tires and wheels Thinking about buying...

[Crawliver]

Hi Everyone, I am considering buying this 02, and I was wondering if anyone wanted to weigh in on what they thought about it. They are asking 6,500 firm for it, and the sellers have been very nice and upfront about everything. The dash has many cracks in it, but the car seems rust free, and in solid mechanical shape. The wheels on it also rub the wheel wells when you turn, but they are including smaller wheels. They also told me that it takes a little while to start it on colder mornings. I know its only vague information and not the best pictures but any input would be great.

Thanks.

[Scott Sislane]

the body looks to be in super condition, and the interior looks very decent. What's the engine bay look like? Is the exhaust a stainless system? What do you know about the mechanical aspects? Suspension? Brakes? It looks like someone has given it some care. Rockers look clean...trim...

edit: After others pointed out the little tell tails on the paint. Nothing worse than spray-over because someone didn't want to take any time to mask things off...

Undercarriage & engine bay pictures will tell the rest.

There must be an faq'r on here who lives near you & would check it out with you. Where are you?

[c.d.iesel]

no price guessing untill you report

back on HOW DOES IT DRIVE ?

tHEY DIDN;T LET YOU DRIVE IT ????

COLD START, DRIVABILITY DURING WARM-UP?,

ANY SMOKING?, DO THE PRAKES STOP STRAIGHT, AND

THE PEDAL FIRM?, WHAT NOISES DO YOU HEAR?,

ANY VIBRATIONS?, WERE YOU ABLE TO REACK 80 MPH-

AND HOLD IT THERE FOR 5 - 10 MILES?

these are just a few of the questions you need to answer

for yourself NOW, not after you buy it.

And we do need more photos close up under the hood and trunk

and really ideal - underneath on a lift. THAT is what

a $6,000.00+ car should do and look like.

So far you have only given us a $1,500.00 look

if it looks anything like this underneath - your on the right track:

tell them when it is starting properly, quickly, cold,

and all the lights are working - you'd love to take a second look

[/img]

[Crawliver]

Hey Guys, thanks for the input. I did drive the car, and it seemed very nice except that I did not take it up to highway speeds. The owner met me away from their house, so I was only able to start the car up after the engine was warm. Every thing seemed to work well, and the brakes felt strong and stopped evenly. I am meeting them again on the 4th to take another look at it and give it a cold start and I will take it up to 80 then. I also noticed that there are two BMW symbols on the back of the car, is that normal for that model year?

Also, does anyone know the name of the color?

Below is the only pic of the engine bay that I have.

Thanks again.

[JohnW]

I like the car, but agree that we need more info. Keeping in mind that $4,000 to $6,000 should buy a very solid 2002 that doesn't need major work, make sure this one lives up to its billing.

I do have a couple of questions/things to point out based on your photos:

The first photo looks odd. The rear of the car is much higher than the front. Was there a jack under the rear? Has the front of the car -- but not the back -- been lowered? Also strange that the front tires are rubbing. Do you know what size the tires are?

The last photo of the engine bay reveal a few things. Some of the underhood gaskets are missing. The three nuts on each upper strut bearing are blue. How recently was the car painted? Did the current owner commission the paint job? Was any rust or accident damage repaired at that time? How was it repaired?

You should probably have the car looked over by a qualified mechanic. I would do that for any car that costs more than $5,000, regardless of whether or not it's a 2002.

Lastly, good luck! Looks like this car may be okay. Just check things out thoroughly before dropping that kind of coin on a 2002.

[norm]

Not to be mean, but I would call the color Maico blue!

Engine bay looks like its been painted black too.

Norm

[Grover]

I would agree with everything others have said, especially the part about having it checked out by a knowledgeable mechanic who can get it up on a rack, check the compression, etc... Given that it is in California, you shouldn't have too hard of a time finding someone knowledgeable in the area.

A couple more things that might be worth looking into: The front grills are black. Are they plastic (ie. later model nose) or are they the earlier chrome ones but painted? As for the two emblems on the back, likely the trunklid was replaced with a 74-76 trunklid at somepoint as the earlier ones did not have an emblem on them. Also, the door panels are for later style cars, so you've definitely got a mish mash of years going here. What year is the car? Not sure about the paint color, looks almost like Fjord but not quite, a bit too dark at least on my computer screen.

I must say that unless the motor is really quite fresh and/or a bunch of other recent work, $6500 seems on the high side to me even though it looks pretty darned straight and clean. Good luck.

[norm]

This looks to be available again

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/1523406252.html

Norm

[TobyB]

seems rust free

but it's not. They all rust.

Recent paint's always scary- what's underneath?

6- fuse car, so it's pre 71.5 cutoff. Post 73 trunk lid.

My opinion- for this kind of money, you want a

2002 expert to give it a $200+ top- to- bottom.

On a lift. With a compression/leakdown test, look at the

fluids, look at the floorboards, etc.

Go over the paint with a real paint- depth thickness gauge.

And so forth. This is not an 'internet opinion' car.

It very well could be a good deal. It'd cost you 4x that to make a really

nice 2002 out of a clean shell. And if you like the color, bonus.

It's just that it could also

be a tarted- up $2500 car, too.

It has the wrong gauges, knobs, switches, etc. for its # of fuses.

Wrong steering wheel. Too many things say 'not original'

They don't say 'NO.'

It could be really good. It could be a mess. Can't tell from the pix-

probably couldn't tell without 2 hours and some real hands- on checking.

Seriously. Find a shop. With a 2002 expert. Pay them for their opinion.

It'll be worth it.

t

[ray_]

To me, this one reeks of a tart-up and sell job.

Paint was thrown on with no attention to "overspray" on strut nuts, hood hardware, washer nozzles. Missing fusebox cover. Mismatched parts as Toby said. Non-stock paint color. Fugly floor mat. That gas pedal angle looks weird. Is that a dust cover outside the column housing for the left stalk?

Depends on what ya want, tho. Norm's CL listing may be a more original/less molested car at a better price.

Don't buy the first one you see!

Cheers,

Ray

[Guest Anonymous]

Also, does anyone know the name of the color?

Electric blue as found on my 1972 Raleigh 10-speed. It is a not a color originally used by the factory.

[Crawliver]

Happy new year everyone! Thanks so much for all the info, I had many of the same feelings about the car. I was worried about the paint job, and the fact that it has so many mismatched parts makes me very cautious. I am pretty sure I have found a nice Inka in Norcal that is also more within my price range and I will be making sure I have a mechanic take a look at it.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

[c.d.iesel]

..... & I repeat all of the verses that the rest of the class

have called out above.

Special note to :

the fact that seller met you at remote location ,

car was fully warmed, and de-cold-smoking-poor running,

and the blue nuts securing the front strut mounts,

all smells like a tarted-up, for unaware buyer,

quick shady sale at really too much money.

now your better equiped for your next look-see,

and hopefully a more honest car. Those were all

the things not to do at your next look-see.

We all would rather buy an original, showing slightly rusty,

no paint cover-up, unrestored car, knowing better the

true honest condition.

Here, THANKS TO ROB TORRES at www.2002haus.com,

is a Pre-Purchase Check List that you should print out.

Take it with you when you view your next suspect.

Use it to make notes when you phone the seller.

All your thoughts and facts will be organized. You wont need us

next time if you cover every point on that list. But

do contact us anyway for the final approval.

Thanks to Rob Torres

now go here for the Check List ..... http://www.2002haus.com/2002haus-inspection.pdf

and to add to Rob's already excellent Check List,

you should note the chassis numbers from the 3

locations on the body, and the motor number.

All easy to see from above. These chassis & motor

numbers are KEY! in determining the honesty,

and facts like build date, model year, model that the car is.

Again - you do not want to discover AFTER a purchase

that your tii began life as a Renault R5 !?!!!

[02Les]

Also, does anyone know the name of the color?

Assuming it's an orig '02 BMW colour, then it would be Türkis.

[fwardell]

I've got a comprehensive 2002 buyer's guide. Send an e-mail: fwardell at bellsouth dot net, and I'll send it to you. Along with Rob's checklist, you'll be well equipped to know when the right one comes along.