Servicing and Maintenance
1975 BMW 2002 tii
1975 BMW 2002 tii
BMW in post war Germany was in a tight spot. The BMW factory in Munich had seen heavy bombing in the years prior and was all but a ruin. The Soviet occupation in the East had taken the Eisenach factory off the board, forcing BMW to get by making domestic cookware and bicycles until the reintroduction of motorcycles to the production line in 1948 which helped to change the trajectory of the company.
The 1500 Neue Klasse saloon in the 60’s was a positive foray into producing new models, albeit on the more executive side. The Klasse revealed a gap in the market for a more affordable marque from BMW, who were at the time a largely unknown novelty in the U.S market, thanks to the Isetta bubble car made in partnership with the Italians.
The 02 as it was designated (02 meaning 2 door) was less equipped than the Klasse, shorter by 25cm with a spacious boot, room for a family of 4 and small dog. Lighter, faster and more nimble than the Neue Klasse, it was an enticing package. The 1600 engined M10 variant quadrupled BMW’s sales in the US, bringing BMW back from the brink of bankruptcy.
Two directors at BMW, Helmut Werner Bönsch and Alex von Falkenhausen both had the larger bored out two-litre version of the M10 engine fitted to their personal 1600-02’s. Across the pond, a dealer called Hoffman Motors had also identified a market for a 2.0 litre variant of the 02. With a proposal from Bönsch and von Falkenhausen, alongside Hoffman’s identical idea, reviewed and approved by the board in Munich, the BMW 2002 was born.
This new 02 was fitted with a four cylinder 1990cc M10 engine featuring a SOHC configuration and single carburetor. Producing 100bhp with brake discs up front and responsive independent suspension, it would out perform almost all of its peers.
By the end of production in 1976, over twenty-six thousand 2002’s had been sold in North America alone. Thanks to a flurry of positive praise from journalists, with Car and Driver declaring it “the best $2500 sedan anywhere.” and Auto Bild titling the 2002 as ‘Fluster Bombe’ – The Whispering Bomb.
1971 saw the introduction of the 2002tii, a fuel injected kugelfischer 2.0 litre four-cylinder with 130 bhp and a 0-60 time of 8.2seconds. To improve braking performance, bigger wheels had to be fitted to accommodate the enlarged stoppers and uprated suspension allowed the tii to outcorner anything MG and Triumph could bring to bear.
Ordered from new by notorious Christchurch (NZ) ‘faith leader’ John Eric Dalhoff from the main BMW concessionaire and having been garaged at the direct centre of the universe, it was in pristine shape.
The church of ‘John Ultimate’ was doing well. At the time of purchase there was 100% import duty on all foreign cars entering New Zealand making it a very expensive acquisition. The basic UK list price of a 2002 Tii in April 1973 was £2,800, or £29,800 in today's money. If you then add 100% import duty to get the car into New Zealand the base price would have been something approaching £6,000 or £64,000 in 2025.
John kept the 2002 for around 4 years, before selling it to a member of his congregation, who had migrated to the house across the street -to be closer to the centre of the known universe; it covered a mere 12,213km. It would remain in his keeping for the next 13 years, doubling in mileage to 22,435km before being sold to the local Christchurch BMW dealer - Blackwell Motors.
The car would change hands a few more times over the next decade, until in 2010, it would join the Hero Collection and be imported into the UK for the first time, with only 25,000km on the clock.
Having undergone an age related recommissioning in our workshop of all perishable belts, brake and fuel lines, coolant hoses, seals, bushes and gaskets and inspection II service, the Inka tii is ready to become an active part of the Hero Collection for 2025 and beyond.
Our Thoughts
This Inka Orange 02, is without doubt, one of the most complete and unrestored examples of the Tii in the world. Benefiting from an unusually high level of specification, the 5-speed gearbox, limited slip differential, Mahle alloy wheels and motorsport steering wheel set it apart from the average, whilst Hella driving lights, bumper over riders (code 65.2), locking fuel cap (code 82.2) and subsequent fitting of standard seat-belts (code 92.1) add further refinement.
1975 BMW 2002 tii
1975 BMW 2002 tii