BMW 2002 Baur Converible
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Discussion

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

22,039 posts

304 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all
Anyone any experience?
There's a car for sale at the moment which looks like a Baur Cab although the ad says that it was done by a previous owner rather than Baur.
I owned a 2002 tii (the one for sale is a carb model) and thought it a great car at the time (1989 - 94).
Wonder what they are like for body flex, scuttle shake etc.
thanks

healeyneil

361 posts

169 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all
If it helps, I had an E21. baur. It was as rigid as the saloon. I knew someone else who had an E30 Baur and an E30 convertible ( by BMW) They were noticeably different in terms of rigidity.
Personally I wouldn't touch a home done job

StonetheCrows

769 posts

230 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392934757322

This ? Assume Bauer got spell checked to Blower

Dapster

8,667 posts

202 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all

52classic

2,634 posts

232 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all
I have one as my long term restoration project. Owned it since 1988 (it is a round light 1973). Only since the lockdown that I have made any serious progress on it. What do you want to know?

I looked at that white one on the bay and it certainly looks genuine to me. There's another red one for sale at the moment. Someone tipped me off that it was 1200 quid on FB Marketplace. Now on ebay, it was over 7K last time I looked and even the seller admits it is a bit of a basket case.

If my experience is anything to go by...... Expect to re-manufacture the lower 6" of the whole car unless it it has an exceptional story behind it. That's more or less what I have done and at long last I am starting to look forward to driving it once more.

52classic

2,634 posts

232 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all
Just had another scan of the ad for the white one. I am absolutely convinced that is not a home conversion of a saloon. What it could be however, is a restoration of a Baur Targa using parts of a saloon shell. Apparently the originals were created by Baur using saloon bare shells. In the raw, it is easy to see how the bespoke pressings are 'married up' to the decapped shell.

My only uncertainty about this process is that the Targa is said to have an additional stiffening membrane between inner and outer sills. Mine certainly has this but I have never looked inside the sills of a saloon for comparison.

The roof line is lower than the saloon so all of the glass is special. the screen rake is different. The system for storing the Targa top in the boot is present and correct on the white car and I can see lots of small details which would have been hard to replicate if it was a home conversion.

Proof is the V5 I suppose. It would be sad if somebody has gone to so much trouble and then used the identity of the saloon parts rather than the Targa!

BTW, I have never driven a 2002 saloon but I recall that the 02 cabriolet drives very well with no perceptible scuttle shake. At least as good as saloons of that era. Doors shut with a satisfying thud too. A lovely little car, I can't wait to get mine back on the road (before I am too old to enjoy it!)

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

22,039 posts

304 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all
StonetheCrows said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392934757322

This ? Assume Bauer got spell checked to Blower
That's the one.
Second time of advertising, last time it was a Bower.

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

22,039 posts

304 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
quotequote all
52classic said:
Just had another scan of the ad for the white one. I am absolutely convinced that is not a home conversion of a saloon. What it could be however, is a restoration of a Baur Targa using parts of a saloon shell. Apparently the originals were created by Baur using saloon bare shells. In the raw, it is easy to see how the bespoke pressings are 'married up' to the decapped shell.

My only uncertainty about this process is that the Targa is said to have an additional stiffening membrane between inner and outer sills. Mine certainly has this but I have never looked inside the sills of a saloon for comparison.

The roof line is lower than the saloon so all of the glass is special. the screen rake is different. The system for storing the Targa top in the boot is present and correct on the white car and I can see lots of small details which would have been hard to replicate if it was a home conversion.

Proof is the V5 I suppose. It would be sad if somebody has gone to so much trouble and then used the identity of the saloon parts rather than the Targa!

BTW, I have never driven a 2002 saloon but I recall that the 02 cabriolet drives very well with no perceptible scuttle shake. At least as good as saloons of that era. Doors shut with a satisfying thud too. A lovely little car, I can't wait to get mine back on the road (before I am too old to enjoy it!)
Thank you.
Was one of my main concerns about additional stiffening in the floor