The opinion of BMW drivers is extremely important when it comes to giving impressions about the performance of their BMW. René gives his Inka-colored BMW 2002 Touring high marks for road holding, safety and reliability. The highly valued “Freude am fahren” from BMW itself says enough. Owing to his Inka BMW 2002, the BMW 02 club quickly came into their sights, because the car hobby includes a shared passion for the same model.
By: Dirk de Jong
His first BMW is currently with a restorer, where it gets the attention it deserves after an earlier restoration in 1987. In addition, there is a bare chassis with which there are plans to make a race / rally car such as the Alpina company. she knew then.
At the moment a golf yellow BMW 2002 Touring (with automatic transmission) from the 70s is being driven. To his surprise it was a perfect hobby car, not completely original due to the open roof and the upholstery, but still desirable. The 'lottery ticket' was therefore quickly purchased. There is also a specific club in the Netherlands for the BMW Touring, so René also immediately became a member of it.
BMW Classic Club
René: “Later I became a member of the BMW Classic Club, because my BMW hobby does not stop with the 02 series in all its guises, but is BMW broadly oriented. I can also appreciate a first series 3 or an 8, to name a few, which you can encounter in the wild at the BMW classic club. In the meantime it has not stopped collecting real cars, but a nice archive has also been created of all kinds of articles, such as brochures and models of BMW in all types and designs.
BMW 02 series
The fast, striking models in the 02 series conquered the market from 1966 with models such as the 1600-2 and 1802 and 2002. It took until 1975 before the last in the series, the BMW 1502, was succeeded by the well-known 3 series. René's BMW 2002 Touring has all the characteristics of a classic model, different from the sedan models. The car is now becoming rare, with the BMW Touring automatically gaining exclusivity.
The car is now for sale. See the website of the BMW Classic Club in the Netherlands for the advertisement.
Nice series, the 02. but the large windows always give me the feeling that I am looking at an aquarium.
My first and only BMW was an R25, which had only two wheels. There are also whole stories to write about.
Yes, nice stuff for sure! At the time I bought my first BMW, a 1600-2, from a friend in the street who had left the block without antifreeze and so it was cracked. I had to / wanted something different, because I drove after my Alfa with broken piston (further down) in an old Diane. Ai, the first intersection almost killed me (a bit slow…), but I had daily transport H'sum-A'doorn (HTS Autotechniek there). In between: noise measurements were done with that duck (ok, Diane) in a practical hour: 102dB on the highway. No wonder I always drove around sedated and have had tinnitus for years now! Tried to take over the BMW from a friend of a fellow student: he drove rallies with a 2002 Turbo and that turned out not to be the best combination. Unfortunately, that clearly didn't work out… For students that is just out of reach, lol. For example, during the first year I lived with 1 students in a summer house and during that time we tried together to buy an older Jensen Interceptor from a dealer in A'doorn. What did you think, so dream on!
I was able to take over that BMW for 500 guilders and I thought it was cool because, according to the story, it had driven as a pacecar at Zandvoort: it was equipped with a roll cage, cockpits, harness belts, etc., unfortunately only the block tuned by Zalinge was no longer in it. It was also beautifully painted in multi-colour. Anyway, an attempt was made by mounting new freezer caps and throwing (the contents of) a bottle of Holts Wonderweld into the cooling water, because I didn't want to have the cast iron block welded for a while. Now had to remove the thermostat and drive around with it for 2 days. At the end of the 2nd day the empty thermostat housing burst shortly before returning home, but that ended well (orange track on the road last kilometer). And miraculously, 1 drop never came through that best crack in the block, I believe it was ready for something like 25 guilders! Lovely car, been in the Alps, etc. Unfortunately, that came to an end because once in the winter someone did not give way and drove in the side in front. And since I now lived on a very busy shopping street with through traffic (H'sum, Gijsbrecht), with no possibility to fix it up, that was the end. That's why then but the interior out and the nice stuff off and unfortunately to the demolition (swallow). The magnesium rims fit wonderfully exactly on my then lease car (Volvo 240, terrible), which in any case greatly improved the hopeless handling and wind sensitivity (or was I spoiled?). Anyway, the nice driving variety, for which I still had that BMW, unfortunately came to an end. Also nice: at that 1st software house (Volmac) where I started working, you could choose a leaser car from 6 cars, including a BMW316. Obviously, but when I was allowed to choose after the training, there were only 6 colors Volvo 240, glowing ... But don't worry, after 1,5 years or so I went to work at another software house, so the lease car had to be returned and I already had a bought older BMW 2002, because that saved stuff again and put on rims and drove nicely BMW 02 again. Also with that in the Alps and fun on top of the Brenner Pass discovered that the master brake cylinder was leaking (brake oil sloshed from the container around the master cylinder over my feet) . Fortunately a can of brake fluid on board, so I could go down. Came home with extra bought cans of brake fluid and refurbished the brakes at home with an overhaul kit.
This BMW eventually sold again, believe because of another lease car (Golf II, diesel) from my latest software house and then go freelancing. I had bought an old Chevy Camaro on the Kinkerstraat in A'dam, that was definitely not the best purchase hahaha. You could operate everything with a screwdriver, so replace locks, steering column, etc. Also went to the Alps and did not know that there was a catalytic converter underneath which was not normal here at the time. Dussss…. I always refueled with leaded petrol and on the way back I was happy that there were trucks, because I could hardly climb the slopes anymore. Stopped at a US army base and found a garage that treated Americans and then heard about the completely silted up cat. Fortunately, a quick solution: the reciprocating saw and a piece of pipe in between, man what a difference (even more delicious V8 sound) 🙂 After that I exchanged it for my 1st new car, a new Fiat Panda: that choice because this Fiat dealer was the only one who Camaro wanted to trade in without all kinds of inspections: he said with a lump in his throat “that he used to sell Camaros”. Bingooo I thought… By the way: not normal what attention in the decadent Chamonix with that old thing: they didn't know at all. Police, people in expensive cars from which you could buy at least 20 of these, everything kept looking with twisted necks. And I wasn't that handsome either ;-))) Also negative attention, because apparently jealousy or the like: after walking through Chamonix, back to the parking lot 2 punctured tires, sigh. But I digress, lol.
So I thought those BMWs were wonderful cars, although I liked mine Alfa Giulia 1600 Sprint GT from '66 before that, sportier and even more beautiful (and parts cheaper), but a hole in a piston ended that fun (it was stored for years afterwards), another story in itself. So hopefully experienced with strange changes of cars! If I had had enough space and money, I would have had quite a few preserved cars by now.
Well, if you knew everything in advance 🙂
Ps. Sorry, I see now that it is rather rude long. Things keep coming to mind while writing, like “oh nice, just add it”. I have to write memoirs sometime, lol.
That is no problem at all!
Jan,
So recognizable. If the author (Dirk de Jong) had not given me a suggestion for the above article about my yellow BMW 02 touring, the article would have become much longer. Now only made a few adjustments. Can write a “book” about all adventures with my BMWs.
On the other hand, I think that applies to anyone who drives around with the oldtimer, youngtimer, stories abound. But AMK has a magazine for that.
Kind Regards BMW,
René
Used to be nice distinctive cars. Nowadays bad and mass uniform sausage. And unfortunately there is usually the wrong skin, with beards etc.etc
I grew up with the 1502, first a green one, then a black one. Remember my mother tore with it and we flew back and forth without a seat or seat belt. Nice series although I think the butt of 1502 and 1602 is nicer and without the edge 😉
In the eighties those tourings were the fire brigade / emergency cars on the Zandvoort circuit !!! …
My brother-in-law had such a super bowl. An orange colored BMW 2002ti. He had unlimited confidence in me and let me build in a tripmaster etc. It had to be driven in a rally in England. Test after mounting. On the provincial road I let myself be raised by an Opel Capelin coming from behind. Mind you, this was 1972 when unlimited speeding was allowed on those back roads. It went just fine in a long right-hand corner, thanks to the super handling of the 2002. I was 19 years old at the time, but I still remember that incident as yesterday. Love has always remained. Now drive a BMW 550XD Touring and that's my 7th touring.
It remains a beautiful car. Perhaps restore the tailgate soon before it will be a heavier reconstruction. Just out of genuine concern.
The engines used were brilliant. Especially when you realize that BMW once raised the 1,5L variant (if I'm not mistaken) in civilized modification with turbos to a sloppy 1000 hp, in order to throw it high in Formula 1.
Then it must be good stuff. I have tinkered with it quite a bit. Adjusting valves was
1 big party. Showcase of effective construction.
Beautiful model. My dad had one in the mid-70's. An 1800 but fast enough for that time. only the skyler upholstery was like that.