1971 BMW 2002

1600 Coupe

4 - Cyl.

Manual

1572569

Gasoline

Please see all 80 PHOTOS and the VIDEOS at the bottom of this ad (let them load - worth it!) This is a 1971 1600 - the last year the 1600 was offered in the U.S. There were only a handful of differences between 1600s and BMW 2002s. 1600s had a smaller displacement engine (which this car no longer has), all chrome grilles and no ugly black side panel trim. Otherwise, the bodies are 100% identical; you could put a 2002 badge on this vehicle and nobody would know the difference. But this 1600 is much faster than a 2002 - even a fuel injected 2002tii! Delivered new to Fort Worth, Texas, it has lived its entire life in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. BMW built the car on January 26, 1971 and it was delivered to Ryno BMW, which later became part of today's Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth. It passed through a number of owners between the 1980s and 1990s, several of whom were fairly prominent in the local BMW community (and everyone in the local scene today knows this car fairly well). I have receipts dating back to about 1984, plus one 500 mile inspection from 1971 (very cool!).  Exterior Generally, the 1600 presents itself very well. Its original paint color was Nevada, a dark beige. It was repainted in the early 2000s in a lighter beige. The paint is shiny and seems to have been uniformly applied. It is not a million dollar job, but it certainly wasn't a Krylon quickie either. A previous owner scraped the rear passenger side (no dents) and had it resprayed. As such, the paint is a slightly different shade in the lower rear passenger side fender (below the belt line trim). You have to be in the right light to really see it (I had to use a polarizing filter to get it to show up in the photos). The body is straight with no major dents or dings, as you can see from the photos. At some point, it received new front fenders, a new front clip and a new hood. It is not uncommon for owners to replace fenders on these because they are very cheap (and they help eliminate the ugly U.S.-spec reflectors). There is no notable rust on the body panels. There are two small bubbling areas around the rear window (see photos) and a couple of tiny spots where the aluminum trim has rubbed through the paint. Again, see the photos. There is no perforation whatsoever on this car – and there never has been. It has lived in dry North Texas for its whole life (although I believe a previous owner kept it in even drier El Paso during some of the 1970s and 1980s). Underneath, the body has never been undercoated. Like any car you might find on the road, it has some light surface rust that could easily be treated. This is due to exposure to rain over the last 40 years – certainly nothing to be concerned about. The BMW's chrome is in good shape – the bumpers are straight and I have removed the ugly overriders for a cleaner look. The chrome tail lamps are excellent. The chrome, 1600-exclusive front grille is unbent and shows well. If you know these cars, you know that the 1600 grilles are very hard to find today. Another small bonus is that it has new OEM U.S.-spec front turn signals. Note that the car will be delivered with the Enkei wheels shown at the end of the post, not the steel wheels with hubcaps. The wheels come on good tires and actually look nice and sporty on '02s. For $350 extra, I will include a set of 5Jx13 steel tii wheels with Pirelli tires and four chrome BMW hubcaps with good roundels. Mechanically speaking The big news is its Metric Mechanic 155-horsepower 2200 HiFlo ST Sport Engine (which I believe started life in a 1974 2002). The engine was installed in 1991 and I estimate it has about 60,000 miles on it - plenty of life left. Today, this engine retails for $4,495 on its own from Metric Mechanic. If you know BMWs, you know Metric Mechanic. This engine cranks out 155 very usable horsepower. It's obviously quite torquey as it doesn't need to be revved hard to get power out of it. As you can imagine, 155 horsepower in a 2,200 lbs. or so car feels very fast.  Simply put, you will never want to drive another 2002 (or especially another 1600) until you drive this one. It has no problem outpacing modern traffic and it blows the pants off of even the best tuned 2002tii you will find. It also has upgraded front and rear swaybars and a fairly new Metric Mechanic radiator. I've run this car in very hot weather (100 degrees plus) and the needle never gets near the red zone. Since I have owned this 1600, I have had the area's premier vintage BMW mechanic, Brad Fenn at Classic Auto Service, replace several things. As it stands, this engine is absolutely reliable and doesn't leak more than a drop or two of oil after even the most strenuous drive (hey, it's a 40 year old BMW... they leaked a drop or two when new!). Brad has replaced... - Fuel pump/hoses (9/09)  - Points and condensers (9/09)  - New choke cable (11/09)  - head gasket (11/09)  - starter (4/10)  - strut mounts (4/10)  - lower control arms (4/10)  - Bosch rebuild alternator (1/11)  - regulator (1/11)  The head gasket was replaced because the car was driven very sparingly for several years before I purchased it. Brad says that Texas heat and limited use killed it. The engine oil, transmission fluid and rear diff fluid is all fresh. A good shape BMW-sourced exhaust makes a nice little growl (but it is very quiet). The 1600 has a four-speed manual transmission. It goes through the gears well with little grinding, although there is some whine in first gear. Brad suggests that it is a bearing, although the noise has not changed in several thousand miles. Within the next 15-20,000 miles, it will probably need a rebuild. The clutch is smooth and strong. The brakes are a touch soft. They have been upgraded to 320i brakes. They still pull the car to a stop quickly and efficiently, but I think they are a bit soft for an '02. I would also consider replacing the front struts if you plan to use the car aggressively. The battery is new (2010). It has been relocated to the trunk for better weight distribution. Interior  I've put a lot of effort into making this 1600's interior a comfortable and attractive place to be. You'll no doubt first notice that the original brown seats now feature corduroy-like cloth centers. I was inspired by the European-spec 1600 on display at the BMW Museum in Munich for these seats. The cloth was replaced by the same shop that does all of BMW of Dallas' work. New foam stuffing makes the front seats very comfortable. Adding to the 1600's comfort factor is a pair of retractable seatbelts for the driver and front passenger. I do not have seatbelts installed in the rear seat area, although adding a pair of retractable lap belts would be a piece of cake since the mounts are there. A new parcel shelf is covered in OEM-style black vinyl. It can be cut for speakers. A working cassette radio is included and wiring has been run to the rear deck area, but I opted no to install speakers since I like hearing the 2.2-liter! The carpet is black, fairly new, and was sourced from World Upholstery. As you can see, the door panels are in good shape with no speaker holes. I am including two front floor mats made by Esty at BMW2002FAQ.com The car features a Frigiking air conditioning that blows air on three levels (hi, medium, low). Output is strong but not especially cold. The dashboard is an original three-piece unit with some cracks and a missing chunk. A plastic cover is around $120 and looks very good when installed. All of the gauges work. Wipers work. The headliner is in 7/10 condition. No major tears and no stains. Glass windows are all good. The heat works very well (fan blows on two levels). Located north of Dallas. Feel free to make arrangements to come see it. Plenty of '02 owners in DFW have seen this car run - it positively flies with the MM 2.2-liter. I have regularly driven it 300+ miles in a single day with no issues. It doesn't smoke at all and doesn't leak aside from maybe a drip or two of oil after a long day. Keep in mind that this is a 40 year old car - definitely a "driver" - and I think you will be very happy with its style and utter drivability. It has no problem keeping pace with traffic. I've driven it up to 100 mph (shhh) per my GPS and it was solid as a rock (albeit rather loud). If you're looking to upgrade from a "beater" '02 into a fast roundie, you've found your car. Or if you're looking for your first vintage '02, this one is a great way to get started. I have used this car as a daily driver and it has been faultless. I get thumbs up and smiles every time I go out in it. I can't tell you how many people have asked to have their photo taken in front of it! I'm very attached to this car and will be sad to see it go, but my vintage car priorities have changed. I hope that the next owner will cherish this classic as much as I have... it deserves to be driven and enjoyed by a loving new owner.  The stuff I feel compelled to say: No warranty is implied or expressed. I require a $500 down payment via PayPal or in person within 48 hours of auction's close. The rest needs to be paid via cash or a major bank-issued money order within 7 days of auction's close. I will send the clear Texas title (which is in my name) once I receive payment. Car must be picked up from me within 14 days of auction's close. You will need to make arrangements with me to come get the car or to have it picked up via a service that you arrange on your own (I can make suggestions as I have had several cars shipped); I will be as flexible as possible (in other words, come get it during daylight hours). I feel that this car could be driven within a reasonable distance from Dallas, but I make no guarantees. Once again, it is a 40 year old car. Yes, this car has been listed before. Please do not bid unless you intend to buy! These are the wheels you are getting Some pictures of the records, including the MM engine and the first check up from 1971 Videos