Get the M240 if you can get it loaded for $46-48K with the LSD and don't need the sexy M2 body. You can make M240 handle and accelerate like an M2 with some stickier, slightly wider rubber, mechanical LSD, and a very basic $200-600 tune. It will generate the same or better numbers, but won't feel as connected though.
The biggest issue I have with the M2 is that they're still commanding a premium and in many cases, a markup. For most US buyers, you're going to have to spend about $10K-15K more to get the M2 compared to a relatively loaded RWD M240i.
If I totaled my M235, it would be tough to spend that extra dough. But that body, the wheels, suspension tuning, the real eLSD, and all those other unseen enhancements are hard to pass up
