1974 BMW 2002TII

Symptoms: hard starting when warm, severe hesitation under load, fuel weeping from injection pump seals, lumpy idle that worsens with heat

Fix: The Kugelfischer pump internals wear out or seize, especially if the car sat for years. Rebuild kits exist but require specialized knowledge—most shops send the pump out. Figure 8-12 hours for removal, reinstall, and tuning once the pump returns. Many owners convert to Weber carbs (cheaper, more available) instead of rebuilding. Pump rebuild typically 15-20 hours total including diagnosis and tuning.

Estimated cost: $2,800-5,500

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: excessive drivetrain clunk on throttle engagement, vibration at idle transmitted through chassis, shifter feels vague or rattles, visible engine sag when inspecting from below

Fix: Rubber mounts from the '70s turn to mush. Replace all three engine mounts and the transmission mount as a set—doing one at a time is false economy. 3-4 hours labor for the full set with the car on a lift. OE-spec replacements are readily available.

Estimated cost: $450-750

Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: deep knocking from lower engine, especially cold, metallic rattling under load, low oil pressure at idle when hot, metal flakes in drained oil

Fix: The M10 engine is durable but many survivors have never had bearings replaced. Low-speed bearing knock means main or rod bearings are gone. If the crank isn't scored, you can regrind and install oversized bearings. Full engine-out rebuild: 20-30 hours including machine work, bearings, gaskets, and reassembly. If the crank is toast or block is damaged, budget for a short block or used long block swap.

Estimated cost: $3,500-7,000

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: excessive valve clatter that doesn't quiet after warm-up, loss of top-end power, rough idle that doesn't smooth out, visible cam lobe wear during inspection

Fix: The M10 cam and followers wear if oil changes were neglected or the wrong oil was used. Adjust valves first—if noise persists, pull the head and inspect cam lobes. Head-off rebuild (cam, lifters, seals, timing components, head gasket): 12-16 hours. Parts availability is good but expect OE German parts pricing.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Symptoms: fuel smell in cabin or engine bay, rough running or stumbling, visible cracking or weeping at rubber fuel hoses, hard starting after sitting

Fix: 50-year-old rubber fuel lines become porous and dangerous. Replace all soft fuel lines from tank to engine, including the filter. The tii uses high-pressure injection lines that can crack at fittings. Budget 4-6 hours to do it right, including dropping the tank to access feed lines. This is a safety-critical job—don't defer it.

Estimated cost: $600-1,100

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: grinding into second gear, especially when cold, difficulty downshifting into first, gear pop-out under load in third, increased shifter effort

Fix: The Getrag four-speed is tough but synchros wear, especially second gear. Rebuild involves pulling the transmission (4 hours), disassembly, bearing and synchro replacement, and reassembly (10-14 hours total). Specialists who know these boxes charge less than general shops fumbling through it. Parts kits are available from BMW specialists.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,000