BMW 1502/2002 Turbo 1976

This was the second car I owned, from 1989 to 30.8.2002. The car was originally a (quite) rustridden 1502, but I did some modifications on it, re-registering it as a 2002 Turbo.

The car was originally a red 1976 1502 when I bought it 1989, but it soon got a 2 litre engine together with a Tii front suspension and a Ti rearsuspension. Fall 1989 I began on the rust removal project, and during the winter took the body totally apart. The bottom was sandstripped, holes welded, and painted over with industrial anticorrosionpaint. The wheel well in the back was removed and replaced with a flat bottom which gave more room for the larger exhaust muffler beneath. The new paint was selected from the original BMW-color chart, Polaris-blau. A set of custom made 15x6 wheels coated with 195-55-15VR Continental tires together with a box of H&R´s suspension kit were used to get that crucial distance to the road.

Meanwhile a new engine was built, from such parts as a T3 Garrett, also used in Lancia Delta Integrale, doublebarrel Del´Lorto turbo carburator, BMW 518 inlet manifold, VW pistons for low compression, and the head of the 1502 with it´s 38/42 inlet/outlet. The outlet manifold is custom made. I removed the interior front in the engine compartment in order to get more room for the intercooler which was positioned in front of the radiator.

The interior is original, except for the console, which is replaced with an aluminium face with holes for the temperature, turbo and oil pressure gauge, radio and emergency lightswitch Also both the drivers and the front passenger seat was replaced with OMP racing seats in glassfiber.

The result was very pleasing, it had enough power for most situations and while it may not have been the most comfortable, I highly enjoyed the rides. The radiator was a bit too small since the watercooled turbo did cause overheating when waiting in the traffic lights.

I had the car for quite a few years, driving it only during the summertime until finally sold the car in 2002 when I moved to live with my girlfriend who also had a car, an Opel Corsa :-)

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