BMW · BMW M1 · Cars
BMW M1 Common
As of 2026 Q1, 33,258 BMW M1s remain registered in the UK — still a familiar sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 33,607 in 2025 Q1 — only 99% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 349 cars. Numbers have held broadly steady over recent years rather than falling away — often the mark of a model that owners deliberately preserve.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Common — still a familiar sight, with 33,258 on the road.
Rarer than 8% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
Trend
About the M1
The BMW M1 (model code E26) is a mid-engined sports car produced by German automotive manufacturer BMW from 1978 until 1981. In the late 1970s, Italian automobile manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation, but conflicts arose that prompted BMW to produce the car themselves. The resulting car was sold to the public, from 1978 until 1981, as the BMW M1. It was the first mid-engine BMW automobile to be mass-produced; the second was the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.
BMW M1 — questions & answers
How many BMW M1 are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q1, 33,258 BMW M1 were still registered in the UK — 32,391 licensed and on the road, plus 867 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the BMW M1 rare?
The BMW M1 is common, with 33,258 still on the road, making it rarer than 8% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.
Is the BMW M1 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of BMW M1 on UK roads fell by 349 (1.0%).
What fuel do most BMW M1 use?
Most BMW M1 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered, with the rest split across hybrid.
When did the BMW M1 peak?
The BMW M1 peaked at 33,607 registered in 2025 Q1, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.