135i meets its…spiritual predecessor: the 1972 BMW 2002tii

[///M1]

Hey guys, figured I would share some pics from the last weekend. I belong to a classic car club, and often have the privilege to rent some groovy ‘old school’ classic rides. Generally things from the 1960s, such as various Jags, Porsches, Ferraris, Alfas, etc. But for this last weekend, as it was my birthday, I figured I rent something that tops them all – a 1972 pristine 2002tii!

Car is in immaculate condition, as you can see. In retrospect I should have taken more pics on the day I picked it up as opposed to when I returned it (was raining badly and couldn’t do outside shots), but you know what they say about hindsight. I should note that the 2002tii is a bit of a ‘cheat’, under the hood it has…the E30 M3 engine! Some other tweaks include a new(er) 5-spd tranny, lowered suspension, wider rubber, and a Borla exhaust that was louder than the Milltek on my RS4 and Maddad on the 135i taken together!

Rode up some picturesque roads up the Hudson river, spirited drive (and passing nearly every vehicle on the twisty Taconic parkway), amazing how for a 38-yr old car (granted with some refreshes), you can tell that even back then BMW had ‘got it right’! Needless to say I got a lot of honks, stares, waives, questions, people recognized this true beauty and classic.

Here are some pics for your enjoyment!

[ianc]

Looks awesome and must have been a blast! What are the HP\TQ specs on that engine?

The 5 cog must have been nice as well; my buddy had one of these (a '72) and the 4 speed in the thing rapped out at 75 on the fwy. Very annoying. I tried to get him to update, but he sold it long ago...

Beautiful car...

ianc

[jc_lbc]

Man, a STUNNING car. One of my favorite designs of all time and it sounds/looks like its been upgraded perfectly.

So how do I get to be a member of this car club?

[///M1]

Originally Posted by ianc

Looks awesome and must have been a blast! What are the HP\TQ specs on that engine?

The 5 cog must have been nice as well; my buddy had one of these (a '72) and the 4 speed in the thing rapped out at 75 on the fwy. Very annoying. I tried to get him to update, but he sold it long ago...

Beautiful car...

ianc

It was a blast indeed. I am not 100% sure of the motor as the E30 M3 had 3 variants (one for Europe only but since this is a retrofit it could have been that one). My guess is the US-version: 2.3 L-16v I4) - 195 PS (143 kW; 192 hp) − 0-62 mph: 6.9 s. Top Speed: 146 mph (235 km/h)

The 5th gear def helped, and the RPMs went north of 7K! And speedwise, tripple digits was no problem

[///M1]

Originally Posted by jc_lbc

Man, a STUNNING car. One of my favorite designs of all time and it sounds/looks like its been upgraded perfectly.

So how do I get to be a member of this car club?

They started out in London, been in NYC for a bit, next venue is LA (so you may benefit from it!), and later Miami!

[Bimmer-Bob]

Beautiful example. Really stunning interior.

Even though it's not really stock, I think the upgrades were really tastefully done, with an eye to preserving the original look of the vehicle as much as possible. The stance def. looks good, and I bet that engine sounded great! I would really love to own onw of these someday, but I guess they're only getting rarer...

Interesting concept for a rental service...sounds like one of those "only in NY" things...

Thanks for sharing the pics!

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by ///M1

They started out in London, been in NYC for a bit, next venue is LA (so you may benefit from it!), and later Miami!

Miami is my hometown, and I could def. see this concept succeeding there. I've never been anywhere that was as car-obsessed as Miami, and I mean that in both a good and a bad way.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Miami is my hometown, and I could def. see this concept succeeding there. I've never been anywhere that was as car-obsessed as Miami, and I mean that in both a good and a bad way.

Fully agree! Miami would be thriving! But a lot has to do with their ability to source unique classic cars (at a 'relative' bargain). In Europe they actually have several locations, including Lithuania of all places! UK and Ireland were the first 2 openings I believe. (cool thing is, you can rent at those locations as membership is worldwide)

[JasonCSU]

Man, that must have been fun. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[tcd223]

Originally Posted by ///M1

They started out in London, been in NYC for a bit, next venue is LA (so you may benefit from it!), and later Miami!

Hope you come to the next meet so I can find out more about this club.

[Caleb]

Nice. Looks like a blast to drive.

One of my friends in highschool had a regular 2002. That was a ton of fun, until it was assassinated by a tow truck driver on one of its *many* trips to the mechanic.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by tcd223

Hope you come to the next meet so I can find out more about this club.

Absolutely! Really sorry I missed it, if it weren't for the rainout which caused the date to change, I would have gladly made it, can't wait for the next one!

[NYC6]

Thats pretty cool but its almost a disapointment to have a non stock drivetrain. I would prefer myself to have driven it all original. IMO.

[hppypaul]

I would rather have the 2002.
At least the HPFP wouldn't breakdown at random.

[AchtungF80]

Is that Classic Car Club NYC by the Holland Tunnel...I though I remember going thru their vintage car list and seeing an S14 powered 2002.

I forget what membership dues were something like $7500 for vintage/classics and $15000/yr for exotics and everything.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by achtungE30

Is that Classic Car Club NYC by the Holland Tunnel...I though I remember going thru their vintage car list and seeing an S14 powered 2002.

I forget what membership dues were something like $7500 for vintage/classics and $15000/yr for exotics and everything.

Exactly the one. Yup, membership doesn't come cheap, you have some leeway around the publised fares though, and if anyone is interested maybe I can talk them down or ask for a custom one.

It's not quite a flat membership, basically you are buying a preset number of points, and their cars are grouped in categories, based on a number of factors such as desirability, cost to acquire/run/maintain, etc. And each category also caries different pts depending on which of the 4 seasons you are renting it (e.g. summer most expensive, winter cheapest). Lastly, it also is a function if you want it on weekends or weekdays, etc. At the end of the day, if you optimize a mathematical equation given all these variable/constraints, you can get a lot of days and cars. or you can blow it all on a couple of weekends in a LP 640! LOL

[///M1]

Originally Posted by hppypaul

I would rather have the 2002.
At least the HPFP wouldn't breakdown at random.

Forget about HPFP, the most likely thing to break is the windshield wiper pull knob! I got reminded what old school is, there is one knob to activate the wipers, and another knob you turn clockwise to control the speed of the wipers! Compare that to our rain-sensing feature!

All in all, was pretty fun doing everything manually (including having 4 keys, one for ignition, one for the door, one for the trunk, and one for the gas cap!)

[Red Bread]

It doesn't have quads?!

Just kidding, great car, really nice modifications.

[AchtungF80]

Originally Posted by ///M1

Exactly the one. Yup, membership doesn't come cheap, you have some leeway around the publised fares though, and if anyone is interested maybe I can talk them down or ask for a custom one.

It's not quite a flat membership, basically you are buying a preset number of points, and their cars are grouped in categories, based on a number of factors such as desirability, cost to acquire/run/maintain, etc. And each category also caries different pts depending on which of the 4 seasons you are renting it (e.g. summer most expensive, winter cheapest). Lastly, it also is a function if you want it on weekends or weekdays, etc. At the end of the day, if you optimize a mathematical equation given all these variable/constraints, you can get a lot of days and cars. or you can blow it all on a couple of weekends in a LP 640! LOL

I may take you up on this. I don't have a high desire to drive the unattainable exotics...I'd be really interested in driving the more mainstraem cars they have...vette, Mini S etc..

[///M1]

Originally Posted by achtungE30

I may take you up on this. I don't have a high desire to drive the unattainable exotics...I'd be really interested in driving the more mainstraem cars they have...vette, Mini S etc..

Exactly on the same page as you. I have been to a club that had exotics so kinda taken those out of my bloodstream. Def more interested in the classics, things you don't see anymore, and makes you appreciate their engineering marvel (for the time) and how much technology has advanced since then!

[BrokenVert]

So what your saying is that since the 2002tii you drove had an S14 the spiritual successor should have an M3 motor as well. Are you hinting at an S65 engine swap in your 1er?

haha jk, mustve been a good day.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

So what your saying is that since the 2002tii you drove had an S14 the spiritual successor should have an M3 motor as well. Are you hinting at an S65 engine swap in your 1er?

haha jk, mustve been a good day.

Speaking of E30 and 135i, I have the January UK Car Magazine where they compare a 135i with all the BMW Performance goodies against the E30 M3, very nice article and pics (in the wet especially)

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Magazin...-January-2010/