The BMW 2002 tii occupies a precise and well-documented place in automotive history: the high-output variant of BMW's E10-generation compact saloon, produced from 1971 to 1975 and equipped with a 2.0-litre M10 four-cylinder fed by Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. KK Scale's 1:18 die-cast rendering captures the 1974 model year in Dark Red — a factory colour option for the 2002 range and one that is rarely represented in die-cast at this scale.
The E10 Compact That Defined a Decade
Built on the E10 platform with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm and a kerb weight of approximately 1,080 kg, the 2002 tii was BMW's answer to drivers who wanted genuine performance from a practical saloon. The Kugelfischer mechanical injection system raised output to approximately 130 hp (96 kW) at 5,800 rpm, making the tii the most potent road-going 2002 variant in the entire production run. It established the sporting saloon credentials that would later define the M division's philosophy.
Post-Facelift, Pre-Successor — A 2002 at Its Zenith
The 1974 model year sits within the post-facelift phase of E10 production, characterised by revised bumpers and detail changes that marked the final evolution of the series before BMW introduced the E21 3 Series. Dark Red was among the period factory colour options for the 2002 and is markedly less common on die-cast representations than Sahara Beige or Inka Orange. A 1974 example therefore captures the car at the peak of its production life, carrying the visual identity of the mid-1970s West German road-car market.
The 1:18 Scale Model by KK Scale
KK Scale produces this as a 1:18 die-cast metal model, a format that suits the compact proportions of the 2002 tii well and allows accurate surface detail in the bodywork and trim. Die-cast construction at 1:18 is the standard choice for collector-grade road-car replicas in this segment, balancing visual fidelity with durability. The Dark Red livery is period-correct and distinguishes this release from more frequently issued colour variants.
In the Display Cabinet
This model sits naturally alongside other early-1970s BMW road-car subjects at 1:18 — the 2002 Turbo (E10) or the 3.0 CSL are obvious cabinet companions that reinforce the pre-M, Neue Klasse-to-E21 transition narrative. For collectors building a chronological BMW road-car sequence, the 2002 tii in Dark Red represents an essential data point: the Kugelfischer variant, the final production phase, and a factory colour that differentiates it immediately on the shelf.
