BMW’s 2002 redefined the sedan. It wasn’t the fastest or the best-handling of its ilk. It’s not beautiful, nor was it cheap. But it had shades of all these attributes in a blend that somehow made it more than the sum of its parts. It was just enough of everything. This alchemy has propelled prices upward over the last decade. Project cars can still be had for four figures, but performance-modified 2002s will bring $50k and more all day long – and that’s not even the hot-shoe tii variant produced starting in 1971. Here on craigslist is this 1972 BMW 2002 sedan, fresh from long-term ownership and priced at $19,000. Drive it home from Carlton, Oregon. I know this tip was given to us by a Barn Finder, but I’ll have to thank you anonymously, as I accidentally deleted the tip before I wrote it up! Thanks, whoever you are!
The story of the 2002 began when two BMW executives discovered they had each independently installed a 2.0-liter engine in their 1600-2 cars. The men appealed to BMW management to consider a new model built around this concept, and the 2002 was born. The base model was fitted with BMW’s SOHC M10 inline-four cylinder breathing through a single Solex carburetor to produce 100 hp. Drivers rowed the gears via a four-speed manual or let a ZF automatic do the work. The seller is a friend of the owner; he states that the car has been well-maintained, always garaged, and runs well. The odometer shows just over 88k miles.
The interior is nicely kept, with only a hint of a broken outside back bolster on the driver’s seat. A thorough cleaning could bring the presentation up a notch. The headliner is nearly perfect, the gauges are bright and clear, and the rear seats look unused. The trunk is decent, and that looks like a new seal, still with the frosty look of fresh rubber. This car comes with documents, manuals, and work receipts collected since 1986.
The seller indicates that the car was repainted in the mid 1980s; that said, time has taken a toll on the finish. A few bubbles where corrosion has started are highlighted in the ad, cracks have formed by the windows, and I’m not sure this rear bumper is 100% straight. A picky buyer would likely want to bargain on the price to leave scope for repairs. What do you think of the price here?
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