Conserv

Both gauges are aftermarket. There were no console-mounted gauges whatsoever. And, there were no gauges for oil pressure and amperage — warning lights on the left multi-gauge handled both of those concerns. Many owners added gauges! Regards, Steve

+1 What Mike^ said! In understanding the U.S.-spec cars, you must first realize that the Euro-spec cars (a.k.a., Rest of the World) employed the chrome-trimmed dashboard from the ‘02’s inception (March 1966) until the introduction of the Modell 71 (April 1971). Why does it matter? Because the chrome-trimmed dash incorporated an ashtray. Problem solved! Then, in 1968, the U.S. DOT torpedoed that tidy plan by outlawing those hard-faced dashboards. BMW had to use a fully padded dashboard and find a new place for the ashtray. So, beginning around November 1967, a new ashtray appeared within the console, just below its original location in the dash. And, as Mike says, there was no need to add anything else: the emergency flasher was originally under the steering column but had migrated to the tiny left “parcel shelf” of the dashboard. When the U.S.-spec cars arrived at the U.S. dealers, those short consoles were, indeed, dark caves, to be filled with, perhaps, a radio and speaker — generally an AM radio. So think simple if you’re hoping to emulate the typical short console! The first photo is from a July 1967 brochure (Euro-spec car). The second and third photos are from an April 1968 brochure (Euro-spec car). The fourth photo is from a May 1968 brochure (U.S.-spec car). And the fifth photo is from an undated brochure, but probably dates to June 1968 (U.S.-spec car with radio and speaker installed). My very early ‘70 (VIN 1668093, September 8, 1969), R.I.P., came to me from the first owner with a Blaupunkt Hamburg AM radio and single under-mounted speaker. Unlike this fifth photo, and following Mike’s note above, the front planes of the radio and speaker were aligned, and the combined duo were mounted vertically, which provided a small cubby area in front of the speaker. Remember, those cavernous consoles were blank slates for the radio installers. Regards, Steve

The first three exterior photos below are of my ‘76 in April 1977. It is Polaris, paint code 060, PVC-frei formulation, as your 1974 would have been originally. First, assume that most or all of your car has been re-painted post-factory. The clear coat of the PVC-frei formulation generally began to fail within 2 to 4 years of manufacture, followed by deterioration of the base coat. Polaris PVC-frei paint in the engine compartments generally turned golden with age, so it might not be a good example of the color, if it remains original. My ‘76’s trunk and door jambs survived with Polaris in what I believe was close to its original color. But clearly panels of your car have been previously repainted, and you need to evaluate — not always possible if that repaint occurred 45 years ago — which panels might represent original paint and which have been re-painted. The fourth through sixth photos below, taken in September 2015, as I began prepping the car for its 2015-18 Big Re-Paint, shows the trunk’s original paint, and I’d say it appears to look fairly un-changed after 39 years. There’s likely to be similar original paint areas on your car, unless it’s had a comprehensive re-paint. Regards, Steve

I believe a Behr ash tray is simply a round taillight rear ashtray. Regards, Steve

Hmm… probably with the switch from 3-piece to 2-piece dashboards, which occurred with the Modell 71 introduction (April 1971). Regards, Steve

David, I believe round taillights may have received body schutz on the rear valance, but square taillights certainly did not. Below is my ‘76 before it was re-painted; I’m the original owner. The rear quarter panels, behind the rear wheel wells, were heavily and sloppily schutzed, but the schutz wrapped around the two rear corners and simply stopped. Best regards, Steve P.S. I happily defer to Tom and Toby, below, regarding schutz on round taillight examples!

Ignore what I said previously. John ( @JohnP_02), a steering wheel authority, notes in the thread attached above by esty, that a 423 mm. version with real leather rim covering was manufactured for the E9… So there’s your difference! But I’m still curious whether early versions of the ‘02 sport wheel, i.e., those manufactured before April 1971, are 423 or 400 mm. overall. 😉 Best regards, Steve

The OEM three-spoke steering wheels (plastic) went from 423 mm. overall to 400 mm. with the April 1971 introduction of the Modell 71 upgrade/facelift. I never thought about it, but perhaps the sport wheels followed suit with roughly the same timing. Look at the dates on both wheels: this might bear out that the larger wheel is earlier and the smaller wheel is later. I have 1972 and 1973 sport wheels — Euro (perforated spoke) and U.S. (indented spoke) — and I’m fairly confident both are 400 mm. versions. As to the thickness of the “pleather” rims, let’s just make certain we’re comparing apples with apples. The original rim covers were faux leather with molded stitching, quite realistic in appearance when new, less so as chunks of the padded rim broke off. If either of these wheels has actual stitching today, the original cover has likely been replaced with real leather, secured with real stitching. The original pleather coverings have not aged well. If you see one of these wheels in excellent or better condition, the original pleather has likely been replaced. I have no knowledge of the differences in “dish.” But perhaps the wheel’s dish changed as the overall diameter shrank. Again, let’s get some dates. It’s generally just a two-digit number representing the year stamped into the center hub. Below are three photos of a U.S.-version manufactured in 1972 (“72” on the center hub). Where it’s not badly worn, the faux stitching is fairly convincing. Best regards, Steve

+1 But a 236xxxx 2002 — which this appears to be — is a 1975. So either, as Son of Marty says, someone swapped on a 1976 49-state exhaust manifold and aluminum heat shield, or possibly more, e.g., a 1976 49-state engine. Let’s figure out what engine and head you have: Welcome back to the ‘02 community! Regards, Steve