The 1-Series was never a looker to begin with, and the huge grille really does seem out of place
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by Brad Anderson
1 hour ago
- BMW‘s “double coffin” grille has been very divisive since it was first introduced in the G80 M3.
- This odd 116i has also been equipped with a set of gloss black aftermarket wheels.
Most people don’t like the massive coffin-shaped kidney grilles of the G80-generation BMW M3, but the owner of this 1-Series was obviously such a fan that they used them as inspiration when crafting a custom bodykit for their car.
The bizarre 1-Series you’re looking at has been listed up for sale in Tanzania of all places for TSh 10,800,000 (equal to about $4,650), and while most of it appears stock, it has undergone a handful of alterations. This is mostly confined to the front end where the grille, intakes, and bumper, have been inspired by those of the G80 M3.
Read: The New BMW 1-Series Looks Like A Kia That Wants To Be A BMW
First, we have to start with the grille. While we’ve (kind of) gotten used to the huge grille over the past few years, we still think it could have looked so much better if it was split with a piece of trim running horizontally or if the kidneys were simply reduced in size. The owner of this 1-Series has done a decent job of replicating the size and shape of the G80’s grille, but it doesn’t suit the rest of the car’s design. Not even in the slightest.
The grille also features the colors of the BMW M brand in three of the vertical slats. There are perhaps no other popular ‘modifications’ in the automotive industry that scream “I’m a try-hard!” quite like painting these colors onto a BMW grille. In our mind, it’s just as bad as fitting an M badge to a base 3-Series or an AMG badge to a B-Class.
More: Double-Coffin Grille Now Spotted On An F30 3-Series
Alongside the grille, the 1-Series has lower air intakes similar in shape to those of the G80, as well as a bumper with similar angles and creases to the M3. A handful of other changes have been made to the car, including the fitment of bright blue parking lights and gloss black aftermarket wheels. The brake calipers have also been painted red, which, we guess, is supposed to give off a sporty vibe.
So, what do you think – is this the ugliest 1-Series you’ve ever seen, or is its owner just a guy with too much imagination?
