Another BMW 2002 Value Question

jhynesrockmtn · 04-29-2014, 06:05 AM

Another 2002 value question. The car is a 1972 Tii. I'm going to look at this car today. Locally owned. I found out about it during an introductory conversation with the owner's father. Here is the content of an email. Assuming the condition checks out and it isn't a rusty mess, is $8-9K a reasonable deal?

Aside from the car itself, which is in pretty good shape- a few little rust spots, or bubbling, but none on the shock points in the trunk. It has a sunroof, It has been up-converted to a 5 speed (manual, of course) and has had the battery run to the trunk for balance (and ease of replacing sine the original was so tiny). It also has stiffening crossbars in the front and back. Someone had some point must have had racing aspirations.
The biggest issue, if I'm being honest, it that either because of mods to add better stereo capabilities (there is a rigged pair of computer speakers for iPod hook up) or because of the run of the battery to the back, it tends to drain the battery if not driven for a while (2 months) but a trickle charger does the trick.
Other than that it's an amazingly fun car. We did general up keep, but no mods.
We also have a front suspension/strut set, an extra dashboard, a box of odds and ends (seat belts, and extra BMW grill piece, a set of street wheels and a set of all weather wheels (though the tires need replacing), a brake fluid pump, a car cover, and a few other odds and ends I can't recall- all included.
Anyone with car savvy and the time could have it pretty cherry pretty quick I think- sadly we just don't have the time.

Seahawk · 06:28 AM

I have looked at over 25 2002's in the past year. As you know rust is the issue first and foremost. As we all know, a rust bubble can be the proverbial tip of the iceberg.

A year or so ago that is a 4k car tops, now 8 to 9k is a fair to excellent price depending on what you want and the condition of the interior and other mechanical items. It is no longer "original" if that matters to you: Rims, tranny, battery mod, etc.

PM me if you don't buy it. I'd be interested to find out what you learned.

5String43 · 04-29-2014, 06:40 AM

Where I live, a decent, unmolested 2002tii is going to go for mid to high teens, and sometimes more. As Seahawk notes, rust is a problem with these cars - under the spare tire, atop the strut mounting points and elsewhere. I like that this one would come with spares, don't like that the battery position has been changed. Have the door cards been cut to accept speakers? If so, that's not good - finding good uncut cards to replace molested ones seems about like finding the same thing for an SC. All that said, if this opportunity was presented to me, the car proved to be rust-free and I had the spare cash, I think I'd give it serious consideration.

asphaltgambler · 04-29-2014, 06:46 AM

For that car, at that age it's all about condition. Any rust or bondo repair downgrades it considerably.......

LJ851 · 04-29-2014, 07:07 AM

Relocating the battery won't cause a drain, more than likely the Tii specific clock is dragging the battery down.

From what i've seen recently, that sounds like a good deal if there truly is no major rust.

Does it still have all the Tii parts on it ?

Seahawk · 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5String43

I like that this one would come with spares...I think I'd give it serious consideration.

The sunroof adds to the value as well. Also see if the spare tires are on the original rims. The dashboard spare, if new, is an excellent add.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Any rust or bondo repair downgrades it considerably.......

I looked at a very nice 1972 Tii in Boston (excellent interior, paint, original everything with a sunroof) which I really liked. PPI showed rear damage and bondo the current owner didn't know about. The owner of the shop said offer 3k, no more than 4k.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJ851

Relocating the battery won't cause a drain, more than likely the Tii specific clock is dragging the battery down.

From what i've seen recently, that sounds like a good deal if there truly is no major rust.

Does it still have all the Tii parts on it ?

I should have mentioned that. Make sure it remains a Tii. Also, does he know where the original xmsn is?

Good luck. If it checks out I'm a little more than Agave Green with envy

I had the basic car you are looking at in car in high school.

jhynesrockmtn · 04-29-2014, 01:58 PM

Sadly it's a true project. Probably worth it for someone at the right price but not something I want to tackle. Rust starting on both doors, bad around left rear wheel arch, also right but not as bad. Floors were hard to tell. Sills show signs of rust. I'm quite sure the left rear shock tower has had some work done. Strut braces front and rear. Areas around windscreens actually look great, firewall forward looks great. Hood has some rust. Electrical harness is a mess. Interior a 4 out of 10. Started ran and shifted ok. Front end is looser than snot. Big rear sway bar. He does have a bunch of new front end bits in boxes and some other parts. I was unimpressed with the power and it felt constricted or like the throttle was not able to be fully opened up. Gas pedal travel was really short. May be binding somewhere. Looks "straight", didn't see any signs of accident damage although I didn't crawl underneath. Happy to pass on his contact information to anyone who might want it. Original steering wheel is gone as is the original trans.