As long as there is no compact RWD sedan in the lineup, BMW is simply refusing to take American money.
E30 - 2 dr coupe and sedan. $$
E36 - 2 dr coupe and sedan. Enthusiasts beg for BMW to make an M3 sedan, and they do from 1997 - 1998. $$$
E46 - 2 dr coupe and sedan. Enthusiasts again beg for BMW to make an M3 sedan, and they roll out the ZHP package for both coupe and sedan which becomes a cult classic. $$$$ (sales could have been $$$$$)
E90 - 2 dr coupe and sedan. Enthusiasts are rewarded, and M models of both are made. $$$$$
E82 - 2 dr coupe - no 3 dr or 5 dr RWD variants for the US. 1M becomes a cult model. $$
F22/F87 - 2 dr coupe - no 3 or 5 dr RWD variants for the US. M2 improves on success of 1M. Enthusiasts’ pleas for a sedan/gran coupe are ignored. $$$ (sales could have been $$$$$)
F52/F44 - FWD sedan/gran coupe
G42/G87 - 2 dr coupe - see F22/F87
I think the decision to have a FWD F44 2 Series Gran Coupe alongside the RWD G42 2 Series Coupe makes absolutely no sense. I can't fathom why BMW wouldn't want to make a RWD 2 Series Sedan on the CLAR platform with an M2 Sedan based on it. Do they not see the Mercedes CLA45, Audi RS3, the lackluster Lexus IS 300 F Sport, and the lack of a Porsche in this class as an awesome opportunity to build a compact RWD sports sedan that will beat the pants off the competition?
I don't understand why this is even a difficult decision for BMW.