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Inspecting the Body

Inspecting the body is an "art" which can be learned through experience. However, even the most experienced people still make mistakes. But, the 02-series was popular enough to be produced in large volumes. Therefore, body parts can still be acquired and Mobile Tradition is still producing replacement parts for many of the common repair areas.

Please be aware that European cars undergoing major repairs or restoration are updated the last known, highest standards. As a result, only STL rear panels and noses are available. If you have a RTL car, then you need to save the panel you have or find a suitable replacement (or undergo the expensive transition to the STL parts). In the end, gray market cars need to be checked very closely for authenticity.

The 2002tii "snorkel" debate

Sometimes the factory used up parts from prior model year cars and you might find some unusual combinations. However, the most exciting, passionate debate seems to be the appearance of a fresh air "snorkel" on 2002tii cars.

The snorkel appeared on standard 2002s with a rubber hose connecting it to the intake of the air cleaner. Since the 2002ti and 2002tii had a different air cleaner setup with two separate intakes, the snorkel is not required.

Here in the US, the debate centers around owners who claim their 2002tiis with a snorkel are all original -- we will not be concerned with the 1600ti/2002ti cars since they were imported into the US only as gray market cars. So, did the factory produce 2002tiis with a snorkel?

To the best of anyone's knowledge, there is no proof one way or another to indicate whether or not 2002tiis built at the end of a major model transition (like from 1973 to 1974 model years or at the end of the 1974 model production) have a snorkel. So, really late VINs might have them. If you have one of these cars, then I would like pictures and/or proof the snorkel nose is original for your car.

The most logical explanation I have heard related to repairs to cars after being transported to the US. If a 2002tii's nose was damaged in transit, then Hoffman or BMW NA may have used the only nose available to them: standard noses with a snorkel. Remember, car manufacturers didn't have to report repairs made at the port like they should disclose today. So, if an owner tells you his 2002tii with a snorkel is original, check it carefully, and remember it probably isn't the way it was delivered from the factory.

Underneath the car

The areas of the body underneath the car to inspect are primarily areas where to look for rust and/or damage to the body.

PLEASE make sure the car is properly supported before attempting to inspect the areas under the car!

Let's start from the front of the car. Look at the frame rails. On both STL and RTL cars, the bumper assemblies are connected to the frame rails. Any accident damage or rust repairs will be evident in a couple of ways: look for any deformation of the rail and look at the area where the frame rail mates with the rest of the body for evidence of replacement.