You might own a 2002, if...

[PaulEBirmingham]

This has probably been done before, but I thought it might bear repeating!

1. Your idea of “luxury” is a car with an intact headliner, dashboard, and gas pedal.

2. You curse the stereo installers of the 1970’s who felt it necessary to put speakers in door panels.

3. Your idea of “air conditioning” is rolling down the windows at freeway speeds.

4. You carry a wet towel on hot days, to help cure vapor lock (thanks Napes.)

5. You slow down every time you pass a scrapyard, hoping you might find an overlooked Tii or 320is.

6. You carry an extra set of clothes in a sealed bag on dates, hoping to avoid the risk of “02 Cologne.”

7. You’re annoyed at anyone in an E36 and newer Bimmer, who refuses to wave back at you.

8. You walk into the “Stealer” to find that one part you can’t get anywhere else – and marvel at how many 2002s you could buy for the cost of just one new car on the showroom floor.

9. You find yourself trying to open other cars hoods from the “wrong end”, after working on your car.

10. You can’t think of any other car you’d rather own, love, and drive.

[jgerock]

I'm game on a Saturday night for this!

You talk to other Bimmer owners about having a "classic" BMW. They ask what type - you say "2002". They respond with a fondness for the E46 models. This just happened to me on Thursday when helping a neighbor move (they just moved to Phoenix). His friend was helping and we were talking about cars (what else?). He has a newer 5 series.

and -

You don't use your stereo so you can listen to the engine.

You keep a piece of plastic in the trunk in case you spy a 2002 in someone's neighborhood that may be for sale and need to check it out for rusty floors/rockers/framerails.

You convince other 2002 friends to let you help them with their cars, then turn around and everyone works on yours ;-).

You know how to remove that eschuteon cover for the vent window - and can quickly find the right tool to pop it out.

You can navigate and quickly post replies on the FAQ using the Search function.

Your significant other recognizes packages coming from BLUNT and asks how much you spent.

You have lots of great friends who will help you out no matter how bad the situation is.

[adawil2002]

1. Your idea of luxury are 'lighted heater controls'

2. You look for excuses to 'work' on your '02, even if everything is in working order.

3. You smile as you pump gas.

4. You know every 2002 in a 50 mile radius.

5. You travel great distances to see other 2002s and their owners.

6. More people know your 2002 than know you.

7. Running errands, there's at least one 'Brings back memories' story in a parking lot or red light.

8. You can rattle off the serial numbers of every 2002 you've owned.

9. You know what serial numbers beginning with 276 are.

10. You drive for the sheer pleasure of it.

[bracohen]

1) You laugh at your passengers trying to figure out the damn seat belt. Then they laugh at you when you're having the same problem.

[Dave3x72tii]

1. Double clutch when shifting to second gear even with good synchros

2. check the mirror for trailing throttle overcast when engine braking

3. find the signal stalk is on the wrong side of the column in your d.d.

4. try to turn the vents over center on a hot day

5. find 4000 rpm normal at 72mph

6. pull the ebrake up a notch when the brake pedal travel seems long

7. depend on the trip odometer over the fuel guage

8. set the choke on cold starts even in fuel injected cars

9. go to rummage sales confident that anything you buy will fit in the trunk

10. can spot thumbs up from other drivers in your peripheral vision

[oldfahrt]

1. You search every Craigslist in a 250 mile radius looking for another '02.

2. You have to park the "good cars" outside because the garage is full of '02's.

3. You have boxes full of parts, many duplicates, but keep buying more on Ebay.

4. You have more spare parts in the trunk than AutoZone.

5. You know your car's birth date, but not your wedding anniversary.

6. You turn on the wipers when turning left in all "other" cars.

7. You put your seat belt on with the door open.

8. You park the '02 WAY BACK at the grocery store but don't give a damn about the 3 year old "other".

9. More people know you by your FAQ moniker than your given name.

10. You wrote in Alex von Falkenhausen for President.

[Jim_75Sahara]

(1) you open up your home to 2002 owners for the sake of a drive through the countryside and a cookout/sleepover. (Thanks BJ & Mae. Thanks Mark C.)

(2) you are way more than OK with driving 200 miles to get to the above-mentioned gtg.

(3) you can't wait to throw an impromptu gtg when an '02 owner is driving through your area. (I'm glad to be near I-75 & I-70 -- we snag a few here!) (& Hi Mike B. -- glad you stopped in on us!)

(4) you enjoy the looks you get while in a caravan of '02's buzzing the locals who wave, point, smile, make positive remarks, etc.

[tashakes]

You spend WAY more time than necessary explaining the question:

Friend: So what BMW is it that you own?

You: A 2002.

Friend: Hmm, that's not that old...

You: No, no, it's a 1976.

Friend: So which is it, a 2002 or a 1976??? (always with a stupid look on their face)

You: It's a 1976 BMW 2002

Friend: Huh?

You: BMW named the car 2002 because it is a 2.0 liter 2 door. So it's called a 2002.

Friend: Hmmm, weird name for a car... Its a 76 though, right?

You: I give up.....

Cheers!

[Kidasters]

3. find the signal stalk is on the wrong side of the column in your d.d

Hah - beat me to it.

I was going to say "Flash your bright lights when making a turn"

Or -

Turn on the windshield wipers on your DD when making a right turn.

[Gbare02tii]

-Your 2002 upgrades cost more that the total price of your Daily Driver

-You see an old car in the distance and your heart starts to race...as it gets closer you discover it is a Volvo 240 and you get very sad

-You fight with your wife over the importance of A/C and Defrost...

[Benz02]

1. Your idea of a manual choke is your right heel.

2. You find gas fumes in the cockpit comforting.

3. You know exactly which gas station in town has a filler neck that allows you to refuel without spilling.

4. You keep the heater vents open on a hot day.

5. You feel guilty if you go more than a week without driving the car.

6. You carry a repair manual, tools, and no less than two extra fuel filters onboard at all times.

[MrSharky]

2. You look for excuses to 'work' on your '02, even if everything is in working order.

Does this happen?? the "everything in working order" part, that is??

Matt

[Justin76]

You enjoy watching people struggle trying to figure out how to open the door from inside, and don't help until they attempt to pull the door handle towards them in fear they'll break it.

[flyingjolly]

3. find the signal stalk is on the wrong side of the column in your d.d

Hah - beat me to it.

I was going to say "Flash your bright lights when making a turn"

Or -

Turn on the windshield wipers on your DD when making a right turn.

same here :rofl:

[adawil2002]

2. You look for excuses to 'work' on your '02, even if everything is in working order.

Does this happen?? the "everything in working order" part, that is??

Matt

Yes it does happen, keeping them that way is part of the 'fun'.