1975 bmw 2002
 

Any thoughts or experience? Wife and I are spending next weekend in Asheville. There's a nice 75 for sale on the way. Saw pics and will talk with the guy today. Claims "restored", etc. We'll see. I know rust is the big issue with most cars of this vintage. But supposedly these are pretty simple, DIY friendly, lightweight hobby-cars. Would prefer a 72 or 73 with round tail-lights and no emissions-crap, but those are also a lot more expensive. Assuming it's nice, can probably buy this one around 8k. Thoughts?

Anything without emissions is best, but it is getting very tough to find one in an affordable price range. The '75 if pretty clean would be a fun little car to bomb around in and the 8k price is about right if in good shape. Check the floor pans completely making sure they are good at the body seams and rockers. Take a magnet.

Roomate had a 2002tii in college while I was driving my Fiat 850 (no comparison). We went all over Florida in that 2002 and it was fantastic on handling and exceleration. It was orange with brown leather seats. Manual trans. Great car and a classic to own.

I have been in the market the past six months or so, gotten a bit more serious in the past two since an FJ-40 deal I made fell through.

My thoughts, after over 10 cars in person, twenty or so online where I talked to the owner on the phone and three PPIs:

- Rust in all the wrong places. There are some really good forums that have printable outlines of the 2002 and where to look. Tons of pics as well.

- Prices are all over the map and there doesn't seem to be rational correlates between region of the country, condition of the car (for average to good examples), except for Roundies versus squares! Tii versus carb'ed.

- Lots of poorly executed mods...originals are hard to find at a reasonable price.

- For an old sports car, after market and OEM parts are readily available.

- Don't buy a project unless you know what your are getting into.

- I had one in HS and college and they are not nearly as fast as I remember...still handle well but a Ford Focus would grab a 2002 like a rag and shake it. You have to want, as they say, to drive fast slow. These aren't Rocket Ships.

- They have aged well in the looks department. I really like driving them as well...I had forgotten how much glass the car has. After driving a 356 for a few years I few like I am sitting in a glass atrium when I'm in a 2002.

I am close to a deal on one, PPI results forthcoming when the roads clear:D

Send me the link to the thing. I promise not to chase it unless you wave off.

Best.

Rust is the biggest issue. If the body's good, it doesnt take much to get these running well. The M10 is a great engine if a little underpowered. However, there's easy ways to bump it up a bit.

Many of us know these cars well.

That's funny...

Combination of acceleration and exhilaration????

let me know if need anything driven around Mike! Cambridge used to be lousy with these things. Happy 2014, looks like a good way to start off!

Paul, great memories as well. But you forgot to mention the interior odor twenty oh two's have :D

If you don't mind, Queso fosa nasal, shoot me a good email so I can solicit your help.

The PPI folks have been great, but additional coverage is always a good thing, especially from you, and others here.

Oh, the interiors have the interior odor:)

PM sent

Just got back from a 4 hour round trip to check out the car. In a word.....disappointing. The owner is a very interesting chap who clearly knows more about horses than cars. He took 3rd in Olympic high jumping some years ago and I met one of his horses that won the World Cup 5 years ago. Has an 80+ acre equine farm that was...amazing.

But, the car was a POS. Bad recent paint job with rust already bubbling through around front wheel wells. Trim missing, rear shock towers were solid as were floor pans looking from underneath. I didn't bother pulling up carpet as I'd already decided to pass. Engine bay was filthy and clearly was unloved. Seats were in excellent condition but metal work was wavy and I'm sure there were a thousand headaches beneath the surface. No thanks.

He described the car as "mint condition". Rather than throw rocks, I'll chock it up to being a guy that just isn't car savvy....at all. Would gladly pay more for a solid example. This wasn't it.

Thanks for feedback and info. Happy, safe new years guys. We survived another one!

At least 5 of those so far.

The things we do for the off chance they're right.

More to follow, I bet:D

BTW, I have communicated with a great guy who owns a really pristine, original 1972 Tii, just a really nice car: great, perhaps, I haven't seen it in person but the pictures are very telling.

He wants more than I can pay, but if you have deeper pockets than mine, PM me and I'll forward all his info plus the pictures. Email required.

They are cool little cars but the prices of them have lost all relevance to their actual value in terms of fun/coolness/rarity/performance/etc...IMO.

Ancient design, poor performance and mediocre styling but still a very comfortable and well made car in the most German tradition. If this sounds like I don't like them, WRONG! I just think that they are cool $2500 cars in average condition with no rust, like they've always been here in CA. until recently. They are the furthest thing from rare. The later ones with huge bumpers and lights are close to valueless, again IMO, because they are missing the little bit of style and performance that the earlier ones had.

You have to remember that they came out in the mid-'60s and by the mid-'70s were an obsolete model cobbled together with emissions crap and crash bumpers, just basically a place marker in the showroom until the new e21 came out.

I've owned a couple, (bought them cheap when young and broke), I think they were sweet little cars but really nothing special at the end of the day. Alfas of the same era were extremely exciting in comparison. :)

Denis, you really are a trip, lol.

A GTV might be nice. We need a 2002 vs. GTV Smackdown!

I'll bid $5,000 to double speeder's bid. Do I hear 5000.01?

Oh yeh, the ventilation sucks in them. Get a tii with round tail lights. Squares tail lights are for squares.

Yeah old Italian car vs. old German car. lol

The Italian car crushes it like a grape, then and now.

I used to know a guy who vintage raced an Alfa Guilietta. He was also the shop foreman at a big L.A. BMW dealer and the only guy certified to work on the newest M cars. He knew more about BMWs then the next 3 guys working next to him put together.

I had my 2002 at the time and asked him if it was a good basis for a vintage race car. He laughed out loud and said, "once around the track at big Willow and you'd be done."

There are only two makes of old cars that you can take to the track and not break, Porsche and Alfa Romeo. I'm talking in stock form. It's the god's truth. :cool:

So, Choc, are you glad you asked:D

I want one because it tickles me, pure and simple.

My aim is true.

Well, that's all that matters. ^^

They are perfectly delightful little German transportation devices with some mild vintage appeal. I just don't want to see anyone I care about pay too much for one and feed this kooky market.