Buying a Neue Klasse Sedan
While BMW built quite a few of these cars throughout their eleven year production run, very few remain today. This makes the Neue Klasse sedan one of the rarer and more interesting vintage BMWs but it also means that parts, especially body panels and components unique to these cars can be very difficult to find. Mechanically the cars are fairly similar to 1602 and 2002 models but it is important to note that they share very few parts with those cars aside from the motor. Some components are shared with the considerably rare 2000C and 2000CS coupes and creative owners have found ways to source parts from everything from the 320i to the E12 five series but you will want to make an effort to find the most complete and solid car you can afford.
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The early interior. |
Early and later cars
There are actually two distinct types of Neue Klasse sedans, the early type built until 1967 or so and the later type built after 1967.
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The later interior. |
The early cars feature a simple, flat, dashboard layout, most often trimmed with a fake but elegant wood finish and often without a center console. These cars have a certain desirability because of their elegant dashboard, steering wheel, and more interesting-looking door panels. The early cars (with the exception of the 2000 models) also use a 6V electrical system which by now may be upgraded to 12V, though a poorly-done conversion can soon become an electrical system headache.
Early models include the original 1500 and 1600, various types of 1800's and 2000's, and the more desirable 2000tilux model. In the later cars the door panels are simpler and the dashboard is fully vinyl-covered and looks like a cross between dashboards found in the 1602 and Bavaria, with the radio in the center console. These cars include various versions of the 1800 and 2000, including the very rare fuel-injected 2000tii and the upscale 2000tilux. The later 1800 (not sold in the USA) has a unique front grille design with fewer chrome caps on the horizontal slats.
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European (left) and USA (right) spec. headlights on the 2000. | |
Spotting various models
Beside model badges there are a few ways to spot different Neue Klasse variants. Here are a few hints:
- The TI cars: Touring International cars featured double Solex 40 PHH carburetors for increased performance. Unfortunately some owners have removed this desirable setup and replaced it with a simpler single carburetor. The TI cars also feature a tachometer - located as the center instrument (the clock is "moved" to the multipurpose instrument on the right). The TI trim is found on 1800's and 2000's and all TI cars came with a manual gearbox. In a non-TI car (and also in an automatic) the clock is the central instrument and the multipurpose instrument does not have anything in the center. On the 1800TI there is an oil pressure instrument integrated with the multipurpose instrument.
- The tilux models: These are more upscale versions of the 2000 and they feature the TI setup plus a velour or optional leather interior with wood trim on the door panels.
- Rarities: The Neue Klasse models I consider especially rare are the very desirable 1800TI/SA race car. These cars are usually found in some form of race trim (for example with the bumpers removed) and they feature a set of unique equipment such as a larger tachometer in the center instrument position, sport steering wheel (made by Walsall in England), racing driver seat, Weber 45 DCOE carburetors, and Getrag 5-speed gearbox. There were 200 or so made and they are now mostly owned by collectors and sold through auctions. The fairly low production 2000ti cars are a rarity, they are identified by having the 1800TI body, a special steering wheel, and a black early-style dash. Another rare Neue Klasse is the low-production (less than 2000 cars made, not sold in the USA) 2000tii, the first fuel injected BMW produced. It features a combination of 2000 and TI trim, with the mechanical injection system as found on the early 2002tii. Also purely by numbers it's worth noting that the early basic cars, the 1500 and 1600, are very uncommon in the USA.
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Non-2000 (left) and 2000 (right) taillight clusters. | |
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Rusting front lip, fender, and doors. |
Some common rust spots
The Neue Klasse sedan has a well-built unibody that is not particularly more rust-prone than most vintage BMWs but rust is definitely a problem to look out for. The most common areas where I have seen rust are the door bottoms (caused by leaking door seals), the "lip" under the front bumper (probably due to dirt and moisture built up over the years in that area), and in the floor pans (leaking window seals cause water to sit under the carpets). These are not the most serious areas to have a car rust, though rusty doors are easier to replace than to repair in most cases. Rust in fenders is also not uncommon and may be more repairable, and rust in the trunk (around the fuel tank and the spare tire) is another possibility. Since most of these cars did not have sunroofs many of them have avoided some of the rust caused by poor sunroof drainage and leaks. I would also check around the battery tray in the motor bay and in the rocker panels for signs of rust - the latter can be costly to repair. Look out for signs of corrosion around the front and rear windscreen seals as well.
Evaluating a car
Just as with most any vintage BMW, the most important thing is to find a car with minimal rust problems and minimal body damage. This is especially important for these cars since sheet metal and parts cars are difficult to come by. In the case of the Neue Klasse, the condition of the motor may not be as important as finding a solid and complete car. While most interior and body items are unique to these cars the motor is shared in various forms with many other BMWs, including the 2000C/CS, 1602, and 2002, and mechanical parts are available for it. Look out for missing or damaged unique items, which may mean high replacement costs down the road. These include interior components and dashboard parts, grilles, bumpers, and even brake and clutch hydraulics. If you are interested in a special model such as the TI type and you care for originality make sure the correct carburetors and other equipment is fitted. If not on the car, does the owner still have it somewhere?