I bought a 2002.

[offroadkarter]

Cracks me up that you always find these really rare and valuable BMW's to add to your fleet.

I'm sure this one is going to turn out as awesome as the E12 M535i you restored.

[CSBM5]

Another one sold at Mecum yesterday for $170,500 which I think includes the buyer's premium.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0818-33670 ... 002-turbo/

[Sprocket]

A very nice find! I am interested in the wheels should you decide to restore to the original setup.
Thank you,
Chris

[vandiesel]

That's like finding the ferrari that was buried in the ground in LA! What a find and such great condition. Sub'd

[RoyW]

Awesome Chris, just awesome!! Good bones; great potential investment value; great fun to drive factor... but first big time, effort, and bucks ($) to get it to your standards Enjoy the journey... can't wait to see the progress.

-RoyW

[Sapotorito]

Not a typical 2002, You never seize to amaze me... Congrats on the great find Chris!

[SeattleGuy]

Dude that is crazy. How did you happen upon it or can you say?
Awesome.

[m-racer]

Wow. That should be a great project. I owned one in the early 90s. You have the good bits... which is great. Mine was a driver. Didn't like hot weather. Ate a couple of turbos in the few years I owned it. I was always tickled by little stuff like the red cluster. At the prices they are bringing, you probably want to keep it stock. That said, the best driving version, I ever saw belonged to a guy named Jack Fredrickson. Korman worked on his and developed an intercooler and installed some other performance bits. It was very quick by non-s14/m20 transplant 02 standards and ran cool. No idea where that car is now. I think he moved west...maybe CO. Good luck. Have not been here in a long while, but anxious to see your progress.

[tig]

Eggs-cited to follow along on this one, for sure!

[WilNJ]

So page 2 and still no paint...da fuq?

[Bonsaibacker]

Updates? I cannot be the only waiting to see how this is progressing or hear your plans...

[wkohler]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it. It's a substantial project and I look forward to getting into it further. It's one of those cars that kinda consumes your brain. I think for a while it would be fun to have an ugly 2002 Turbo, but I have a hard time with that, which is why I already wasted time trying to bring the paint on the hood back.

I really don't have much new to report on the car. I've been slammed with work and I also have another project in the garage that doesn't belong to me, so it's a priority. That doesn't mean I've done absolutely nothing, but my time for the 2002 has been limited.

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm pretty intimidated by the mechanical fuel injection. I have the tii fuel injection manual and I've been trying to familiarize myself with it (not that I have any intention of taking the pump itself apart). I have a new E28 fuel pump for the car and I had the fuel tank cleaned out, I bought a ridiculously expensive new fuel level sending unit for it (unique due to the larger tank) and a new screen for the bottom of the fuel pickup tube and the proper gaskets for both. I was able to source a custom-made air filter thanks to Preyupy, which, while not exactly budget-priced (high costs of limited production) is reusable and will save me from buying $250+ filters from BMW (unique to the turbo with a price to match). I've also purchased every coolant hose that is still available (sadly the water pump to thermostat hose is NLA, but I think I can make it out of another hose, just need the right radius) in addition to a new water pump (not as easy to source as you'd think). It's increasingly clear that to see this car as actually drivable, assuming it will run, it will require pretty much everything under the car be replaced or refreshed. Given all of that uncertainty, I'm not in any great rush, as much as I'd like to have a running car. We're at 32+ years off the road right now, what's a few more months?

I've also been trying to source the correct Turbo steering wheel. It's really the only Turbo-specific cosmetic part that I don't have which the correct original is needed. Sure, the car might not run but I'm sure the wheel will only get more elusive and expensive. BMW still had the correct 5-speed gear knob in stock so I have that, but the steering wheel has been difficult. People generally do not wish to let them go even after they offer it to you and I discovered a whole world of steering wheel collectors.

That said, the best driving version, I ever saw belonged to a guy named Jack Fredrickson. Korman worked on his and developed an intercooler and installed some other performance bits. It was very quick by non-s14/m20 transplant 02 standards and ran cool. No idea where that car is now. I think he moved west...maybe CO. Good luck. Have not been here in a long while, but anxious to see your progress.

A guy named Robert Plotkin owns that car now and it looks like it's in CA. Tom Jones had told me about what Korman did and how impressive it was. There's a pretty good story about it written by the current owner for Petrolicious. https://petrolicious.com/articles/the-2 ... htiest-car Tuning seems to the be most critical issue (as with really anything), so I have a lot of concern there, but I probably shouldn't worry about that until I have something that runs.

[tig]

I always appreciate the time you put into crafting your updates, Chris.

[danielpouch]

Chris, I am eager to see the updates on this car, good luck! Love reading write-ups like this.

[Adam W in MN]

Great updates and persistence as always!

[m-racer]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it. It's a substantial project and I look forward to getting into it further. It's one of those cars that kinda consumes your brain. I think for a while it would be fun to have an ugly 2002 Turbo, but I have a hard time with that, which is why I already wasted time trying to bring the paint on the hood back.

I really don't have much new to report on the car. I've been slammed with work and I also have another project in the garage that doesn't belong to me, so it's a priority. That doesn't mean I've done absolutely nothing, but my time for the 2002 has been limited.

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm pretty intimidated by the mechanical fuel injection. I have the tii fuel injection manual and I've been trying to familiarize myself with it (not that I have any intention of taking the pump itself apart). I have a new E28 fuel pump for the car and I had the fuel tank cleaned out, I bought a ridiculously expensive new fuel level sending unit for it (unique due to the larger tank) and a new screen for the bottom of the fuel pickup tube and the proper gaskets for both. I was able to source a custom-made air filter thanks to Preyupy, which, while not exactly budget-priced (high costs of limited production) is reusable and will save me from buying $250+ filters from BMW (unique to the turbo with a price to match). I've also purchased every coolant hose that is still available (sadly the water pump to thermostat hose is NLA, but I think I can make it out of another hose, just need the right radius) in addition to a new water pump (not as easy to source as you'd think). It's increasingly clear that to see this car as actually drivable, assuming it will run, it will require pretty much everything under the car be replaced or refreshed. Given all of that uncertainty, I'm not in any great rush, as much as I'd like to have a running car. We're at 32+ years off the road right now, what's a few more months?

I've also been trying to source the correct Turbo steering wheel. It's really the only Turbo-specific cosmetic part that I don't have which the correct original is needed. Sure, the car might not run but I'm sure the wheel will only get more elusive and expensive. BMW still had the correct 5-speed gear knob in stock so I have that, but the steering wheel has been difficult. People generally do not wish to let them go even after they offer it to you and I discovered a whole world of steering wheel collectors.

That said, the best driving version, I ever saw belonged to a guy named Jack Fredrickson. Korman worked on his and developed an intercooler and installed some other performance bits. It was very quick by non-s14/m20 transplant 02 standards and ran cool. No idea where that car is now. I think he moved west...maybe CO. Good luck. Have not been here in a long while, but anxious to see your progress.

A guy named Robert Plotkin owns that car now and it looks like it's in CA. Tom Jones had told me about what Korman did and how impressive it was. There's a pretty good story about it written by the current owner for Petrolicious. https://petrolicious.com/articles/the-2 ... htiest-car Tuning seems to the be most critical issue (as with really anything), so I have a lot of concern there, but I probably shouldn't worry about that until I have something that runs.

Correct me if I am wrong, but is the turbo steering wheel not the same as the e21 sport wheel, standard in the"320is"?

[Jelmer538i]

They did a 2002tii on Wheeler Dealers where they had the fuel pump rebuild somewhere in LA. The guy was an expert on these pump.

[austin8753]

The steering wheel, from a 1977 320i, with sport package, is identical to the 2002 Turbo wheel. The cover for the hub is a little different, as is the upholstery (320i wheel was not leather wrapped, but the moulded foam was made to replicate the look of leather).

Turbo/320i wheel



320is wheel

[wkohler]

Well, interestingly enough, I recently explained all of the differences on the 2002 FAQ in my WTB thread. Yes, I’m as shocked as you are. The 2002 Turbo wheel is different from the early E21 sport wheel. The turbo wheel has a separate hub that affixes to the wheel with screws with a specific horn contact. There are no provisions for the slip ring from the later cars. The E21 wheel is swaged onto thle hub. The plastic cover for the hub is different as well. The Turbo has one step in it while the E21 has two. Also, while the whole horn pad is the horn button on the E21 wheel, only the roundel itself is the button on the Turbo wheel. Also, neither wheel is leather covered.

[Bonsaibacker]

Well, interestingly enough, I recently explained all of the differences on the 2002 FAQ in my WTB thread. Yes, I’m as shocked as you are. The 2002 Turbo wheel is different from the early E21 sport wheel. The turbo wheel has a separate hub that affixes to the wheel with screws with a specific horn contact. There are no provisions for the slip ring from the later cars. The E21 wheel is swaged onto thle hub. The plastic cover for the hub is different as well. The Turbo has one step in it while the E21 has two. Also, while the whole horn pad is the horn button on the E21 wheel, only the roundel itself is the button on the Turbo wheel. Also, neither wheel is leather covered.

Semantics, but the E21 sports wheel came with leather on it. Most being sold these days have the leather removed due to wear.

Good luck sourcing the 2002 turbo wheel!

[wkohler]

The early sport wheels were not leather covered. The late ones were but I’m not comparing the late one since it is so obviously different to the Turbo wheel.

[Bonsaibacker]

The early sport wheels were not leather covered. The late ones were but I’m not comparing the late one since it is so obviously different to the Turbo wheel.

Touche'. Had to read your post on 2002FAQ to catch up. Link for interested parties:

https://www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic ... ing-wheel/

You are a wealth of knowledge...

[m-racer]

The early sport wheels were not leather covered. The late ones were but I’m not comparing the late one since it is so obviously different to the Turbo wheel.

Touche'. Had to read your post on 2002FAQ to catch up. Link for interested parties:

https://www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic ... ing-wheel/

You are a wealth of knowledge...

interesting...worth a try, but no cigar. Glad someone knew the answer.Good luck with the hunt.i

[hubble1953]

Chris, great project but I can't see the pictures anymore? Would be fantastic to
see the turbo car!:)
The 82 320is steering wheel sort of looks like the turbo wheel, but not the same.
If it was, the turbo wheel would be pretty cheap:)
jm

[boomvader]

Chris, great project but I can't see the pictures anymore? Would be fantastic to
see the turbo car!:)
The 82 320is steering wheel sort or looks like the turbo wheel, but not the same.
If it was the turbo wheel would be pretty cheap:)
jm

Agreed. Post and/or fix the photos when you get a chance, Chris. I can't wait to see this one!