other Does The Budget "driver" 2002 Exist Anymore?

[Matt_P]

After a few years away from 02's I've started looking for another. I made my last one too nice to daily drive ( http://www.breakerbar.com/2002forsale ), and wanted another that wasn't too nice but also not too shabby, if that makes sense.

Looking for something that I could drive as is and upgrade gradually into a fun daily driver, occasional track car:

- Not a rustbucket

- Mechanically sound drivetrain

- presentable but not perfect paint and interior (or if it isn't, priced accordingly)

- Most importantly, not a project that requires a lot of work before driving.

Does this combination of things exist anymore without spending over 6-8k? Seen one or two cars but they were sold long before I contacted the seller.

[c.d.iesel]

- something  I could drive as is and upgrade gradually into a fun daily driver

- occasional track car
- Not a rustbucket
- Mechanically sound drivetrain
- presentable but not perfect paint and interior (or if it isn't, priced accordingly)
- Most importantly, not a project that requires a lot of work before driving.
 - Does this combination of things exist anymore without spending over $6,000.oo to $8,000.oo ?

 

sounds like a reasonable quest and reasonable budget

but these cars are 37 to 46 years old now. 

 

Having resurected a car to your liking, and having your experience,

i think you would not find anything that fits the above rquirements.

Given the age and many PO's that these cars have suffered with

your always faced with mucho work so the car makes you happy.

A car meeting ALL of the above requirements I think you'd have

to budget a few $k more.

 

http://bringatrailer.com/?s=1974+bmw+2002

 

 

 

happy hunting

[Rocan]

They always start as a "budget driver"

 

Until you start to eradicate the problems created by the previous owners and fixing things properly. Bit by bit, it will become too nice to be seen as a budget driver. 

[Matt_P]

They always start as a "budget driver"

Until you start to eradicate the problems created by the previous owners and fixing things properly. Bit by bit, it will become too nice to be seen as a budget driver.

Where I went wrong was getting the car painted. It wasn't great paint, but was good from 10 feet away. Painting it turned into restoring it.

If I had to do it over again, I would have just done a budget rebuild on engine (rings, bearings), address mechanical issues and driven it. But nearly 10 years later the price of solid cars has crept up...

[TobyB]

Sure, it's called an E30!

 

 

Heh.  So probably not, honestly.  The shells are too fragile.

 

Best bet would be to get an older 'practical' restoration,

where someone went through and really sealed it up,

then drove it to depreciate it.

 

Or buy something scruffy and just fix the worst bits.

But unless you're on the west coast, just finding a viable shell's

pretty hard these days.

 

t

[thinksound_mike]

i bought a "budget" driver; so i thought. 5k (98k miles with documentation) for a mechanically solid car that runs great, frame is solid, interior was good. it has dings in the body and some bad touch up paint in spots; but was nice enough for me; and i wouldn't freak out if it got bumped parking in the city. i've since uncovered a decent amount more rust than i knew was there and it's turning into a restoration now (the proverbial rust iceberg… rustberg??!).

 

i think they're out there, but harder and harder to find. and the prices keep going up.

[LimeySteve]

I'm currently working on a 72 2002, great driver I'm sorting out some issues , I added an Ireland front spoiler & added a nice long rear bumper,, it will be a budget driver , has a sun roof & a nice stock engine , price to be decided on.I will be done in a month.

[ndog]

I'm currently working on a 72 2002, great driver I'm sorting out some issues , I added an Ireland front spoiler & added a nice long rear bumper,, it will be a budget driver , has a sun roof & a nice stock engine , price to be decided on.I will be done in a month.

u have to give my brother a crack at that rig steve..

[emmodg]

I'm building what I think is a "budget" driver....

 

Watch your pennies and do most of the work yourself and it can kinda be done. (This one will be for sale soon... The 3.0 is for sale now.)

 

[Matt_P]

Oh, I know it can be done as a project starting with non-running or rough cars. Just saying the decent condition running, driving cars currently seem to be very thin on the ground...

I just remember people struggling to sell great cars for $5k not that long ago.

[ray_]

Oh, I know it can be done as a project starting with non-running or rough cars. Just saying the decent condition running, driving cars currently seem to be very thin on the ground...

I just remember people struggling to sell great cars for $5k not that long ago.

 

They do show up, time-to-time. I recall one went for $6K not long ago.

 

My 1600 is in that range, a very dry car with minimal rust but some plastic in a badly repaired nose and olde seats! Needs a good handful of things but can be driven as-is. http://s306.photobucket.com/user/jgerock/library/68%201600?sort=3&page=1

 

 

Hi Matt!

[LimeySteve]

No Worries Nate , friends come 1st

[ecpreston]

I'm kicking around the idea of selling mine in Virginia, it certainly fits your description. I've been DDing it (well, not in the snow) for 2 years now. It was rebuilt in '98 with a new motor, 5-spd, header, weber 32/36, redone interior, paint. It's been a great driver and I have records for all the work from the PO. Driver door is creased enough to need replacement and the paint isn't great anymore, but it is perfect for me. 

 

I have a couple pics here:

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/topic/117521-whats-involved-in-swapping-out-a-center-console/?hl=ecpreston#entry152631

 

*edit*, this one sounds like you too, I don't know where you're located

 

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/classifieds/item/64-1976-bmw-2002/

[Matt_P]

I should send you a pm, might want to know more about yours...

 

On the second one: Ack, Connecticut! Rusty until proven innocent!

 

A not great, but honest older paint job is much more preferable to me than the 'restored' respray that's already bubbling through with rust despite being rarely driven...

[BarryA]

Don't know, but may find out soon - with the runup in '02 valuation (especially for original, unrestored "survior" cars) I'm giving serious consideration to selling the '69 and building a semi-hot rod daily driver square light car using as much of the running gear off my E21 as possible.  

 

If I do make that jump, I'll document the project and we'll see just how expensive it gets.......