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The 2002 Turbo is one of the rarest and most desirable BMWs ever produced, but buying one today has massive downsides.

Bayerische Motoren Werke, also known as BMW, is a company that has seen a century. BMW makes some of the most iconic cars and deals in the premium segment. They were primarily aircraft engine manufacturers, but soon after WWI, they started something very similar: bikes! BMW launched its first motorcycle, the R32, in 1923. And in 1933, BMW made its first car – the BMW 303. The company faced time battles and sustained every downfall. In their journey of providing people the "sheer driving pleasure," we got some amazing vehicles.

The BMW 2002 Turbo is among those rare cars that most of us will not see with our own eyes. Debuted in 1973, the BMW 2002 Turbo came with a bang since, at that time, the markets were going wild because of the fuel crisis. The 2002 Turbo showcased its prowess and intrigued everyone. The BMW 2002 Turbo is an iconic car, and we'll tell you eight things we love about it and two things you should consider before planning to buy it.

In the era of muscle cars, the BMW 2002 Turbo featured a distinctive design. It looked sporty and modern compared to its rivals. The round headlamps, subtle body lines, the prominent chrome-finished BMW front grill (tiny from that we see in modern BMWs), wide body, and sporty spoiler (tear-off edge) gave a glance that the 2002 Turbo was born to go fast.

Apart from this, the chrome finishes are everywhere. Windows, front bumper, rear diffuser, mirrors, rear tail light, and even the front grill have chrome all over them. Yet, it does not seem overdone‌.

BMW did something crazy with the 2002 Turbo. Initially, the 2002 tii models had a compression ratio of 10:1. But BMW reduced the compression and set it at about 6.9:1 so that it would compensate for the turbo boost after roughly 4000 revs.

Because of this, the engine felt very bum on the lower revs; however, as soon as the turbo kicks in, the 13-inch wheels just spin around the corners, making the surprised driver utter expletives left and right. Therefore, the 2002 Turbo is very famous for its crazy turbo!

Related: The 1974 BMW 2002 Is The Perfect Car And Driver Partnership

The BMW 2002 Turbo is a very compact car. It is only 4220 mm long and 1630 mm wide, and it sits on a measly 2500-mm wheelbase. However, the small dimensions added extra benefits to the overall weight and handling of the car.

Weighing only 2380 lbs, the 2002 Turbo is a lightweight, powerful machine meant to provoke the chauffeur, pushing it to its limit. However, only some people could try its remarkable character because of the law implications in the '70s.

Related: Why Every Gearhead Should Drive The BMW 2002 Turbo

The compact design, BMW M GmbH tri color strips, and the reversed Turbo 2002 badging at the front show a genuine enthusiast behind the steering wheel. And so does the interior of the 2002 Turbo, alluding to the sports car pleasure.

The interior is sublime rather than overly done. It is neat, and they’ve fitted only the essential features in it. What's interesting are the three circular instruments (surrounded with red trim) and two extra displays in the middle of the dashboard featuring a turbo pressure at the right and a clock on the left.

In the 1970s, there were a handful of cars with turbochargers. So, it was apparent that BMW would also join those induced air motors lists. The 2002 ti was the first vehicle by BMW that kept a turbocharger. It's a Kühnle Kopp and Kausch exhaust gas turbocharger that helps make the 2002 Turbo an icon.

The 2002 turbo has the same engine as the 2002 ti, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo kicks in late, but the pull is astonishing considering it’s a 1970s car.

Related: This Is Why The BMW 2002 Turbo Is So Awesome

BMW knew exactly what their little car could achieve. The compactness and nimbleness helped the car to become quicker around the track. The 2002 Turbo on full throttle did 0-60 mph in just 7 seconds. Seven seconds might sound ordinary today, but considering the 70s model, it was incredible.

These positives helped the 2002 Turbo reach a top speed of 131 mph. However, because of all the government regulations and restrictions, people had to keep patience to see the needle cross the 55 mph mark.

Related: 17 SUVs You Didn't Know Could Go 0 To 60 In Less Than 5 Seconds

The BMW 2002 Turbo is an antique. If you see the BMW 2002 Turbo in a museum or street, make sure to take a good look because BMW built only 1672 units of this remarkable 2002 Turbo.

The 2002 Turbo is an essential vehicle of this era because it has all the characteristics that any valuable appreciating asset would have. It's rare, it looks incredible, and it is powerful.

We have to agree at some point that some cars don’t exist just to drive around town. These gorgeous timeless machines are more suited to red carpets with lots of light because of their engineering marvel! Considering the total 2002 Turbo's produced (i.e., 1672 units), it holds significant value in the classic cars market.

For example, 18808 examples of the legendary Jaguar E-Type exist. They sell for an average of $100000 today. Though the valuation depends on many other parameters, the 2002 Turbo still holds a significant value and surely will see a rise in its valuation.

Let's pause the admiration for a moment and check how deep our pockets need to be for this baby monster. Yes, it is an appreciating asset and is very rare, no doubt about it. As a result, it holds an insane valuation in the collector's market.

In 2020, $83,000 was the lowest recorded selling price of the 2002 turbo, whereas the average price would go nearly $140,000! It is not easily accessible to an average individual. So let's sip water and move on to the next car…

This Bimmer fell victim to its own hands. Judging by the info you just got, we’re sure you’d have figured out that this car is too vigorous to perform grocery-getting rides 4 blocks away. Moreover, it would attract many individuals once it is on the street. So the option to leave this baby monster alone in a crowded place just vanishes.

Additionally, driving it daily would depreciate its life and result in less valuation. And by chance, you break something somehow; it will be the stuff of nightmares. It is an iconic antique car that is better deserved to be in a car collection showroom or a racetrack, not in traffic jams and parking lots.

Ramya is a Computer Engineering graduate with a lifelong love of automobiles. Digs all types of cars but has a special place in his heart for Japanese and Italian two-seater sports cars.