, 8" rear. (Competition version). width of rims front 11", rear 12.5"
    Fuel tanks: 25.5 imp gal, 30.6 US gal, 116 1 (2 separate tanks).

    © Motor car History

Technical
  • BMW M1 E26 Technical details and specifications (1978–1981)

    ENGINE
    location centre-rear. longitudinal
    4 stroke; 6 cylinders, in line
    Engine capacity: 210.7 cu in, 3,453 cc
    bore and stroke: 3.68 x 3.31 in, 93.4 x 84 mm)
    compression ratio: 9: 1
    cast iron block
    light alloy head, polished pherical combustion chambers
    7 crankshaft bearings
    valves: 4 per cylinder, overhead, Vee-slanted at 52°, rockers
    camshafts: 2, overhead, chain driven
    lubrication: gear pump, full flow filter, dry sump
    14.1 imp pt, 16.9 US pt
    Kugelfiseher-Bosch mechanical injection, 3 double intake pipes with 6 throttles
    fuel feed: 2 electric pumps
    water-cooled

    ENGINE (Competition version).
    Engine capacity: 213.6 cu in, 3,500 cc
    bore and stroke: 3.70 x 3.31 in, 94 x 84 mm
    front-mounted oil cooler.

    TRANSMISSION
    driving wheels: rear
    clutch: F & S, 2-disc dry, hydraulicallx controlled
    gearbox: ZF, mechanical
    gears: 5, fully synchronized
    ratios: 1st 2.420, 2nd 1.610, 3rd 1.140, 4th 0.846, 5th 0.704. rev 2.860
    gear lever location: central
    final drive: hypoid bevel. limited slip differential
    axel ratio:4.220

    CHASSIS
    type separate steel
    front suspensions: independent. wishbones, anti-roll bar. coil springs/telescopic dampers (adustable for height)
    rear: independent, wighbones. anti-roll bar, coil springs/telescopic dampers (adjustable for height).

    STEERING
    rack-and-pinion.
    turning circle (between walls): 42.7 ft. 13 m

    BRAKES
    ventilated discs (front diameter li.8 in. 30 cm, rear 11.7 in, 29.7 cm)
    dual circuit, servo. rear compensator.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
    12 V
    55 Ah battery
    65 A alternator
    Magneti-Marelll contactless fully electronic distributor
    2 halogen headlamps.

    DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
    wheel base: 100.8 in. 256
    tracks: 61 in, 155 cm front, 62 in, 158 cm rear (Competition version)tracks 62.8 in, 159 cm front, 61.4 in, 156 cm rear
    length: 171.7 in, 436 cm
    width: 71.8 in, 182 cm (Competition version)width 75.7 in, 192 cm
    height: 44.9 in, 114 cm (Competition version)height 43.7 in, 111 cm
    ground clearance: 4.9 in, 12 cm
    weight: 2,867 1b, 1,300 kg (Competition version) weight 2,249 1b, 1,020 kg.

    PERFORMANCE
    max speed: 163 mph, 262 km/h
    max power (DIN): 277 hp (204 kW) at 6,500 rpm
    max torque (DIN): 239 1b ft, 32.9 kg m (330 Nm) at 5,000 rpm
    max engine rpm: 7,000; 80.2 hp/l (59.1 kW/l)
    power weight ratio: 10.3 lb/hp, (14 lb/kW), 4.7 kg/hp (6.4 kg/kW):
    Fuel consumption: 14.4 m/imp gal. 12 m/US,gal, 19.6 1 x 100 km (ECE method A 70).

    © Motor car History

Manuals

Download: Workshop manuals Tech Guides exclusive to registered users.

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