BMW 1M drifts on world's highest helipad in LA [video]

Drift-tastic video which begs the question, real or fake?

BMW Canada has released another drift-tastic video which has fans asking, "real or fake?"

Filmed atop the US Bank tower, home of the highest helipad in the world, a 1-Series M drifts along the edge of the 310.3 m (1,018 ft) skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles.

Previously BMW showed us a 1M drifting through car shaped cutouts in what appeared to be multiple concrete walls. The driving certainly looked real to our eyes but CGI was clearly incorporated with the walls.

And that's most likely what we have here. The driving is real on a mocked-up helipad most likely on the ground somehwere. But for the actual drifting part, CGI is in full effect.

Plus, it's hard to imagine the city of L.A. approving such a stunt, even with a pro like Greg Tracy (from Fast and the Furious, Bourne Identity) behind the wheel.

But then again, they destroyed Los Angeles pretty good in the movie 2012. That was real, right?

Source: BMW

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MadAboutCars

BMW needs to raise as much cash as possible to see through the launching of the I brand and perhaps an eco-supercar and it seems they are doing a good job producing some serious cars to sell at a premium, M6 4 door coupe please pronto!

June 29, 2011 4:41 am

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1 reply

Han Solo

Wait a minute can you do donuts on a FWD car? Im confused, is the BMW-1M a FWD or RWD car?

June 29, 2011 5:03 pm

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sideskraper

Considering this should be a very capable little car, it's a shame they didn't chose to showcase it without all the visual effects. Any car can be made to look cool when there's a gang of CG animators playing with it. They should have had it drifting on Saturns rings.

June 29, 2011 4:42 am

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13 replies

catchmyshadow

lol, agreed. does BMW think people are stupid?

June 29, 2011 5:16 am

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BMW-M

It?s just a dramatic way of showing off the car actual abilities. Does it matter where it is doing donuts; b/c surly the 1M is capable of doing them? It?s just a fun advertisement... catch-The commercial where Audi claims luxury has progresses, and they try to convince you the A8 is actually better then the S class!!! That makes me question if Audi thinks people are dumb, b/c clearly the S class is top of the class. Also didn?t Audi illegally use one of Eminem?s songs? HA did they really think no one would notice?.now they are getting sued. Lol.

June 29, 2011 6:42 am

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sideskraper

It's called selling one's self short and missing opportunities. The advertising agency should not have been engaged and the VP who approved it should be shunted. Are you so insecure that you have to bring up Audi everytime you feel like someone is being mean about your poor widdle BMW?

June 29, 2011 7:36 am

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catchmyshadow

for me the A8 is better than the s-class. it?s sportier and has the greatest interior in the world. the s-class has always been for old people with back problems and who cares about eminem?! the guy`s career is over, he is done. he should be glad that Audi put some of his beats in the spotlight again.

June 29, 2011 7:41 am

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BMW-M

"for me the A8 is better than the s-class. it?s sportier and has the greatest interior in the world. The s-class has always been for old people with back problems and who cares about Eminem?! the guy`s career is over, he is done. He should be glad that Audi put some of his beats in the spotlight again." You?re clearly gullible to anything you see...sad. I cannot even recognize and A8 on the road it looks like and A4...not very premium. It has nothing to do with Eminem? it has to do with copy right infringement. Lol. Sideskraper--Yet Catchmyshadow blatantly bashes BMW on every tread and sings VW praise on everyother.LOL. I?m just the ying to his yang. Poor little BMW is doing great, number one in sales, higher profit margins then audi who has the help of VW. BMW is the best managed car company.

June 29, 2011 7:57 am

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sideskraper

I'm glad I don't wear the same rose tinted glasses that you do. My clients would be looking at having to work into their 70's if I did.

June 29, 2011 8:20 am

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catchmyshadow

BMW-M, plz take my criticism like a man and not like a crybaby, it makes me sad.

June 29, 2011 8:55 am

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BMW-M

It appears I broke the trolls...they no longer make any sence. : /

June 29, 2011 9:38 am

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Shumy

BMW M. Please leave this name you don't deserve it. I agree what you said first: "It?s just a dramatic way of showing off the car actual abilities. Does it matter where it is doing donuts; b/c surly the 1M is capable of doing them? It?s just a fun advertisement..." but after.... Of course Audi A8 is better than the S class. At least for a lot of people. However I respect your opinion if you say you prefer the S. If you cannot recognize the difference between an A4 and an A8 then what are you doing here writing comments?

June 29, 2011 10:50 am

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BMW-M

I am not the only one who thinks the A8 resembles an A4. Numerous reviews have said the same thing...

June 29, 2011 11:20 am

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catchmyshadow

BMW-M u should accept that BMW and Mercedes are following Audi?s recipe with their recent models, because it works. BMW and Mercedes cars look more and more the same too. BUT real car fanatics have no problem to identify a model whether it?s a A4, A6 or A8.

June 29, 2011 12:15 pm

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BMW-M

I should rephrase. I can tell them apart..But it still looks like a GIANT A4. Audi always follows isnt that their motto?? Apparently you are 15 years old and have not seen any BMW from before 2000? They looked the same for the most part. BMW comes out with M cars, Merc and Audi follow with AMG, and RS. BMW came out with the first german turbo motor in a production car, the other german manufactures followed. I-drive came first MMI followed. X6 came fisrt Q6 will follow, Z3 came first tt followed. BMW makes sports sedans, audi trys to follow.

June 29, 2011 12:40 pm

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MTC

@ BMW-M you're currently the fanboy of the year on WCF, keep it up and I'm sure things will become tougher for you just an opinion (which probably everyone agrees) and BMW fanboyism? it's so old, keep your ass on youtube BMW are not the leaders anyway and they betrayed their real fans a long time ago

July 2, 2011 1:15 pm

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freeway

I wonder if the car had an ejection button and a parachute in case the driver thought he was in a plane and he just wanted to fly away... :D... just joking...

June 29, 2011 6:24 am

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N20_Purge

Good thing the driver was wearing a helmet. If something went wrong, that would save him from a 1,000 ft drop.

June 29, 2011 6:41 am

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1 reply

freeway

...ha, ha, ha... good one... probably was a fighter pilot helmet with all kind of data displayed on his visor... target (I mean pedestrians) acquisition system, G forces graphics, internet access a.s.o

June 29, 2011 9:12 am

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LKN4MUF

Hey BMW-M, I can't tell the difference between a Benz C class and a S class on the road...not very premium. Your a very typicle BMW wannabe owner. If anything you have 1992 318i. You know deep down that Audi is better car than BMW but you don't have the guts to admit it. I can say that cause I have owned BMW's, Benz, Porsche and late Audi's etc. And the only reason BMW is number one in sales is because they have the cheapest lease rates on a 4 year term compared to Audi or Merc. 75% of BMW's are leases. Just throwing it out there. I see more BMW's here in Canada than Toyota Camry's....

June 29, 2011 9:25 am

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2 replies

BMW-M

HA. I am not going to discuss what I do or own, b/c it no one?s business (though I do own a BMW). Have a source for your lease claims? The funny thing is in Japan A4's and Corollas are competitively priced.

June 29, 2011 11:24 am

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Ratt

LKN4MUF you don't own shit, because of all of this comments I don't even like to write anything, most of you are judging cars on the looks "You know deep down that Audi is better car than BMW", now what true car enthusiast would write such a thing? You kids should do something else.

June 29, 2011 2:44 pm

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nicholasTO

They are trying to attract a slightly younger market.its just cool, thats all. I thought bumbelbee was going to pop out and blast the car.

June 29, 2011 11:15 am

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LKN4MUF

See BMW-M, I was right. You do own a 1992 318i with maybe a M badge??? :) Am I right? And to answer your question yes I do have a source...it's any BMW dealer in North Amercia. Just give them a call and they be happy to help you out with any questions you may have. And the funny thing is that the some Audi's, BMW's are built in Asia for the Asian market hence probably why German and Jap car are competitively priced. But you knew that already :)

June 29, 2011 11:50 am

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1 reply

BMW-M

You do own a 1992 318i....You wish : ) Audi and mercedes have the same lease deals in NA as BMW....nice try But the BMW's are not priced to compete with corollas in Japan they still maintain a premium image. Unlike Audi who sells FWD Golfs with Audi badges. Oh Yeah and the A1 lol, is a dressed up POLO. Merc or BMW do not have anything that far down market to inflate sales figres like Audi. Even the A3 is priced below the 1 series.....not very premium.

June 29, 2011 12:45 pm

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out4ride

I would be impressed if that BMW drove up the building did couple donuts and then drove back down. I do donuts every day at work in dunkin donuts:)

June 29, 2011 12:38 pm

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ClintonM3

BMW's power sliding is definitely more fitting than the other guy's commercials. I work in the industry. BMW's lease portfolio is about 70% in NA. And sales success is not because they have the cheapest lease. BMW does have on avg the best residuals. But BMWFS's money factor is no where near the lowest. 2 areas that contribute to BMW's success that are found from CSI and other industry surveys 1. BMW owners genuinely think they got the best product. 2. BMW has unmatched supply line control. If you have owned all 4 mentioned German brands and you found Audi to be superior to BMW, well then, I don't know what to say, except your yardstick for a great car is a bit off.

June 29, 2011 1:27 pm

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LKN4MUF

BMW-M no they don't have the same lease deals. My friend works for BMW/Mini Canada and its true. You can just go on the Merc, Bmw and Audi website and build your own car and you will see the results how much cheaper the BMW is when leasing. Audi builds cars that ppl demand. If they want a fwd they have it. BMW is already in the works for fwd drive cars what do you say to that? And Clinton M3 I guess you have never driven a late model Audi such like my daily driver a Stasis S4 B8. There is nothing like it. I drove the M3 V8 and C63 and the Audi was the best out of them all. With my ecu tunned these cars don't even come close to me on a straight line let alone on the track. Oh and my summer car is a 2006 997 RUF so I think I know what cars are good. I know this industry very well. Like I said I owned two BMW's and would never buy that junk again.

June 29, 2011 7:52 pm

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2 replies

BMWmotorsport

He drives an Audi, lol, he credibility just went out the door. "Audi builds cars that ppl demand. If they want a fwd they have it. BMW is already in the works for fwd drive cars what do you say to that?" What if they want RWD....Oh man, Audi fails. Soon BMW will have all the bases covered, and their sales will be that much stronger... If whats in demand is boring/numb steering, with VW parts...Audi is for you. If the S4 motor is so good why has BMW i-6 spanked it for the past 3+ years in the internatinal engine of the year awards. Clearly your Audi bias is effecting your judgement of a good motor.

June 30, 2011 12:08 pm

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ClintonM3

I won't comment on the tuner industry. That's ricer talk. And you are comparing tuned to stock. There are always faster and cheaper tuned cars out there. Hey if you like your S4, that's great, good for you. My job connects me to the German manufacturers and industry, and i have driven just about every BMW, Audi and MB made in the last 2 decades. I have more connection with BMW and my personal cars are BMWs I have Porsches for toys. I've had M3s in the past, but do not have a E9x M3. Even so, IMO, the E9x M3 is a clear winner, best motor, best chassis. The 2 things I valued the most. So my criteria might be narrow, but with perfect reasoning.

June 30, 2011 4:41 pm

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cyclist848

bahahahaha lets all argue about it.

June 29, 2011 8:29 pm

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bleed

This is one of the best best of my life time video BMW Im located in Abudhabi and im one of your Cars Drivers I own BMW 2010 X6M and from today it will be advertised for sale becuase of this little animal 1M

July 2, 2011 9:12 pm

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ARF

Straight six engine at the front, a manual gearbox in the middle, and drive goes to the back. That's page one chapter one from the petrosexual handbook. - Jeremy Clarkson.

July 8, 2011 7:52 am

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