engine and drivetrain Is this a bad restore project?

[Guest Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm looking for a mother/teenage son car restoration project. We are complete amateurs!

There is a BMW 2002 for sale locally for $300.

There is a rent in one side above the rear wheel well and under the window. I'm guessing this is major structural damage. The inside is a mess and the engine looks like it will need a rebuild. The tyres are flat and I doubt the car has run in a while. I haven't contacted the seller yet, just doing some research first. Avoid???

[ray_]

Keep looking, unless the rest of the body is flawless and rust free. Rust and body work is expensive unless you plan on doing it yourselves.

Pics will help. Where are you? Most places with "tyres" have the steering wheel on the wrong side.

;-)

Cheers,

Ray

[conkitchen]

"tyres"

Never get tired of that spelling.

Get some pictures and more info and this forum can be a great resource.

Just an average estimate, most of these cars need at least a $1K in repairs when unkept and that is being modest. Factor in a major repair like an engine and or body work, you will triple that figure fast.

Pay someone else to perform the work, and you are better off buying a car for more that is nice already.

Don't become discouraged it might be a nice car even with flat tyres.

[tad551]

Thanks for the quick replies! I don't mind spending a few thousand over time, but if the body is not worth it - I should pass this one over. Shame, I always liked these cars!

As for 'tyres'; yes, I am a Brit but am now bilingual with steering wheels since I now live on the prairies in Canada

I'll try to upload pics I took on a drive-by earlier today[/img]

I particularly liked the billiard ball that is used as a gearstick knob, but that pic doesn't view well.

[ray_]

Hmm. That looks interesting. Someone here may know the car.

Looks like a lot of fiberglass work was done at the front fenders and rear quarters. Depending on how well that was done, you may have an easy fix. or not.

You need to look at the floor pans and rocker panels and rear shock towers and front fenders and doors and hood and trunk lid and roof for rust. Did I leave anything out? Oh, the firewall, front rails, subframe mounting points, rear clip...

Ok, anything ferrous...

Take more pics. Bring someone along well-versed on old German cars, and report back.

Cheers,

Ray

[alpinaguy]

For 300.00 it's at least a parts car. I'd buy it anyway. I see Euro turn indicators which are worth quite a bit. I say buy it! GLWP!

[roadhog0]

I;d buy it! Looks fair to me, even if it is a parts car!

[JAS]

Looks interesting - rear bumper converted to early 02, euro turn signals, flares, air dam - somebody spent some money on this one. Could get your money back from some of the parts. The other pics on the site however show bad rust at the bottom of the front window - check fpr rust in the rear shock towers, floor boards (pull up carpets, etc.), driver's side frame rail. These cars need these to be solid in order to be structurally sound.

[TobyB]

that's not a rent, that's an explosion. It's just going in slow motion.

I'd say it mostly depends on what you're up for.

If you're good at welding and bodywork, and don't mind making an interior,

sure, why not. Someone obviously did a lot to this car.

However, as a first project, I'd walk away from that one. It'd be very frustrating.

t

[c.d.iesel]

"that" for $300 = yes

BUT - find out what it will take to run and drive FIRST-

if the motor is really really broken?

runn! away !!!

but if you can get it running (seems if it was running

the seller would'nt be selling it) then you don't have much

to loose - for $300

[jimk]

Track car? It has tow bar irons sticking from the grill

[ibjettin]

Am i missing the link to other pics? Euro turns are going for $150+ if in good condition. Also, looks like it might have Euro headlight buckets? IMO, from the 2 pics $300 seems to be a great deal.

[SteveJ]

That silver wiper arm with the wing...even though it's on the wrong side. Looks like good glass. At least 3 bills in parts alone.

And that wasn't a typo...'rent'. That's just calling it what it is. I currently have to fix a college tuition on my M3.

[ndog]

cmon mom buy it ......if you can get that for that price? even if it is a FREDFLINSTONE model

[TobyB]

No, the problem is that a $300 POS can suck your soul if you want it to be an

easy, viable project for someone who's just learning to play with cars.

Great for those of us who don't hesitate to sawzall the junk, not so good

as a place to start learning.

A complete, mostly original, 'ran when parked 2 years ago' with air in the

tires and servicable paint is a MUCH better starting point, as long as the

rust isn't unsafe. Remember, it's your FIRST project, you WILL screw it up.

So why get too bothered?

t