1974 Tii (not really) transformation in Texas FINALLY ENOUGH

[austinmf]

I bought a used car from Terry Sayther that I saw on eBay. It was an old bmw he described as meticulously maintained with a recent paint job. I had bid on the car but lost track of time and missed the auction end and was not the high bidder. Several months had passed and I emailed him telling him I was in the market for the same kind of car. He told me he still had the same car from eBay.

I went and looked at it at his shop. It had a new paint job and looked pretty good.

His description was as follows from eBay.

Terry Sayther Automotive is proud to offer this meticulously maintained, beautiful 1974 BMW 2002 for sale. This car was a 2002Tii and still has the Tii short block, etc., though ancillary mechanical injection parts have been removed. This is a NO RUST car originally from the west Texas desert. A reliable daily driver with plenty of pep all the while only sipping fuel. Interior is very clean: car had no sunroof to leak or break. Production date is 06/1974, VIN 2782194, 71937 miles on the clock (actual mileage unknown).

The high points: Car has a very cold Clardy AC system, Bilstein Heavy Duty Shocks and Struts, 5 speed manual transmission, no rust, tii heritage, many new parts, recent tuning, long history at Terry Sayther Automotive, recent turkis/turquoise paint, Nardi wood steering wheel, 13" Alpina alloy wheels with recent tires, functioning tii dash mounted clock, sheepskin covers.

The lows: A crack in the dash and a small tear in the headliner. That's it.

The winning bid was 5051.00 and I offered him $5500 for the car plus an extended warranty of 6 months to keep it running. I knew the suspension needed to be redone but everything else sounded pretty good.

I drove it home and within a few days the starter failed, the engine was making a ticking sound and a few other minor problems (gas pedal would flop over and fall under the brake making it impossible to stop the car with out reaching down and moving the pedal out of the way to the other side. There was also a strong smell of gas in the trunk. It was leaking fluid badly from underneath and the hazard button no longer worked.

Car went back to Terry for repairs and I was called to say it was ready. Drove from Round Rock down to Ben White only to find it was not ready. Had to return the following day to get it and I was told at that point that the warranty only covered safety issues by Debbie and that this was the last free repair.

Driving the car home, I started to make a list of items that I needed to repair.

Using the BMW2002FAQ board, I started asking other 2002 members questions.

Found out the engine was not a 2002Tii block (I assumed it was original to the car and would make the rare car worth the extra money)

The block was a 1978 engine from a 320i. Lower compression and not desirable in this car.

I was also having an issue with the drivers seat moving at the joint where it folds over (it was not attached and the seat would lean back at a 45% angle putting my right shoulder behind the passenger seat and my left in front).

Terry said the seat was broken and if I dropped it off, they would repair it. I said I did not want to leave the car and they gave me an old rusty seat out of Terrys junk Yard across the street.

While repairing the seat, I pulled the rear seat out so I had more room to work on the drivers seat. At that point, I discovered rust under the seat. The rear end had also been hit a while ago and it looked like it was repaired by a third grader on lunch break with the fresh paint peeling everywhere due to zero prep work prior.

I sent Terry a long email describing the car and the issues where Terry responded that he would buy the car back (for a lot less) or give me back $1000.

I agreed to the $1000 and he said that I was not to call him or contact him ever again and that our relationship was over. He was very rude at that point.

I told him that the car was sagging badly in the rear and I wanted the shock warranty as bilsteins have a lifetime warranty.

He said no and that point, Debbie got involved and they were both defensive and rude as I complained about the way they repaired my car.

The issues I had with their repairs...

Engine ticking was the fan hitting the radiator. Terry said someone had forgot to bolt the radiator down and it shifted and was hitting the fan.

Gas pedal was greased and put back in the car making it even worse. (wrong gas pedal was used from a different model. Guess his junk yard did not have the right part)

Leaking differential fluid (someone overfilled the diff)

Starter replaced with an old rusty one (from the junk yard)

Hazard button was replaced with a newer not original one decreasing the value and adding a large hole in the dash that an original would no longer fit in.

I took the seat apart and discovered a bolt that held it together broke and it allowed enough play for it to move off the track and flop. I discovered all the surrounding plastic was brittle and cracking but was expertly glued but still breaking as I removed it.

I had seen some negative reviews on Terry but ignored them. BIG MISTAKE...

I also got the info that the original buyer trashed Terry on ebay under his handle TERRYSAYTHERAUTO saying the car was junk and that Terry could not be trusted.

So Terry knew about the issues with the car yet still knowingly misrepresented the car too me.

The problems I have, there are not many new parts (four so far counting the fuel line)

The recent paint job was done to hide rust. The car was not prepped and the car is bubbling and flaking everywhere. The doors have rust holes at the bottom that are bubbling through leaving dime sized rust holes.

The entire car will need to be sanded down to bare metal and repainted.

The gas line that was replaced was done just in the trunk. The gas line to the engine was dry rotted and leaking.

The recent tires are dry rotted and are 3 different brands.

The alloys are not the correct offset and rub on the front.

The car was basically made cosmetically acceptable and just given enough parts to get it out the door.

The radiator is rusted and needs to be replaced and was not meticulously maintained by any stretch. The gas tank is rusty and needs to be replaced.

His business practice is HORRIBLE, he grossly misrepresented the car, he is rude and a bully when things don't go his way or he is questioned.

What he did to me is an example of how he operates.

He screwed me and he will screw you too.

I have been in Austin since 1991 and know many people in this town. I will be happy to talk to anyone contemplating dealing with him. I am warning others as this guy is not honest.

This board is the best place but there are other good sites too. The internet is your friend. Use it and abuse it and it will still be there for you....

And now...the car.

Here are photos:

I will cover details in the pictures.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103221227961162357283/1974BMW2002Restore

Lots of pictures added...mostly nicely painted over RUST. And with the crappy prep that went into the paint and bubbles popping up everywhere, It is going to have to be brought back down to metal, primered and repainted.

[eveofrevolution]

I have a (mostly) complete early tii motor for sale. Not perfect (got lean under power due to bad suction valves in 1-2 and blew the headgasket isthmus between 1-2 , hg has been replaced and I have a replacement injection pump) and needs work to get her running, if you are interested. I have a engine shipping crate as well.

LMK.

[austinmf]

I am going to have to pass... I am getting deeper into the car and realizing that my paintjob is less than a year old and is covering lots of RUST.

And some of the rust was not even addressed, just painted over. Looks like I will be getting a new paint job on top of lots of body work.

No money for a new engine, looks like I will be paying an attorney and a body shop.

[eveofrevolution]

Your reply is most appreciated. Best of luck with the car!

[austinmf]

Figured out what was causing the nasty snap during turning...what does it take to bend a spring like this? Funny that I said the car was sitting about 1.5 inches lower on the drivers side and sure enough, the short bent spring came from the drivers side...

I cannot imagine anyone installing that spring in any car

[roadhog0]

Blow torch can do that. If someone wanted a "lower" car they just blow torch the springs.

[austinmf]

Front subframe is out! Added more pics... found a 69 1600 upstrut bearing and a few parts labeled good known.

I am discovering little strange things... stainless brake lines to three wheels.

rusty parts obviously from another car. Gaskets to not really sure but expertly cut and glued into place.

The doors are going to have to be replaced. I am testing POR on a section...hopefully...

this was a very recent drill accident. THe ball joints where new as were the tie rods. All of the rubber is original 1974.

And the steering box got a quick adjustment and seems to get right on spec!

[austinmf]

Sent my shocks off to Bilstein for testing...just got them back as one of the rear shocks would not extend out all the way and it is BENT....matching the spring that was bent and 3 inches shorter than the other causing a nasty snap roll in turns...

Just another example of Terry Sayther and his "expert" mechanical skills and deceptive business practices....

[austinmf]

I know this has been posted before. I just rebuilt my calipers and it was extremely easy. Even though I had rust, they buffed quickly and look great.

I used a portable air compressor with a supplied adapter (black and decker with an adjustable pressure shutoff) and it worked really well.

Use a board or wood as these pistons fly out! Use wood to pry out the gaskets. I used a punch but you do not want to scratch this area.

Do one at a time so you do not mix them up!

I had new brake pads but I am trashing them... It was extremely easy to do!

https://picasaweb.google.com/103221227961162357283/BMW2002BrakeCaliperRebuild