[bimmer ///man]

You guys are completely missing the point of the article IMO.

Take a look at the mod list again.

In the engine section add everything except the lightweight battery = $3230

In the brakes and drivetrain add everything but switch the final drive to a manual unit ($2600)= $6,683

Forget the body, the 1M doesn't have any bling so we'll negate this on the 135.

Suspension and Wheels add everything except TC Kline studs and Breytons, add PS2's at roughly $1000 = $6,872

Total is $16,785. If you switch the Stoptech Trophy for Sport you save another $1500 bring the total to only $15,285. The 135i in this article didn't need the Trophys, Breytons, etc. You could probably even get away with out the intercooler and downpipe which would remove another $1500 which takes it to $13,800. If you ditch the big brake completely, it's down to $11,300. The 6 piston Brembos that come stock aren't as good as a proper big brake but are certainly no slouch.

The point of all this, is that you can build a car that will be close to, match or exceed the performance of the 1M. No, it does not come with an M badge. If you take the last quoted price I listed, $11,300 (with DCT $13,300) and add it to the MSRP, you are at $51K and change ($53k with DCT).

The other factor that you seem to have all forgotten now that you have your 1M's, is that there aren't any available and if there are, they are not going for MSRP. I believe, and I could be wrong, that this article was geared towards the enthusiast that either already owns a 135, gets a company lease, would like a lower insurance premium, wants DCT, missed the boat on purchasing a 1M, etc, etc.