Some cars never really leave you.
In my case, that car is the BMW 2002. When I was younger, I owned both a 1972 BMW 2002 Automatic and later a 1975 BMW 1502. Life moved on, careers developed, family came first, and eventually the classic BMW hobby disappeared into the background. But the passion never completely faded. Nearly fifteen years later, the opportunity finally presented itself to return to the marque that had always captured my imagination.
The Discovery
In June 2026, I got the opportunity to purchase a very special car: a 1974 BMW 2002tii Luxus.
What makes this car unique is not only that it is a genuine tii (with “matching numbers”), but also that it seems to be a Luxus model, a rare and desirable specification featuring luxury upgrades such as wood trim, rear armrest, intermittent wipers, heated rear window and various comfort details that distinguished it from the standard 2002 range.
Even more remarkable is its history.
The car had spent more than 35 years off the road, stored away and largely forgotten. It is a true barn find in every sense of the word. Dusty, weathered, but complete in all the places, and surprisingly original and still retaining much of its character.
The moment I saw it, I knew I had found the right project.
The Philosophy
This restoration is not about building a perfect concours trailer queen.
My goal is to preserve as much of the original car as possible while returning it to a safe, reliable and enjoyable condition. Wherever practical, original metal will be saved. Repairs will be made properly and structurally, but without unnecessarily replacing large sections that can still be restored.
I want the car to tell its story. Every dent, repair, weld and challenge becomes part of that journey.
Learning as I Go
I am not a professional bodywork specialist.
In fact, one of the motivations behind this project is also the get better and learn new skills. Many of the repairs are being carried out for the first time. That means plenty of measuring, cutting, shaping, welding, grinding, and occasionally redoing parts that did not meet my own standards. The learning curve has been steep, but also incredibly rewarding.
There is something deeply satisfying about taking a rusted section that most people would write off and slowly bringing it back to life with your own hands.
The Current Work
After convincing myself that the engine was turning, I started on the body work. The goal is to get the car on the road again as quickly as possible, instead of doing a full car restoration, which often takes years and years.
The first major challenge has been the rear suspension mounting area and wheel housings. As expected after decades of storage, corrosion had found its way into the rear shock tower area (common for these cars). The only way to understand the true condition was to cut away the damaged metal and inspect what remained.
Rust in rear shock tower area
Fortunately, the situation turned out to be better than initially feared. Since then, I have been carefully rebuilding the affected areas using hand-fabricated metal repair sections. Each patch panel is individually shaped, test-fitted, welded into place and finished before moving on to the next section.
Recent work has focused on reconstructing the upper wheel housing around the rear shock tower, restoring strength and preserving the original contours of the body. Progress is measured in millimetres rather than metres, but every completed repair brings the car one step closer to returning to the road.
Looking Ahead
The road ahead remains long. There is still a lot of bodywork to complete, mechanical systems to inspect, suspension and brakes to rebuild, and countless details to address before the car is ready for registration and its first proper drive in decades.
But that is exactly what makes this project so enjoyable. The goal is not simply to finish the restoration. The goal is to enjoy the journey.
After fifteen years away from the hobby, I finally have the opportunity to realize a dream that began many years ago when attempting to rstore a BMW 2002 Automatic (that is another story).
Bringing this BMW 2002tii Luxus back to life is more than a restoration project. It is a return to a passion that never truly disappeared. I look forward to sharing the next chapters of the journey.