1974 BMW 2002 Tii

The seller bought ‘WHX 834M’ from us a couple of years ago and then “spent around £10,000 turning it into the car I wanted. The work included fitting coilover suspension and a set of original OZ Alpina wheels. Of course, I then had to get the wheelarches sorted, so spent £7,500 having a full set of four steel wheelarches custom-made and welded in.”

That sounds like quite the project and it didn’t end there because the cabin also received a full leather interior, including the centre console.

And, before you assume the car must have been a bit rough when he bought it, we should point out that the previous owner spent around £14,000 in the four years he owned it.

This investment comprised bodywork restoration (including new sills), having the brightwork re-chromed or replaced, refurbishing the cylinder head casting, replacing the fuel injection system and the Kugelfischer pump, reconditioning the gearbox, and going through the braking system.

Being offered for sale with a very sensible reserve, this striking BMW 2002tii is ready for whatever the next season brings, whether that be classic car shows, the odd track day, or even something more competitive… 

Body & Soul Autoworks of Cardiff did a terrific job of crafting the new steel wheelarches, blending them seamlessly with the underlying metalwork. It looks terrific and fulfilled the owner’s brief to create a car that looks like the factory built it.

The rest of the panels look good being free of dents and dinks and other damage. They align pretty well too, and its overall presentation is strong.

Originally black, the vehicle history check shows a change of colour to red in either 1995 or 1998, depending on which source you use. The finish is good and has a good shine to it and no matter where you peek, all you can see is red, which bodes well for the quality of the work that led to the initial change of colour. 

Of course, it’s had fresh paint since then but nothing ruins the look of a restored car than finding traces of the original colour inside its various nooks and crannies but this one looks to have been done properly.

Speaking of doing things properly, the OZ Alpina alloy wheels are, as you’d expect given their newness, in a very good condition being free of serious dinks and scrapes and showing only a few light marks along their perimeter. 

They’re also fitted with a matching set of 205/50R15 Toyo Proxes tyres, all of which have plenty of tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for flaws, the eagle-eyed will have noticed that the wings are a very slightly different shade of red than the rest of the car. Red fades more quickly than most colours and we assume any variations in hue are down to the older paintwork having faded a little in the sun. 

The chrome trim on the doors, side windows, and along its midriff is a bit scratched and pitted too, and the mirrors and wiper arms aren’t to the same standard as everything else. The front overriders have also started to rust.

Other things to budget for include the windscreen, which is delaminating, and new window seals because these have overspray on them and are starting to perish.

The BMW cabin is so beautifully simple it allows the driver to concentrate on enjoying that sublime chassis and engine without having to worry about which touchscreen to press to set the heating.

The driver is also held firmly in place via upgraded black leather seats, whose perforated design is matched by that of the rear. 

The OE-look is something the seller worked hard to achieve, commissioning his specialists to add extra foam cushioning to the original seat bases to bring their comfort up to the level 21st century backsides are used to.

Further modest upgrades come courtesy of modern speakers in the parcel shelf, red piping to the door cards, recent new carpets, and a beautifully trimmed boot that contains a 13-inch spare wheel.

However, the period charm has been carefully maintained: Take a look at the BMW Bavaria radio, for example. And the three-dial wood-effect dashboard that sits behind a sublime steering wheel. And the chunky wooden gearknob that fits the palm of your hand so well.

As for flaws, the top of the dashboard has cracked where it meets the instrument binnacle and on the nearside in front of the passenger. There’s also a rip in the bottom of the nearside door card, a chip in the passenger grab handle and the driver’s door pull, and some light surface rust inside the boot.

The headlining has also seen better days, as have the door seals. Oh, and the fuel level gauge doesn’t read properly. 

Its issues are, therefore, relatively trivial and could be postponed until time, money, and motivation coincide.

The previous owner had the engine set up on a rolling road, reporting at the time “it pulls so beautifully” - and given the limited mileage it has covered since then we doubt it’s changed for the worse.

We listed the work the previous owner carried out during its restoration - having the cylinder head casting refurbished, replacing the fuel injection system including Kugelfischer pump, refurbishing the gearbox, and going through the braking system – earlier and the seller supplemented this with having new wheel bearings fitted, a replacement propshaft and universal joint installed, having the fuel tank re-sealed and painting, and the windscreen wiper motor and assembly replaced. 

The engine bay is nicely presented with period-correct decals and good paintwork. It’s nicely finished and while there is scope for detailing if that sort of thing makes you happy, you could leave it as it is without shame.

The underside is well protected by underseal but the presence of some cracking and light surface rust, as well as some overspray, means we cans see the new owner might like to invest in commissioning a professional to strip it all off before reapplying fresh underseal and rust-proofing fluid to ensure its longevity.

The wheels also rub a little on full lock. Given the car has been set to sit as low as possible and the wheels are mounted with spacers, we are told that removing the latter and raising the former should see an improvement.

Speaking of planning for the future, the seller tells us he also has a fully refurbished 2002tii engine to go with the car “if it fetches a price I think is reasonable.”

The history file has a wealth of invoices and bills to support the work that’s been carried out on it in the past few years and it will be sold with a full, 12-month MoT certificate. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the change of colour.

Cars like this represent the glory years, a time when sportscars were fast and reliable and handled well and still did what they were told, when they were told to do it – and while they might not provide a safety net if you cock things up, there’s no computer thinking it knows better than you, either: You are the master/mistress of your own fate and are free to hone your skills without nanny telling you to be more careful…

Of course, the lack of complex electronic and myriad ECUs also makes them easier and cheaper to service and repair than a modern car.

Throw in a recent and comprehensive restoration plus the sort of owner that doesn’t baulk at spending thousands on having hand-rolled wheelarches made and you start to appreciate that this BMW 2002tii won’t be cheap.

However, you must also remember the cost of a car can only be calculated after you’ve sold it, so while our estimate of between £25,000 and £35,000 isn’t a bargain, it probably represents good value once you factor in its likely resale value.

Plus, it’s bloomin’ lovely to look at, isn’t it?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Newport, Wales. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.