1971 1600 ?

[Tommy Cotter]

Greetings from the snow covered hills of western New York State ! Last fall I bought what I assumed was a ‘71 2002 that had been sitting since 1994. It has taken several months to get ahold of a title via nys dmv and now I am ready to begin work . As it turns out its actually a 1600 but I recently pilled engine and began a tear down only to find that it has pistons that arr the grand piano dome type with a diameter that apoears to be in the 2002 specs... and yes it is sleeved . Many years ago I worked in an auto machine shop so I am not a novice whennit comes to looking for telltale signs of scoring etc ...actually it looks pretty good , no spun bearings etc. I am anxious for advice on how to proceed with a rebuild . Your advice on where to begin and how to locate engine parts will be greatly appreciated . The vehicle id # is 1572970

Thank you !

 

[Gordon]

By the VIN, it looks to be a 70 1600, not a 71.  What's the VIN on the motor?  It will be stamped on the rear of the motor above where the starter motor fits in the block.

 

Model Series Year From To < VIN > VIN # Built
1600 Pre 71 1967 Sep-67 Dec-67 1-560-001 1-562-153 2153
Pre 71 1968 Jan-68 Dec-68 1-562-154 1-567-530 5377
Pre 71 1969 Jan-69 Dec-69 1-567-531 1-570-704 3174
Pre 71 1970 Jan-70 Dec-70 1-570-705 1-572-399 1695
Pre 71 1971 Jan-71 ?-71 1-572-400 1-572-930 531
Pre 71 1971 ?-71 Mar-71 1-572-931 1-573-162 232
Total 1600's 13162

[02Les]

1572970 would be an early (Mar-Apr?) 1971 build.

[Conserv]

The VIN decoder operated by the BMW 2002 Car Club of Columbia is showing a March 1971 production date for VIN 1572970 (photo below). That would make it a 1971 model. But it is also a pre-Modello 71 (a.k.a., “Pre 71”), Modello 71 referring not to a distinct model year but to a substantial revision of the ‘02 that occurred in April 1971. Thus, cars of the 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971 model years (but only 1971 models manufactured before the April 1971 revision) are all pre-Modello 71 cars.

 

If you send both the VIN and the engine number to BMW Group Archives, they’ll provide, quickly and at no charge, the manufacturing date of your car and of the car in which your engine was originally installed. Their email address is info.grouparchiv@bmwgroup.com. The engine block also has a casting date on the right side, between the first and second freeze plus. This, along with the casting date on the left side of the head, will give you a better sense of your engine’s history.

 

Historically, as 1600-2 engines reached the end of their lives, a great many were replaced with 2.0-liter engines, used examples of which were far more available and measurably more powerful than the 1.6-liter engines.

 

Photos?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by Conserv

[Mike Self]

You have one of the last 200 or so US spec 1600's--the last VIN was 1573162.  That's the highest US 1600 VIN I've seen.

 

As previously stated, check the block for engine number; it should match the VIN.  Presuming a PO didn't bring an engine in from overseas, unless the VIN is in the 150xxxx range (and most likely 156/157xxxx) it's a 2002 block.  

 

mike

[Slavs]

Sounds like someone stuck in a 2002 motor.

[Tommy Cotter]

Thank you for all of the responses to my post ! The number on the block is 2367361

 

[Conserv]

11 hours ago, Tommy Cotter said:

Thank you for all of the responses to my post ! The number on the block is 2367361

 

VIN 2367361 is a U.S.-spec 1975 model 2002, manufactured in July 1975. I’ve attached a screen shot of this date from RealOEM.com. I’d guess the engine block was cast June or July 1975. And, given that this engine originated in a 2002, it is certainly a 2-liter engine.

 

This engine was originally fitted with an E12 head, which likely necessitated the piano-top pistons.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited January 20, 2020 by Conserv

[jscaptura1]

I had a 1971 1600 back in the late '80s. Mainly as a parts car.  Still have the motor and the transmission is currently in the '70 1600.  I will have to check the motor to see what the VIN is.  The shell is long gone.  I had to put it in a guys "yard" just outside the village of Watkins Glen (just off the original 6.6 mile course).  Paid him like 20 bucks to put it there and.he let me go up and take parts off when needed.  Unfortunately about 10 years later, I saw my car being towed on a flatbed through the village, went up to the "yard" and all of the 30-40 cars that were there were gone.  I was not too worried as I had already scavenged just about everything I could from that '71 1600.

[VWJake]

I had a 71 1600. I’ll have to see if I can dig up the VIN just for sake of conversation.

[jscaptura1]

Found the VIN off my old one:  1572717.  Built sometime between Jan-March 1971.  All I have left of it are the motor and the transmission.  I had also forgotten that there were only 13000 1600's built in all of those years.  Kind of makes me wish I had not written that one off back in the late '80's.  Well...hindsight is 20/20...

[danco_]

I had 2572631 and it was delivered to New York on February 5th, 1971. It was a 1971 BMW 1600.