I drove a 2002 for the first time

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
06/24/2020 at 12:38 • Filed to: Bmw

A few days ago my friend picked up yet another parts 2002. He has two 02s with good bodies, and has slowly been stripping rusty or crashed ones for parts. This one was apparently a daily driver until 6 months ago, which is shocking with how rusty it is. The main reason he bought it was for all the trim, and then found out it has replacement front fenders that are gorgeous, and a head from an E12 that breathes better than the 2002 or E21 heads.

This definitely isn’t a prime example of a 2002, but it’s entertaining to drive. I wanna drive a good one now. The bottom-hinged pedals are very weird, but didn’t take long to get used to. Makes me want to try an old Beetle.

My pics don’t show the rust, but both rockers are totally gone, rust falls out when you close the doors, you need to lift the doors and push them in the close since they’re structural at this point I think. Floor rust, both rear shock towers are almost rusted completely all the way around, bondo falling out over the rear fenders with rust around and behind it, the subframe mount areas at the back of the rockers are just holes....just in case anyone thinks a saveable 2002 is dying, this thing is way past reasonably saving. Even the doors are full of rust and bondo.

DISCUSSION (22)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 12:46

How’s the Volvo doing?

Tripper > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 13:02

Own a 1502 have driven a few other new klasse cars... Have yet to even be co-pilot in an actual “2002" lol.. Assuming factory carb or we ber 38 howd ya like it assuming the suspension was on par with how you describe the rest of the car

gmctavish needs more space > Tripper
06/24/2020 at 13:15

It has a weber, but I’m not sure which one. Didn’t feel progressive but it was too small to be a 38.

The suspension actually wasn’t bad, everything has been maintained well, except the body. The gearbox was pretty unpleasant though, very unhappy synchros and tons of linkage play.

The visibility is amazing, the seat is comfy, I like the weird pedals, and the M10 is a decent level of power for it. Felt possibly quicker than my E21 did. Weirdly heavy steering though, significantly heavier than the steering in my Volvo 144

gmctavish needs more space > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/24/2020 at 13:18

It’s doing the same as ever, drama-free and reliable. Nice but boring. I have it on craigslist but I’m getting no bites. Not sure if I wanna get something else, or put money into the rust E28, or the Raider, or who knows

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 13:19

You’ve got to wonder at how that paint job is that good when the car is about to fold in two.

Wagon lyfe at the bottom looks nice.

gmctavish needs more space > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/24/2020 at 13:21

Yeah it’s weird. From the top to about halfway down the sides, it looks great. But if you opened both doors and two people stood on the sills, it probably would break in half.

The 5 series is also his, he had one a couple years ago and sold it. Regretted selling it and bought another one this year...the X3 behind it is a 6 speed, and apparently really fun to drive

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 13:27

Like, did they only do rust repair on the panels? Was the owner pedantic about washing it by hand and never washed the underside like an automated carwash would? Shame, but it will allow other 2002s to live.

Those turn up occasionally in manual form and I kind of like them. Only seen a couple in real life though.

Tripper > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 13:32

hm was it power assisted steering?

gmctavish needs more space > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/24/2020 at 13:33

I think it just got bondo’d years ago and it kept rusting underneath and behind all that, and it’s all been falling off. So whatever bondo was on the rockers has been gone the longest. Then I guess something got to the point that the guy decided it was done for, even though I’m sure it hasn’t been safe to drive for years. He was only the second owner too.

They’re not plentiful around here, but they’re not too rare either. Most of them don’t rust as bad as this one, but this one was a prairie car until 20 years ago

gmctavish needs more space > Tripper
06/24/2020 at 13:34

Nope, manual. I’m pretty sure all 200s and E21s had manual steering but I’m not positive. But the weight is odd for something designed for manual steering

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 13:36

The more I read here the more I’m glad I don’t have to deal with road salt. Jeep Patriots are the only crossover I can think of that sold in any appreciable quantity with manuals (excluding the Cherokee).

I guess you just Bondo over the rust and keep driving. Seems like the cost of the paint job could have covered some proper frame repairs.

RallyWrench > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 13:38

Shame it’s so rusty, that color is wonderful. Not sure that was ever used on 2002s, it looks more like a E3/E9 color. Nice to see with the hubcaps too, rare nowadays.

gmctavish needs more space > RallyWrench
06/24/2020 at 14:22

It actually is the original colour, riviera blue, but it’s pretty rare. The hubcaps are from a squaretail I think, definitely rare to see.

nerd_racing > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 14:22

I have a pretty solid one of these sitting in my garage. Dude needs to come get it out of storage or I’m keeping it.

gmctavish needs more space > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/24/2020 at 14:24

Yeah if rust repair had been done years ago and it was undercoated and salt kept off it, it could just be a nicely maintained driver. It’s too bad.

I’m getting very tired of dealing with rust, I’m strongly considering selling my rusty things

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 14:27

To buy less rusty things that will soon become equally as rusty?

The obvious solution is to put wires in the road to heat them in the winter. No salt necessary. Just like a big toaster that you can drive on.

gmctavish needs more space > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/24/2020 at 14:35

Yeah, but things can last a long time here without rusting when they’re taken care of right, our roads aren’t salted for much of the year, usually only a few months. O r if they’re made of better steel with better rustproofing from the factory like my V70.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 14:35

It’s a shame it’s rusty underneath. It looks like a pretty nice car in the pics.

Tripper > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 14:48

Yeah I thought so too I just never noticed, but I don’t drive anything else often enough to compare. My neighbors CJ does not have it and is far more heavy than mine... but its a Jeep and hes got HUGE tires on it

thatsmr > gmctavish needs more space
06/24/2020 at 22:21

I drove a thrashed 72 Alfa GTV f rom 1995 until 91 or so. Rus ted out o uter rockers unabashedly ripped open to keep dry, lacquer paint peeling off roof and trunk lid a spiderweb of broken paint. Interior had Mexican blanket over cloth back seat turning to dust. Cheap covers on the trashed fronts. Some jackass hit it in a parking lot with a trailer hitch? Found it that way :/. Spica injection flawless and the only non disposable fix was starter and flywheel ring. I push started it in the interim. A rustbucket in dry conditions might have a surprising amount of life in it if you dont need a perfect car. I listed on Hemmings and sold it to a guy in Canada for $450 usd after buying for $1200 and driving 6ish years.

gmctavish needs more space > thatsmr
06/25/2020 at 11:32

Oh it would keep driving for a while I’m sure, but if you hit a bump hard enough it’ll drop it’s whole rear subframe. Just rockers is one thing is, this is way worse unfortunately

thatsmr > gmctavish needs more space
06/25/2020 at 21:15

I probably shouldnt have driven mine so hard, but thats what a guy in his 20s does. Back then late 90s I did service with an indy Alfa/SAAB shop, and I guess they never warned me about rust in dangerous places so maybe it was ok. Now being 51 going on 25, Id probably do it again! Not being a german car guy, Id rock a rusty 02 or especially any CS!