Introduced in April 1971, the mechanically fuel-injected 130hp BMW 2002 tii quickly became a hot item, and over 22,500 units found happy homes before the August 1973 redesign (known as the Models 71 and 73, respectively). The tii would live on through the 1975 model year with a total production run of about 27,500 units.
One of the distinguishing features between the two models are the taillights, which are round on the earlier cars. The one exception is the Model 73 2002 tii Touring (never sold in the USA – CC here), which retained the round lights.
Paul has already written up a very thorough CC on the BMW 2002, both here as well as at his previous gig. He also did a treatment on the BMW 1800 Neue Klasse here.
I instantly recognized this as a 2002, but never knew about the tii variant until today. What a beautiful (and desirable!) car to see out and about on a beautiful fall day!
The 2002 tii was the real deal. The regular 2002 made up the majority of sales, but its engine wasn’t truly sporty, having been taken straight out of the 2000 sedan. In Europe, the 1602 ti was the sporty variant, but that couldn’t be federalized, so BMW importer Max Hoffman encouraged the idea to drop in the 2000’s 100 hp engine. the 2002 had good performance, but there was no “bite” in the upper rev band, and mostly petered out around 5500 rpm.
The tii’s Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection system is a marvel in its own right (also used by Peugeot and others). Combined with a few other tweaks, it upped power a whopping 30%, to 130 hp. That made a huge difference, and the 2002 tii was a genuine giant-killer in its short time on our shores.Sadly, it was dropped after 1973, due to emission regulations.
And if that remarkable Kugelfischer injection pump should ever need rebuilding, be ready to shell out a couple of grand.
Mercedes started using a similar mechanical fuel injection system on many six cylinder cars a decade earlier. Those are not known to be particularly temperamental, unlike the 1955 direct injection on the 300SL. What is it with the Kugelfischer unit?
Mercedes actually went to an electronic fuel injection setup around this time (Bosch D-Jetronic), but it turned out to be so finicky they reverted to mechanical again in the 1970’s (Bosch K-Jetronic). This system was relatively simple and reliable, and an electronically controlled variant (KE-Jetronic) was used by M-B up until the early 1990’s. The Bosch injection pumps are considered to be fairly reliable — it’s usually other components that cause problems, and many injection pumps have been erroneously rebuilt while trying to troubleshoot an issue…
With regards to the Kugelfischer, it is probably so expensive to rebuild because it’s relatively rare compared to the Bosch units. And lets not even begin to discuss the SPICA mechanical injection used in Italian cars of the time, such as Alfa-Romeo…!
Only Alfa Romeos for North America had the SPICA injection if I recall correctly. The European models had carbs. Smog-control related ?
I’ll never forget when I first saw one of those as a young teenager. Truly the real deal. And I adored those round tail lights and the way they’re segmented.
I dare say, that, in spite of being surpassed by a new BMW 3 series on every single objective standard of quality and performance, I would find myself reaching for the keys of a 2002 tii every time, save perhaps a long freeway trip.
And I really have no idea how that Kugelfischer FI gets so much extra performance from an engine. I know of it only from second hand info and a Peugeot 504 XN1 perspective. Huge boost in performance and efficiency. And much, much better than the Bosch K-Jetronic that found itself on that engine in its later 505 incarnations. Must be a real blast in a 2002.
If you were running SCCA B-sedan autocross back then and weren’t running a BMW (2002 or 1600), you were an also-ran. Period. They completely outclassed everything else available at the time.
I’m sure you’ll be hearing a different POV from Bryce shortly….
Not really Paul Ive driven an ex GFs 1600 it was ok, mind it was in Melbourne city not a race track or country highway
One morning on the way to work through downtown Atlanta (I-75/I-85), I started sparring with a guy in a 2002 (probably *not* the tii, though!). I was in my ’71 Vega, which at this point had been repowered with a 115hp Buick 3.8l and had substantial undercarriage mods. We turned out to be very evenly matched, and both ended up taking the same two-lane exit ramp off the highway, which had a long right sweeper followed by a tight left curve up to the traffic light.
We both hit the ramp doing 80+, and I just barely edged him out through the first curve, my T/A Radials screaming all the way. We turned opposite directions at the light, but as we parted, we both gave each other a big “thumbs up.”
My ’73 GT could almost handle with a 2002 (for all the bitching about the reliability, we forget what excellent handlers those Vega’s were), but motorwise? Not even on the same planet. My only autocross success in three seasons was the one autocross that the Pittsburgh crew with their two Bimmers didn’t show up.
And the ‘effing SCCA chapter rescheduled the ‘points’ autocross to the following weekend when they could make it. Still hold a grudge, haven’t gone near anything SCCA in 38 years.
“for all the bitching about the reliability, we forget what excellent handlers those Vega’s were”
If GM had executed the rest of the Vega the way they excecuted the styling and handling, they probably wouldn’t have gone bankrupt. For all its faults it was a fun…FUN drive.
A guy in my church choir owns a ’71 2002 in orange. Timeless class.
I’m reminded again how much fun I had with my V8 4-speed Monza 2+2….
Quite rare cars here but I saw one recently and it was a TI, it was at a local repair shop so I’m likely to see it again, Too expensive to ever become popular when new here.
I had a friend in high-school who had a 2002, I don’t care what anyone says that car was a blast and we all loved it!!
Sinfully cute car.
I have it on word that this car was the basis for several Pokemon characters, and even a few Hello Kitty! characters.
I’d never drive it.
I’d let Strawberry Shortcake park it in her little strawberry muffin garage and let the Smurfs take care of it.
I had two non Tii’s, a 72 and a 75. The 75 had a 3.90 LSD and a 5 speed swap from a 320is, which is not an uncommon swap. The 72 was all stock and was actually more fun, from my point of view. The 75 felt more cold and clinical, while the 72 was tenacious and spunky, willing to cling on with everything in its little pencil-like tires. God I miss that car. I did drive a 73 Tii, and the thing that struck me most was the smoothness of the engine – the carb’ed cars are a little more rough and harsh throughout the rev band, but that Tii was smooth as double creme. I daily drove both of mine, and it was worth every minute. I did find them maintenance intensive compared to my old domestic iron.
Fabulous car. I’ve had a 1973 2002 tii for almost ten years and it may be the best car I’ve ever owned. Plenty of space, lots of zoom, gorgeous to look at, and excellent handling. As for the fuel injection, I’m a barely capable mechanic, and I’ve repaired it myself very easily with a $10 used part from one of the 2002 enthusiast shops in CA.
Keep in mind that this car is what made the 3 series possible. I have a 99 3 series, too, and the genealogy is clear to see and feel.
And, finally, it’s worth a bit of money. As someone who owns a fairly large fleet of mostly worthless cars, the 2002tii is the one that keeps appreciating in value (much faster than my 70 El Camino SS, surprisingly).
“Keep in mind that this car is what made the 3 series possible.”
Forgot about that – this is the car that made it possible for all those status seeking douchebags to be able to show off while leasing. And for Car and Driver to turn into the biggest shills in journalism.
Maybe the car should be reclassified as a Deadly Sin. Or at least a Crime Against Humanity.
The 3 series is the most over hyped car ever made it made BMW a dirty word
I felt the same way. 3 series was a let down. Was not really a replacement for the 2002.
I hate Apple for the same reason, and won’t buy an Apple product. That doesn’t mean Apple products aren’t good; it means I’m a snob about that.
Doesn’t that make you an “anti-snob?” I almost avoid them for the same reason, but bought Apple products before they became all trendy. Still use them, but feel nauseous at the thought of hanging around a bunch of aloof hipster “genius” types to see what’s new. “Are you good enough for Apple?” “Are you good enough for a BMW?”
That and studies have proven that BMW drivers today are the biggest jerks on the road. Amazing how much entitlement comes with that lease. *grin*
I purchased a 2002 (not a TII) new in 1975, white with navy blue vinyl interior. No options whatsoever – no radio, no electric anything, no sunroof. Steel wheels. A/C was not even available.
What a revelation after driving my dad’s 1968 Chrysler, and my mom’s 1973 Dart. A lot of fun, with quick reflexes and compliant ride. Very compact, but the airy greenhouse meant it never felt too small.
However, it was certainly not trouble-free.
The transmission started popping out of fourth gear on its own after just a few weeks. It was fixed under warranty – I showed up at the dealer at 8AM without warning, and they managed to take the transmission apart, fix it, and put everything back together by 5:30PM. They had replaced a long list of parts, all of which they had in stock. Quite impressive.
My 2002 required constant attention, some of it caused by the complex emissions plumbing, with all kinds of rubber tubing that had a very short life span.
Within two years, the engine started smoking. The engine was rebuilt under warranty (mostly), but this was a real disappointment on a relatively new car that I never abused.
In 1977 I traded it in on a 320i, and in 1979 upgraded again, this time to a 528i. All with the same dealer that had consistently provided excellent service.
When I moved to another city, I discovered that not all BMW dealers were created equal. The 528i was my last BMW.
A/C was available as a dealer-installed option – my friend’s 1972 2002 had both automatic transmission and A/C. It was purchased new at Vasek Polak in Hermosa Beach and I believe the A/C was a Behr unit. My understanding is that York also provided after market units. Apparently neither one worked very well. I remembering riding in my friend’s car during a hot fall day here in LA in 72 and the A/C couldn’t begin to compare to the system in my new Maverick LDO. Otherwise, it was a great car.
Talk about outward visibility. That greenhouse was huge and allowed virtually unobstructed views, quite unlike the cars of today. Another thing I remember about my friend’s car was that the trunk was quite large for a small car and it was totally accessible through that wide lid.
You are correct – A/C was indeed available, ‘with heat insulated glass all around’. I just checked the original 1975 brochure, which I still have.
My MIL had a ’74 or ’75 2002, and had similar issues. I know she had to have a complete engine rebuild under warranty within the first two years. And past the warranty, she had repeated cooling issues and a few other gremlins. I had to rescue her on more than one occasion. But it was a nice ride, although the engine really lost some if its sparkle due to emission controls.
I had the privilege of two 2002’s (not tii). Every time I see one of these, be it 1600, 2002, or 2002 tii, my heart skips a beat.
As good-looking as it is from today’s perspective, I’m surprised all that direct firstgen Corvair influence didn’t get dinged for datedness circa 1972, especially when a Datsun 510 or Opel Ascona A did the same look in a much fresher interpretation. At least it had some style, unlike the first two generations of 3-series that replaced it.
My honorary uncle/dad’s business partner inherited one of these, probably a base 2002, from his inlaws, and I have early memories of riding in it in my mom’s lap and Dad and Uncle Bob working on it in the street outside their shop. He traded it on a new Olds Delta 88 Royale in 1977 or ’78.
In fairness, I think it owes more to a Fiat of that era (1100? 1200? something like that). That Fiat was licensed and made under various names in Eastern Europe and elsewhere for decades. When I lived in Egypt, most of the taxis were one version or the other and I remember thinking they looked a lot like 2002s.
This was the best car of its time, and maybe of ours too. Further discussion is futile :).
I like the BMW 2002, the design still looks good even today and the car has aged well.
One thing though on the early ones. I wonder if one of the designers was stuck in 2 hours of traffic behind a Mark I Cortina? Those tail lights bear a bit of similarity to the 62-66 Cortina
Wish BMW would again build something small and light with a mildly powerful engine. I don’t really need to do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. I am sure the new $60k, M4 is a lovely car… but its bigger than the 528i was in 1975. Jeez! Enough already…
I’ve never understood this about cars, design bloat. Time for a downsizing IMHO.
It called, the wider you spread your market, the softer and dumber the car has to be made to keep all the new customers happy. I seem to remember something about BMW deciding (about a decade ago) to downplay the performance image (in general) so as to not scare off potential customers. They want to move the metal. “The ultimate driving machine” is acceptable if it comes along for the ride, but is not mandatory anymore.
That has a bit to do with why I’m one of the hard-asses who considers the E30’s (and their other series compatriots) the last of the REAL BMW’s, and an E36 was the last of the marque that I have any interesting in owning, or have owned.
BMW lost me as a customer years ago.
Same here Syke.
Personally, I like the looks and general ethos behind an E38 or earlier 7-series, E39 and earlier 5-series’, and that of the pre-E90 3-series. After that, BMW as a whole went down the toilet in the eyes of the enthusiast.
This sure sounds like Alfa Romeo, doesn’t it ?
Only these days BMW sells a lot of cars worldwide, whereas Alfa Romeo is brain dead.
Maybe an early seventies Alfa Romeo Giulia could be a more affordable alternative to this BMW, like the Giulia Super 1600.
Lots of these Giulias still around, in a good condition or restored.
Something like this.
(Photo: Alfa AS, Ankeveen)
A Day In The Life Of A CC, Part I:
(Start scene at PN and Stembridge’s computers)
PN: Ed! You fool! Why didn’t you do a CC on the Subaru Baja in front of the Bimmer?! I’ve been looking for one since before I started CC!
Ed: I didn’t think that they were that desirable. Sheesh!
NOTE: Stay tuned for Part II (after these commercials)!
father bought one off the lot in around 72…wanted the inca orange but would have had to wait a while so he got a tan one. Ran until the mid 1990s with everything working except the a/c. We called it the hot box. Remember that big, thin steering wheel, those springy seats and the burlap mats. Wish I could have kept that little thing. He said it was the poor man’s Porsche.
In 1996, I got a ’77 BMW 1502 as my first car. An odd duck in a way, because in 1977, it was still being sold alongside the newly-introduced E21 3-series, and while it had the 1.6 liter engine, they called it “1502” to identify it as a secretary’s special – slightly decontented, but still fun to drive. Which it certainly was; despite its modest 75 hp rating, it felt mighty quick, and was a blast on twisty roads. Of course, I did lust after the 2002 tii, but even back then, those rare birds were way out of my price range. I remember seeing a beautiful light green one in Rastatt sometime in the fall of 1996 and being absolutely smitten. I sure envy those that call one of these gems their own!
But even my modest 1502 left an impression; among the six cars I’ve had since, three were BMWs (’89 316i, ’90 318i touring, ’95 520i touring).
As great as the Kugelfischer injection was/is, it’s not the primary reason the tii has 30 more hp than the regular 2002. The 2000 ti engine (with carbs) already made 120 hp, so the injection is only good for an extra 10 hp. The ti models all had better breathing, more aggressive cams, higher compression, etc; all the classic higher-output mods that made them a “sport motor”.
The same applies to the Peugeot, etc. The top-line injection models typically had higher compression and better breathing too, to take advantage of the injection system.
My only true romance car was my ’72 tii purchased used in ’76 from a fella who didn’t want it in the hands of his soon to be 16 yo son. Curiously, it was the very same car (outfitted with the same Ciebe driving lights, Abarth sport exhaust, and Behr AC) I had seen in the one car showroom of the local BMW dealer in ’72 when the infamous David E. Davis C&D road test exploded my mind with desire for the car that would “make even the preacher breathe hard.” Had my father known how I drove it, he wouldn’t have wanted it in my hands, either.
The first month I had it not a day passed during which the speedo didn’t flirt with 105mph, and every day also found me exploring the far side of the adhesion limits of the XASs in throttle steering joy. I cannot imagine a car delivering more well balanced fun than a properly dressed tii. Ultimately I put the 19mm bars on and the more aggressive springs which lowered it a good two inches. At that point there was essentially nothing on the road which could follow me on any freeway ramp.
I think a lot of folks may have had engine issues because they drove them too sedately. Mine went some 80k before needing a rebuild, although I did experience the infamous transmission power output shaft failure common in the early cars.
If the only BMW you ever get to drive happens to be a tii roundie, you have experienced the very essence of everything BMW has has ever built since. It lacks nothing but more of everything it has.
When I was a kid in the 80’s, my dad drove a Sahara beige 1970 2002. He was a car guy, so it was treated to dual Weber carbs, tuned exhaust, and steel 320i rims. Rare would be the road trip where my dad, sporting fingerless driving gloves and amber lensed Serengeti driving glasses, wouldn’t scare the crap out of my mother with it.