I thought I'd post some pictures of my 2002 project here on the forum and share a little bit about the car and myself.

After getting my first 2002 for free, I had to get another one (of course - it's truly a disease). I found one a few hours away for $300 on craigslist. What I got was a shockingly rust-free rolling shell and boxes and boxes of parts, including a mint-coniditon interior, motor and automatic transmission (although a 4-speed will be going in), full trim pieces, grilles, etc...
Shock towers, rear subframe, trunk, rockers are all perfect. The only rust ANYWHERE on the car is in the passenger floor and a small hole in the passenger front fender.

As for me, I'm a 19 year old student attending Denison University, and have been a lifetime car nut. I love Italian sports cars, especially Alfas. I grew up around Alfa Romeos, and I drive a 164 every day. I also love BMWs, and the 2002 is one of my all time favorite cars. I will be restoring the car myself. I sometimes wonder whether school or cars is the "full-time" occupation...

Plans for the car: I'm not quite sure yet. I feel like something this solid should be restored to original and road-worthy state. I've got some time to think about final plans as I do the bodywork. Anyone with some "wisdom" regarding these cars is encouraged to share.

Now for some pictures!

These are pictures from the time when I purchased the car

More pictures

a few of the parts that came with the car...

Some pictures of the bodywork thus far

As someone who used to live in Michigan...

Damn, where'd you find a car with the underside intact? Michigan EATS cars!

Nice looking project. Best of luck to you.

i think i remember seeing this car on craigslist. but one project is enough for me now.

good luck with it, keep us updated

yes this one was from craigslist - it's amazing what you can find on there.

Put a 5 speed in it. You won't regret it.

Cheers,

Ray

keep us posted on the progress! Looks like fun!! Cant wait to tackle the body on my project.

There re no rust free 02s. If I were you I would get a used floor pan from a parts car (they usually stay intact on other years except 76) and butt weld the whole thing together.

any sources right now on where I could get a spare floor pan?
I only have a couple of more holes to patch on that floor...

Why did the floorpans only rust on the 76's?

Also - what's the best way to relocate the sunroof drains - just cut holes so they drain into the wheel wells?

Driver' floor pan rust all the line due to hydrolic leaks and moisture from the pedal box, as well as heater core leaks. The 76' model is known to be prone to rust in the passenger floor, because of a slight design change and materials they used to seal the floor boards to the firewall.

All you have to do is find a 68-75 parts vehicle and cut it out.

Or you can buy it new. They go for $70-150. Like this one here

http://www.jaymic.com/shop/parts_02_products.asp?grp=02BDR


or you can make your own out of flat sheet metal. The stumps like the factory one has can be made, but its tricky and time consuming.

Anyway, patch it up, and if it doesn't satisfy you , you can weld a new one in.

About the drains, you should go to www.bmw2002faq.com and do a search.

I have never had a sunroof car. All I know it's a pita to do.

Go to my2002tii.com and do a search for sun roof.

Go to my2002tii.com and do a search for sun roof.

Thanks for the resources, and wow - very thorough explaination and nice pictures. That car is better than it was from the factory (or so it appears).

There re no rust free 02s. If I were you I would get a used floor pan from a parts car (they usually stay intact on other years except 76) and butt weld the whole thing together.

Oh really? :smoke3

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/nid05/2002%20Tii/DSC04941.jpg

Mine is rust free, Vegas car ftw.

There is always rust on 02s. Unless you've fully restored the car - bare metal, rotisserie kind of job, there WILL be some hidden rust.

Rust is installed at the factory. Isn't it?

I was also under the impression that these cars would have some rust, SOMEWHERE, due to the fact that sealer was not always the best, and also from sitting in the ports on the east cost with the salty air. Maybe some made it out unscathed.

As for an update on the 2002, last week and this week have been a little crazy at work, and I've found myself with less time to spend on the car (classic, eh?). Did get a bunch of sanding done the other day though.

Floorpan - not much progress. I've looked at it and sorta hoped it would fix itself. That NEVER works. I'll finish patching it and probably be satisfied because after it's said and done, it will last just as long and be just as strong (if not stronger) than factory - it just won't look as pretty (if someone happens to want to rip up the carpet).

Question about the floorpan, though: Does anyone have a recommendation or warning about what kind of putty to use around the joints underneath/inside over POR? Something better than factory? Something I should avoid at all costs (i.e. something that would foster moisture creep)?

Rob

Some pictures from earlier that I forgot to post!

Second to last one shows the rust on the passenger front fender. It does show the nice solid rockers :D. Looks like it wouldn't be too bad to repair...but I'll worry about that a little later.

After I took out the destroyed dash, I removed the cluster and effectively "restored" it. I also painted the needles red to match the M cars, and am thinking of getting some tinted bulbs or caps to illuminate the cluster red. We'll see. Can't imagine too much night driving, but it's a nice touch. In the photos - the "brake" warning light and the trip odometer have not yet been cleaned.

Anyone else want their cluster restored or put up to M spec ;)?

The cluster looks great mate! Good job on that... I wonder how the red bulbs would be as even with the factory ones it can be a bit dark still but maybe LED's could solve the problem (?).

Keep up the good work!

Great project!

A couple of things,

Like the other poster said, put in a 5-Speed. After all the other work you'll be doing, it's worth it!

Also, the picture of the parts box - there are some interesting roundels - the ones with the separate rings around them - that are not 2002 parts. You might want to do some research into what those are....might be worth something!

Nice looking Alfa Guilia Spyder in the backround! I always liked Alfas and hope they come back to this country eventually.

Nice looking Alfa Guilia Spyder in the backround! I always liked Alfas and hope they come back to this country eventually.

That would be one of my dad's Alfas. Incredibly fun car.

Alfa has stated that it is coming back to the United States.......eventually.....
Every year Alfa seems to add another one on the return date....

Check your a-pillars,there might be rust forming.That fender can be fixed very easily.

The A-pillars seem fine. Anywhere specific I should be looking?
I was planning to re-locate the sunroof drains, which probably would have caused/would cause rust - there was a great writeup on my2002tii.com.

Here's a preview of what it might look like when you're done. This is my '76

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/mhagood1/02-1.jpg

what color is that, looks great

i have actually replaced my instrument cluster bulbs with some that were orange tinted and it looked really good, i would advise though putting some super whites in the ebrake and other colored light sockts or else you cant see it at all.

Rust is installed at the factory. Isn't it?

bwahahahahaa

OK so no recent progress because I've been away at school.
I've been looking around for parts (in between studying of course) and whatnot so I can have a nice pile of newly acquired parts for when I return home.
I want to put in a 5-speed gearbox for the 2002, and need some input and expertise from the fellow forum members.

1. What cars provide a direct donor gearbox?
2. Price range for a GOOD, bolt in, don't-need-to-worry-about-it transmission for each of the different models?
3. what other parts are needed to complete the ENTIRE job - i.e. from the flywheel to drive wheel - driveshaft? will any other BMW driveshafts bolt in? flanges?
4. Any idiosyncrasies? For example, I know that most Alfa gearboxes typically lose the 2nd gear synchro quickly.

Perhaps the best advice will simply direct me to another post or website?

Thanks!

2002faq.com search for the 5 speed Keith's webpage too!

For gearbox tips:
http://www.bimmers.com/02/ then go to the go fast upgrades under transmission

Great work btw, keep it up!

For seam sealer stay away form silicone caulk on sheetmetal. The vinigar in low grade silicone can cause rust. I also recommend priming the bare metal first before caulk. 3M make excellent caulks, check your local auto paint supplier. Good luck, always nice to see a young person delve into restoring their own car. You'll have a great sense of satisfaction when it's done.