History
The Project Car: 1974 E10 2002 sedan.
An original, matching #s car & in need of restoration, was located in Victoria & purchased (sight unseen) in December 2010. The car was then transported to Kalgoorlie WA, where my son Vernon, a panel beater(& member of BMWDC NSW), was going to restore the car on a “part time/when able to,” basis. Little did we then know that “this project” would eventually become a time consuming, costly & virtual: “complete body restoration & mechanical rebuild!"
New body panels (bonnet, boot lid, front guards & nose panel) as well as complete brake replacement (front rotors,‘4 spot’ calipers, disc pads, rear drums, brake shoes, slave cylinders, wheel bearings, master cylinders, etc. The 2 vacuum brake boosters/ master cylinders were flown to the Gold Coast for rebuilding/reconditioning & then returned back to ‘the West,’ for re-fitting to car, also).
As well a body panels, new engine parts (radiator, water pump, thermostat, timing chain, timing chain tensioner, chain slide rails, oil pump chain, valve stem seals, engine mounts etc.) & drivetrain parts (clutch plate, pressure plate, thrust bearing, guibo joint, mid-tailshaft bearing, gearbox seals etc.) were also imported from Germany & the UK. The turret, front & rear pillars, the entire floor pan, boot floor, rear beaver panel, rear guards & both doors (being “fish oiled” from new!) were “rustfree” (& most unusual!). However new door sills were fabricated locally & fitted with the new imported bonnet, bootlid, front guards & front nose panel. The engine was reconditioned where needed (@ 214K. kms.) with the imported parts, as was the drivetrain & brakes were completely replaced with all new parts.
The Weber 36/32DGVA carburettor & intake manifold were retained, as was the cast iron exhaust manifold with mounting faces machined & new gaskets fitted. The dash was rebuilt/restored (not re-skinned) with the driver’s & the rear seats recovered/re-upolstered in material matching as near as possible the still unrestored front passenger's seat. Headlights have been upgraded with 'semi sealed' units now fitted behind the original headlight glass. The smaller ‘sports steering wheel’ fitted to car was also retained, as it improved steering. Original carpets, door trims & window glass & fittings were retained on the basis originality. A new windscreen, new front & rear screen & window rubbers were fitted but all other window glass & fittings are still original, including the Driver’s Instruction Manual in the glove box. . The paint finish & panel fit on vehicle are both 'better than on a new car'; the cost of this work is not known to me, as my son won't tell me; however I know he has expended some 400 odd hours of work time over the years to complete this project to his standards & satisfaction & to be: “his gift to his old Dad!”
After almost a month (Feb.- Mar. 2017) in transit, having traveled over 6,000 kms. across Australia by train & car transporters (& delayed by 'floods in the west' for over 2 weeks), the car arrived here on the Gold Coast, in late March 2017; in time for me to attend the 2017 BMW Australian Clubs Nationals, being held in Brisbane over the coming Easter break. However upon arrival here, I had to have the car serviced & tuned, fit new BMW E30 14" x 6J” alloy wheels & tyres. Also to re-register the car & this was not without dramas; as the pre-registration inspection had found that the car's headlight switch & heater/demister fan motor had been damaged in transit. These items, after a world-wide 'google' search, had been obtained & fitted. The car was then re-registered, after “finding out” that Personalised Plate Q. #: “BMW E10”, had never ever been issued; thus this plate was purchased & was fitted to the car!
Detailing & cleaning of the car’s interior was only done in the week before the BMW Clubs Australia 2017 Nationals were held in Brisbane. The car’s ‘first run in 7 years’ (& also my 1st drive of a ’02 again in 15 years!), consisted of a very ‘quick dash up & down the M1 Freeway’ to check ‘everything was working properly!’ This ‘Italian Tune up’ was also to clean out the accumulated ‘soot’ from exhaust system caused by the Weber carburetor & carried out the day before; “heading off to the BMW Nationals!”
Modifications
The new bonnet, front guards & boot lid imported from Germany were for the last model of E10; the 1502’s mould pressings & had no ‘waist line trim holes’ but kept this way in the interests of ‘rust prevention’. The front & rear bumpers had overiders & rubber bump strips removed also (à la 1502), before being re-chromed to smooth out the car’s classic lines
