In recent years, it’s seemed like the affordable BMW 2002 has become a thing of the past, but today we have this ’73 20002 in Glenmont, New York—a desirable, fuel-injected tii model, no less—with no reserve and bidding still under $1,000 as of this writing to prove…that the affordable BMW 2002 is almost certainly a thing of the past. Let’s head over here to eBay to see just what a sub-$1K 2002 looks like these days.
In theory, this 02 has everything going for it: it’s a tii, it’s got chrome bumpers and round taillights, a sunroof, and factory original Inka orange paint, one of the most iconic colors in BMW’s ’70s candy dish. In reality, it’s got no title, severe body rot, a non-original engine, and even a non-original front clip.
The tii’s original Kugelfischer fuel-injected inline four has been replaced by what appears to be a standard-issue 2002 carbureted M10 (contemporaneously known as the M05) four. Additionally, the front clip is not original to the car, identifiable by the inclusion of “snorkel” for routing air to the air cleaner that the injected cars did not have. Non-snorkel tii noses have never been available as replacements, so are highly prized; hopeful restorers thinking this might be a viable donor car will be disappointed. The injected motor’s distinctive air cleaner cover appears to be included among a smattering of parts in the trunk, but otherwise little remains to distinguish this as a tii—aside from the badge and the serial number.
Like the rest of the car, the interior is mostly complete but completely trashed. I get the feeling that the sunroof wasn’t just partially opened for taking photos, but in fact that it may have been sitting that way for some time. There are potentially plenty of parts to salvage here, but they’ll need a deep cleaning at the very least, and most of them aren’t rare or expensive enough to merit the effort.
So for possibly less than a grand (plus shipping costs), the buyer of this 2002 will have, what, a few salvageable bits and pieces and a VIN? This poor specimen is a long time and most of a continent away from the time and place where it last roamed the roads; sadly, it may be too far gone from that time to save, and we may truly have left the era of the affordable 2002—what do you think?
Leave it where it sits as yard art.
In the mid ’70’s, a friend bought a brand new 2002tii exactly like this. It was a VERY nice car. To see one like this makes me vomit.
So does the VIN check out that this is actually a tii? With a carbureted engine and snorkel front clip, it would seem that the badge is bogus. Where did the FI engine and front clip go?
Even if it’s an actual tii, it wouldn’t make any sense to resurrect it. I’d say strip any usable parts and send it to the crusher. I say this as an owner of a 2002.
Agreed, no logic in even trying to revive this abused carcass…
OK, I looked at the photos again, and while I could not really see the snorkel front clip, I did notice the BMW sticker that says 2002tii. I still say it’s a crusher.
Could never see the appeal of these things, they have all the style and grace of a bar of soap with disproportionately high windows on top. Ugh! Gotta get hotter inside than a microwave oven, on a sunny day. I wouldn’t pay a grand for the best one in the world and yes, I’ve driven one and I’m still not impressed. Thank God for rust.
It’s a box 📦 with what used to nice seats 💺 but this one is destined to be parted out and sent to automobile crush death camp .
It’s a future Hyundai👀👍
Could be an example of the most vile little piece of crap ever set upon wheels – looking at YOU Soviet Bloc – and it’d still be sad to see in this condition.
Buy it, get it to run and stop. Touch nothing, leave totally as-is especially the interior. Wear a Tyvek suit and take it to BMW meets. You’ll be a hit. People love looking at a train wreck and they’ll get a chuckle over the suit.
What’s your car, KawiVulc? Let me guess…
Too. Far. Gone.
Shame, really. I suppose if you were some sort of bodywork artiste it might be worth something, but let’s not kid ourselves here.
Maybe add it to this and have a single car…
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/bmw-2002-tii-shell-title/6698493695.html
Yes! Exactly what I was thinking.
Buy a good shell and make one car out of the two. The So Cal shell in your linked CL listing might be the one, and since these are appreciating, the price for the shell in Anaheim might be OK…or a lower offer, even better.
It’s a real shame (even if it’s a non-tii) but this one’s unfortunately just a parts car now, and a pitiful one at that. What’s not rusted away is bent.
According to the vin# it’s a 72 tii.
74 and later seats and steering wheel.
The VIN is definitely from an early ’72 and not a ’73
Inka, blinka. This one’s a stinka.
With a mooring chain, I would sinka.
That will NOT buff right out. I have an Inka 2002 and seeing this makes me ill.
I typically agree with most people on these posts, but this could be a diamond in the rough since most I see are perfectly restored. Remember where early 911’s were a few years ago, now look at those crazy prices that people are willing to pay!
…dig a hole.
The TII Was a heck of a car in it’s day and still a pretty desirable vehicle with demand still good. I seriously doubt anybody with the means and skills get, keep and maintain one of these cars is even going to consider this hunk of rust. This one needs to be gutted and the body mounted on an old Ford f150 4 we pickup with loud exhaust it’s worth almost nothing as it sits here!
Wow it sure is long way from where it was last licensed, and such a long time ago, too (when I was still in my 20s) Sigh . . .
well at least it has three of the wider early Tii wheels, but that is about all, unless it has a 5 speed gearbox………….
These cars are a love em or hate em type of vehicle. Like the Volvo’s of that era, they are boxy. In the ‘80’s, I owned a 78 Volvo 242 GT, and later a ‘72 BMW 2002. Both had sunroofs and air conditioning, and manual transmissions. And I love these cars to this day! I can’t explain exactly why, but they were both solid, well built cars that were fun to drive. I’d love to have another of either.
As for this one, makes me want to smack somebody upside their head! How could they let this happen ?! I wouldn’t take it if it was offered to me for free. It’s a real shame. And I’m shocked at what good examples are selling for now! Crazy.
The VIN is an early 72 Tii. The steering wheel and seats are late model. If it has the Tii suspension, brakes, fuel tank it is still easily $1,000 in parts. A good set of grills can bring &750-$1,000.
Not all Tii’s had a no snorkel nose only the early ones. BMW ran out of non-snorkeled noses and started to use snorkeled noses. This also has the notch in the center of the cowl so it appears to be Tii tub with more rust then metal
Sadly, it’s a goner. Gillette my have some room for it tho.
there is easily worth the current cost in parts on that car. front struts, brake booster, brake calipers, bumpers, trim and radio. the shell is toast. this car will never see the road except on a flat bed. the craigslist shell listed above looks to be a very desireable Taiga colored specimen.
A 20002? Whoa… That car must be huge- it has its own ZIP code!!!
The car or what is left of it is a 1972Tii not 73. Not all Tiis had snorkels. The early ones did but when the factory ran out, the Tii got the snorkel front end. This also has the cut out in the center of the firewall which was only on a Tii.
The brakes, suspension, and grills alone are worth more that $1,000. It the block and head if they are original also valuable.
Gone. Somebody probably bought it for the VIN plates.
Skippy – has that actually become a “thing” with BMWs ? I hope not ! I own a 328is that’s “warmer” than stock, and nearly bought a new Tii from a dealership in ’74. A) wasn’t a very desirable color to me, memory says Medium Brown Metallic, B) loaded with every darned dealer installed jazz they could think of, and C) they wanted an arm, leg, and one of my kidneys to purchase the “jacked-up” priced Bimmer. “We won’t be getting another one !!!” the salesman said…. My thought as I left: “I certainly hope that’s true !”