Watching the video and reading through the thread reminds me of what I went through when I started my search for an M2. I figured for the money asked, I should get the options I wanted vs grab whatever was available. Unfortunately, I didn’t want a Laguna blue with manual....which seems to be mostly what is around.
So then I started looking at CPO M4s but they are just too physically large for my tastes and handle more like a grand tourer than I wanted. For the same money I could have a new Corvette C7. So that’s basically what I did. I also decided to keep my beloved 135is DCT with Dinan S2 tune. I’ve also put better Michelins on it, and that really improves the handling. I also picked up a Corvette C7 which surprised me since it’s about the same size as an M2 and drives wonderfully. So I consider my 135is my poor man’s M2 since with the tune it has about the same HP but more torque. It doesn’t go around a track as well, but I don’t track my cars anyway.
Is this stubby 135i the cut-price M2 CS we have been looking for?:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1684272