Choose Your Used M Car Weapon: BMW 1M Vs M2 Competition

1M and M2 Competition values have now met in the high 30s, so which compact M car would you have?
Choose Your Used M Car Weapon: BMW 1M Vs M2 Competition

Not so long ago, the BMW 1M seemed like it’d never be remotely attainable. It was as though prices were on a relentless march north, and it looked to be only a matter of time before the car was the preserve only of well-heeled collectors.

However, the market for these small but muscular coupes seems to have levelled off, and we’re even starting to see leggier models go for just under £30,000. This is in line with the general slow down of the modern classic market, and the fact that BMW didn’t limit production of the M2, the 1M’s successor, is surely a factor.

Choose Your Used M Car Weapon: BMW 1M Vs M2 Competition

Speaking of, the M2 Competition has now been around long enough for the earliest cars to cost about the same as a decent 1M. This 2018 M2 Comp with just 11,000 miles on the clock is £37,990, making it the same (well, five quid less) than a 2011 1M with 33k on the clock we’ve dug out of the classifieds. This provides an interesting quandary for anyone in the market for a small but powerful M car, and for any of us fantasizing about choosing between them.

I can imagine a decent chunk of you would go for the limited-run 1M without question - it’s arguably more special, it’s achieved a god-like reverence in the car community, and in the long run it will hold its value better. But not so fast.

Choose Your Used M Car Weapon: BMW 1M Vs M2 Competition

Unlike the 1M with its ‘N54’ twin-turbo inline-six found in all sorts of other less interesting BMWs, the M2 Comp has a proper M Division engine in the form of the S55. With 404bhp on tap it’s more powerful, and the M2 C is also a more polished car to drive - the 1M is a lairy thing, being awfully keen on wildly breaking traction when you hit the boosty bit in the middle of the rev range.

Choose Your Used M Car Weapon: BMW 1M Vs M2 Competition

The fact that the M2 is seven years the 1M’s junior is painfully obvious inside, and being less than a couple of years old, the newer vehicle is still within warranty. And finally, and rather subjectively, we reckon it’s the best-looking car BMW has made in years - a shining example amidst big-grilled monstrosities that prove Munich can still style something wicked.

Choose Your Used M Car Weapon: BMW 1M Vs M2 Competition

See? Not as clear cut as you might imagine, although we must admit the M2 is probably going to be a shorter-term ownership prospect rather than a long-term investment, since it still has a decent chunk of depreciation to do before values level off.

Regardless, it’s not the easiest choice to make. So which way would you go?

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Comments

Cam Kennedy

I’ve always loved the M2 and would definitely have that. But truly, neither is a bad option!

04/10/2020 - 13:42 |
6 | 0
German Car fanboy

M2. I have experienced the S55’s power (in the passenger seat, I am too young to drive) and it is pretty dang awesome going 140 in a 50 zone (km/h sadly)

04/10/2020 - 13:49 |
4 | 30

Do not be proud of it. It’s stupid driving like this that kills people.

04/10/2020 - 20:34 |
12 | 2
prizrak

Boosted motor in an M car, yuck

04/10/2020 - 14:30 |
4 | 20

Yet, it turns out that these two cars become two of the best cars from BMW M

04/10/2020 - 20:54 |
4 | 2
Freddie Skeates

1M, best reason being it’ll hold its value better, otherwise not much to separate these two

04/10/2020 - 14:49 |
10 | 0

Oh if you ever drove both you’d know better :D 1M is a whole nother animal. M2 C is tame compared to that thing, eventhough it is much more potent in terms of power.

04/11/2020 - 07:17 |
0 | 0
Charlie 4

Am I missing something? These new voting things don’t even work on the app?

04/10/2020 - 16:55 |
16 | 0

The whole app is kinda out of date lol.

04/10/2020 - 17:22 |
12 | 0

Not surprised, I downloaded this app in summer 2017 and I’ve only seen one update since. It was definitely over 2 years ago too

04/10/2020 - 17:22 |
2 | 0
Niko Ala-Rämi 🇫🇮

1M because it looks better

04/11/2020 - 09:55 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

i would have to go 1m without a doubt.

04/11/2020 - 14:58 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

The 1M definitely wins on the noise and steering feel department. For all the rest, the M2 stomps.

04/11/2020 - 16:32 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

It’s an odd choice to make in one way but simple in another
If you want a car that won’t shed £££ like a good ‘in them it’s the 1M, if you want to be seen in the latest BMW then the M2 and it’s under warranty.
However, in today’s world with the proliferation of speed cameras and huge increase in traffic volume (coronavirus not withstanding), you can’t really use the performance of either so just choose the one that suits you
Me? 1M every time…

04/12/2020 - 11:54 |
0 | 0
holidayonion

M2 because I really don’t like how the 1M looks. I don’t know enough about BMWs otherwise to make an educated decision about anything else.

04/12/2020 - 19:24 |
0 | 0