Rogue One

In a world of dash-cam footage and video sharing, is the BMW 1 Series becoming an enemy of the state?

Owner: Quinten Loodts - @fck-fame_official | Photography Courtesy of: @gillesg_photography

Is the BMW 1 series the new car scene social media villain? Think about it, a title once held proudly by the VTEC bashing Honda Civic, the RWD German hatch has become a thing of cult notoriety. Why? For the sheer amount of dash-cam, mobile and video footage of them breaking multiple road laws, shedding tyres and - in inexperienced hands - wrapping themselves around almost anything within 50-feet of the wrong decision being made.

With a diverse model range starting from the 116 and progressing all the way through to the 335bhp M140i, the 1 series caters to all. With it's simple recipe of pushing the power to the rear wheels, petrol heads young & old flock to the marque to enjoy an immersive drive. As these have become more and more available over the years, their availability has increased meaning those who find an elbow delete impressive (you know who you are), can be found ragging them around cities across the nation and earning the 1 series it's unfortunate notoriety.

Fortunately some of these cars fall into the fingertips of individuals set on creating something special. This is where Quinten comes in with his suitably stanced offering:

"I bought the car new from a garage just for the beautiful colour".

The promise of power not being Quinten's main motive for acquiring this hot hatch but rather the already appealing aesthetic. The Melbourne Red exterior - whilst not being the most popular option for the 1 series - makes for a solid choice and outlines the 1 series' sporting credentials. However, be mindful that many people consider a red car to be unlucky... or is that just an old wives tail?

Are red cars unlucky?

Well, according to the National Motorists Association, red cars are the second most-likely colour car to be pulled over behind white cars. Some sources also argue that red cars are more likely to be involved in accidents although this is not quantified. Finally, one of the main reasons why red cars were often avoided was due to the paint fading. Despite modern technology, this can still be the case as the colour red absorbs all colours of the light spectrum, except for red which it reflects.

Moving on from superstition and Quinten has transformed his 1 Series into a more aggressive, show spec build. On the outside a tasteful forged carbon CS Bonnet sits atop the Maxton Splitter Kit to create a more angular finish. To get that slammed stance, a full air suspension setup drops the arches nicely around the Z Performance wheels. Thankfully the comfort orientated air system allows for smoother sailing on European roads.

"I love the air ride, especially with the roads here in Belgium!"

I'll be honest, I think the state of Britain's roads at present would rival that of Belgium's for lack of upkeep but this isn't about politics.

In the cockpit, the carbon fibre theme from the exterior continues with forged carbon accents everywhere and a really neat carbon steering wheel, matching red seat belts, full Apple car play and a starlight roof thrown in for good measure.

All of this work has resulted in one thing - attention - and not just from the onlooking general public.

"The car has helped me meet so many new people and has even brought home some prizes".

Across the very small pond that separates our nations, Quinten's 1-Series has won several awards from Belgian car shows and it's clear to see why. A clean, slammed and tasteful example of a car that can easily become 'overdone'. Whilst aesthetically this 1-Series is in fine fettle, sadly the same cannot be said for what's going on under the bonnet.

"The engine is not the best as I already have some turbo issues that need addressing."

In recent years, BMW has genuinely made progress towards a more reliable product range, in efforts to erase their more chequered past. A survey from 2024, identifies the 1-series as the pinnacle of BMW's range when it came to reliability scoring 98.7% in the survey's reliability based criteria.

What this means is that BMW actually ranks higher than rivals such as Audi & Mercedes in terms of reliability, which will come as difficult reading for some. Either way, cars are rather like people and whilst some are perfect goody-little-two-shoes, others have often lived a previous life (or several) and are still reeling from past damage.

Looking ahead, Quinten explains that currently there are no other plans for his 1 Series and that enjoying the car in its current form is top of his to-do list.

"In Belgium everyone knows the car. I may make some small changes but I'm proud of what I've done."

The BMW 1 Series - were it a person - would be described as misunderstood. It's RWD setup, sleek exterior, and German quality appeal mean they became the apple of many novice drivers eyes. A lower price-point on the second hand market means that a variety of specifications are available to suit budget resulting into them falling into the wrong hands. Much like the countless memes of Mustangs in the States, the 1 Series has its own plethora of online ridicule with videos showing them sliding into central reservations, curbs, trees and pretty much anything else within 10 feet of an open throttle.

Thankfully, many fall into the ownership of genuine car enthusiasts like Quinten. His OEM+ approach has created a slammed show car that has received European recognition. Who knows, if you're attending any European shows this year, you may even see it in the flesh.

Spec Sheet:

Suspension Setup: