Want to buy my first vintage BMW (2002)

[Ricochet6]

Hi all, 

I’m hoping to get some honest feedback about a 2002 I’ve been stalking for months that I would like to purchase.  
 

I’m a huge BMW enthusiast I’ve owned many.  I looking to purchased my first vintage bmw.  
 

I few months ago a randomly met a member of this forum (Fabian) super nice guy who told me to post about the car here and someone may be able to give me some insight on it and a ball park figure if it’s value.  
 

here’s the link to listing 
 

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-BMW-2002-d1266#listingImages/267498847/

 

 

it started at 25k, then went to 20k now it’s at 15k. I’m ready to make a fair offer.  I have no clue what’s a fair price for this car. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.    

 

[m42002]

Which car was it? When I click on your link, it just shows me all 02's for sale.

[Ricochet6]

2 minutes ago, GoGo Garnet said:

Which car was it? When I click on your link, it just shows me all 02's for sale.

 

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-BMW-2002-d1266#listingImages/267498847/

 

This link took me directly to it.  
 

it’s the 1974 BMW 2002, asking price $1500

[albatcha]

I dunno man, it doesn't look great. $3500? Considering the low quality of the way the seats were redone, and how a bunch of bad stuff was left bad. I'd be concerned about the quality of the respray. Seems like a possible quick and cheap respray and redo seats and flip. Personally I wouldn't even bother looking at that one, there's got to be better deals in the $15k area. Even on bring a trailer I think theres better deals.

[steve oneill]

I am relatively new to 2002's having purchased my first one, a '76, six months ago. It is Chaminox, automatic(I know) 78,000 original miles. Declared in almost perfect original condition by two discriminating tii owners. Blue vinyl interior is perfect, original paint, perfect. Behr AC is the coldest I have ever felt!  

 

I agree with Albatcha. If we are talking about the same car, first on the left on the page,I would wonder about the stained door panels and the rusty screws on the door lock. And the respray.

 

Most important, the odometer is only five digits. So when it reaches 99,999 it rolls over to zero. I know of BMW 3.0CS's that have rolled over two times and to the inexperienced eye it is difficult to tell. Most of the cars on the page show 67K,  34K. Don't believe it without a clear paper trail(hard to find with many 02's) and an in person inspection who knows our cars inside out!

 

Small rust bubbles usually point to expen$ive rust remediation.  2002's were meant to be pushed, driven, raced, enjoyed.

 

The big advantage? to an automatic, newer car like mine is its inability to be pushed, driven raced, enjoyed. But all you need to do is rip off the smog stuff, switch to the beautiful chrome bumpers, install a five speed, learn to live with the square tail lights and you have one hell of a 2002.  

 

Steve

[Ricochet6]

1 hour ago, albatcha said:

I dunno man, it doesn't look great. $3500? Considering the low quality of the way the seats were redone, and how a bunch of bad stuff was left bad. I'd be concerned about the quality of the respray. Seems like a possible quick and cheap respray and redo seats and flip. Personally I wouldn't even bother looking at that one, there's got to be better deals in the $15k area. Even on bring a trailer I think theres better deals.

Thank you for the feedback.  Those are things I didn’t think about.   Again, I have clue about these cars. 

[Ricochet6]

51 minutes ago, steve oneill said:

I am relatively new to 2002's having purchased my first one, a '76, six months ago. It is Chaminox, automatic(I know) 78,000 original miles. Declared in almost perfect original condition by two discriminating tii owners. Blue vinyl interior is perfect, original paint, perfect. Behr AC is the coldest I have ever felt!  

 

I agree with Albatcha. If we are talking about the same car, first on the left on the page,I would wonder about the stained door panels and the rusty screws on the door lock. And the respray.

 

Most important, the odometer is only five digits. So when it reaches 99,999 it rolls over to zero. I know of BMW 3.0CS's that have rolled over two times and to the inexperienced eye it is difficult to tell. Most of the cars on the page show 67K,  34K. Don't believe it without a clear paper trail(hard to find with many 02's) and an in person inspection who knows our cars inside out!

 

Small rust bubbles usually point to expen$ive rust remediation.  2002's were meant to be pushed, driven, raced, enjoyed.

 

The big advantage? to an automatic, newer car like mine is its inability to be pushed, driven raced, enjoyed. But all you need to do is rip off the smog stuff, switch to the beautiful chrome bumpers, install a five speed, learn to live with the square tail lights and you have one hell of a 2002.  

 

Steve

Thanks Steve, excellent suggestion about having an expect looking at it before purchasing.  I don’t mind paying that cost to save me headache later.  Thank you.   

[John_in_VA]

1 hour ago, Ricochet6 said:

Thanks Steve, excellent suggestion about having an expect looking at it before purchasing.  I don’t mind paying that cost to save me headache later.  Thank you.   

 

It's not the headache - it's the heartache knowing you'll spend several times what you did for the car to get it close to right!

[Son of Marty]

Yeah I'd be worried about whats under all that new undercoating. I wouldn't buy it until I looked it over in person or had another 02 guy do it.