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Conserv

Alpina
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Everything posted by Conserv

  1. 10 years ago, there was at least one U.S. firm and one U.K. firm that restored headlight reflectors — properly. The U.S. one, I seem to recall, was in some place such as Michigan or Minnesota (I apologize Mid-Westerners, for not being able to distinguish among states west of Pennsylvania and east of Oregon…🙄). I was looking at this issue because I wondered whether it might be worthwhile having a set of Amplilux restored. I stopped that investigation when I discovered that restoration costs began at $500 (?) for a pair of lights — at a time when I could still find an NOS pair of Amplilux for less than $500. Somewhere in this forum, I’ve discussed this topic previously, probably naming names. I don’t know how to find it. “Amplilux re-silver”? “Amplilux reflector”? Regards, Steve
  2. Meanwhile, the ‘02 VIN decoder provided by the BMW 2002 Car Club of Columbia is accurate, without being date-specific. Servicios :: BMW Club Clásicos Colombia WWW.BMWCLASICOS.COM Adquiere Merchandising del BMW Club Clásicos Colombia Decodificador de la serie BMW '02 Servicios y almacenes de partes BMW en Colombia. And for Archives, I assume you’re using the newest email address: hdz.info@bmwgroup.com Have you checked out VIN’s close to your car’s in the forum’s Registry? Have you checked manufacturing dates on some of the many dated components, e.g., engine block, head, trans, diff, rims, instruments, lights? Are your front seat headrest supports 10mm or 12mm in diameter — the switchover occurred in late January 1973, with VIN 2763352? Regards, Steve
  3. Dollars to donuts, E12 A/C on a bad day beats ‘02 A/C on a good day! Good luck with your refinements! Best, Steve
  4. So, I think that there were, possibly, three versions (three different specs for these). They first appeared on the single-barrel Solexes (first photo — part number no longer shown on RealOEM). And although only one version is shown with the two barrel Solex (second photo), when I last replaced the valve on my ‘76 — let’s call it 2011-12 — there were two versions listed for two-barrel Solexes in the parts catalogue — probably one for the ‘76 49-state versions and a different version for everything else. And I would have sworn they listed for close to $300 each at that time. My sense is that they found a different supplier and discontinued one version — 49-state, since it’s less… generic? Is there a part number on the valve? Regards, Steve
  5. Those 1/4” spacers (1/4” = 6.4mm) convert your 30mm offset to 23.6mm. But what was hitting that you needed the spacers? Are your rims’ center bores possibly too small for an ‘02? An ‘02 requires a center bore of at least 57.1mm. Regards, Steve
  6. And if JQ’s August 1969 head (8 nubs surrounding “69”) has 44mm valves, I’d bet that Jim’s 121ti head (February 1969 car? so pre-February 1969 head) also has 44mm. valves. Guessing, once again, a 121ti head cast in August 1969 probably began its life in an early 1970 model year 2002, likely manufactured in September or October 1969, like my early 1970 model, manufactured September 8th, 1969 (below). WTF: who did that to my beautiful 1970!? 😳🙄 Thanks for posting. Regards, Steve
  7. OMG. Fabulous. This is truly a great article! And the photos! Perfect! What subject will you guys take on next? Bravo! Best regards, Steve C.
  8. If flat tops and standard bore, then probably (a.) original to the block, and (b.) evidence of a 49-state version, originally with an E21 head. What is your current block and piston plan? Regards, Steve
  9. As @Son of Marty says, very few ‘76 models ever received the speedometer overlay. It was a dealer installed “fix” for speedometers that were marked 1.39 by the factory but actually contained 1.297 gears. My ‘76 (VIN 2742541, April 19, 1976) has a speedometer marked 1.39, but with 1.297 gears. After reading about the problem in two consecutive issues of the Roundel, I asked my dealer if the problem might apply to my car. They replied, “Of course not, that problem was fixed long before your car was built!” 🙄 The truth was that no one knew how many mis-marked speedometers were produced. And, before GPS, there was no easy way to verify your speedometer’s accuracy short of getting a ticket. After GPS, I discovered my speedometer was off by nearly 10%, crushing my belief that my bone-stock ‘02 had cruised between 116 and 120 mph on the New York Thruway from Rochester to Syracuse… 😟 Regards, Steve
  10. And the new-fangled VIN-stamping machine was working like a champ… that day at least! Thanks, Jim. Best, Steve
  11. The short rear bumpers certainly suggest this car is pre-Modell 71 (introduced April 1971). Assuming that is the case, it did not have knee trim from the factory. Knee trim arrived with the Modell 71 in April 1971. Regards, Steve
  12. I’ll bet it’s got a VIN number on the block and casting dates on both the block and head. The following is 100% relevant to ‘02 engines, but may also be of some help with respect to e21 engines: Regards, Steve
  13. Technique really matters. Don’t turn the steering wheel unless the car is actually moving. No matter how slowly or little the car is moving, turning the steering wheel while the car is moving makes a big difference.. We’ve all become accustomed to power steering, which enables you to effortlessly turn your front wheels from lock to lock, while the car is entirely stationary, with a single finger. Don’t do that. Of course, if you’ve got fat rubber on wide wheels, that compounds your challenge. 😉 The ‘02 has the sweetest, most precise steering imaginable. Figure out how to best use it. Regards, Steve
  14. U.S.-spec 2002’s got 3.64 differentials from the factory. The exception was the 1976 49-state version, which received a 3.90 differential. So a 1976 California version left the factory with a 3.64. Whether it still has its original 3.64 would require verification. But since 3.64’s made up probably 97% of the U.S. 2002 differential population, even a replacement or swapped differential is most likely a 3.64. If your car had its original automatic trans swapped for a 5-speed, I might suspect a swap of the differential for a 3.91 from an e21. But I’m guessing your car still has an automatic trans. Regards, Steve
  15. Thanks, Jeff, I misunderstood. I thought the color coat on the Montreal was also powdercoat. Your guy is using the powdercoat solely as a primer and sanding afterwards. My powdercoater in Atlanta powdercoated chassis’s — I recall seeing multiple VW’s — but, likewise, solely as a primer, with “fine tuning” to be done through the sanding process. Best regards, Steve
  16. Jeff, The Montreal looks fabulous in these photos. And I have previously seen photos of powdercoated vehicles. But… even though I love powdercoating, in general, I sometimes shy away from it on very visible features, such as rims, because it is often thick and uneven, obscuring fine details. Do you have any such concerns with the Montreal? Best regards, Steve
  17. The 165HR-13 Michelin XAS — original tire on at least 95% of all U.S.-imported ‘02’s — remains available, perfectly suited to the ‘02, designed for abusive driving — I swear! 😯 — and comes with no cold-weather warnings. Continuously available since 1966. Downside? Expensive. First photo below, out for a drive in March 1978. Second photo, modern times. Regards, Steve
  18. This may be simply incorrect, but I have a vague memory that I found similar or even the same bolts available for 1960’s Porsches. This would have been at least 10 years ago, on one of the Porsche parts sites. Worth a look… Regards, Steve
  19. The date on the headrest foam was, no doubt, correct and the foam original. This style frame was used from late January 1973 through August 1974: “eared” headrests on widespread 12 mm. headrest supports; the recliners are exposed metal, originally with black splatter-painted finish. The seats look good. Thanks for sharing. Regards, Steve
  20. What they said^! 4.11 seems doubtful, unless it came out of a Euro-spec e21, maybe a 316. I’d expect it to be a 3.91 (particularly if it is an LSD) or a 3.64. Regards, Steve
  21. Clear was used on early cars (1966-1970-ish?), switching at that time to tinted glass as a “mandatory option” on U.S. cars — thanks, Hoffman, for deciding for us — and becoming standard equipment on all cars during the square taillight era. Short version: lots of glass has been replaced over the last 50 years, but the odds for finding tinted glass on a U.S.-spec ‘02 are probably 9 to 1. Comparing the color of the block wall in the background (below), a. through the greenhouse, and b. around the greenhouse, suggests green glass to me. But color correction does often lie. Regards, Steve
  22. Indeed! Thank you, Steve, for what you have created here: it’s quite amazing! Best regards and a Happy New Year! Steve C.
  23. Per chance, JP, do your taillights have date stamps? On the examples from my sadly-departed ‘70, ink-stamped dates appeared on the rear of the reflectors (below). But… there is no need to check this on Christmas afternoon! I suspect that the answer to yet another ‘02 mystery will be… hazy! Thanks and best regards, Steve
  24. Thanks, Jim. An original owner example is compelling evidence! That does throw a monkey wrench into our original perceived changeover date. Looks like it may have been later than many of us imagined. Of course, taillights were often damaged and replaced. And a few owners, such as I, replaced red-center taillights and flush front turn signals with later units to make their ‘02’s appear more modern. Thus, I wouldn’t be shocked to discover that our examples of earlier amber-centered taillights reflect replacements. Any other original owner cars from 1970 through 1972? Best regards, Steve
  25. And leaked… 🤔 Very localized rust-through in a very unusual location! Regards, Steve
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