Get the Best Priced BMW 2002 Parts

It was the BMW 02 Series, first produced in 1966 and continuing in production for eleven years, that finally put the company on the map. The "02 Series" was based on a previous model, known as the "New Class." That model came in the wake of a major financial upheaval at BMW during the late 1950s. The 02 Series was a smaller, less expensive entry-level vehicle that essentially introduced America to one of Germany's finest post-war vehicles.

The BMW 2002 came about as the result of a modification made to the previous 1600 model. Two owners, who worked at BMW, had larger 2.0 liter engines installed in their 1600s. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. import agent for BMW asked the company to come up with a sportier model. The result was the BMW 2002, which an automotive review at the time (1968) described as "one of modern civilization's all-time best ways to get somewhere sitting down."

That engine, which was the first BMW engine able to comply with U.S. smog regulations, came in two versions. The base model was had a single carburetor and was rated at 101 horsepower. The other was a high-compression model, putting out 119 horsepower. Eventually, the 2002 was offered with a three speed automatic transmission. In 1971, the 2002tii variant was given a fuel injected 130 horsepower engine, giving it a top speed of 130 miles per hour. Two years later, the 2002 got a turbocharger, raising the horsepower to 170 at 5800 RPM. Unfortunately, the timing was not optimal for the introduction of that model. That extra power came at a cost in fuel consumption, and it was that same year that Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to impose an embargo on the U.S., sending the price of gasoline skyward. As a result, fewer than 1700 were produced that year.

Another problem was the sticker price. When it arrived in dealer showrooms in the U.S., the BMW 2002tii carried a sticker price of $4500 - which translates into around $25,000 today. For that amount, one could get a much larger vehicle, such as a Chevy Monte Carlo. Paying a premium price like that for a car not much larger than a VW Beetle tended to raise a few eyebrows. Part of that equation had to do with a less favorable exchange rate between the deutschemark and the U.S. dollar; in 1968, the rate was four marks to the dollar, but by the time the 2002 arrived, that rate had gone to three to one. In to that import fees and duties and shipping costs, and by the end of the day, most Americans didn't think it was such a great deal.

Nonetheless, there was real quality to the BMW 2002. Today, it is considered a valuable collector's item. Restoration buffs will find BMW 2002 auto parts for their project at PartsGeek.com, where BWM 2002 body parts and other components are priced at as much as 80% off competitor's prices.