1973 BMW 2002 TII

This BMW 2002 tii is a stunning example of the marque’s compact performance saloon, which is still in superb condition following a ground-up restoration in 2011. Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre fuel-injected inline-four, producing around 128bhp, coupled to a four-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. The odometer shows 68,766 miles.

Originally delivered to the UK, and understood to have been registered in July 1971, its former number plate was OOD 127M. HPI data suggests that the car had just two registered keepers before being exported to Ireland in July 2009. The current keeper has owned the car ever since.

After arriving in Ireland, the 2002 tii was sent to the Classic Car Workshop in Limerick, with the brief for a total nut-and-bolt restoration. The BMW was completely disassembled, and the shell was stripped back to bare metal to assess the repairs required. Corrosion to the front and rear of the sills and floor pan was cut away and replaced with new metal, and a whole genuine new front end and two new doors were also fitted. All vulnerable seams and areas on the underside were coated with epoxy mastic, before the car was primed and rubbed down for the colour coat, and the striking final coats of metallic Taiga Green were applied.

Today, nearly 10 years after the restoration, the 2002 tii is still in remarkable condition - a testament to the quality and care with which the body was refurbished and the paintwork was applied. The underside of the car is also in superb order, with all of the suspension parts also having been stripped, cleaned, powder-coated and carefully rebuilt back in early 2011. It rides on a set of refurbished 13-inch ‘Turbine’ alloy wheels, which have just a few very tiny imperfections, but remain in great shape overall.

Inside, a smart dark brown leather was selected to complement the exterior colour, with the new trim applied to the front seats, rear bench, quarter panels, and door cards. The secondary trim was finished in black vinyl. As can be appreciated in the photo gallery, the upholstery remains in excellent condition, with no damage and only slight signs of use on the driver’s seat as you would expect. A three-spoke steering wheel and wood gear knob are also in place, and new carpets and floor mats were fitted throughout. All of the buttons and switches work as they should, and there are no known electrical faults.

The engine bay of this 2002 is pristine, and a visual reminder of the care and attention given to this BMW during its nut-and-bolt restoration. Its most recent scheduled maintenance has just been completed, which was a full service at Classic Carreras in Limerick - the sister company of the workshop that restored the car. The engine oil and filter were renewed, along with the air filter, spark plugs, brake fluid, battery, coolant, and rubber exhaust mounts. The cold start valve was cleaned, and a leak from the master cylinder was fixed. Recent oil change services were also carried out in 2018 and 2015.

As it is exempt from mandatory testing in Ireland, the car’s last official roadworthiness check was an MOT test in the UK on 3 April 2009 at 65,889 miles, which it passed at the first attempt with no advisories whatsoever. The car is reported to remain in excellent overall mechanical condition today, having been driven sparingly since the restoration. All four road wheels are fitted with Vredestein Sprint T80 tyres, which are in as-new condition.

This BMW 2002 tii is a beautifully restored example of the breed, finished in a discerning and period-perfect colour scheme, and which is still in remarkably good order throughout. For someone seeking one of these brisk and stylish compact saloons to add to their collection, it would certainly be hard to find a better example.

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As this vehicle is not UK-registered, it cannot be run through Collecting Cars’ standard online HPI check process.