1 LITTLE MONSTER

The E82 model was BMWs first 1-series coupe released in 2004.

At that time, the 3 series was already in its 4 generation, and with the size of the 3series getting bigger and bigger, BMW needed to restore their compact model offerings for the premium automotive market.  

Luckily they still had the number 1 to give to their smallest series in their ever growing line-up of motor vehicles.

The E82 came in a few variants like 4 cylinder models as well as diesel models, but the most fun of them all was the 135i. It was a typical BMW for the typical BMW fan. A Straight six motor (turbo charged), rear wheel drive, very quick and a perfect balance for driver enjoyment.

With a few tweaks to the engine and exhaust, a 135i could play with M cars costing twice as much.

The cockpit was just right, the rear seats were a bit cramped but the car was built more for the driver, focused on pure driver enjoyment.

In 2012 BMW decided to offer a red-hot official ///M version of the E82, and what they did was simple but so effective. They accidently created one of the best M cars ever.

BMW took an E82 frame, put a widebody kit on it, pumped it up with an MPower-worked turbo 3litre 6 cylinder motor, took the suspension, brakes and diff from the E92 M3, and gracefully fitted a simple manual 6speed box to create the special 1M . A limited production BMW of which only 6331 were built worldwide, with only 60something units for the South African market.

The car we see here is a little 1 series V8.

The idea for this project was to build something abit more crazy than a 1M .

This car started off as a standard 135i.

The owner wanted to create something unique and consulted with Moegamat Yusuf Achmat from the A-teamRacing fraternity.

They opted to do a 1M clone which would require 1M body work to be welded to the 135i frame.

The body panels were sourced new from BMW Parts and comprises of :

Front Fenders

Rear quarter panels

Fender Liners

Airguides

Side Skirts

Sunroof delete roofskin

Sunroof delete rooflining

Mirrors

The seats are brilliant Recaro Wingbacks, which not only allows a firm grip, but looks great as well.

The steering and dash was tastefully covered in Alcantara with the orange stitching paying homage to the 1M. 

The wide arches allow for the huge wheels and tyres, behind which the big brakes sit.

The brakes give us a sneaky clue as to the most insane part of this build, that which turns this little E82 135i into '1 little Monster.'

The motor chosen for this project is the high revving MPower S65 V8 from an E92M3. Not really satisfied with leaving it at just that, the owner decided to supercharge it as well. In the quest for extracting the maximum amount of power and speed, a DCT box was fitted in place of a standard manual. 

The propshaft is also a carbon fibre product. 

On the road this thing is absolutely insane, It struggles for traction, it sounds mental and the G-force pull while sitting passenger takes a while getting used to. 

This build is testament to the talent hidden here in South Africa.

There is no telling that this is a home based project. Everything is perfectly finished. Everything is production quality. What a machine!!!

Power weighs in at 410kw/500nM of torque, and the mass weight is 100kg lighter than an E92.

 We will be releasing a youtube video showcasing the sound of this little monster.

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