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BMW M1 (E26) - Price, Specs and 360° Interactive

BMW M1 - 360° Interactive

BMW M1 - Key Specifications

BMW M1 Specifications

Specification	Details
Type	Mid-Engine Sports Car
Released At	1978 Model Year
Built At	Munich, Germany
Engine	3.5L Naturally Aspirated Inline-6
Position	Mid-Engine, Longitudinal
Aspiration	Naturally Aspirated
Block Material	Aluminum Alloy
Valvetrain	DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
Fuel Feed	Mechanical Fuel Injection
Displacement	3453 cc / 210.7 in³
Power	273 hp / 204 kW @ 6500 rpm
Specific Output	79 hp per liter
Torque	330 Nm / 243 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Top Speed	262 km/h / 163 mph
0 – 60 mph	5.6 seconds
0 – 100 km/h	5.8 seconds
Body / Frame	Steel Space Frame with Fiberglass Body Panels
Driven Wheels	RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive)
Wheel Type	Alloy Wheels
Front Tires	205/55VR16
Rear Tires	225/50VR16
Front Brakes	Ventilated Discs
Rear Brakes	Ventilated Discs
Front Wheels	16 x 7.0 in
Rear Wheels	16 x 8.0 in
Front Suspension	Double Wishbone with Coil Springs
Rear Suspension	Double Wishbone with Coil Springs
Curb Weight	1300 kg / 2866 lbs
Weight Distribution	Front 44% / Rear 56%
Wheelbase	2560 mm / 100.8 in
Length	4359 mm / 171.6 in
Width	1824 mm / 71.8 in
Height	1140 mm / 44.9 in
Transmission	5-Speed Manual
Fuel Economy (Combined)	Varies by Usage
Fuel Capacity	116 liters / 30.6 gallons

Some Interesting BMW M1 Facts

BMW’s First and Only Mid-Engine Supercar – The BMW M1 remains the only mid-engine supercar BMW has ever produced, making it one of the most unique cars in the brand’s history.

Designed by Lamborghini, Built by BMW – The M1 was originally a collaboration with Lamborghini, but due to financial issues, BMW had to finish the project alone, building the car at Baur in Germany instead.

Powered by the Legendary M88 Inline-6 Engine – The M1 featured a 3.5L DOHC inline-6 (M88 engine), producing 277 hp and 330 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful German sports car of its time.

0-100 km/h in Just 5.6 Seconds – The M1’s lightweight construction and mid-engine layout allowed it to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 5.6 seconds, with a top speed of 262 km/h (163 mph).

Built to Compete in Group 4 and Group 5 Racing – BMW designed the M1 for Group 4 and Group 5 racing, leading to the creation of the M1 Procar Championship, a one-make racing series featuring Formula 1 drivers.

M1 Procar Was One of the Fastest Race Cars of Its Era – The M1 Procar version produced up to 470 hp (Group 4) and over 850 hp (Group 5), making it one of the most dominant racing cars of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

Extremely Limited Production – Only 453 Units Built – BMW produced only 453 M1s, including 399 road cars and 54 race cars, making it one of BMW’s rarest and most collectible models.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro – The M1’s wedge-shaped design was created by famed Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who also designed iconic cars like the DeLorean DMC-12 and Maserati Bora.

One of the First BMWs to Wear the “M” Badge – The M1 was the first car officially developed by BMW M (Motorsport Division), laying the foundation for the high-performance M cars we see today.

Never Got a Direct Successor – Despite its success, the M1 never received a direct replacement, but its spirit lives on in models like the BMW i8 and the BMW M8 Competition.

BMW M1 (E26) Price

The BMW M1 is the brand's only mid-engine supercar, developed with Lamborghini and styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Only 456 road cars were built, making it a seven-figure collector's item.

1. Price Ranges (EUR, Mid-2024)

By Condition & Provenance

Driver-Quality (Restored, Minor Flaws)

€800,000 – €1,200,000(Mechanically sound, some wear)

Concours-Level (Numbers-Matching, Perfect)

€1,200,000 – €1,800,000+(Under 20,000 km, full history)

Provenance Cars (Ex-Procar, Celebrity-Owned)

€2,000,000+(e.g., ex-Niki Lauda, factory test cars)

2. Key Value Factors

✅ Authenticity

Matching-Numbers M88/1 Engine (277hp): Non-matching = 50% value loss

Original "Procar" Bodywork: No aftermarket widebody kits

✅ Provenance

BMW Classic Certificate: Adds €100k+

Ex-M1 Procar Championship: Race history = €2M+

✅ Condition

Fiberglass Body: Check for stress cracks (repairs cost €50k+)

Tool Kit & Documentation: Missing = €20k deduction

3. Where to Buy?

High-End Auctions: RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Co.

BMW Classic Dealers: Official BMW Group Classic

Private Brokers: DK Engineering, GTO Engineering

4. Market Trends

📈 Steady Appreciation

Prices 3x since 2015 (€500k → €1.5M+)

Last Auction Sale: €1.65M (2023, RM Sotheby’s)

⚠️ Red Flags

Replica M1s (based on 8-series or kit cars)

Non-Owner Mods (even wheels affect value)

(Fun Fact: The M1’s engine later powered the BMW M5 (E28) and M635CSi!)

Pro Tip: Verify VIN (WBS59910004301200) and engine stamp ("M88/1") with BMW Classic.

(Bonus: Only 10 M1s were factory-painted black – making them the rarest color!)