The 2002 is one of BMW’s most iconic models. It’s the car that cemented BMW’s place in the automotive world, as a builder of simple, lightweight, fun sport sedans. It’s the precursor to the 3 Series, the brand’s bread and butter, and it’s the car that received a such a famously glowing review from Car and Driver that enthusiasts still go back to read it, 58 years later. So we all always love seeing cool 2002 builds. But what about one with a Nissan engine under its hood?
I’m all for engine swapping cars, as long as the idea of the engine makes sense in the car. A bigger, more modern BMW engine? Wonderful. An LS V-8? Odd but understandable. Hell, I can even see something like a Toyota 1JZ or 2JZ engine swap in a BMW making sense, because those are legendary inline-six engines, similar to BMW’s own. Plus, the new Supra has a BMW engine, so there’s a nice connection there. However, a Nissan four-cylinder? There’s no connection there. Still, this one seems kinda cool.
Cars and Bids
This 1974 BMW 2002 for sale on Cars and Bids has many modifications but its biggest by far is the Nissan SR20DET engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot. And while that’s a highly unusual choice for an engine-swapped BMW, it seems to work well enough. The displacement and layout are similar to the original 2002, it fits nicely, and Nissan is also a great maker of inline engines. This one has an “Alpina” badge glued to its valve cover and then painted over, which seems disingenuous but at least it matches the Alpina wheels. That engine is paired to a five-speed manual, rather than the original car’s four-speed, uses an Ireland Engineering suspension kit, and rides on Bilstein dampers, So it should drive and handle significantly sharper than the original, which was already a blast.
From the outside, there’s very little that would hint at this being anything other than a stock 2002. It’s a normal 2002 color, its wheels are from a period-correct Alpina, and its suspension isn’t unusually low. Inside, though, things change a bit. Its seats are upgraded, so is its shifter, and it has a completely aftermarket gauge cluster. For me, the gauge cluster is far more egregious than the Nissan engine. It looks like it was bought at Advanced Auto Parts the morning of taking these photos. Aside from that, this seems like a very cool little 2002 that could be a fun weekend toy.
Cars and Bids
Is this car going to win any concourse events? Of course not. It might even draw the ire of some diehard BMW enthusiasts who peak under its hood. However, since the engine’s size is close to stock, just with more power, it should feel like a punchier BMW 2002 and keep the spirit of the car alive. Plus, it should be cheaper than most well-built 2002s, as there’s only one day left on the auction and the current bid is $7,000. So if it’s cheap, this could be a fun little second or third car in the garage.
