1969 BMW 1600 2002 with M42

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BMW 1600

History:

Car was purchased when it was a year old by the previous owner who owned it for the next forty years. It lived in Georgia and British Columbia, then Wisconsin for a few years before he decided to have it repainted in the early eighties and retired to storage with occasional summer use. After I purchased it, it needed a lot of maintenance, cleaning and removal of ziebart. I took most of the car apart and attended to its needs. A year or so later I got it on the road and enjoyed about 900 miles before the engine head gave up the ghost. So, I decided to go down the M42 route and have a car that was a little more modern underneath.

Body:

The car was poorly repainted in the early eighties, the original color is Polaris. The front part of the rockers were showing rust bubbling through when purchased, so the area was cut out and new sections from a clean CA car were welded in. Inside of rockers and frame also sprayed with rust inhibiter. Several small pin holes in the spare tire well also patched with new metal. The fenders were taken off and surface rust behind them removed and POR 15 applied (p.o. said new fenders were put on when it was repainted). Hood needs some adjusting yet. The trunk still needs some work (I had just started on the spare tire well). There is a hole in the corner near the tire well about the size of a quarter (see linked photos). This is the only rust area on the car that still needs some attention.

Engine:

The car now has a M42 from a 1991 318is in it. Engine and tranny have about 135K on them (installed with Jakeb kit). Before the engine was put in, most seals, the water pump & thermostat were replaced. Coil-on-plug kit added. After the engine was in I found out that the rear main seal leaks pretty badly when it is warmed up. I tried to fix it last fall and after all the work of dropping the engine and tranny – it leaked just as much (I think I should have replaced the cover piece that has the seal in it). It can be driven but should be trailered any distance. Two continuous metal fuel lines to the tank with a new fuel pump. Tank was clean and treated inside & out.

Suspension & Underside:

Front and rear suspensions were replaced with cleaned and rebuilt ones from a 02 to get rid of the oil filled CVs, add roll bars and better brakes (kept 1600 diff). All items replaced such as bearings and bushings, wish bones, drag link, tie rods, ball joints, rebuilt half-shafts, etc. Painted with POR 15 and added Bilstein HDs and H&R sport springs. Tires have less than a thousand miles on them. Peddle box was rebuilt. While the suspension was out the underside of the car was stripped of the ziebart and two coats of POR 15 system were applied, then undercoating. Brake system completely replaced (including s.s. braided lines) to the booster. New clutch master & slave, s.s. line.

Electrical:

All wiring in the engine bay is new, power distribution block with fuses added under the dash. Hella third brake light added, new headlights and wired for driving/fog lights (with relay). Electrical fan with adjustable temp. setting and new radiator. Battery is less than a month old. Horn, tach and speedo not currently working.

Interior:

The interior was taken out except for the dash. The carpet & soundproofing tar were removed, the pans cleaned up and two coats of POR 15 system then fat mat and new carpet kit (the carpet section at the drivers floor has not been put back in yet as access may still be needed for fixing leak). Seats are from a 320 and are in good shape, 3-point seatbelts added. New door brakes. The dash has one crack and a hole was cut through it to install the AC at the dealership and an air distribution panel covers it - see photos. Back seats are also in good shape. The heater box has been gone through.

Extra parts:

A number of parts, bits & bobs go with the car, including extra round taillights, flush turn signals, gauges, manuals, etc. - see photos.

Summary:

So what does this car need to be a daily driver? The oil leak fixed, exhaust finished from the middle muffler back (tied in to original for now), the tach & speedo sorted, some wiring finished for hidden stereo in trunk if wanted and carpet piece and interior bits put back. New paint down the road would make the car awesome.

I encourage you to come take a look at and test drive. Any questions please ask.