engine and drivetrain Upgrades for a daily driver?

[booksat]

Looking at buying a '75 02, automatic w/ rebuilt engine and transmission, supposedly in turnkey condition. The car would often be used as a daily driver for short commutes and around town driving.

To be as safe as possible for my wife, I wanted to consider sensible upgrades.

I was thinking of LSD, brakes, and radiator.

Can anyone tell me the rough cost of these upgrades, and suggest others that are worthwhile.

[tito559]

I found a LSD $325 picked up.

Brakes depends on what you want to do (stock or upgrade)...lots of options.

Not sure about radiators, haven't gotten there YET with mine

[jmr_1602]

I think a good safety upgrade would be a set of LED rear tail lights, and a 3rd brake light.

nmna

http://www.classicautoleds.com/bmw2002.html[/url]

[MAD02]

This is what I would get.......

Pertronix or Crane Ignition upgrade $80 to $120

Steel braided brake lines $50

Upgraded brake pads/shoes $100

H4 headlight conversion $80

New suspension bushings $50

A LSD would be nice, but for a reliable daily driver I would purchase these items first and go from there.

[eurotrash]

For what usage you described..

Brakes are best in class. Just make them new again, for that new car smell.

LSD = slippery when wet. Keep the open diff.

A good radiator is the stock jobbie, unless you're in arid climates. Just renew the system. All new hoses, thermostat, water pump, belt, flush and pressure test the rad.

Good tires and a well tuned motor. Clean the fuel tank and pickup screen. Add a third brake light and restored seat belts from Bluedevils here on the board.

This list will keep you beboppin around town safe and sound.

[ibjettin]

E30 mirror is nice and simple upgrade that makes a big difference

[TobyB]

Actually, I'd start with the defroster fan. If it's not 100%, that's a big

fiasco for short hops... if you live somewhere wet, cold or both.

Even a little of both.

Then the Pertronix, and go through the dizzy while you're there-

a worn dizzy makes the car a lot less driver friendly.

And the carb, too- if it's not nearly new, it's worth at least

putting a seal and diaphragm kit into it.

Wipers- not usually a weak point, but when they go, life sux.

Rear defroster- see above.

Bright taillights- LED's might be OK, but bright, either way.

Brakes- yeah, for an auto, the bigger fronts are really easy to do,

and inexpensive for the time and money. Not NECESSARY, but if

you're in there replacing calipers and rotors anyway, all you have

to add are the hubs. If your brakes are fresh, well... I'd do other things.

Like door plastic.

Weatherstripping.

I'm thinking of things that make my car BAD in the weather....

Oh, good multi- season tires- they usually have better wet grip.

(if it never rains where you are, you can adjust to fit)

If it snows more than occasionally, the LSD would be a decent add.

(see, people who can drive in snow know how that whole 'locked rear'

thing works... or figure it out pretty darned quick)

But otherwise, on an auto, it'd be pretty low on my list.

Certainly nice, but by no means necessary.

If your wife likes driving, shocks for sure, and maybe sways and/or springs-

the stock car is pretty soft for 3rd world roads. If that applies to you,

then stock is good...

Did I mention defrosters and heating???

Oh, and a 320 radiator works too, if your stock one's shot.

Otherwise, I tracked a stock rad for 10 years- it was good to 90F+.

hth,

t

[flyingjolly]

all the above and if you're living in a hot climate i suggest to add an electric fan to the stock belt driven fan. Especially when there's a high possibility of getting stuck in traffic in summer.

Plus a larger Alternator, because the standard won't /can't charge your battery enough on short distances, especially with lights/defroster on.

And while you're at it, take a starter from an M30 powered E32 or E34 - they're smaller, lighter, have more power and need less current.

[c.d.iesel]

To be as safe as possible for my wife, I wanted to consider sensible upgrades.

new STOCK brake calipers, pads, hoses, and rotors

with new wheel bearings

check rear drums, shoes, and slave cylinders for leakage

ADJUST REAR BRAKES CORRECTLY

new points, rotor, cap - set DWELL with a meter, set timing with

a timing light

rebuild the carb, new STOCK exhaust system

new tires

all new gas and coolent hoses

recore original radiator

new tie rods, center link, idler arm bearings,

shocks, lower ball joints, upper strut mounts,

anti-sway bar bushings (ALL BMW STOCK!)

SERVICE/CLEAN/TREAT EVERY electrical connector, bulb socket,

instrument cluster - remove extrainious BS wiring and all non-original

BMW electrical HS (horsesheit) items

new seatbelts, larger seat mounting bolts with larger washers

Automatic Trans service (oil strainer, and control linkage cleaning,

adjusting, lubricating

new door latch ACORN's ($0.47 each)

install under hood sealing rubbers on inner fenders,

and on underside of the hood, and proper fire wall

drain tubes so wife does not get GASSED!

WELCOME and have safe fun

p.s. - rough cost$$?

Parts $2,500.... $3,000 + your Labor FREE

Someones Labor ? ......... $3,000 (depends on where you live

and who you find)

[harry6422]

If the car still has the original BMW door brakes/stops replace them and save your wife's shins ! , also the doors from being dented when the door swings open and hits the front fender. See at link below.

Harry

www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,363390/

[booksat]

Thanks to all for the great list. I'll sort throught it an make a list of priorities accordingly (not made of money here!).

The car will be driven in the wet, so that's an issue. Garaged in the winter to keep it away from salt and the rear wheel drive simply is poor for daily driving with any ice and snow.

New England, so terrible heat isn't an issue, but since it will be driven in the summer with the a/c, upgrading the radiator may make sense. Though, I guess before doing so we can see if it's necessary.

Thanks again.

Any additional ideas are appreciated.

[adawil2002]

Before you buy have it checked out by a mechanic who knows 2002s.

http://www.bimrs.org/2008MapPage.html

Then fix everything that is required to make the car safe, use OEM parts. The engineers at BMW built an amazing car they designed it as a daily driver. My Tii is stock aside from the Pertonix and is used as a fair weather daily driver...about 10K miles this year.

Preventative and routine maintenance is key, these are 43-37 year old cars, when well maintained they a incredibly reliable.

[M3M3]

The car will be driven in the wet, so that's an issue. Garaged in the winter to keep it away from salt and the rear wheel drive simply is poor for daily driving with any ice and snow.

follow CD's list, but put third brake light at the top.

the myths of LSD's being bad in wet and rear wheel drive being bad in snow are complete and total B.S. stock LSD's are much better in all conditions due to the added traction. rear wheel drive cars, especially with LSD's, are great in snow...IF, like any car, you put real snow tires on all four corners. however, exposing a 40yo car to new england road salt in winter is a sure way for the car to die an early death.

personnally though, i would not let my wife drive a 2002 as a daily driver. i want her to be safe. old cars have none of the modern safety features. abs/dsc/crumple zones/airbags/etc.

[Colin]

I would say 3rd brake light for sure (I like the hella ones), defroster/heater, window seals, sound deadening, and tires!

[Mike Self]

dozen 2002 improvements based on 42 years of daily driving. If you can't lay your hands on the August and Sept 2011 issues, drop me an e-mail and I'll send 'em to you.

cheers

mike