I have been keeping my eye out for an '02 for several years. I of course would love a perfect round taillight tii, but the fact of the matter as it is my first "vintage car" I would have a hard time plunking down 10-15K on a nice used car, or 5-8 on a thrashed used car.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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To make a long story short someone came in to my friend's office a few days ago, and after my friend was done admiring this car. My friend called me up and told me about a great looking '76 '02. <o:p></o:p>
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The car is, i believe, siennabraun, and body wise is in nice shape. The current owner bought it a local BMW specialist who sells used cars on the side. The current owner bought it at 95K (about 6 years ago) with a rebuild on the motor, full body work with a base clear paint job, a 12 month warranty, and a 5 year warranty on the bodywork. I took a long look at the car and found a bubbling under one front turn signal, and both doors, towers look great, car is claimed to have no problems with 115K on the clock now. Car was bought for the daughter as a college car, but now sits in a garage full time. Sunroof seals look shoddy, small crack in dash. Sitting on bottle caps. Non-original front seats are tiered, and rear bench is exhausted, although the rest of the interior looks very nice. <o:p></o:p>
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Gentleman wants an offer, and I want to be fair for the car, but am not sure what a car like this is worth.<o:p></o:p>
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Am deathly afraid of the body work that the previous guy did, but I am certainly not afraid of tearing into sheet metal and paint having worked for a body guy for a while.<o:p></o:p>
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Any help appreciated<o:p></o:p>
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Pics at senpix.com/albums/06071018/lpfxlxs75l

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$1000-$1500..can't see pics but I got a cleaner one for $500.

host the images on photobucket.com and post them up. I cant see the pics either.

my bad the link is
sendpix.com/albums/06071018/lpfxlxs75l

Talked to the seller and he bought it for 8K from a "dealer" 6-7 years ago, He was thinking 4K

Look at the rockers, under the hood and trunk trim strips, ask if you can lift up the carpeting on both sides, ask if you can take out the rear seat. Both the carpet and rear seat should be relatively easy. I doubt he'll let you poke at it with a screwdriver. Check under the doors. Get on the ground and look at both frame rails. Get down and look between the driver's wheel to check out the pedal bucket. Look under the spare tire well and press in at various spots. Lastly, take a nice magnet with you to see if there has been any extensive bondo work done anywhere.

There are a lot of cars that "look" solid until you start poking at it with a screwdriver as rust in a lot of areas can build up underneath the paint as I've found out. Also remember that besides paint, undercoating can hide a lot of flaws and repairs as well.

"The current owner bought it at 95K (about 6 years ago) with a rebuild on the motor, full body work with a base clear paint job, a 12 month warranty, and a 5 year warranty on the bodywork. I took a long look at the car and found a bubbling under one front turn signal, and both doors, towers look great..."

A full body work and paint job should last more than 6 years before bubbling. I'd suspect a budget job by the specialist who fixes and sell cars on the side. Use that for negotiating down if you want to pursue the car.

If the engine is really only 20K on a quality rebuild then is may very well be worth $4K. But I'd suspect a budget engine rebuild also since the specialist was in the car to make money, not an owner rebuilding pride and joy.

You could always pay an independent shop to look it over and test the motor specs.

$3000-$4000 max Whats up with the budget approach? If it was a pro-done car, it could be worth twice as much. The thing is that its a 76 thoug.

The thing is that its a 76 thoug.

That is kinda my point Dick.

I have always looked at younger cars than the '76, so I am not 100% on their realtive value.

So I have some further info if anybody feels like chiming in.

I went and talked to the shop that has been working on this car since '87

The car was owned by a gentalman, who brought it into said shop in '87 to be gone over mechanically.

The shop did a pile of engine work to the tune of $6000 (unkown milage)

in '88 it had a 12,000 mile after engine rebuild service with 96634 on the clock

'92 it had a $1639.06 service with 96988 on the clock (the owner had driven it less than 500 miles since in 4 years).

'93 it 1st owner had it's body work refurbed to the tune of $2500

From about '93 to '98 it was the BMW shop owner's project car--he has no records of this time but claims it was as pristine as he had ever seen an '02 in terms of rust. He was toying with making it a racer, did bodywork and repainted with Glasurit.

Sold it to a girl's father as a college car in '98 with 98185 on the clock for ~$8500--shop owner says he only sold it after being pestered for about six months by girl's father who was a regular customer.

Since that time it has had oil and minor maintenance (stereo install, door adjustment, 2 starters, 1 battery, 1 fuel pump, 1 clutch master, 1 water pump etc.) almost every 3000 miles.

In '03 it had some minor ($771) body damage repair--last few repair bills mention dificulty starting.

Currently it has ~115000 on the clock and a smidge of rust as per the pictures above.

The front seats are Scheel-Mann in need of work.

As per Alpine's pointers I will be going to look at it with a jack and a magnet this weekend. My biggest worry is--Would a Decent to solid '76 2002 be worth 4000. I get the feeling that the current owner's daughter and father are none to mechanically inclined, and hate to think how they might have let her slide in the last five years.

Mmiller--the rust you see in the pics is all there seems to be after 13 years (major body restore was done in '93)

I think it looks much more promising, but would love some further input from all you pros.

Basher

In '03 it had some minor ($771) body damage repair--last few repair bills mention dificulty starting.
Basher

Depending on the damage, you'll want to check the bumpers and also lift up the rear trunk floors and see if the frame that goes from the front part of the trunk to the back in the middle of the trunk divided the gas tank and spare tire is bent in any way. Another thing to look out for in accident vehicles is if the taillight areas have been tweeked and/or replaced. You might see some rusting around that area if the seals have gone bad for one reason or another.

BTW, $4k is a bit on the high side imo for a regular 2002. If it had 5spd conversion or updated suspension, it might be more justifiable. Just bring a printout of all the '02s that has been sold in similiar condition from Ebay and other ads with you for negotiating power.

Sure, a good, solid '76 is worth $4K. More if the cosmetics are nice. Period Scheel-Mann seats are coveted.

But, really if you don't like the big bumpers, and don't want to go through the conversion, then pass on it.