Need Advice 1600/2002 BMW

[abe280SL]

I am considering a BMW older than 1974 to avoid CA smog.  I own a 68 280sl, and an 83SC Porsche...like them both for different reasons.
If anyone owns a 1600/2002 BMW and have any advice..I am all ears.
abe

[thelews]

You'll get good advice from these guys.

http://www.2002haus.com/

http://www.2002ad.com/pages/about.cfm

I had a '72 2002 in college.  Fun car.  

[Eryck]

Sorry to interrupt but I have been looking for a RHD 2000cs for a long time.  Anyone come across one, please let me know!!

[Douglas]

I've owned a couple of 2002s over the years. They're wonderful, enjoyable and affordable cars. Early tii's are the favorite, but they're all wonderful machines, including the big-bumper cars.

Here's an article from the NYT written by a friend about how she and I went on a quest for a 2002. Some of you may recall the article a few years back. Scroll down and look for "Let the Masses Drive their SUVs":

http://www.bmw02club.nl/pages/07_info/archief.html

[hauser]

I also had one.  It was Fjord blue with a black interior.  The handling was unbelievable!  Thought about getting another one many times and have found myself looking at those offered on ebay.

[thelews]

Well, if you don't live in CA, here's one with the pollution stuff removed.  I know the car.  It doesn't get much better.

http://www.memory-motors.com/Show_Car.php?CAR_ID=56

[abe280SL]

Thank you to all so far...John, if I didn't live in CA I would buy that car.

abe

[mdsalemi]

...we should note that cars in this "class"--the original 1600ti prototype, and the 2002 Turbo (arguably one of the most desirable of the series) are attributed to none other than Paul Bracq.

No wonder we like them.

[64sl_robs]

you can register it at my address.
20 year old cars here don't have emissions testing
2002 is a nice car but runs out of steam at 95 mph
and is incredibly noisy it will wear you out after a 1 hour trip
even with the big bumpers i actually like the '76 2002

the 530i 6 cylinder cars were much better > stronger and much smoother.
the 3.0 6 cylinder engines were powerful and smooth > someone should study that engine.
these cars were strong,quiet,safe, handled well and were much better
than any MB 450SEL in the mid '70's
i never understood why the '76+ 530i did not have huge cult following.

[Nate]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's my understanding that cars older than 25 years are smog exempt in California, at least I hope so.  I think this also applies to out-of-state vehicles as well when you register them.  2002's are very cool Beemers (the 3.0 CSI is by far my favorite), but I could never get over the design of the dash on the 2002 with the 3-foot "shelf" near the passenger side.  Seems like the driver could get distracted by all the clutter that could end up living there.

[abe280SL]

Nate, unfortunately you are wrong....cars excempt are older than 1975 (not sure if 75included). At one time it was going to be older than 25...but the green do gooders in Sacramento won.  They were even considering smog testing ALL cars and preventing you from driving your car if you didn't meet their NEW standards. Everyone knows that our cars could not meet todays standards...but those in Sacramento know nothing about cars.  Thank God, the  State is bankrupt and they have other issues to deal with;
abe

[flacc]

I had one for several yaers and loved it.  It was the big bumper 76, navy blue, but my favorite was the early 70's tii roun tail lights, (a friend had one)  The car just was unable to get into trouble or out perform what it was capable of handling. As far as the shelf, if you were driving the car the way it liked, you'd never leave anything there.

[abe280SL]

Well, after strong consideration and looking at a w111 280se coupe I think you get so much more car with the Mercedes vs the BMW.  I just don't understand why these cars are so low in vallue....I love those coupes.  Just a few things holding me back...wife, economy, elections which will determine the future of this country for a long time.
abe

[JamesL]

Your wife shapes the future of your country?  

[abe280SL]

Maybe I needed to clarify that a little better...my wife shapes the future of my gonads

quote:Originally posted by Tosh

Your wife shapes the future of your country?  

[abe280SL]

Took a  plunge into the unknown...bought a nice 73 3.0CSi.  Nice body style...the bad news is unlike the Porsche 83SC and the MB 280sl, availability of parts are not so great. 
Well, will see how long this little adventure lasts....told my wife this is alot cheaper and better for the both of us than
getting a new blond!
abe

[Miloslav Maun]

I own a 1968 BMW 2000 CS, that is the predecessor of your E9.
My site: http://bmw2000ca.un.cz/e-index.htm

I agree, the parts supply is very scarce compared to porsches and Mercedes. But the good news is that most of the mechanics can be seen on later BMW's so it is an easy swap. They even supply new 2000 CS engine for about 3-4.000 EUR or so. But if you need a new front fender for the 2000CS, you have no chance. And if some body parts are still available, they have incredible price tags.

[Douglas]

There are many people in this forum who share your enthusiasm for this BMW, probably because many of us remember seeing the car as kids. I owned mine for 10 years and drove it 65K miles.

Go to e9coupe.com and visit the forums there. It's not quite as congenial a crowd as this, but what else is?

[Tom Colitt]

Well, after strong consideration and looking at a w111 280se coupe I think you get so much more car with the Mercedes vs the BMW.  I just don't understand why these cars are so low in vallue....I love those coupes.  Just a few things holding me back...wife, economy, elections which will determine the future of this country for a long time.
abe

Well Abe

Now that the elections are over and this country has a small chance of getting back on the right track, you can go ahead with your plans. The W111s are nice cars, better built than our Pagodas (just not as pretty).

As for the 2002s. I'm more of a 3.0CS guy, but I can confirm that originally CA had exempted all 1975 and earlier cars and then they were going to have a rolling 30 year exemption. The second part was eliminated and who knows if cars after 1975 will ever become exempt....

Happy Thanksgiving, Tom

[abe280SL]

Thanks guys, my new toy should be arriving in about 7-10 days.  This is a great site....the e9 site does not have nearly the vollume as we do.  Getting a new car lift from Bendpak (lift number 2) so that all my babies can sleep inside.  BTW when my wife found out my plans she suggested I could sleep with my babies in the garage...after 29years of togetherness I still like her sense of humor (I hope she  just kidding). Honey, I love you
abe