Most BMW enthusiasts love the 1 Series Hatch, as it’s one of the most fun and practical Bimmers currently on sale. It’s also one of the most modified, as it’s an inexpensive way to have a hilariously fun, tuned BMW. But this one is just out of control. In this video, we take a look at a 1 Series Hatchback that’s been given the front end of an E92 M3, an LS3 engine and been turned into a drift car.
Let’s start with the E92 face. It doesn’t look bad, it just doesn’t look…right, either. It’s too long and too skinny to work with the stubby looks of the rest of the 1er Hatch, However, it was likely necessary to lengthen the front end anyway to fit the LS3 engine. For those of you not in the know, the LS3 is a Chevy-made 6.2 liter pushrod V8 that stock makes around 430 hp. This car is pushing around 500 hp, though. LS V8s are also know for their low-end torque, which is why so many enthusiasts use them for drift cars.
And drift this car does. Its monstrous power and torque easily overwhelm its rear tires and its massive rear wing, in theory at least, keeps the rear end planted. That, combined with its incredibly short wheelbase, makes this car an absolute drift weapon. It seems like it completely changes direction with the flick of the wrist and seems like it’s easy to hoon around.
While it’s a bit heretical to stuff a Chevy engine in a BMW, it does sound good. That classic American V8 noise, old-school fire and brimstone, sounds great, and slightly hilarious, coming from a tiny hatchback with a gigantic rear wing. It’s an absurd looking, sounding and driving car but we really like it a lot for those exact reasons.
