I'd agree with Delia's first suggestion: add FI to the 1.6L engine. Late-model 1600s are very uncommon stateside, so I'd keep the original engine. And with Megasquirt, I think you could tune it to get very good fuel economy for a daily driver. Add a 5-speed but keep the 4.11 rear end to preserve acceleration but keep it somewhat reasonable for highway driving. I understand those 1.6 engines really like to rev!

-Dave
_________________
Colorado '71

save some time and MONEY (which seems like you
have plenty of ) and buy a E30 318is for speed, reliability,
zero maintainence, great handling. Leave the 1602 alone.
_________________
1976 BMW 2002 #2743711(sorry I sold it 12/25/06)
1986 BMW R65 650cc twin 19k miles
1964 BMW R27 250cc single 15K miles
2002 BMW 325xiTouring 29k miles
1984 MERCEDES-BENZ W123 300D Turbodiesel-188k miles fein-DIESEL

I have to admit, the 1.6 engine is starting to grow on me. It does rev quite freely and is actually reasonably responsive once things get going. It certainly needs new rings at this point, which means its decision time - rebuild or replace. My sons are really pushing me toward the S14 full-on conversion but I thought it would be helpful to hear a few other opinions from those of you with more experience. I appreciate your thoughts.

I frankly have no interest in a newer BMW, no matter how fast or reliable. It just doesn't suit my point of view. I own modern cars and I drive them regularly - a Passat 4Motion and a Tundra. My interest in old cars is about making driving a more engaging experience. For instance, I own a near perfect '92 Alfa Spider Veloce S4 that is both beautiful and incredibly nimble. It has very low miles, a bullet proof Bosch fuel injection system but very little grunt at low rpms, and so I find myself on the verge of modifications. Since it's strictly a sunny day car, I bought the 1602 as another fun driver on days when the Alfa doesn't really want to leave the garage. I thought that if I really made the 1602 nimble and quick, I'd probably get more driving time in it and be less tempted to molest the Alfa's mechanicals.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts on the matter.

You just said it... if you wanted 'modern' reliability and efficiency then you'd drive a modern car.
But no, we drive vintage cars for a reason. It's the engaging feel of driving an old car as it was meant to be driven. Not a smooth startup with come computer doohickey doing crazy stuff on its own, but a good old-fashioned accelerator pump pushin gas thru a venturi.
Save yourself the trouble of re-working everything needlessly, and just drive the car.
_________________
4224479: 74 2002, #74 EP/FSP, daily driver
I beat my car like it owes me money!

Well, for me the issue is a little different - I'm not opposed to modern reliability. What I get excited about is the iconic styling and feel of some older cars. So, while I generally wouldn't consider molesting the exterior, I would entertain upgrades to the mechanicals. I bought this particular car because it had the euro bumpers and square lights and I liked that look. I wanted to start with a car that wasn't burdened by oversized American bumpers, and I actually prefer the square lights to the earlier round ones.

I grew up in California in the 60's as a suburban kid watching low riders and hot rodders strip cars back to what the designer probably had in mind before marketing and regulatory issues marred the essential form. I admired their sense of design for that effort. I've been involved in architecture, building and development my whole life, including a stint with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and I still get excited about how design and form play with function, whether its architecture, furniture, cars, or nature.

So, that's my context for this decision. Preserve the form and feel, but give the car the benefits of upgraded mechanicals as long as it doesn't completely ruin the original "gestalt" of the car. I mean, is anyone actually running on original shocks? How about tires? Not likely. There is a fuzzy line here that always gets crossed between preservation, reuse and restoration. The question is, how far over the line makes sense. How far can you go without losing the soul of the object you are attempting to honor?

rijco wrote:

Well, for me the issue is a little different - I'm not opposed to modern reliability. What I get excited about is the iconic styling and feel of some older cars. So, while I generally wouldn't consider molesting the exterior, I would entertain upgrades to the mechanicals. I've been involved in architecture, building and development my whole life, including a stint with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and I still get excited about how design and form play with function, whether its architecture, furniture, cars, or nature. So, that's my context for this decision. Preserve the form and feel, but give the car the benefits of upgraded mechanicals as long as it doesn't completely ruin the original "gestalt" of the car. I mean, is anyone actually running on original shocks? How about tires? Not likely. There is a fuzzy line here that always gets crossed between preservation, reuse and restoration. The question is, how far over the line makes sense. How far can you go without losing the soul of the object you are attempting to honor?

The BMW 2002 is a recognized icon of mid-century design and engineering. Having analyzed the concept and engineering drawings during my own design education, it should be noted the design and styling cues have a decidedly Bauhaus influence. The canted overhead-cam engine is a marvel of engineering prowess.

Because I've been driving and modifying 2002s since 1972, and even purchased a NEW one in 1975 -- when it came time to purchase another in 2001 -- finding an unmolested example was quite difficult. And though my '73tii wasn't a cream puff or unmodified, it had some tasteful, period upgrades that didn't detract from the 2002 driving experience. Over the past few years, I didn't try to return it to stock, but made an effort to preserve. or conserve it's vintage-modified equipment and appearance -- something that's proven to be a far move daunting task than I could have ever imagined. It is if nothing else, an exercise in restraint.

My '74tii has the more typical 14" wheel/tire upgrades, tiny steering wheel, and Ireland Engineering Stage I Springs with Bilstein HDs. I can say that as much as I like my '74tii daily driver, my heart belongs to my '73tii with it's tiny 13" Minilites and nearly-stock sized 185/70-13 Bridgestones. It's as close to the experience I remember from my first 2002 drive back in 1972.

At A1 Imports in San Rafael, where I work/hang out, JP is doing a number of modified 2002s with M10s, S14s, M20s and megasquirt FI systems. They all have big wheels/tires and stiff suspensions; some of them have coilovers and huge brakes. While these are anything-but-stock, I think their owners would argue that they *still* are within the fuzzy line as an homage to the original concept.

The retro New Beetle and New Mini? THOSE are soul-less!

Me? I'm just a Designer/ex-College Professor, living in the Bay Area, passionate about 2002s.

Cheers!

Delia
_________________
1973 2002tii
Inka (aka "Orange Julius")
VIN 2762756

1974 2002tii - damaged
Polaris (aka "Mae West")
VIN 2782824

BMW CCA member #1974

www.oldschoolbmw.com

deliawolfe@gmail.com

Yes...yes. 1972. My first year in college. I went from a Hillman Minx, to a MGA, then an MGB, then an Alfa Giulietta Spider (lovely car!), then an MGBGT, then a Datun 510 that really, really wanted to be a 2002. So, of course, I've wanted the 2002 ever since! Thanks for the comments, Delia.

Well, after talking it over with my mechanics at Group 2 in Seattle, I've decided to stick with the 1.6 engine and just rebuild it for much higher performance - upgraded cams, fuel and exhuast systems, etc. Still doing the 5 speed and LSD, but I'll keep the originals in my shop just in case. Having now had a week to drive the car, I've gotten kind of attached to that little motor - it really needs to wind out but then it'll play with the big dogs. Completely different feel from our other '02, which has much more grunt all the way throught the power band, with the able assistance of the Weber 38.