Car of the Month

December 2009

Matthew Peterson's 2002 Tii

Want to see your 02 featured here (any condition as long as there's a story)?

Email me any 02, any condition richstern@hotmail.com

I purchased my 1974 2002tii in June of 2001 just a couple weeks before
I graduated high school. My father has a colorado '72 that I have
been fond of since I was a little tyke and when I saw this car at the
BMW repair shop where I worked, I knew I had to have it. It ran well
(after the shop went through the engine thoroughly) and, after quite a
bit of polishing, the 27 year old paint had a nice shine to it.
Slapped a new set of AVS Intermediates on it and it handled like a
champ!

The car spent quite a bit of time on the California coast completely
unattended and so it was rusted in the spare tire well and in both
foot wells. I quickly became a member of the "Save The tii's Club"
and was hard at work to halt the body cancer that had stricken my new
car.

Well, 2 years as a daily driver (and my first 2 years at college,
nonetheless) didn't do the car any favors so, in 2003, I began the
restoration process. Slow going at first because time and money were
both tight, I finally managed to get the interior torn apart, brand
new floorpans welded in and a number of other little things taken care
of. Until about June, 2007, I was just hoarding parts for the
restoration.

Sean Casey of Casey Motorsports in Petaluma, CA has been the one I've
trusted with my restoration. My buddy painted the car in late
November '08 and did a PHENOMENAL job despite having to contend with
fiberglass hood and trunk lid that were not exactly flat and some
previous body work that was less than impressive.

Sean rebuilt the
engine for me and installed a number of trick items. He put a 95amp 6
series alternator in the car for the 4 driving lights (which I think
are a perfect match to the shortened big bumpers), H4s and the 900
watt stereo inside. I found some mid-80s Porsche seats that I think
look great and have a perforated leather that (sort of) matches the
original interior.

The 15" BBS wheels are a pain to keep clean but look so good compared
to the 13" turbines. It's riding on Dinan springs, ST front/rear
sways and Bilstien HD shocks with urethane bushings all around.
The Stahl headers and straight pipe back to the Ansa exhaust gives it
a nice, throaty growl when you dip into the throttle.