1971 BMW 2002

‘YKR 624J’ was given to the seller for her 16th birthday and lived the same cosmopolitan life she did having spent time in the USA, France, London and the Cotswolds. Originally silver, this left-hand drive car was painted British Racing Green especially for her.

She says it’s always been “a solid car”, something its California lifestyle will have contributed to in no small way. 

It was in daily use until about 15 years ago, but lighter use in recent years mean it is being sold in need of recommissioning.

We love cars with a history and the fact this one has been in the seller’s hands since she was a teenager shows in the way it presents. Clearly a much-loved member of the family, the colour might not be the original, but the BRG paint has got a great shine to it and looks terrific.

As do the panels. Having been in the same hands for almost 40 years, its history is known - and that story is obviously a good one. 

The panels are straight and beautifully aligned, and all the waistline chrome trim lines up neatly around the perimeter of the BMW.

The matching front and rear chrome bumpers are in good shape with only a little pitting and a small dent on the rear. However, the rubber is missing from the nearside front overrider and the front bumper itself seems to be drooping down a little.

As for the rest, it’s very smart without being perfect. Some gentle refurbishments wouldn’t go amiss but there looks to be considerably less rust than you’d expect, something its early life and dry storage over the years has helped. 

The interior is in a remarkable condition with the only real patination being to the carpet under the driver’s feet and the steering shroud where dangling keys have abraded the paintwork.

This would be remarkable in any case but when you factor in that this is a car that’s gone around the clock, its condition reflects careful curation rather than limited use.

The good news continues with seats that are still plump and undamaged, and while there is some light surface rust to the hinge brackets, the foam and vinyl coverings all look good.

The headlining is still taut and fairly clean, and the door cards are very good.

The boot, which contains a full-size spare wheel and a workshop manual, might be a bit scruffy but it is solid, so things are in the right order.

Speaking of things to do, the top of the dashboard has cracked, something that’s often the case in cars that have lived their lives in milder climes than ours; the sun might preserve the bodywork, but the UV light damages the interior. 

Mind you, given a choice between repairing a dashboard and restoring a rotten car, we know which problem we’d rather have… 

Other minor flaws include a UV-damaged gearknob and the installation of a modern headunit, although both would be easy to replace.

The odometer reads 66,000 miles but the seller says it’s been around once already. 

There are invoices for the following service work since the year 2000:

• 15.06.2000 and 53,901 miles – service by RDC Motors, independent BMW specialists
• 29.07.2003 and (unknown) miles – engine repairs and new sills by RDC Motors, independent BMW specialists
• 29.03.2004 and 62,438 miles – repairs by RDC Motors, independent BMW specialists, comprising new coolant hoses
• 15.11.2004 and 63,136 miles – repairs by RDC Motors, independent BMW specialists, comprising a new and a reconditioned front brake caliper, new front discs and pads, clean and adjust rear brakes, and miscellaneous fettling
• 12.07.2006 and 65,006 miles – service by RDC Motors, independent BMW specialists
• 11.08.2006 and 65,071 miles – welding and repairs to the braking system by RDC Motors, independent BMW specialists
• 14.07.2007 and 65,413 miles - service by RDC Motors, independent BMW specialists 
• 11.07.2019 and (unknown) miles – repairs to the ignition system and sills by C Wadsley of Kings Lynn

The vendor has stated the car started and ran around the block the day before it was collected, however it hasn’t since arrival at our facility, the relative lack of use hasn’t done the braking system any favours, which means they will need some fettling to get them working reliably, so it’ll need to be collected on a trailer.

As for the engine bay, the respray must have been a good one because the colour extends under there and we can’t see any trace of the old hue.

Sure, the engine and ancillaries would benefit from some freshening up but if you wanted to protect the car’s history and leave it as it is, no one would judge you.

The underside looks decent. Some of the underseal is cracked and could do with being removed and replaced but the last MoT in 2013 didn’t mention structural rust. In fact, the last time rust was mention was in 2007, and that was only for “slight corrosion to floor, offside outer sill, and front chassis legs”. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car and the history file contains some old MoT certificates, expired tax discs, and invoices for historical servicing and repairs. 

The BMW doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

With a guide price of between £4,000 and £7,000 - and no reserve – this is likely to be a very cost-effective way of getting into BMW 2002 ownership. 

And that low price means you’re getting the romance for free; having been in the seller’s hands for almost 40 years, it’s been there for her since she first learned to drive. How great is that?

Which got us thinking. Maybe you’ve got a teenage child who’s grown up with your classic cars in their life and yearns for their own? 

Wouldn’t it be a beautiful thing if it moved into the hands of someone who’s also going to build their adult life around it?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. 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’.