Conserv

This is the standard rim for the factory turbo, and only the factory turbo. In outward appearance, it strongly resembles the styled steel rims standard on other square taillight ‘02’s. It differs in width and offset. No other 2002 sub-models received factory rims wider than 5” (Italy and England had country-specific dealer-option alloy rims available in a 5.5” width, by FPS and Dunlop, respectively). The factory option rim for a turbo was a 6” alloy rim, manufactured by both Mahle and FPS. The “turbo rim” was also distinguished from other styled steel rims by a bi-color paint scheme: at least the front face of the barrel was painted the traditional silver. But the front face of the center disk was painted gray. Part number 36111112607 appears on most (all?) of these “turbo” rims. The current OEM parts catalogue shows part number 36111112632. A note regarding authenticity of “turbo rims”: The Euro-spec e21 was introduced in the spring of 1975 (in approximately March 1975), in 316 and 320 versions. These cars used a styled steel rim, 5.5” x 13”, ET18, identical in appearance and specs to the 2002 turbo’s standard rims. But the part number for this e21 rim appears to be 36111116430. I do not know why this part number differed from the part number for the turbo’s rims. Could replacement turbo rims have been bi-color from the factory? I think it is certainly possible — maybe even likely — and that might explain the different part numbers. The U.S.-spec e21, in its 320i version, appeared in the U.S. in approximately August 1976. Thus, in the U.S., styled steel rims in the 5.5” x 13”, ET18, size are generally dated June 1976 and later. But, in Europe, styled steel rims in the 5.5” x 13”, ET18, size, can be dated to approximately February 1975 or later. What does this mean for turbo owners? It means simply that a styled steel rim in the 5.5” x 13”, ET18, size with a date stamp prior to February 1975 is almost certainly an original “turbo rim”. But for similar rims date stamped from February 1975 onward, it would be hard to distinguish a “turbo rim” from an early “e21 rim” — unless there was a clear provenance provided by, for instance, an original owner, photographs, documents, etc. The first photo below is from an original factory brochure. The second through fifth photos are of VIN 4290376 (manufactured April 19, 1974), photos from Bring A Trailer. The sixth through eighth photos are of VIN 4290675 (manufactured May 1974), photos from Bring A Trailer. 36111116430