Test Your Knowledge of the 2002, BMW’s Seminal Sport Sedan
Learn all about the original sport sedan’s notable variants and gush over these rare photos.
The 2002 wasn't the first car the BMW launched in the United States, but it was the model that solidified the German automaker's reputation here as a manufacturer of excellent sports cars. A shortened version of BMW's New Class Sedans, the 2002 arrived in 1968 with a larger-displacement engine than its predecessor, the 1602. As one of the most celebrated sport sedans of all time, the 2002 set the precedent for everything BMW would become over the following decades. Here are some of the most notable production versions of the BMW 2002.
1968-1975 BMW 2002
Legendary importer Max Hoffman is responsible for BMW bringing the 2002 to our market, having requested a sportier version of the 1602 that would also pass emissions requirements. Car enthusiasts immediately fell in love with the 2002's boxy exterior design, its 100-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and its immaculate driving dynamics. The 2002 compromised little; despite being quick and agile, its two-door body also had a spacious passenger compartment and plenty of room for cargo.
1968-1971 BMW 2002 ti
Before the days of BMW M, BMW used the "ti" suffix to its higher-performance models. The 2002 ti's 2.0-liter engine received dual Solex 40 carburetors and was tuned for higher compression to develop 120 hp, an outrageous 20 percent increase in output over the base model. Top speed was 115 mph.
1970 BMW 2002 ti Diana
A special version of the BMW 2002 ti arrived in 1970 when racing driver Hubert Hahne wanted to gift his wife Diana Körner a special wedding present. German coachbuilder Baur handled the customizations for a total of 12 examples, which included changes like a sliding sunroof alloy wheels, twin headlamps, and unique badging. Inside, BMW outfitted the 2002 ti Diana with black, brown, or white leather upholstery. Each car wore a unique exterior paint color.
1971-1974 BMW 2000/2002 Touring
Based on the BMW 2002 notchback, this hatchback version of BMW's sporty two-door offered more cargo space. The Touring could be had with the 100-hp single-carburetor engine or the tii's 120-hp dual-carburetor setup. An automatic version was offered from 1971 to 1972, with only 989 vehicles sold.
1971-1975 BMW 2002 Baur Cabriolet
BMW employed the services of Baur to produce convertible versions of the 1602 and 2002. Featuring a targa-style roof, although not called a targa because Porsche owned the rights to the name, the 2002 Baur Cabriolet maintained much of the coupe's rigidity thanks to its roof hoop. Just 2,517 examples of the 2002 Baur Cabriolet were produced.
1971-1975 BMW 2002 tii
Launched globally for 1971 and for the United States in 1972, the BMW 2002 tii developed about 130 hp thanks to Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. BMW improved reliability when it introduced the 2002 tii and lengthened the four-speed transmission's gear ratios. Longer gears resulted in improved fuel economy but prevented significant performance gains over the previous 2002 ti.
1973-1975 BMW 2002 Turbo
This is the highest-performance, rarest, and most sought-after version of the BMW 2002. Upgrades included a KKK turbocharger, modified cylinder heads, and larger combustion chambers. Output totaled 168 hp, enabling a top speed of 130 mph. BMW cites a sub-7.0-second 0-60-mph sprint, which made it one of the quickest German cars at the time—behind the Porsche Carrera.
1968-1975 BMW 2002 Production Variants
- 1968-1975 BMW 2002
- 1968-1971 BMW 2002 ti
- 1970 BMW 2002 ti Diana
- 1971-1974 BMW 2000/2002 Touring
- 1971−1975 BMW 2002 Baur Cabriolet
- 1971-1975 BMW 2002 tii
- 1973-1975 BMW 2002 Turbo
Billy Rehbock's passion for cars started with his dad's Volkswagen Jetta GLX, his mom's Cabriolet, and his own Hot Wheels collection. A USC graduate with a Master of Science in journalism, he's an associate editor for the MotorTrend Buyer's Guide and covers everything from sports cars to SUVs.
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