Description
If Carlsberg made cars, this would be their show piece.
This 1975 BMW 2002tii, KVX 830P, was the subject of an extensive multi-year restoration and carefully considered OEM+ development programme around 2020.
Despite the scale of the work, it was barely used afterwards. I bought the car in 2024, at which point it had covered only around 900 miles in the four years since restoration. I have since added roughly another 6, 000 miles, including long-distance trips and touring across Europe.
In my ownership it has never broken down or suffered a major mechanical problem. It has been serviced annually by a specialist every year since I bought it and has just passed its latest MOT.
It is genuinely a joy to drive, but living in London means I simply do not give it the regular attention it deserves.
The aim of the build was never to create an obviously modified car. It retains everything that makes a 2002 special: its compact proportions, lightness, visibility, simplicity and analogue character, while improving the areas that make it more enjoyable and usable on modern roads.
The restoration is supported by a substantial history file of invoices, correspondence and photographs, with documented expenditure exceeding £70, 000, plus approximately £9, 678 of additional recorded work.
Engine and drivetrain
At the heart of the car is a BMW M44 1. 9-litre engine sourced from a Z3.
The engine was stripped, chemically cleaned, vapour blasted, refinished and rebuilt before installation. It is paired with a Getrag 240 five-speed gearbox and a 3. 91:1 limited-slip differential.
This was far more than simply an engine swap. The installation included the propshaft and centre bearing, differential integration, upgraded fuel pump, filter and fuel lines, revised cooling system and numerous supporting components to create a properly developed package.
The five-speed gearbox makes the car particularly usable on longer journeys, while the M44 gives it enough performance for modern roads without overwhelming the character of the chassis.
It also brings a degree of reassurance and usability that can be difficult to achieve with an entirely original drivetrain. Original 2002tiis are wonderful cars, but this has been developed to offer the same character with less of the mechanical fuss and uncertainty that can come with relying on a completely original, half-century-old powertrain.
Chassis, suspension and brakes
The chassis has been upgraded in the same spirit, using BMW components wherever possible.
It features E21 323i vented front brakes, an E30 master-cylinder conversion, braided hoses, upgraded rear brakes, E21 six-cylinder front hubs, E30 steering components, negative-camber plates and carefully revised suspension geometry.
Suspension is taken care of by Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs, giving the car a more controlled and purposeful feel without making it excessively stiff or compromising its character.
The car sits on genuine 13-inch Alpina wheels, which suit it perfectly and are an important part of the period-correct OEM+ appearance.
Combined with the 3. 91 LSD, the result is a car that feels properly sorted while retaining the lightness and delicacy that makes a 2002 so enjoyable.
Electrical system and security
The electrical system was comprehensively addressed during the restoration.
The original loom was removed, stripped and rewrapped, with an updated fuse box and relays.
An Emerald tachometer interface allows the original-style rev counter to function correctly with the newer engine management.
A discreet immobiliser has also been fitted for additional security.
The car comes with a spare key.
Interior
The OEM+ approach continues inside.
The dashboard was refurbished during the restoration, with the controls and instrumentation carefully reassembled. The door lower trims and capping finishers were renewed along with the A and B-pillar trims.
The carpeting was replaced with a high-quality new set and additional Dodo Mat sound deadening installed beneath it. The carpets remain tidy and presentable, with only the sort of light signs of use you would expect from a classic that has actually been driven.
The door cards, trim panels, sill finishes and other interior surfaces are in good overall condition. As with any 50-year-old classic, there are minor signs of age and use if inspected closely, but nothing that detracts from the overall presentation.
The current front seats are in great condition and perfectly usable.
Also included is a pair of desirable BMW E24 Recaro front seats. These have already been stripped down and structurally repaired and are ready to be reupholstered, allowing the next owner to choose the final material, colour and finish themselves.
Matching seatbelts have also been fitted.
The original Petri steering wheel is sold with the car and is one of those details that makes the interior feel properly special.
A Retrosound Hermosa Bluetooth/ DAB stereo, Alpine speakers and a discreet Kenwood under-seat subwoofer provide modern convenience without making the cabin feel out of place in a 1970s BMW.
Another particularly special addition is the highly sought-after rear-window louvre, an increasingly difficult-to-find period accessory that suits the shape and character of the 2002 perfectly.
Bodywork
The body received extensive attention during the restoration.
Earlier work included replacement doors and a complete repaint, followed by further correction and refinement by Pristine Classic Cars in 2023.
Their work included bonnet and boot-lid repairs, glass removal, refinishing and another comprehensive repaint, with £16, 080 spent with Pristine during that stage alone.
The car was ceramic coated in 2021 and again in 2025.
Importantly for a 2002, there is no rust present.
The bodywork and underside can be inspected properly during a viewing and I am happy for any serious buyer to satisfy themselves as to its condition.
The car presents extremely well and has also won Best in Category at a BMW national concours show.
That said, it is not a trailer queen. Since buying it I have deliberately used it, toured in it and driven it properly. For me, that is exactly what a 2002 should be doing.
Maintenance and current condition
Since buying the car in 2024, it has been serviced annually by a specialist.
It has covered roughly 6, 000 miles during my ownership, including European touring, without breaking down or suffering a major mechanical issue.
The latest MOT has been passed.
For complete transparency, what initially was listed to be a front oil leak during the MOT was actually clutch fluid caused by me inadvertently overfilling the reservoir. It is not a persistent engine oil leak, and I am happy to demonstrate this during a viewing.
The only current issue I am aware of is that the driver’s door cannot presently be locked from the outside. It locks normally from inside. I have been advised that this should be a straightforward repair, but I simply have not had the opportunity to get it done.
I would rather mention it now than have someone discover it when viewing the car.
What this car is
This is not being presented as a matching-numbers, concours-original 2002tii.
It is a thoughtfully developed OEM+ driver’s car using carefully selected BMW components and sympathetic upgrades while preserving the appearance and personality of the original.
From the outside it remains unmistakably a classic 2002, and you have to look more closely to appreciate how much work has gone into it.
The modifications complement the car rather than dominate it.
The M44 engine, five-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential make it considerably more usable, while the upgraded brakes, steering, suspension and genuine Alpina wheels make the most of what is already an excellent chassis.
Yet it remains small, light, mechanical and full of character. It has not become a modern car wearing an old body.
When I bought it in 2024, it had covered only around 900 miles in the four years following the restoration. I have since added roughly another 6, 000 miles, including European touring, annual specialist servicing and plenty of real-world use.
The documented expenditure gives an indication of the scale of the project, but the £39, 995 asking price is not simply based on money spent. The next owner is buying the finished result without having to spend years sourcing parts, commissioning bodywork, developing the drivetrain, upgrading the chassis, sorting electrics and working through the inevitable teething problems.
You can simply get in it and use it.
That is really the appeal: all the looks, character and occasion of a great original 2002, but with a more dependable, better-developed drivetrain and far less of the hassle that can come with owning an entirely original example.
If you want a reliable, great-looking 2002 that you can actually drive and enjoy, this is your answer.
It has taken me across Europe without complaint and given me some genuinely memorable drives. If circumstances were different, I would happily keep it.
The car comes with its substantial history file, spare key, E24 Recaro seats, Alpina wheels, rear-window louvre and original Petri steering wheel.
Serious enquiries only, please. I would like it to go to an enthusiast who understands and appreciates what has gone into it.
No traders, resellers or speculative offers.
More photographs and further details are available for genuine enquiries.
