A BMW 2002 for the year 2002?
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- čas přidán 4. 09. 2024
- Steve Saxty has been given unprecedented access to BMW to tell their story through a series of books, and he’s let me pluck this one from “BMW’s Hidden Gems” - the story of how BMW created a reimagining of the 2002. So, with Steve’s help, here’s the story of BMW’s 2002 for the year 2002!
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Link to Steve's full interview: • Steve Saxty BMW 2002 F...
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Here's a link to Steve's excellent BMW book series: www.stevesaxty.com
Hi Big, nice videos. Keep making them :DDDD
We subscribers love you
Upload: 5 Days ago
Comment: 1 month ago
aaaah ok thank you youtube
Looking at the latest BMWs all I can say is... come back Chris Bangle... all is forgiven.
❤❤❤❤ very interesting video thanks
Definitely. The cars he designed were way too modern back then but today, they're spot on
That’s what I was thinking a couple of days ago
There’s an old farmer near me that has billboard on his barn with a pic of George W. I feel the same way about that😂. Chris and George were alright after all.
@@VinDieselS70agreed. I was speaking to someone when I delivered my E66 to my local mechanic, we agreed that even though it's 15 years old (the design of course being a fair bit older) it definitely maintains a modern, yet highly understated presence on the roads.
I remember being a kid thinking it was sheer insanity that BMW didn't make a 2002 in the year 2002.
Very interesting episode, I will now always see the 1 series as a 2002
My thoughts exactly.
It was a privilege to work with Steve and edit this book last year.
i knew the 1 series always looked like a modern version of 2002.... now it all makes sense!
Thank you for the video as always amazing quality !
Perhaps the original 1-series Coupe is the spiritual successor to these plans? As I am an M140i owner, I would be fully in support of a baby BMW saloon making a return with a high-performance version (that isn't the contrived 2-series oddity)
You mean the BMW 1M?
My thoughts exactly.
I think the video made exactly that point.
Im going to assume you didnt watch the entire video. I’ll do a recap for you since you seem a bit confused. The coupe wasn’t a “spiritual successor” to the 2k2 plans, it quite literally was the prototype for the proposed 1 series, it just wasn’t called that at the time. It was delayed due to BMW putting focus towards Rover rather than the potential 2k2. The coupe was designed first, then the 3 door hatch came after as a compromise to make the 1 more appealing to put into production.
@BloomingHeathers there were other models of the 1-series coupe besides the 1 series M coupe, just as how there are for the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 series
The design concept picture at 13:08 is an E86 Z4 coupe, built between 2006 and 2009, so that work didn't go to waste.
Great video! What a wonderful car the 2002 was. This would have been super. I know it's a cliche at this point, but it's a nice reminder of the past - when BMW wasn't such a domineering maker of rolling computers with big grills. Really interesting project.
Thanks for keeping history alive.
My first car was a BMW E30 .
Thanks for telling about the 2002 BMW story!
Im from Germany and this story is new for me.😎
Same here, bought one last year.
Wow, the first 2002 prototype looked like an Alfa Romeo 😍
My thoughts exactly!
I can’t wait for this amazing video to get 2002 views
How about 2002002
Fun video to see. I had a 2002 for near 30 years (1984 through to 2014 or so). LOVED that car. Sold it only because I also had an E9 Coupe and... can't keep them all. I still my my old 02. Thanks for the video.
FYI - The 02 series was indeed a series...
There was a 1602, 1802 and 2002. The first two digits were the engine size (1.6L, 1,8L or 2.0L) with the last two digits being the body style. There was even a 1502 at the end of the run when the 320i had been introduced. That car (1502) had a small economical engine and was touted as a commuter car. Cheers...
Aah. I still remember burning my little legs in the summer of 1978 on those wonderful black vinyl seats. The only opinion of my father that I remember: "it's bloody thirsty".
There is so much of the 2002 concept in the 1 series. Therefore the concept was a success and super influential.
Bangles trick lead to huge cost savings, as so many parts are shared between the coupe and the hatchback and the 3series:
- Up to and including the A pillar, the first 1 series are all identical aside from the bumper. Huge cost savings
- Doors of the coupe, cabrio and 3 door hatchback are basically the same
- The car had just 4 basic engines,
1) all 4 cylinders were basically the same with different power outputs.
2) 3 Liter N52 for the hatchback and slightly detuned for the cabrio and coupe
3) 3L turbo charged was it the M54?
4) the 4 cyl diesels were basically the same
- Then of course all components were shared, seats dash...
- The chassis and so many parts were simply borrowed from the 3 series.
The hatchback N52 was AutoBild's best long termer for years, despite being a completely new model - which, well it wasn't all new was it? Producing a 135i only had cost marginally more than the base 116i or 118i. Think about those nice margins. And yet no customer really felt short changed. People loved the 1st generation and still love it. I do.
100% this
I read about it in Steves book, I got the full box set and it was just amazing to read. As a BMW enthusiast, this is a must-have! Great to see a video about this car now as well
Ah that's good to hear, thank you. And it's nice to See Big Car do these vids so well.
Once at Monte Carlo rally a Polish car was taken as a new BMW.
Droping Polski Fiat name and lack of marketing was so bad that when FSO Polonez with it's 4 round lights and shark-like front turned up at rally Monte Carlo 1979, announcer confused FSO's new-old logo with BMW's, went suggested by '2000' badge on the back, and thinking that FSO sticker on the bonnet was just a sponsor's logo, announced 'the new BMW 2002!'
source: 'Czerwony Książę' (Red Duke) by Andrzej Jaroszewicz (twice Europe's rally vice-champion and the guy who drove that car back there and then.)
Before the marketing department completely took over BMW.. I did enjoy the video
Today BMW could make a very small, spartan car and badge it "2002"...but not based on the year, they could base that number on its weight in kilograms.
@@pistonburner6448ok Lord yappington
@@pistonburner6448 2002kg
The 1 series coupe is a decent successor, the twin turbo six cylinder version is a great little car, a bit floaty suspension wise, but that can be fixed. Great video once again
I was never married to a car brand. I've had Mazda, Honda, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, - well a bunch of Fords.
But now I have a BMW. With a Check Engine light that is on 24/7. I'm ignoring it.
Think of how hard it would be to order parts for this car. "I i need an air filter for a 2003 2002 "
imagine getting parts for a 2002 2002
I had the US 318ti from 1996 with M43 engine. Loved that car. I drove it, with nearly 170k miles from Phoenix, AZ, to Raleigh, NC, over the course of four days. Never gave me any problems.
Great story but one car was missing... The 2000/ 2002 Touring. This particular model was my very first car in 1984.
Thank you for the upload :)
The design at 10:03 is absolutely stunning. Would have loved to see that on the roads.
At last, not an overdesigned bmw. Will they ever go back? Honda and bmw trying to upstage one another while leaving their customer base wanting.
My dad got his 2002 in 1971.
Had twin Webers installed and an Alpina lowered cylinder cover.
It was great!
My father had a super rare 2002 Tii Touring when he was 5 years old, it was the car that made me fall in love with the automotive world, more than 30 years later I remember being in that car as if it were yesterday
I can definitely see some design influences / inspiration of the 2002 concept in the 1 series E82 and 2 series F22 2 door coupe’s designs. My little brother bought a F22 in 2019, it’s a lot of fun and he felt as close as you could get to the iconic 2002 in a new BMW at the time, I’m not as big of a fan of the current G42 2 series.
That is fascinating. You see so much evolution from the time of that concept for the 1 Series and even late on you can see how we landed on the first 4 Series coupe. Sad that the situation with Rover denied us two lots of cool looking cars but can see how they landed on the decision they did. Really interesting video!
I always liked the 1 series 2 door version, but i never connected the dots.
The prototype looked more radical 🙂
What a story!
A former neighbour of mine, an old man, used to have some kind of a 02 series BMW, it was really cool. He bought it brand new and still had it in the 2010s as his only car. Unfortunately some weird guy convinced him that his car was worth nothing/basically a pile of garbage and he believed it. In the end he gave it to the weird man for free… bruh.
I own a 2011 128i! Awesome car!
In the mid 1990's to the early 2000's you buy a 2002 for a song - I had three in a row- restored each then bought another. You could buy one for $1500 and resell it locally - this was pre-internet - for around $4000. My final car was a 1974 2002tii with a/c AND sunroof, a very rare combo. I paid $10,000 for it in 2004 and drove it for 5 years as a daily driver. I sold the car in 2010 for $17,000; It was resold on BaT recently for $35,000. I loved the car but it was prone to rust and very fragile mechanically. I eventually got the spiritual successor: the 318ti 5speed M Sport - which drove almost identically with a bit more power, better handling and built much tougher. I still drive the 318ti today...It's a fabulous car! Prices have been rising and a good MANUAL version is current around $12,000.
This looks like the inspiration for the 1 series coupe
Another fantastic video!
Thank you
Proper bmw unlike the modern trash
So that's where the 2-series coupé came from. And it's still a very nice driver's car if you get the 230i model coupé.
I used to own a 1975 model 2002 BMW I Dearly Loved that car and wish I'd never parted from it!!! 🇩🇪🤠👍
It’s an over designed one series. A great start. Love the sparse interior.
Beautiful this 2002 is another world respect to today's BMWs more vulgar and not so young and elegant
The New 3 series look's pretty good
@@gerarduspoppel2831 It's horrible the new Serie 3, is elegant and precious but not fresh, the best 2025 BMW is the 7 serie.
Well its made for vulgær and not so young people
@@DrLoverLover The target people of BMW is changed...
I had an E46 Compact, and I loved it. You can see the design language from the 2002 in it's styling. Everyone called it ugly, but the more I looked at it daily, the more I loved it. It seems to me that the 2002 prototype was a blend of the E46 Compact and the 1/2 series.
Love the videos featuring the designers themselves.
I wanted to get Ralf Langmeier, but BMW said no. 😔
The only problem is the real truth comes from other sources than the high-climbing often narcissist designers themselves. Of course not all are such, and in any case they have interesting things to say ans lots of knowledge. But what would really be great is getting other insiders' insights!
@@BigCar2 You need to do whatever Georg Kacher does to get inside info from VW and other companies...
Or do what spies do: befriend them outside factory gates, honeypot them, compromise them, etc... 😅
I had a '71 VW 1600E Fastback like you can see at the beginning of this video. It was great when it worked. It had electronic injection and a trunk at both ends.
bmw back then with their concept car nailed their car design of today.
This was a fantastic and very informative video, thank you. I love BMW!
Funny, have a Kyosho 1:64 scale BMW 2002 Turbo next to me on my Desktop. 😍
This is news to me. Wonderful video and I love to see a fair inspiration of that prototype in the 1 series coupe from 2008. That car still looks great. It makes sense, the E46 3 series was an event and worldwide acclaimed when debuted.
My parents still have their 2002 from when they married. Love driving that car.
Fascinating story - and so easy to see how it eventually became the 1 Series coupe. A friend had a 1 series coupe and I thought it a much better car than the hatchback version. Interesting the current 2 series coupe remains rear wheel drive while the 1 series is now front wheel drive, based on the mini platform.
Yes I need that book, great video
Fascinating!
Older smaller cars look so spacious. Small cars now look awkward and dorky. With terribly cramped interiors and just make no sense financially.
With how expensive they are while feeling like a penalty box.
Maybe Im wrong and small cars have always been cramped. But in the pictures and videos they look mature and comfortable.
After my Honda Fit I dont really see a point in ever driving a small car again.
Moved to a SUV as sedans are too cramped and as mentioned gave hatchbacks a try. Pretty happy with my 4runner.
What a shame that they failed to sign it off just so that they could... fail to save Rover. You can see how much of it went into the 1er Coupé though, to be fair.
If only BMW was able and willing to build a 1000kg two-door driver's car these days. It seems impossible now.
9:56 I don't really like how BMWs look, but this design is stunning. Especially the rear. Even in 2024 it looks good.
No angry triangle shaped headlights, no angry triangle shaped rear lights, no fake plastic exhausts, no black plastic trim along the edges of the bumper or sides, no top-to-bottom front grille, no black alloy wheels with 3 different shades of grey on them.
At 09:00 it is just an early version of the E82 / 1-series coupe.
It certainly looks that way ….
Cracking video! I had a 99 E46 323Ci in the day so would have happily bought the Y2K 2002!
Enjoyable ride and stop. Thanks for sharing 😊
What the 2K2 design needed was a vast grille as big as a windscreen, for a true reminder of the original. Or something.
I loved the original 2002, used to own one back in the 1980s.
Another very exciting story, much appreciated.
I first heard about the BMW 2002 when I was searching up 2002 year model BMWs on Google and was confused why the results showed BMW cars from the '60s and '70s 😅
looks like a 1 series coupe the 1M is a legend so is the 135 in fairness
I've just been lucky enough to acquire a 2020 2 series coupe, which must be very close to what the 2k2 was intended to be. It is probably one of the last cars to have classic understated BMW good looks and an interior with proper dials and switches. It has only done 7000 miles and I hope to treasure it for years to come.
I have a 2003 325xi 5 speed sedan.. I've dumped alot of money into it.. replaced lots of unfortunately expensive parts but I do love it.. not a racecar but fun an comfy.. ❤it.. hate I may sell it.. and won't get much
.. e46er .. ❤
Well, this is an opportunity to make a video on Max Reisböck and the BMW E30 TOURING
that first sketch of the 2002 2002 would have fitted perfect alongside the 166 in Alfa romeo's lineup
The iconic 2002 but in 2002! Nice idea! 🤣🤣🤣
Great story, very well told. Thank you.
3:50 That sketch reminds me of the Alfa Romeo GT. Pretty much the same shape...
Today BMW could make a very small, spartan car and badge it "2002"...but not based on the year, they could base that number on its weight in kilograms.
Nice to see the advert showing that BMW’s tailgated people as far back as the 60’s 🤣
I hear that the latest models feature adaptive cruise control, where the driver can choose between 10, 20 or 30mm following distance.
@@Zeem4you could get another BMW in that gap 😂
@@paulwilkins2614 😂
1 series coupe comes to mind in the side profile
When the BMW Compact came out, it was the least depreciating car on sale at the time
I had one of those in 96. It was only the 1.6i but a lot of fun to drive. Especially since it was a company car, so foot to the floor whenever possible. And I lived in Germany at the time, so you could really let the thing sing.
Love them OG BMW compacts
When I look at the 2002, or the 1600, I can't help thinking of the Corvair...
A friend had one, what I recall is that its steering rivaled a Saab for heaviness.
I see the 1 series coupe from 2007 onwards
Timely..I just stopped bat my friends garage where he’s restoring his….( I’ve had 4)
So the 2K2 project was to be a relatively low-volume E46-based 1000kg 2-door three-box 2+2, likely powered by a 141 hp 2.0 4-cylinder that offered similar performance as the 168 hp E36 BMW 323ti Compact 6-cylinder?
2002 a beautiful shape 😦
I was on the verge of buying a late 60s 2002 in the early 90s and the seller pulled out at the last minute. So gutted.
10:41 these are audi wheel covers from the early 90s
At least we had a 2002 in the end called 1-2 series
I have a 135i coupe, and I can now see where its looks came from, I have always been a bit if a Bangle fan, also now owning 2 Fiat 20vt's, and a Z4M, all of them are love or hate cars, but still they are not boring or main stream... now isn't that a nice change looking at today's offerings.
Its interesting how the proposed design at 4:14-4:20 look so close to an e82
think the front, reminds me of the cs 2000
A very interesting video, thank-you. I have never been a big fan of the high swage line as seen on the original 2002, it reminds me of the original Chevrolet Corvair and NSU Prinz 1000. Thank-you for explaining the link to the new one series which has similar "Bathtub" styling.
A neighbour owned a 2002tii bought new, yellow with a tint in the glass. Beautiful car he recently told me it was the worst car he ever owned, junk. Still a beauty looking at from afar.
The BMW North America concept was by far the best looking iteration. That car should’ve been made. I stand corrected…the 2016 reimagining was a banger. It’s insane they didn’t build it.
It's mind boggling that the BMW 2002 was considered both an Executive & a Family car.
IT HIT A SWEET SPOT. It was a better looking and peppier Fiat 124.
In 2015 there were almost 1 Million Peaple asking for a "Back to the Future Part II Pepsi Perfect" . Straight said Pepsi was simple to dumb to react.
Memo for management: When so many people on your staff have the same exact idea under a brilliant marketing scheme, don't ignore it.
I love your Documentaries, Thank you!
steve saxty as research method, have my sub sirrr
He's talked to the top people at BMW for the last few decades, so he's an excellent resource.
@@BigCar2 marvelous work on older Fords as well
BMW Always ahead of its time at the day the 2002 is a icon even BMW made a 1 series Tii Concept Long Live BMW
At lealeast we had a 2002 in the end called 1-2 series
What about the E46 Compact Ti, if you’re talking about the E36 Compact Ti too?
The whole Rover ordeal was nothing but a distraction for BMW. With the exception of Mini, it really set BMW back a number of years.
10:07 would buy immediately
The RWD 1 series were amazing dailies- especially the coupes. But in first generation the agility and steering response was not very good - Opel Astra J felt more agile. Second generation was much better but the seating position was also a bit high and odd in between FWD cars and 3 series. So if you want a compact BMW sedan E46 is for me the better choose over E8x even these were way built.
Love e46 2002
For heaven's sake, BMW better not recreate a modern 2002 but as a crossover SUV mess. Nothing is sacred these days.
My uncle had a 2002, but I don't remember the exact details, my memory is a bit hazy.