Horrible BMW 2002 buying experience...

[NYgarrett]

Hey Guys, 

 

This post is to educate, in case anyone is looking to purchase this vehicle themselves, or if they know someone that is.

 

1973 BMW 2002

VIN: 3581568

Miami FL

 

Seller is from Miami, FL.  He is misrepresenting this car as a rust-free example that is mechanically sound.  My friend bought it and had to return it...ended up costing him around $1,800 in shipping and other various fees.  Unfortunately, my friend rushed the purchase and didn't get a PPI (Like I told him to)...because the seller told him he had buyers coming from everywhere.  Buy the seller, not the car.  

 

The problems:

-Blown ball-joints

-Blown driveshaft center support

-Leaking oil

-Leaking transmission fluid

-Leaking Fuel at the engine

-Giant hole in passenger floor pan, with carpet coming through

-Rust throughout bottom of car and on passenger door with bubbling paint

 

First 2 Pictures are what the seller sent my friend.    The rest of the pictures are from the day of delivery.

Edited October 30, 2021 by NYgarrett

[Mike Self]

To begin with, according to the VIN, it isn't a '73 it's a '72.  73 VINs begin with 2585138.  Easily confirmed by looking at the heater controls:  3 with no lights = '72 or earlier; 4 with illumination = 73 or later.    If they got the year wrong, then what else did the seller leave out or get "wrong"?

 

Given your description of "a giant hole in the passenger side floor" and comparing that with the first two pictures, I wonder if those pictures are of the same car.  The rust holes your pictures show are in the toeboard (the slanted section at the very front of the floor) and are hidden in the seller-provided pictures--artfully, I might add...

 

At least the front sway bars match.  

 

Always a good idea to have a knowledgeable person check out a car being bought long-distance...sorry your friend had to learn this the hard way.

 

mike

[NYgarrett]

35 minutes ago, Mike Self said:

Given your description of "a giant hole in the passenger side floor" and comparing that with the first two pictures, I wonder if those pictures are of the same car.  The rust holes your pictures show are in the toeboard (the slanted section at the very front of the floor) and are hidden in the seller-provided pictures--artfully, I might add...

 

At least the front sway bars match.  

Agreed.  But it's definitely the same car, based off the long-tube headers coming down...but I'm sure the pictures were taken YEARS ago.  Ironically the title reflected a 1973 model...so maybe it was a late model 1972. 

 

Btw...this car is currently for sale in the forum classifieds as well as Ebay. What are the chances all the proper repairs were made in 3 weeks time? ?

Edited October 30, 2021 by NYgarrett

[02Les]

People need to read NYgarrett's post SLOWLY.

 

VIN is 3581568 - this makes it a Euro 1802 that was built around July 1973.

 

Maybe the motor has been changed to make it a psuedo 2002

[tzei]

Rust free or free rust - can’t really remember which way is correct uh?

[tech71]

18 hours ago, NYgarrett said:

ended up costing him around $1,800 in shipping and other various fees.

An airline ticket from NY to Miami would have cost him a lot less.

Sorry for your "friends" trouble but in truth, they brought it on themselves by buying a polished turd "sight unseen"

[Conserv]

7 hours ago, 02Les said:

People need to read NYgarrett's post SLOWLY.

 

VIN is 3581568 - this makes it a Euro 1802 that was built around July 1973.

 

Maybe the motor has been changed to make it a psuedo 2002

+1

 

Here’s the results yielded by the VIN decoder offered by the BMW 2002 Car Club of Columbia.

 

The photos showing the engine block’s casting date are not clear. Perhaps it’s January 19, 1973 (“19A73”), second photo. Or maybe that’s 1972?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[7502]

I guess I would like to know how much he paid for the car to put the experience in context.

[Son of Marty]

Jeez, had other buyers standing by, that's a new one, you need to see it your self even if it means flying or at least arrange for a ppi otherwise if this doesn't happen to you your incredibly lucky.

[Mike Self]

9 hours ago, 02Les said:

VIN is 3581568 - this makes it a Euro 1802 that was built around July 1973.

My apologies--I'm so used to seeing 258XXXX (US) VINs that's what I saw.  02 Les is exactly correct.

 

mike

[ray_]

More on this car here:

 

 

[jgerock]

Very sorry to read this post.  The worried look on the young lady’s face in picture #6 says it all…perhaps “you paid how much, for this?”

[M3M3]

surprised the seller took it back...

 

mechanically sound?  just about any car this age is going to have a few issues.  nothing major there.  what 02 doesn't leak oil?  ball joints and CSB? fuel hoses?  trans rear seal?  all minor stuff.

 

the rust though...that is false advertising.  bad seller. 

[TobyB]

MattL said it:

[NYgarrett]

On 10/30/2021 at 2:46 PM, tzei said:

Rust free or free rust - can’t really remember which way is correct uh?

??? Glad he recently had his Tetanus booster shot

 

23 hours ago, Conserv said:

+1

 

Here’s the results yielded by the VIN decoder offered by the BMW 2002 Car Club of Columbia.

 

The photos showing the engine block’s casting date are not clear. Perhaps it’s January 19, 1973 (“19A73”), second photo. Or maybe that’s 1972?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Geez...that's damn good detective work. Your skills are being wasted here, FIND EPSTEIN! 

 

20 hours ago, ray_ said:

More on this car here:

 

 

WOW....in that post they didn't even catch the hole in the passenger floor. 

 

12 hours ago, jgerock said:

Very sorry to read this post.  The worried look on the young lady’s face in picture #6 says it all…perhaps “you paid how much, for this?”

Hahahaha spot on!

 

9 hours ago, M2M3 said:

surprised the seller took it back...

 

mechanically sound?  just about any car this age is going to have a few issues.  nothing major there.  what 02 doesn't leak oil?  ball joints and CSB? fuel hoses?  trans rear seal?  all minor stuff.

 

the rust though...that is false advertising.  bad seller. 

Agreed!  It's a 50yo car, so some things go without saying. But transparency is key...especially when there's carpet coming through the belly of the car.  I'd imagine lawsuits will follow this guy if he continues to knowingly lie to prospective buyers.