I used to own a 1602 and 2002 Ti (dual Webers) and autocross --- which were the most fun cars I owned before I got my S2000.

I wish I still had them.

 

Always loved the 2002. I should've bought one 25 years ago when they were affordable

 

I can't afford a clean, straight body, potentially restorable one. Not to mention hunting for all the replacement parts (especially rubber seals).

It's why I bought the S2000.

 

I remember when those were dirt cheap, and even then parts were incredibly hard to come by. A person I knew in college had one, her dad was obviously an enthusiast, but it was around that time I learned how you should never listen to fanatics about the practical realities of owning a car that their passionate about. Ask Jag enthusiasts and you swear they're Camrys in terms of reliability.

Anyway, beautiful cars when theyre done right, I always love the batman CSLs too.

 

I rebuilt several 2002 and 3.0 liter 6-cylinder BMW engines. Parts have always been expensive.

Overheating was a problem on the older BMWs. The radiator core was too small (made for Bavarian weather). I always had bigger cores put in, especially if you are going to track them or have the A/C on all the time.

They last as long as you do the scheduled maintenance and use quality oil.

 

Meant that the cars were cheap, but yeah parts were always expensive/difficult to locate.

In her car IIRC she used a Honda radiator or something.

I think you can say that about any car, if you don't drive it hard and keep up with the maintenance, drivetrains are largely robust. It's eeeeeeeeverything else that usually breaks. Like old jags have pretty robust drivetrains, it's the damn eletronics that will give you constant problems.

 

I had a beat 71 that I bought in 1980.
I put on headers and an Ansa exhaust.
Parts weren't too bad as there were a bunch of dead ones in a salvage yard in Worcester, MA and you could rummage around for what you were looking for.
Just could never catch up with the issues.
Really enjoyed driving it when it was having a good day.
One roommate had a 1602 and another got a nice 74 Tii for graduation. The ongoing issue for him was the fuel injection system. He had a guy pull it off and completely go through it but it was never right.
The best one I ever saw was a silver blue 76 with cream cloth interior and a sunroof owned by a lady whose brother was a technician at a BMW dealership. It was priced out of my range but it was a great example.
A guy in college from Columbia had a 75 in an odd shade of green. He sold it when he graduated and moved back. He said the car could not take the crappy roads back home.
A few weeks ago I was at a Cars and Coffee and a guy had a 71 with an M car motor and some other upgrades. It had some rust, which enhanced my trip down memory lane.

 

Loved those and should have bought a Tii in '73.

Unfortunately, almost all specimens in Upstate NY have oxidized into nothing

 

Those mechanical Kugelfischer fuel injection units are like little engines. They're pretty complicated. Correct timing and volume are everything.

 

Probably my favorite looking BMW. I also loved the Datsun 510 so kinda makes sense!