body and interior How Difficult Is It To "downgrade" The Look Of A '74?

[Andrew Havens]

I am new to working with BMW 2002s and don't yet own one. I'm considering buying a '74 that is available, but I know that there were some major changes in the exterior look (plastic grill and bumpers, square tail lights). Are these things interchangeable? Would be much work to apply a '68 bumper to a '74? Honestly, I'd really love to own a 1600 but a '74 2002 will be better than nothing. =]

[esty]

bumpers are easy to swap, grills and tail lights not so...would require considerable body work

[John_in_VA]

Some would call that an "upgrade!"  If you want the look of an early car you should find one to begin with.

There are presently some kits to help install the earlier bumpers onto the later body.  You'll need some paint & bodywork to cover the holes.

Earlier grills in the nose and changing the rear panel to use round tail lights will require bodywork as well.

[adawil2002]

Plenty of '68-'73 cars readily available, they are going to cost a little more than a '74-'76.

Edited December 17, 2013 by adawil2002

[Andrew Havens]

@adawil2002 Any tips on finding them? I live in Oregon and am giving myself a budget of $2k for one that runs (or is close to running). Not as concerned about the cosmetic condition because I plan to fix it up. Maybe I'm being impatient (I've only been looking for about a month and a half), but I've been searching Craigslist every day and I've had to extend my search to Seattle to get any search results.

[John_in_VA]

With a $2K starter car plan on an additional $15K to get it where you want it.

[Andrew Havens]

@John_in_VA are you implying that a $2k car will have more problems that need fixing, or do you mean that I will love it so much that I will want to spend a lot on it?

[13]

I've seen a few roundies up here in Alberta go for 500-4000. No use cutting up a square tail, be patient and wait til your dream roundie pops up

[TobyB]

John is in Virginia.  2002's are hard to find there.

 

You are in Oregon.  There are lots of 2002's around.  $2k is a bit low, but find the least- rusty car you can, and you'll do ok.

 

There are lots of resources close to you- David Lumbra is in Eugene, and there are lots of 2002s in Portland. 

 

Just keep looking.  They'll turn up.  Do the entire NW, and just keep looking.

 

t

Edited December 18, 2013 by TobyB

[adawil2002]

@adawil2002 Any tips on finding them? I live in Oregon and am giving myself a budget of $2k for one that runs (or is close to running). Not as concerned about the cosmetic condition because I plan to fix it up. Maybe I'm being impatient (I've only been looking for about a month and a half), but I've been searching Craigslist every day and I've had to extend my search to Seattle to get any search results.

You'll need to spend more like $8-10K for a fairly decent car. Body work is expensive, buy the best body you can find. Keep tabs on ebay & craigslist. Bought, Vern , my '73Tii, on ebay in 2010. It was in Colorado, I'm in Maine.

[Kpeters]

Changing nose panels and rear panels is a nightmare compared ti just waiting for a roundie to pop.

 

Or....find a square light with a rotten body and great mechanicals and a very good roundie shell with no rust and swap the mechanicals.

[Teelinger]

I've been looking too but I'm on a longer timeline. Use this site to find 2002's listed nationally on CL. Be patient, the PNW has a strong community and cars come up for sale regularly.

http://bimmer02.com/

[roadhog0]

Maybe you should look on craigslist for what you really want, an early car. Cause there is a 69 on there now (i think it's a 69) for 1800 in either Portland or Seattle C-list... Mind you, you wont get much for 1800 bucks... To get a sound car, unless you like work, will need a bit more coin. Here's what you get for 1000 bucks...

 

69, half a motor, clean shell, some interior parts, sorta straight.

 

[M3M3M3]

@adawil2002 Any tips on finding them? I live in Oregon and am giving myself a budget of $2k for one that runs (or is close to running). Not as concerned about the cosmetic condition because I plan to fix it up. Maybe I'm being impatient (I've only been looking for about a month and a half), but I've been searching Craigslist every day and I've had to extend my search to Seattle to get any search results.

you have your priorities backwards unfortunately.  the "running" part is easy to fix. the cosmetic condition is labor intensive and very expensive.  look for a car with the least amount of rust possible, particularly in the structural areas.  running condition is completely irrelevant.  your budget for a low rust car is probably too low.

 

if you don't have it already, buy the McCartney 2002 restoration guide book.  read it cover to cover.  twice.  THEN start looking for a car.

 

You'll need to spend more like $8-10K for a fairly decent car. Body work is expensive, buy the best body you can find. Keep tabs on ebay & craigslist. Bought, Vern , my '73Tii, on ebay in 2010. It was in Colorado, I'm in Maine.

+1

[jrkoupe]

this is common in the 911 world, getting a post '74 car to look 73 or earlier......rather than use the term "downgrade"... the term used is "backdate"

Edited December 18, 2013 by jrkoupe