The 'additional' 2002 engine number: production model code

[kiva667]

5 hours ago, NickVyse said:

 

 

Alas, by January '67 they changed to partially to the + signs, at least on my 2000 of that manufacturing date.

My January '67 2000 has (I think) roundels on the engine but + signs on the fender.

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by kiva667

[jimk]

The + sign is there to stop people from adding digits to the number.

[NickVyse]

14 hours ago, Conserv said:

I’ve seen the roundels previously, Nick, but I don’t recall ever (a.) discussing it, or (b.) determining when it began and ended.

 

 

from what I've seen the logo was dropped for the plus sign on the engine with the change of font for the 5mm version along with the larger ground down area.

 

Just to keep the nerd facts coming the NK up to the 66 model year had the VIN stamped on the front panel and not the inner wing, these also had the BMW roundel stamp, whilst the switch to the inner wing brought the plus signs.

 

I replaced my front panel, and whilst I asked the bodyshop to cut out and let in the VIN they simply riveted on. Issues like this is obviously why BMW switched positions in the first place.

 

 

The roundel is very faint and poorly stamped

 

 

 

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by NickVyse

[Conserv]

Thank you, Nick! Kind of makes me wonder if there are a few NK’s running around without stamped chassis VIN’s by now. In retrospect, placing a chassis VIN on an oft-damaged, repaired, and replaced panel seems extremely naive!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

[EricA]

Very interesting conversation.  I have several stampings on my engine block for a November 1972 built Tii.  There is the serial number (2763100) and 2.0 stamping:

 

But also this stamping on the rear of the engine block where the head mounts.  Can anyone make sense of this stamping (note BMW stamp on left)?

 

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, EricA said:

Very interesting conversation.  I have several stampings on my engine block for a November 1972 built Tii.  There is the serial number (2763100) and 2.0 stamping:

 

But also this stamping on the rear of the engine block where the head mounts.  Can anyone make sense of this stamping (note BMW stamp on left)?

 

Both, on the same block, Eric?

 

What is the casting date of the block? Did you, perhaps, purchase the car from another member? VIN 2763100 is showing as built on November 23, 1972. Does that square with your records?

 

Here’s an article on Engine Identification. It shows you where to find the casting date.

 

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[EricA]

Hi Steve - It is the same engine and according to BMW, 2763100 was manufactured on November 23rd 1972 and delivered on November 28th.  Here is the block casting date (consistent with manufacture date, roughly 5 weeks prior).

 

[EricA]

Steve - I just finished reading the article you sent, and according to that, that is an exchange engine date 12-9-73.  I wonder if BMW had to do some work on my engine after a year and stamped it to indicate that?  Otherwise, everything on the engine seems to be consistent with the original block, including the cast date.  Strange.

[Conserv]

21 minutes ago, EricA said:

… Strange…

 

+1

 

And I certainly agree that it appears to be the original block.

 

The stamps behind the head are poorly executed, but I don’t have another explanation for them, yet! And it even has the “genuine parts” roundel!

 

Following your suggestion, Eric, was it possible for an owner, especially of an almost-new BMW, to insist on rebuilding and returning the original block after some early engine defect appeared? It’s likely possible.

 

Does the engine number match the chassis VIN?

 

So… has anyone seen a correctly-dated, and correctly stamped block — from the standpoint of the engine number boss — that ALSO has “replacement engine” stampings?

 

There is so much about old cars, including ‘02’s, that we will never know!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[kiva667]

15 hours ago, NickVyse said:

 

 

Just to keep the nerd facts coming the NK up to the 66 model year had the VIN stamped on the front panel and not the inner wing, these also had the BMW roundel stamp, whilst the switch to the inner wing brought the plus signs.

15 hours ago, NickVyse said:

Nice to know. My front panel has an altogether mysterious number stamped on it...

 

 

 

 

[EricA]

3 hours ago, Conserv said:

Does the engine number match the chassis VIN?

 

Block matches all other numbers on car:

 

[Conserv]

I’m going with your explanation, Eric, unless or until it’s proven wrong. I believe your engine is original to your car and it was rebuilt by BMW at an early stage of its life. “12  9  73” in a European context is September 12, 1973, so less than a year old, or well within the one-year factory warranty period.
 

Recall that, depending on the location of the delivering dealer — and a whole host of other factors — it was generally 5 to 12 weeks from the manufacturing date to the car’s arrival at the dealership. And the warranty period only started tolling when the car left the dealership, in the hands of the retail customer. Thus, some engine defect — excess oil consumption, problematic noise, whatever — would have appeared very early in this car’s ownership, as the engine was already back in Germany in September 1973.

 

Regards,

 

Steve