Looking for a 2002...best years to buy?

[Guest Anonymous]

I used to own a 1976 Fjord blue 2002 with recaros and 15 in rims and it was a blast...my first real car when I was in my early 20's....now I want to find something fun like that again...something I can do lots of the work on myself. So I am familiar with the 76's, what about the earlier years? Is there and advantage to them at all over the later cars? I want a factory sunroof, and A/C if possible.....If anyone has any leads, I am in SoCal...thanks...

[SOUTHBAYeric]

A 76 would be a bad choice because they still have to be smogged in CA and always will be like that because they stopped the rolling exemption. Anything before that with as little rust as possible will be your best bet. Try bimmers.com/02 for a good buyers guide.

[Mike Self]

roundies, already has the two barrel manifold, still has the good quality seats/upholstery/stuffing and of course the original round taillight styling and bumpers. And these cars came with minimal smog stuff, so they're easy to de-smog if that hasn't already been done.

Some folks like the pre-modell 71 cars, with no lower side moulding, short bumpers etc. but they're a little harder to find in nice shape as fewer were sold to begin with.

Bottom line: buy what you llike, but I agree that a '76 is a bad choice for a Californian, as they're gonna have to be smog tested--apparently forever. Anyway, '76s need to be exported to Rust Belt states!

cheers from OhiO

mike

[Steve73tii]

Ditto on the '72-'73, though it might be easier and cheaper to find a nice '74 or '75.

As a follow-on question, is there anything non-mechanical about the "California-ness" of the CA '76? That is, theoretically, based on the VIN or something else, could some other state try to make a car pass visual inspection with the CA smog gear intact? I hope not -- I agree with Mike that the '76s should all be rescued from CA and live as thermal reactor-free 49-state cars!

Steve

[ponyboy]

I found my 1970 on craigslist for 900 bucks... Owner needed money for school books, etc. I offered 1000 for it as it was listed at 1200, she said how about 900 because I needed to getthe tags current. I said I dontknow I ws set on 1000, lol, just kidding...

Anyways, the older 2002's are cooler inho. Mine had a brand new all chrome grill on it which is so cool. I painted it BMW silver, a newer version, as silver looks so good with that chrome grill, very clean look....

Also IMHO, I would definitely try to go roundie tail lights, 73 and back.

Other than that, its up to you!

As far as the double barrel thing, I have the stock single barrel with a solex 1 barrel carb and she goes like a BMW dream... very nice flow... you can always convert to double barrel manifold and change to a weber carb or go with sidedrafts. The Pick and Pull in Sun Valley has like 3 double barrel manifolds sitting there...

Welcome back to 2002 world!, Pony Boy

ShermanOaks, Ca

1970 BMW 2002 stock solex 38-40 pdsi carb, pertronix...

[Stu]

My vote is a '73. It's the last year of chrome bumpers and round taillights, and the only year to have a solidly mounted front bumper that won't bend if you look at it wrong.

[Vroomer]

a '73 for a roundie or a '74 for a squarie. Just personal opinion.

[Guest Anonymous]

Go all out and get yourself a 73tii, massive grin factor, may need plastic surgery to correct. Avoid rust like the plague, although there are pleanty of guys here that have done surgery with better than factory results. Can't go wrong and agree avoid the smog issues, personally have dealt with it before the exemption and it is a pain...happy hunting.

[Lupin3]

I can't say I'm particularly surprised by the prevalence of roundie advocates here since, before I bought my '74, that's exactly what I was.

However, it should be said that it is wisest to buy the nicest car you can afford - it is always cheaper to have the previous owner do the work for you than doing it yourself. This tends to mean that squaries often represent the best value, since more of them were made and so are more likely to be found in better conditions.

It's true of course that the bumpers aren't as attractive - though they are much more effective, and the tailights are to some eyes less beautiful - though not to mine. I'd even agree that the roundie front-end is better looking, but really, not by enough that it matters all that much.

Get the best car you can afford. Probably a roundie will be easier to sell later, though even that may not be a significant difference. In either case, I'm sure you'll love your new(ish) BMW!

[RandyMolson]

As a follow-on question, is there anything non-mechanical about the "California-ness" of the CA '76? That is, theoretically, based on the VIN or something else, could some other state try to make a car pass visual inspection with the CA smog gear intact? I hope not -- I agree with Mike that the '76s should all be rescued from CA and live as thermal reactor-free 49-state cars!

Steve

Cars are manufactured with a schematic of the emissions system on a sticker in the engine bay. If the sticker is removed, the inspecting mechanics can look up the emissions schematic. Whether they would look up the CA schematic or the 49-states schematic, I don’t know. Even without the thermal reactor, the 49-states emissions involves a lot of stuff. Also, some states, such as the Socialist Republic of PA, require a functional emissions system as originally manufactured for 1975 and 1976 models. If I recall PA inspection code correctly, desmogging pre-75 cars can be cause for failing the inspection, even though they are technically exempt from a dedicated emissions inspection.