Performance Review: BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual - [1978]

Figures & Specs Summary:

BMW M1 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1978. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1979 DeTomaso Pantera GT5 S 5.8 V8 and the 1978 Renault 5 Turbo Phase 1.This particular BMW M1 has a 3500cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St6's includes the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The M1 shares its Petrol St6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the . If you're looking for other fast cars which share the M1's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1303 kgs (2872 lbs) this makes the BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual in the same weight category as the 2023 Pagani Utopia 6.0 V12 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The BMW M1 shares the same bhp with the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 3500cc 24V St6 engine produces 277 bhp (206 kW) @ 6500 rpm similar to the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St6 throws out 239 lb-ft (324.0 Nm) @ 5000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 Ford Puma ST 1.5 Turbo (236 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the BMW M1 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 (237.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the BMW M1.

The BMW M1 has a Power to weight ratio of 212.5 bhp per ton and 183.4 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1978 M1 competing with the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 (237.5 bhp per ton) or the 2012 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 4.2L V8 (237.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the BMW M1 generating around 183.4 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2011 Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI (208.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 2017 BMW X6 xDrive50i 4.4 V8 F16 (208.3 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.0 secs, this made the BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual as fast as the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs) the 2017 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 280 (5.80 secs) the or the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (5.80 secs). This BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.90 secs) the and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 (5.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the M1 and the 2009 Infiniti G37 3.7 V6 S

When talking about the performance of the BMW M1 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.72 secs @ 99.7 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2009 Infiniti G37 3.7 V6 S (13.66 secs), the 1985 BMW 5 Series M5 E28 (13.66 secs), and the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo DSG (13.66 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1978 version of the BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual has a maximum speed of 161mph.

Top Speed of the 1978 M1 equals the 2012 Porsche Boxster S PDK (172 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1978 BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual then how about the 2012 Porsche Boxster S PDK (172 mph), the 2011 Lotus Evora S IPS 3.5 V8 (172 mph), or the 2009 Porsche Cayman S 3.4 (172 mph).

Related Links:

1978 M1 Rivals List.

A Brief History of BMW

Car Comparison