With few deviations from stock equipment and mostly original paint, this 1972 BMW 2002 in Columbus, Ohio cannot be called “all original,” but it qualifies as a survivor in my book. The two-owner BMW spent most of its life with the original owner in California and the last three years in Ohio. Listed here on eBay, the Sahara tan two-door has attracted 79 watchers, none of whom have agreed to the $33,000 asking price by clicking Buy It Now.
A tidy and historically faithful 2.0 L (121 cid) inline four-cylinder rests in a repainted engine compartment. The car’s front was repainted too, but original Sahara enamel covers everything from the doors back, according to the seller. Called BMW’s Most Successful Engine, the rev-happy M10 promises as much fun as you’ll have with 125 HP, on four wheels anyway. A recent valve job should have the top end in good shape, and that naturally includes new seals from the head gasket up.
The seller reports the classic ” runs and drives great!” while emitting a puff of blue smoke once in a while from the tail pipe, not inconsistent for a 50 year-old motor with a reported 115,000 miles. These cars have gone red-hot for enthusiasts and collectors in recent years, but unlike many delicate trailer-queens, the 2002 and earlier versions often run reliably for decades. Better yet, the little four-seaters deliver more SPG (Smiles Per Gallon) than today’s performance cars weighing twice the 2002’s roughly one ton curb weight. Newer sport sedans seem to take isolating the driver from every aspect of driving as a point of pride. I own a ’72 2002 tii and a 2006 BMW 750Li and while the 7-series can be ferociously fast, it’s like piloting a video game. The 2002 offers a symbiotic blending of man and machine, working together for a common purpose. Enjoy this video of a 2002 on Germany’s famous Nürburgring. Driving all day at 4000+ RPM? No problem for the fabulous M10.
Upholstery on the two-door sedan looks great, and the headliner is perfect according to the seller. The typical cracks in the dashboard are not shown, but the seller offers 150+ pictures to potential buyers. Carpeting shows wear expected after several decades and over 110,000 miles. Black seat hinges could be original for a late 1972 unit, while earlier ’72s wore chrome instead. BMW 2002 lovers respect cars like this that are not over-restored by someone hoping to flip them for profit. Owning a 2002 can be, and perhaps should be, like joining a cult. Stories of long-kept 2002s can be easily found, and for good reason. These cars have everything that BMW marketing brags about today, but without the newer cars’ penchant for fouling the dashboard with error codes unless you feed them a steady diet of $500+ parts that didn’t even exist in the ’70s. Many have soured on computerized BMWs, but no enthusiast should line up for that big road course in the sky without driving a BMW 2002 at least once. What’s your favorite pre-computer car?
Thanks for posting the video Todd. I own a Z3 and a E39 540 six speed. Both a riot to drive. But around here that video is as close to a ride in one that will happen. This rig sounds well taken care of. I know these are going up fast, but 33K. Wow.
Just think, if BMW made these for 30 years, there would have been a 2002 2002.
That’s a beaut, Todd, nice one! Is it time for another Todd’s Rods update of your 2002?
Hey Scotty – Not much has changed I’m afraid. I need to put the hammer down on the tii restoration. Now that I have one less computerized BMW, I find myself with a lot more time on my hands. Stay tuned!
is that white (chamonix) still for sale ?
Quite possibly one of the nicest cars to own and drive. BMW got it right with this one.
“What’s your favorite pre-computer car?”
A great question for sure. Especially for those of us who have watched the mostly unpleasant transition from relatively simple and straightforward to a vehicle world of over complicated, over engineered and oftentimes nonsensical realm of plastic crap.
Once upon a time, people would place an uncooked meal on their car engine (https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/car-cooking.htm) to cook while they traveled.
Imagine doing that under the hood of your new Expedition… Would a sensor go off and tell you the roast was done? Maybe not.
One could purchase a cylinder head temp sensor from Ford insert that into the roast or meal of choice unplug the factory sensor from the head and use a scan tool app on your smart phone to measure the PID. When the PID reaches the desired temp you are done. As long as you do it in one trip and reconnect to the factory sensor when finished you won’t trip the MIL or check engine light😂
OK guys – love the tangent here. Back in the late ’80s my Boss at the time had a full sized GM van and he’d punch a hole in a can of beans with a church key and have someone slip the engine cover off, place the bean can on the intake manifold then check it like 45 min later. With an oven mitt and can opener you didn’t even have to stop to enjoy a hot meal. LOL Check out the Compete Guide to Manifold Destiny https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Manifold-Destiny/Chris-Maynard/9781416596233
Very nice – I owned 2 of them back in 1980 and 1982 – bought for $2,000 sold for $2,000 – one was actually a tii -I guess I should have kept one of them.
I have my favorite precomputer car, a 1975 2002 in Sierra. 75 had functioning bumpers which many don’t like, but I’ve found it makes my daily driver much less prone to damage. I put 14” bottle cap wheels on it to fit over the rear wheel disc brakes that were a bolt on kit meant for a Jetta. I bought it with a five speed transmission already installed off a later model BMW. I also added a Bilstein Suspension which is nice, but only barely better than the original. I recently added a console gauge cluster and rear stabilizer and fuel filler adapter from Kooglewerks; so my question is, can I call this a survivor? The engine is original and absolutely trouble free. This is as much fun to drive as my 1968 912 was, and people are willing to compliment it as they never would the Porsche.
I start each morning with a cup of tea and Barn Find. I’m a member because it makes my life a more pleasant experience. Thanks Guys.
Hello Armstrongpsyd. Clearly you get it. Making changes to your car that suit your wants and needs and driving it is the best way to pay respect to a classic car. Few owners would object to bolt-ons like you’d described. There might be a fine line between a survivor and non-survivor, but a car with mostly original paint, mostly original engine compartment, mostly original interior, and a few bolt-on replacements of parts that wore out still qualifies in my book. Enjoy yours and call it whatever you want. Happy motoring!
“BMW 2002 lovers respect cars like this that are not over-restored by someone hoping to flip them for profit.”
Thats a NUTS thing to say for a used car priced about seven times what it sold for new. I owned 15 2002s in the days when a decent one could be had for less than $3k, including a ’72 and ’74 tii (the latter owned twice) and was in and under all of them. Think of all the cars you could get (with better functioning almost-everything) for that lump of money… This IS a car with an owner looking to flip for a substantial profit. Quaint, yes, functional, yes, but lacking all the things car users have come to deserve and expect since all those decades ago.
“Deserve and expect” are pretty subjective terms. My wife drives a Tesla and I drive an 02. I much prefer the driving experience of the 02, every part of it. She prefers the ease and comfort of her electric car. I have to admit I envy her not having to visit gas stations.
$3.3k maybe. Never liked the seating position in these tubs.
$3.3k maybe. Never liked the seating position in these tubs.
Well, You certainly are a different driver than I. My grandfather liked Lincolns; my father liked pickups, and I love 02s, especially the driving position.
My second or third 2 door BMW was purchased, used, from dealer Auto Mass in Schwabach, Germany in 1976, where I served in the Army. It was a 72 or 73, Same Sahara color as this, we called him “The Tan Man” (we named all our cars…at least the ones with character)
We seldom took our old ragged ’67 2000CS on longer trips. The Tan Man went everywhere in Europe and hauled a lot of GIs to the commissary and big PX in Furth, making believers in BMWs of many of them. One close call in Italy cost me a driver’s side mirror! Another time, I ripped the whole rear end out, showing off in the snow…….12 hours later, it was back in the road! Gosh, so long ago. So many cars since then and none….NONE measured up to the 2002.