Overview of the BMW 2002
This is a 1978 BMW 2002 coupe with chassis code 2002TU, offered at USS Sapporo as lot 8037 in the imported car section of the sale on 14 October 2026. It is finished in white, and the sheet records the colour as original. It is left hand drive with a four speed floor manual gearbox, a 2,000 cc petrol engine and rear wheel drive. The odometer reads 67,400 km, approximately 41,880 miles, but the sheet warns that this is a five digit odometer, so the true distance may be higher.
The car wears turbo badging on the boot lid, turbo side graphics in blue and red, a black rear spoiler, flared arches and multi spoke alloy wheels. The sheet does not confirm that it is a factory 2002 turbo. It carries the code 2002TU, leaves the grade line blank and asks whether it is a parallel import. It is graded R for accident repair history, with interior grade B. Anyone bidding should treat it as a characterful project that needs proper verification, not a finished collector car.
The Drive Review
The BMW 2002 is a compact two door built around the four cylinder M10 engine, a light, free revving unit that suits the small body. Steering is unassisted and direct, the seating position is upright, the glasshouse is huge and the car feels narrow and alert. Rear wheel drive and a short, slick gearshift complete a simple, mechanical driving experience that modern cars cannot copy.
If this car is a genuine turbo, the factory turbo used a turbocharged 2.0 litre M10 with mechanical fuel injection and was one of the first turbocharged production cars from Europe. It had a famously abrupt power delivery, with a lag and then a hard surge. The sheet confirms only a 2,000 cc engine, so the power output, boost system and fuel system of this car are not confirmed. The driver's seat and steering wheel are aftermarket according to the inspector, and the photographs show a Recaro badged driver's seat and a sports steering wheel with a BMW centre badge. That points to a car set up for enthusiastic driving.
Auction Details
Auction house: USS Sapporo. Lot number: 8037. Auction date in Japan: 14 October 2026. Auction grade: R. Interior grade: B. The feed also lists exterior grade R. The inspection date is not given. The auction start price is ¥9,800,000. Autoselecta has not set a guide bidding range for this car. For the current minimum bid and the full cost to your door, please use the price panel on this page, because those figures are calculated live and can change.
All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction. For this lot that means before 9pm UK time on Tuesday 13 October.
Vehicle Specifications
Manufacturer: BMW. Model: 2002. Body: two door coupe. Chassis code: 2002TU. Frame number: 4291183. First registration: October 1978 (Showa 53). Engine: 2,000 cc petrol. Transmission: four speed manual, floor shift. Drive: 2WD. Steering: left hand drive. Exterior colour: white, original, no colour change recorded. Colour code: blank on the sheet. Interior colour: black. Seats: five. Mileage: 67,400 km, approximately 41,880 miles, on a five digit odometer. Dimensions: 420 cm long, 163 cm wide, 137 cm high. Japanese registration plate: Sapporo 504 ya 433. Recycling deposit: ¥9,250.
The Japanese inspection (shaken) is valid until 10 October 2026, which is before the auction date, so the car will not have a current shaken at the time of sale. This does not matter for export, but it is worth knowing.
Factory Features and Equipment
The sheet lists no air conditioning, and the line is blank. The service book is also blank, so a service history and maintenance book are not confirmed. Owner manuals and a spare key are not mentioned, and the sheet only notes that the car was locked. A spare tyre is drawn below the diagram. Navigation and ETC are not mentioned and none can be seen in the photographs.
The photographs show the car as presented. It has a red faced instrument panel with a speedometer, a tachometer and two smaller gauges, a Recaro driver's seat, a black vinyl passenger seat, a sports steering wheel and a black vinyl rear bench. The wheels are multi spoke alloys in an Alpina style. The inspector wonders whether the wheels and the silencer are aftermarket, so treat both as unconfirmed.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The sheet gives grade R, meaning accident repair history, and interior grade B. It records 67,400 km, first registration October 1978, petrol fuel, and a usage history that is blank. It is an imported car with the steering on the left, and the question mark beside the words parallel import indicates the auction suspects it may be a grey import.
The points to note read: parallel import (with a question mark), and five digit odometer, meaning the true mileage may be higher than shown.
The inspector's report, translated in full: front accident repair history. The radiator core support shows BP and distortion, where BP is probably body and paint repair, although that reading is not certain. The cowl panel is distorted, with screw holes and small corrosion holes. The centre floor is scratched and dented. The driver's seat and steering wheel are aftermarket. The dashboard has a small split and sticker marks. The underside is painted and rusty. The wheels and silencer are possibly aftermarket. The whole car has been repainted.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
The front bumper carries an A mark, a scratch, with no size number, so its severity is uncertain. The left front wing has A1, a small scratch. The bonnet is marked XX, a replaced panel. The windscreen is marked with a crack. Both door areas, left and right, carry A1, a small scratch. At the rear, an S1 mark shows small rust, and it is not clear whether it sits on the rear bumper or the rear panel. A spare tyre symbol appears below the drawing.
The diagram looks mild, but the inspector's notes tell the real story. A replaced bonnet, a distorted core support and cowl, corrosion holes at the cowl, a repainted body and a painted, rusty underside describe a car that has had a hard front end repair. In the photographs the white paint looks tidy and the panel fit looks reasonable from a distance, but photographs cannot confirm the quality of the repair. Overall this is a restoration basis car in usable looking condition, not collector grade.
Interior Condition
Interior grade B is decent for a car of this age. The black vinyl rear seat looks clean and tidy in the photographs, and the passenger seat shows only mild creasing. The inspector notes a small split in the dashboard and sticker marks. The driver's side has the aftermarket seat and steering wheel, and the carpets look worn, with a visible stain on the driver's side mat. A smoke or odour note is not mentioned on the sheet.
Japanese Auction Grades
Grade R means the inspector found accident repair history, and here it is front structural repair. Interior grade B is a good but not perfect mark. The grade is a guide to the car's repair history and overall state, not a mechanical warranty.
Model History
The BMW 2002 arrived in 1968 as a two door version of the Neue Klasse saloon fitted with a 2.0 litre engine, and it made BMW's name as a maker of sporting saloons. It was followed by the 2002 ti, the fuel injected 2002 tii and, in 1973, the 2002 turbo. Production of the 2002 ended in 1976. The October 1978 first registration on this sheet therefore suggests the car was built earlier and registered in Japan later, but the sheet does not confirm its build date.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The 2002 is regarded as one of the cars that created the compact sports saloon. It is small, light, simple and easy to enjoy, and it has strong motorsport associations. Turbo models are the most sought after because they were few in number and technically important. Good examples are increasingly hard to find because rust has claimed so many, which is why Japanese cars are sought after. Nothing here is a promise about future values, and this car is not an investment. It is a car for enthusiasts who want to drive, restore or build their own interpretation of a classic.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
Rust is the big issue on any 2002. Check the sills, floors, front inner wings, scuttle and cowl drains, boot floor and rear arches. This car's own sheet records corrosion holes at the cowl, a rusty underside and small rust at the rear, so ask for underside photographs and inspect the structure before committing to any work.
Because the sheet records a front repair, check the alignment of the front panels, the core support and the bonnet gaps. Ask whether the repair was done properly.
On the mechanical side, the M10 is tough, but check for oil leaks, timing chain noise, head gasket condition and the health of the cooling system. If the car is a real turbo, the turbocharger and the injection system need specialist knowledge. The frame number 4291183 should be checked with BMW records, together with the engine number, to see whether the car is a genuine turbo or a conversion or replica. The inspector's question about the wheels, silencer and a possible parallel import supports that caution.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japan has kept many older European cars in dry, gentle conditions, and the auction system documents each car with a sheet written by an independent inspector. For a rust prone model such as the 2002, that transparency counts, and this lot comes from the imported car section of USS Sapporo.
USA Import Information
At 1978 this BMW is over 25 years old and eligible for import to the United States. Autoselecta can arrange shipment from Japan to the US. Please contact us with your city or ZIP code before bidding, so we can prepare a delivered quotation. We can calculate the expected purchase price, Japan costs, shipping, customs related costs and delivery requirements. Additional charges may apply depending on your state and the port of arrival.
Ultimate Guide For Japanese Imports
Buyers outside Japan should check their own country's import age rules, emissions requirements and registration procedure before bidding. Autoselecta can explain the usual steps, from export paperwork in Japan to arrival, so there are no surprises.
Why Import Through Autoselecta
Autoselecta gives you direct access to Japanese auctions, translated and checked auction sheets, vehicle sourcing, bidding assistance, export handling, shipping, import support in your own country and USA shipping where relevant. We also provide vehicle tracking where available and stay in contact throughout the process.
Browse This Week's Japanese Auctions
This BMW 2002 is one of many cars on offer in this week's Japanese auctions. Browse our listings for other classic European and Japanese cars with translated sheets.
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Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale but remain used vehicles. An auction sheet is an independent condition guide, not a mechanical warranty. A car of this age may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase. Please note the important warnings on this sheet: front accident repair history, a replaced bonnet, a distorted core support and cowl with small corrosion holes, a cracked windscreen, a rusty and painted underside, a full repaint, a five digit odometer, a possible parallel import and possibly aftermarket wheels and silencer.
