Tuesday 24th May 2016

BMW 2002 Turbo: Spotted

You can't buy a 2002 Hommage, but you can buy an original Turbo (at a price)

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BMW's Hommage concepts always tend to be special, and the latest 2002 continues that tradition. Squat and aggressive, it evokes a lot of what we love about old BMWs without looking like a pastiche.

While the Hommage won't ever be sold, there is an original 2002 Turbo available on PH. It's silver rather than white and the advert appears unfinished, but what a find for the classic BMW fan.

Yes for an off-centre exhaust!

Like so many old cars, 2002 Turbos are becoming hard to find. It's suggested that just 1,672 cars were produced, the car's lairy character not really in keeping with the austere climate of the mid-70s, gripped as it was by an oil crisis. Every Turbo was left-hand drive as well, further reducing the likelihood of discovering one in the UK.

While not an M car, the 2002 Turbo has established a legendary reputation for itself. Today turbos have connotations of efficiency, of being introduced to meet emissions targets as much as boosting power. But back in the 70s, turbos were relatively new and tremendously exciting thanks to the huge gains in power available. The excitement - or fear, depending on the consequences - was ramped up in the 170hp 2002 with its huge turbo lag and big performance. Even today, 170hp in a car that's sub-1,100kg with a tank of fuel would be quick - combine that with an engine that isn't really interested below 4,000rpm and there's a recipe for thrills of some kind...

The world needs more graphics like this

Back in the 70s, about the only thing quicker than a fully lit 2002 Turbo was a Porsche 911. Four decades later, there's an interesting comparison to be had as classic purchases. There's no escaping the fact that £70,000 for a 2002 is a lot of money, but then with original CSLs at £100K and E28 M5s at £40,000 for cars with 150K miles, the 6,000-mile Turbo looks much better value. Then we're onto the 911s...

This 2.7 MFI is from the same year as the 2002 Turbo. Restored and looking rather lovely in 'Bitter Chocolate', it promises the authentic 911 experience. The price? £229,995. For one at less money than the 2002 Turbo, you're looking at a 1975 Sportomatic 3.0-litre Carrera with nearly 120,000 miles. That's still £55K.

In the context of those Porsches then, the BMW looks far more tempting. With that turbo the driving experience will be like no other, and that on top of the 2002 being arguably one of BMW's best designs. Plus it has 'turbo' graphics, like all the best force fed cars. Perhaps don't drive it too fast in the wet though...

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BMW 2002 TURBO
Engine: 1,991cc, inline-four turbo
Transmission: 4-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 170@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 177@4,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1974
Recorded mileage: 6,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £69,980

See the original advert here.

[Source: BMW2002.co.uk]

 

[Goatboy]

Such a lovely little thing.

But I want this more

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1972-bmw-30-cs...

[Jeffmaniac]

If I win the Euromillions tonight, this will be gone tomorrow!

[andyps]

I was actually surprised that the price was as low as that - I had no idea what they are worth but compared to some other ridiculous prices for things like Escorts this seems good value, although typing that seems strange.

[ilovequo]

Nostalgia up to its tricks again...

[73RS]

6,000 miles! Hard to believe such a thing exists.

[unpc]

Apparently you could measure the turbo lag on these with a sun dial.

[e21Mark]

A regular 2002 or 2002tii is a far nicer car to drive. May not have the kudos of the turbo (although not far off) but nor are they so fragile and expensive to run. A bit of fettling and you can get a stock up to similar power, whilst remaining normally aspirated. Go Alpina A4s spec and fitted ITB's for some throaty induction noise. You could even just drop in an s14 as an M2 (not the modern thing) will whip the arse of a turbo and then some! Even an M42/1.8 twin cam will only be a little down on the turbo's power output. Add an off the shelf supercharger kit from GKD and you could have 200 brake!

[golfer19]

Great looking car.

[Osinjak]

£70,000 I mean it's a belting motor for sure but...!

[Exige77]

Lovely

[Axionknight]

Ooooh that's lovely, but it's a pity it has seen so little use, imo.

[sh33n]

I expected this to be a lot higher, actually looks like decent value at that price. Surely only heading up from there.

Would certainly go in my Lotto garage.

[numtumfutunch]

Yes, I would and the price seems OK all things considered

But 230k for the diarrhoea 911 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really, I like my Pork but what have I missed on this one?

[g3org3y]

Lovely stuff.

Reverse turbo lettering =

I think the closest I'll ever get to one of these is a 1/18 model!

[Burwood]

sh33n said:

I expected this to be a lot higher, actually looks like decent value at that price. Surely only heading up from there.

Would certainly go in my Lotto garage.

Same here, which tells me this example is a pup.

[andyps]

e21Mark said:

A regular 2002 or 2002tii is a far nicer car to drive. May not have the kudos of the turbo (although not far off) but nor are they so fragile and expensive to run. A bit of fettling and you can get a stock up to similar power, whilst remaining normally aspirated. Go Alpina A4s spec and fitted ITB's for some throaty induction noise. You could even just drop in an s14 as an M2 (not the modern thing) will whip the arse of a turbo and then some! Even an M42/1.8 twin cam will only be a little down on the turbo's power output. Add an off the shelf supercharger kit from GKD and you could have 200 brake!

But that surely isn't the point. This is one of a relatively few genuine 2002 Turbos, which as a car itself has a bit of a place in history in relation to the use of Turbos. I don't doubt what you say about drivability and performance, but this is a 6000 mile 2002 Turbo. I'm not a BMW fan, but this car has appeal. Mind you, the first reasonably fast car I drove was a 2002 Tii, I will always remember the friend of my then girlfriends parents who threw me the keys to go for a drive soon after I passed my test, didn't go far or get a chance to really see how quick it was, but it was a great experience!

[Cheib]

What's more shocking is that the only 3.0 CSL on PH is up for £100k. Last time I looked there were several cars in the £50k bracket most of which had been for sale a long time!

[morgrp]

I was offered one of these about 12years ago for 11grand - in silver with the original "bottle top" alloys in decent condition - didn't have the cash at the time, prob should have taken out a loan! Ahhh well you live and learn...

[e21Mark]

andyps said:

e21Mark said:

A regular 2002 or 2002tii is a far nicer car to drive. May not have the kudos of the turbo (although not far off) but nor are they so fragile and expensive to run. A bit of fettling and you can get a stock up to similar power, whilst remaining normally aspirated. Go Alpina A4s spec and fitted ITB's for some throaty induction noise. You could even just drop in an s14 as an M2 (not the modern thing) will whip the arse of a turbo and then some! Even an M42/1.8 twin cam will only be a little down on the turbo's power output. Add an off the shelf supercharger kit from GKD and you could have 200 brake!

But that surely isn't the point. This is one of a relatively few genuine 2002 Turbos, which as a car itself has a bit of a place in history in relation to the use of Turbos. I don't doubt what you say about drivability and performance, but this is a 6000 mile 2002 Turbo. I'm not a BMW fan, but this car has appeal. Mind you, the first reasonably fast car I drove was a 2002 Tii, I will always remember the friend of my then girlfriends parents who threw me the keys to go for a drive soon after I passed my test, didn't go far or get a chance to really see how quick it was, but it was a great experience!

You may well be right, although quite a few of the original cars survive. As a museum piece I guess the cost could be justified but, were you looking for an 02 to own and drive, the supposedly lesser models are a better bet. (Just my opinion obviously)

[aeropilot]

OP said:

While not an M car, the 2002 Turbo has established a legendary reputation for itself.

Err......it was developed by BMW Motorsport (like the E9 3.0CSL) in the real days when M really stood for Motorsport rather than Marketing, and is way more deserving of the M car kudos than almost every other post-E30 M3 era built 'M' car

Sheeezzzz