Newbie looking for advice on year to buy

[Leadsled124]

Just joined after finding as much info on the 2002s as I could on google. I'm currently looking to get into a 2002 as a weekend track car/fun car. Ive been racing a somewhat highly modified subaru sti and it's been a blast but I'd like to get into something kinda cheaper and different. (and compete with my friend in all their 70s GTIs)

After reading the FAQs I'm leaning towards a Tii model for the fuel injection simplicity. Are these good for track cars or is the fuel injection problematic? I see 72 is the hot year but I see way more 73-74s availible at more affordable prices. Is there any major differences other than visual body changes? Is a 74 tii going to be the same thing by the time it's in track form?

Sorry for all the questions but Im not too familiar with how interchangeable body parts etc are between these

[Mike Self]

so look for a '68 or 69.

70-73 cars (all roundies) are slightly heavier but not significantly so, and most of the extra weight (insulation etc) can be removed for racing.

74-76 cars are considerably (200+ lbs) heavier due to 5 mph bumpers and all the body shell reinforcement to support them in a low speed crash. The extra emission stuff didn''t help the weight problem either.

I wouldn't tear up a tii to go racing--a carbed car will be much easier to modify for increased power than a tii--mere mortals aren't well equipped to modify a K-fish injection pump--and tii's are getting expensive.

For a street car, late 72 and 73 cars have historically been considered the

"best" (everyone has their own thoughts on this) because--they came with two barrel carbs/manifolds so a little more hp; the E12 cylinder head used these two years burned gas cleanly enough so there was minimal emissions junk compared to earlier and later cars (74s shared this but are heavier and are "squarelights."). And the interior upholstery material used through '74 is much better quality than the later cars.

Bottom line--buy what you like, just get one that isn''t rusty or wasn't damaged in a bad wreck.

cheers, and welcome to the '02 fraternity/sorority

mike

[RayC911]

Don't forget that you have to smog a 76 if it's going to be a street car.

[Leadsled124]

Thanx mike that's defiantly the kind of info I needed. The tii apparently have the fi and higher compression and some more power but if the carbonated versions are cheaper and easy to modify I'd rather go that route then. I'll have to look into the class rules for what I'm allowed to change.

As long As the duel carbs arnt a nightmare it could be more fun anyways. Do people usually work with the stock carbs or is there a poular carb people usually switch out to?

[c.d.iesel]

....some good background reading for you on 'mods' for

faster 02

http://www.kormanautoworks.com/rebuilding.htm

http://www.kormanautoworks.com/2002.htm

There are a few other vendors for speed products

[Palindrome]

1) buy the car in the best condition you can find

2) buy the car at the best price you can find

3) buy the year you want (caveat for smog rules in your jurisdiction)

That was how I prioritized.

Also, drive as many as you can before you make a decision. Cars as old as 2002s vary tremendously from one to another. Once you've driven a half-dozen or so you'll have a sense of what is available at your price point. See every available car within a reasonable distance.

[Beck180]

I have no experience race prepping a car, so all I can add is encourage you to not use a Tii for track. Unless you are an expert machinist, you can't modify the injection pump.

Plus, you will have taken a Tii off the road, which will make some of us sad

[AceAndrew]

Welcome!

In regards to perhaps doing a race car build, your best bet on getting some wheel to wheel racing with other 2002's would be to look into VARA, if your looking for more of an occasional track day then I'd look into the ones set up by Socalvintagebmw or speedventures (if your in southern california then I'd get on socalvintagebmw's mailing list).

Some more good basic race tech. information can be found here ... http://www.bmw2002.com/tech.html

Also please fill out your email information as there are no PM's on here.

[BarryA]

prep (street car for occasional track day use vs dedicated track car) you may want to look for a car that's already been track prepped (cage, interior and sound deading removed, suspension mods, etc).

Track prep work is both time consuming and costly, and money expended on modifications is virtually never recovered when the car is sold, so if you can find a car that suits your needs, it'll probably be cheaper to get it with the bulk of work already done......

[Leadsled124]

Thanx for the links I'll check out the social BMW club. I'm already a member at speedventures as well. I'm now looking for a non Tii from what I read here and aside from the extra cost and modification limitations I also don't want to destroy any special models.

Quick checklist...

What motor am I looking for? I thi k the 2.0 is the good one for what I want? Some have 1.8 that are for sale.

Also is the 4 speed the only trans? I swear there was a 5 speed I found but maby that was a swap