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“Bfeng”
“The 2002 and especially the tii were more "important" cars than the coupes. The E9 was just BMW's entry into a well established segmentof GT coupes (DB4's, 400GT's, E-types, JH Intercepters, Pagoda's, etc. Sure it was a good entry, but it didn't reset standards, open new market segment, etc.
The 2002, one could argue, established BMW as a legitimate player in the US market and popularized the previously rare sports compact segment. Consider it the 1965 Mustang of Germany.
Also, if you've owned and driven a 2002, it's absolutely true that they just feel right. Sure the coupes are more comfortable, prettier, faster, and in some instances handle better. But a well sorted 2002 give you a oneness or connection to the driving experience that's, IMHO, superior to the E9 and perhaps only matched by the E30 M3.”
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John I have had both these cars a Euro 1972 2002Tii for many years and the Euro 1971 3.0CSI. The 2002 model did save BMW’s car division early in the 1970’s although the one that set BMW on fire was the 3.0 coupes. Those 3.0 coupe design lines you can see clearly in my Euro 1979 635CSI and all the way up to the BMW cars now days plus much of their competitions cars too. While the 2002Tii is a fun car to drive as many say it has to much of a box look and plain and simple (especially Porsche owners). Plus what the 1971 3-liter BMW couples did racing in Europe that year winning about everything made many car companies take a hard look at BMW’s race capability.
Personally driving with a setup motor and suspension the best I can the 2002Tii VS the 3.0CSI cannot be compared IMO. Just the length of the CSI in high-speed turns and control in 4-wheel drifts compared to the shorter go-cart feel of the 2002Tii speaks for itself.
The Euro 2002Tii was only made for 2-years 1972-1974, the 3.0CSI and many others CS, CSA, and very small amount of the CSL models were made from 1971-1975 that’s 5-years.
No big deal its just years ago my wife gave me a great book on BMW’s history and it really tells the BMW history story in detail. The one with the red Gullwing on the cover and the racing version M1 that was Turbocharged and 850 hp like the one my friend Michael Douglas (the actor) use to race.
For those that don’t know about these cars take a look at what BMW was building in the 1970’s in the attachment. The body was built by the Italian manufacturer Lamborghini when they entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car the BMW M1 was the result.”
In 1979 I almost bought one of the M1’s they came in a crate for $35K down payments total price $210K I wish I had I can not imagen what they are worth now days with only 455 ever built.