Hello,

I hope you can sit through the foreshadowing and share your insight.

I'm needing a car in a hurry so I my wife can quit driving her M Roadster in winter weather.

Everything we own has european flare, even our house. Finding a nice older European car (BMW, Volvo, Audi etc..) is near impossibe because it's an "old West, pioneer state", read 4x4s everywhere. BMWs are just starting to become popular here and so about all you see used are cars from the 90s and up.

We don't need a project car. We need a daily driver with some individuality. I happen to have owned 30+ cars in my life and have settled on BMWs for the most part. The oldest one I've ever had to date was an 83 533i that I sold with 210K on the odo and in fantastic original shape.

I'd just about given up on finding something this time and accepted that I'd have to be buying a Honda when I came across an obsure ad for a 76 2002 for $4500.

I have photos. The odo works and is at 80K. There appears to be no rust on the original paint that is in very good condition. The interior is at least an 8. Said reason for selling is due to the need for a business car. Recent tires. A/C doesn't work, pulls to one side only when braking, emissions inspection overdue and advertised with this statement..."could use engine tuning, air belt, atomizer reattachment, carburetor, for emissions". The car has been a daily driver and is said to start, run and drive fine.

It's going to hit eBay next week so I don't have much time at all given the 100 miles between I and the seller and mismatched schedules.

How do you tell if a 2002 motor needs to be rebuilt? Compression test? Leak down test? Any way to tell just by listening to it and driving it?

What does pulling when braking indicate with these cars? Are calipers a big expense to repair if need be?

Can this *not* be a money pit?

Thanks a bunch!

Alpen :cool:
M Roadster
Z Coupe
R1100S
Volvo 240 5spd Wagon

First off you should post this message on roadfly and the BMW 2002 FAQ for a better response.
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/2002/
http://www.bmw2002faq.com/talkshop/forum/

Second, odds are the odometer is actually at 180,000 miles because it only reads up to 99,999 miles. Depending on where you live the car might have a lot of rust, even if the outside is fine. Check under the car and in the shock towers. I haven't been in a 2002 that had a working A/C and I don't know how much they are to fix but there are several aftermarket ones that work (I can't think of the names of the companies right now). Calipers aren't too expensive or hard to replace and could be the cause of the pulling while breaking.

If you end up buying it make sure to get an extra thermostat and water pump, they are typical parts that break on long road trips if they are old.

Run a compression and leakdown test on the motor to see if it needs to be rebuilt.

If you have any questions about buying a 2002 feel free to give me a call, I am a big fan of 02's and currently have three.

Hope this helps,
Leif Bronn

please don't drive '02s in snow!!! they will rust faster then you say "rocker pannels". The paint quality and rust proofing was not great in the '70s and your great looking car will become a rust bucket vey quick.

steve