1976 BMW 2002 Golf Yellow 5-Speed E21 Recaro Seats Weber DCOE40's H&R /Bilsteins

1976 BMW 2002 Description

1976 BMW 2002

Golf Yellow Exterior (070)

Beige Cloth Interior

10,638 Indicated Miles (Total Mileage Unknown)

Dual Side-Draft Weber DCOE 40 Carburetors

5-Speed G240 Manual Transmission

Hi-Flow Headers

Scorpion Exhaust

Electric Fuel Pump

Front Strut Brace

H&R Sport Springs

Bilstein Sport Shocks

Poly Rear Subframe Bushings

Sunroof

E21 Recaro Sport Seats Finished in Matching Cloth

3-Spoke E21 Steering Wheel

Nardi Wooden Shift Knob

Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Oil Temperature Gauges

Alpine Stereo w/ Bluetooth

Kenwood Speakers

Jensen Amp

Locking BMW Gas Cap

13-Inch E21 Turbine Wheels

Kumho Solus KR21 Tires

VIN: 2371519

Background

The BMW 02 Series sedans were defining models for BMW. Smaller and lighter than the Neue Klasse sedans they were derived from, the 02 cemented its own legacy and set the stage for the legendary BMW 3 Series that followed. It was the lens through which a generation of Americans discovered BMW and passed down that enthusiasm to their children. Its simple, sporty three-box design has aged into an iconic form that is recognized far beyond the vestiges of the BMW enthusiast. The best 02 Series was the 2002, powered by the 2-liter version of the 4-cylinder M10 engine. That engine was mated to a chassis, suspension, and brakes that were unapologetically driver focused, yet all in a comfortable two-door sedan that you could drive you mother to church in. Rust, neglect, and age have taken their toll, but a loyal and fanatical following have ensured that a healthy population of 2002s remains compared to other cars of the period—a testament to how good the 2002 is. As time continues to march forward the 2002 has enjoyed notable appreciation.

Summary

This 1976 Golf Yellow 2002 came to us as part of a bundle of 2002s from a collector who favors unique colors of the 2002 palette. Shod in Golf Yellow over a Beige Cloth interior with matching E21 Recaro sport seats it makes a statement, always drawing thumbs up from enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. Yet, the magic with this 2002 is more than skin deep; under the hood the M10 engine sports dual side-draft DCOE 40 Weber Carburetors, high flow headers, and a Scorpion exhaust. That power is put to the road through a 5-speed E21 G240 gearbox, H&R Sport Springs, Bilstein shocks, polyurethane subframe bushings, and thirteen-inch E21 “turbine” wheels. Other upgrades include a three-spoke E21 sport steering wheel, Nardi wooden shift knob, oil pressure, ammeter, and oil temperature gauges, and a modern Alpine stereo with Bluetooth. The exterior was refinished at some point, as well as having European style bumpers installed. The original impact bumper holes are present, in case someone wants to revert it back to the original impact bumpers. In preparation for sale we had 2002 specialist Mark Hutto give it a once-over. This included re-hanging the exhaust, repairing the carburetor linkage, cleaning up the battery wiring, and replacing the coolant bypass pipe that runs beneath the carburetors. He also performed a tune-up including jetting the carburetors for Colorado altitude, adjusting the idle, replacing the fuel filter and spark plugs, and a fresh oil change. The end result is a well-sorted 2002 in a rare color combo with tasteful upgrades. It isn’t perfect; the paint is driver-quality with a few areas of light surface rust, but those imperfections allow it to be used and enjoyed without guilt—as every 2002 should be. It receives compliments and attention on every drive and is equally at home on display at the local Cars and Coffee as it is ripping up some of Colorado’s finest canyon roads. We would like to find a new owner, who will continue this car’s unique legacy for the next chapter of its story, and enjoy it for years to come.

Exterior

The Golf Yellow paint is in good condition. It has been repainted at some point, with the trunk lid done more recently than the rest of the body. The paint match is close but not perfect. There are no glaring defects and even close examination reveals only minor imperfections in the form of a few dents around the vehicle commensurate with age and use. There are no significant rust areas, and nothing like you see on examples that have lived east of the Mississippi River, so take that into perspective. Areas of note are inside the passenger side fender, the rear of the passenger front wheel arch, along with some cracking paint on that fender lip. There are a few small areas at the bottom of the windshield, and two small spots on the roof where a sunroof visor was previously attached. It looks like someone has sprayed some inhibitor around the rear driver’s side floor pan drain and there are some brown heat shields underneath the engine bay. Lift pictures are on our website if you are viewing this elsewhere. All trim is intact and in good condition, and is original with the exception of the Euro-style chrome bumpers. The headlight, indicator, and brake light lenses are clear and crack-free with the exception of light spider cracks on the front side marker lenses. The windshield is crack-free, but it does have minor pitting and one chip. The side window and rear glass are in good shape. The windshield wiper arms and inserts are in good condition; the speed fairing on the driver’s side wiper is present. The 13-inch E21 “turbine” wheels are in excellent shape with good Roundel emblems and the Kumho Solus KR21 tires have over 60% tread remaining.

Interior

The Beige cloth interior is in excellent shape. Open the door and you greeted by the perfect 2002 smell—classic vinyl with a hint of gasoline. There are no odors—other than that wonderful 2002 smell and it has never been smoked in. The carpet has no stains or tears and was replaced by a previous owner. The front E21 Recaro seats are in very good shape with matching cloth centers and vinyl bolsters. The fore / aft and forward folding work correctly. The door cards are in good shape, but there are small imperfections in the trim and door card material. The “scissor” door handles are quintessentially classic BMW. The manual windows operate smoothly and quietly. The driver’s door brake makes a little noise, but it is still serviceable, the same could be said for the door seals. The dashboard is clean, with only a few small cracks developing in the parcel tray. The 3-spoke E21 sport steering wheel is clean with a newer cover stitched over the original material. The headliner does not sag but does have some minor staining around the sunroof. All instruments function properly. The gauge pod functions correctly and is a very nice upgrade. The stereo has been upgraded with an Alpine CDE-143BT head unit and Blaupunkt speakers along with four additional speakers mounted under the rear parcel tray powered by a Jensen 600W amplifier. The heat blows warm and all controls function correctly. The blower motor is quiet. The trunk flooring panels are present, as is the spare tire and jack underneath. Three keys are included with the car.

Mechanical

As it sits this is a turn-key 2002. There are no unresolved mechanical issues. The M10 fires on command on cold or hot starts. It idles smoothly and pulls strongly to redline. The Weber DCOE40 carburetors are jetted for Colorado altitudes. It runs cool, even on hot days, and doesn’t leak or spot. The 5-speed transmission shifts perfectly smooth and the shifter bushings are crisp and tight. The clutch take-up is correct. The H&R suspension is firm and compliant and the brakes are strong with plenty of pad thickness and rotor run-out remaining. There are no driveline or wheel bearing noises or vibrations. The Scorpion exhaust has a mildly aggressive note, but is perfectly civilized with no drone. As it sits, this is a turn-key 2002 ready to be enjoyed by its new owner. None of us would hesitate for a moment to drive it across country.

Glen Shelly is a low volume auto brokerage focused only on the highest quality vehicles. We are airline pilots, mechanics, and auto enthusiasts who bring a high level of professionalism and attention to detail to the automobile business. Our philosophy is to keep our inventory small so that we can focus on thorough mechanical and cosmetic preparation of the vehicles we select. We have over 20 years of experience restoring and repairing automobiles and are intimately familiar with our cars. We do the inspections, service, detailing, and corrective maintenance using only OEM parts and service manuals. We offer an informed and low-pressure sales environment resulting in a premium buying experience. Find out more about us at www.glenshelly.com.