Posts Tagged ‘BMW’

Nouveau 02 – 1985 BMW 325e

June 8, 2013

On the last post about a 2002, I was commenting how 2002 prices seem to have moved out of the realm of cheap affordable cars. Well, that just means newer cars are coming in to fill its place. And many people who like cars consider the 1983-91 E30 3-series to fill that gap – compact, relatively light, and sporting. And unlike a 2002, you could get them in various body styles and with various engines: 2-door, convertible, 4-door, wagon (not in the US, sadly) and 4- and 6-cylinder engines. Just like a 2002, the styling was boxy, and the driving experience was key. That brings us to the car of the day, a 1985 325e available in Berkeley, CA for $2500.

1985 BMW 325e right front

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Breaking the Law – 1975 BMW 2002

May 19, 2013

You may have wondered over the past couple years where RustyButTrusty has been. Lately he didn’t seem so interested in you, or the cars he wrote about so regularly. In spite of the title, which suggests he was in jail for some kind of white collar crime, he was actually taking a break to focus on family and career. Depending on your perspective, good fortune or fate has brought him back to write here again. And so here we have our first feature car in a long time, a 1975 BMW 2002.

Oh, why the title? There’s a fairly recent addition to the fleet. The Lancia Beta Berlina moved along a couple of years back (if you look, you can see the new owner has it listed for sale) and there is now another vehicle which has taken its place: a 1972 BMW 2002 tii. So far, the cars I’ve written about and purchased have been no more than a few thousand dollars and often a little frayed around the edges. While technically the new member of the fleet fulfills a couple of the criteria, I defy anyone to find a running, driving 2002 tii in that price range! Anyway, see the Fleet section in the near future for updates on that.

On to our subject car – a refrigerator white 1975 BMW 2002. Prices for these cars seem to be steadily going up, but if you look around, you can still find some apparent deals. So you can find an unmolested-looking example for $2500 in our state’s lovely capitol, Sacramento, CA.

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Bav-nanza! Pair of 1972 BMW Bavarias

March 21, 2011

Well, I’ve talked in previous entries about my desire to own one of these old New Six sedans. I really do love the E9 coupes, but I already have an Alfa coupe, so this would help me maintain the full convertible-coupe-sedan lineup in my little collection. And there’s something really cool about old-school European luxury – just a big engine, some firm leather seats, and no modern distractions or toys, since the car’s able to keep you entertained in a more mechanical way. I could even go for an E12 5-series, but the smog testing most of them require, plus the big bumpers, mean the ownership experience is not as easy.

So let’s start with the first car for today. The word about writing proper descriptions of a car you want someone to buy seems to be getting out. This car is exceptionally well-described (as is the other one), although I’m not sure where the seller gets the idea his car has a slant six – maybe he’d popped the hood on his Dart and had temporary confusion. The car seems to have had a lot of work done, including a recently rebuilt engine with 1983 head, full fuel system service, recent brakes and tires, dual Weber carbs and electronic ignition. This Bavaria seems to be a steal at $3300 in Sacramento, CA.

1972 BMW Bavaria left

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