BMW 02 Series

The BMW 02 Series is a range of sporty compact executive cars produced by German automaker BMW between 1966 and 1977, based on a shortened version of the New Class Sedans.

The first 02 Series produced was the 1600-2 (later renamed 1602) in 1966. In 1975, the 02 Series was replaced by the E21 3 Series (except for the 1502 model, which continued until 1977).

Overview

In the mid-1960s BMW perceived a market for a smaller, more affordable, two-door version of its four-door New Class executive sedan. Corporate design director Wilhelm Hofmeister assigned the project to staffers Georg Bertram and Manfred Rennen, who produced an attractive and sporty car 5 cm (2 in) shorter in wheelbase and some 25 cm (10 in) shorter in length, mainly by shortening the rear deck.[1][2] The resulting 1966 production 1600-2 was less well-appointed than the New Class, but lighter, faster, and better handling.

The larger displacement 2002 directly derived from it in 1968 would go on to establish a new reputation for BMW as a maker of high-quality affordable performance vehicles.

2002

Helmut Werner Bönsch, BMW's director of product planning, and Alex von Falkenhausen, designer of the company’s M10 engine, each independently had a two-litre version of the M10 installed in a 1600-2 for their personal use. When they realized they had both made the same modification to their own cars, they prepared a joint proposal to BMW's board to manufacture a two-litre version of the 1600-2.[2][7] At the same time, American importer Max Hoffman was asking BMW for a sportier version of the 02 series that could be sold in the United States.[7]

As per the larger coupe and 4-door sedan models, the 2.0 engine was initially sold in two states of tune: the base single-carburetor 2002 producing 100 PS and the dual-carburetor high compression 2002 ti producing 120 PS.[1] The 2002 Automatic, with the base engine and a ZF 3HP12 3 speed automatic transmission, became available in 1969.[1] The 2002 ti was replaced in 1971 by the 2002 tii, which used the fuel-injected 130 PS engine from the 2000 tii, delivering a top speed of 185 km/h.

In 1971, the Baur cabriolet was switched from the 1.6 L engine to the 2.0 L engine to become the 2002 TopCabriolet, a cabrio coach with a large rollbar and fixed window frames which continued to be available well into 1975. In 1978 Baur presented a TopCabriolet version of the succeeding 3-series as well. The Touring version of the 02 Series became available with all engine sizes at the time, including the tii (of which only 422 examples were made). A 2002 tii Touring model was available throughout the run of the tii engine and the Touring body, both of which ended production in 1974.[1]

The 2002 turbo (E20) was launched at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show. This was Europe's and BMW's first turbocharged production car.[8] It produced 170 PS at 5,800 rpm,[1] with 240 Nm of torque. The car had a top speed of 211 km/h (131 mph). The 2002 Turbo used the 2002 tii engine with a twin-scroll 0.55 Bar turbocharger developed together with KK&K. The cylinder head was a modified version of the '121TI' design (used on 1972 & earlier 2002s) with larger combustion chambers to give a compression ratio of 6.9:1, in order to prevent engine knocking. A version of the Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection was used with integrated boost enrichment feature and altitude compensation. The car had a larger radiator and an oil cooler as standard, front brakes were a ventilated derivative of the tii brake and rear drums were a 250mm design that would later appear on the E21 3-series. The gearbox was either a strengthened Getrag 232 4-speed (unique to the 2002 turbo) or the Getrag 235/5 close-ratio 5 speed (which was also optional on 2002 tii), this drove through a 3.36:1 limited slip differential to 5.5J13 steel wheels of a similar design to those that would appear later on the E21. The interior added an extra gauge cluster for the boost gauge & clock plus a red instrument panel with 240kmh/150 mph speedometer, sports seats & steering wheel. The steel body featured a different front-panel with additional tow-bracket and air-intake apertures and the front & rear wheel arches are cut-back to allow fitting of wider wheels. These body changes are clothed in fibreglass wheelarch extensions and a front airdam, all bolted to the body, plus a rubber rear spoiler on the trunk lid. Two standard colours were available: Chamonix (white) and Polaris (silver)

At the Paris Motor Show in 1969, BMW unveiled a fastback 2002 GT4 concept car.[11] This model never reached production.

Motorsport

According to the Racing Sportscars database, the BMW 2002 was used in competitive motorsport from 1968 to 1986, and 2002s were entered in 600 events. There were 2449 entries of cars at these 600 events, with 1520 finishes and 707 retirements (a finishing ratio of 68%). Overall event wins totaled 50 (with additional 53 class wins), 57 2nd places and 62 3rd-place finishes.[30]

Dieter Quester & Hubert Hahne won the June 1969 European Touring Car Race (ETCC) at Brand's Hatch, Kent, UK[31] in a BMW 2002 TiK (the ~250BHP turbocharged factory-developed 2002 touring car)[32]

The BMW 2002 competed in the Trans Am Series under two liter class, although it saw little success as the class was dominated by Alfa Romeo, Porsche, and Datsun. In the golden age of Trans Am (1966–1972), BMW only garnered two race wins (Bryar and Bridgehampton in 1970)

Liechtenstein engine-specialist Max Heidegger prepared a BMW 2002 TI with a F2 engine (capable of 260 bhp) for French privateer Daniel Brillat at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the car finished the race, albeit last overall, having covered 252 laps, 85 less than the race-winning Mirage GR8.

Schnitzer Motorsport made a Group 5 version of the 2002 from 1974-1979, with big, wide, boxy wheel arches at the rear, which housed radiators mounted sideways, a wing, front splitter, side exhaust, & other modifications. Hans-Joachim Stuck and Clemens Schickentanz won the inaugural 1970 24 Hours Nürburgring driving a 2002.[33]

Achim Warnbold teamed up with Jean Todt won the 1973 Austrian Rally 9th round of the inaugural World Rally Championship season with a 2002 Tii. But in the rally field, the greatest success of 2002TI was winning the European Rally Championship, which was achieved in 1971 by a Polish driver, Sobiesław Zasada (previously European Champion in 1966 and 1967). Second place was taken by Sandro Munari (later 1977 World Champion) on Lancia, and the third place was taken by the equally legendary Jean-Pierre Nicolas on an Alpine-Renault.

In Uruguay, the 2002 won the 1971 and 1973 Gran Premio 19 Capitales rally race and the 1972 6 Hours of El Pinar circuit race.[18]

production	1966–1977 837,038 units
assembly	West Germany: Munich Uruguay: Montevideo (Convex S.A.)
class	Compact executive car (D)
body style	2-door coupé 2-door convertible 3-door hatchback
layout	FR layout
engine	1,573 cc M10 I4 (1502, 1602) 1,766 cc M10 I4 (1802) 1,990 cc M10 I4 (2002) 1,990 cc M10 turbo I4 (2002 Turbo)
wheelbase	2500 mm
length	4220–4230 mm
width	1590–1620 mm
height	1360–1410 mm
weight	940–1080 kg
transmission	4-speed manual 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic
successor	BMW 3 Series (E21)
designer	Georg Bertram, Manfred Rennen, Giovanni Michelotti
manufacturer	BMW

Overview

1600-2 / 1602

2002

1802

1502

Model year changes

1968 January

1968 February

1971

1973

1975

Special models

2002 ti Diana

1602 Elektro

Battery

Battery

2002 GT4

Garmisch

Production in Uruguay

Production figures

Motorsport

Homages

External links

References