BMW, G Little Known Facts

Brand: BMW Model: G

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The BMW 2002 (E10) was not originally designed to be an inline-four powered car; instead, it started as a project for an upscale version of the 1600-02 with a larger engine.
In 1968, the original plan was to fit the 2002 with the M10-based 1500cc four-cylinder engine and a Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection system.
The 2002's rear suspension used trailing arms attached to the frame via spherical bearings (similar to the 1600-02).
A BMW engineer named Karl Kluge developed an all-independent suspension design using transverse spring struts, which would eventually become a standard feature in later BMW models.
The 2002 was originally designed with a front subframe and MacPherson strut style independent suspension for the front wheels.
Due to production constraints, early models used a torsion bar based front suspension system as an alternative.
In 1969, Klaus Vogel, a BMW engineer at the time, designed an adjustable front anti-roll bar that became a standard feature on many subsequent BMW models.
The original rear axle of the BMW 2002 (E10) used semi-trailing arms with spherical bearings and coil springs to provide suspension flexibility.
In 1967, Paul Fröhle designed a modified version of the BMW 1600-02's front suspension to incorporate an anti-roll bar for improved handling.
The development of the E21 chassis (BMW 3 series), in part, relied on lessons learned from and shared with the BMW 2002 project team.
In the early stages of development, the BMW 2002 was internally designated as a more luxurious version of the 1600-02 to differentiate it from its smaller sibling.
BMW's 1970s efforts to produce an improved front suspension for the 3 series drew upon knowledge gained during the BMW 2002 project's evolution.
The initial design goal of fitting larger tires on later E10 models led to a focus on improving wheel arch width and offsetting the position of the wheels further inboard due to space constraints.
Early BMW engineers believed that all-independent suspension could not be achieved with traditional front subframe geometry, instead opting for torsion bars until better alternatives were developed.
Klaus Vogel also worked on rear axle design improvements and helped develop more efficient production processes during his tenure at the company.
By 1970, development of the M10 engine in BMW's smaller cars was ongoing; it would eventually be used as a starting point for further power unit projects.
In later models like the E30 and beyond, lessons learned from building the BMW 2002 were applied, leading to improvements in design, technology, and performance.
The rear subframe of the original BMW 1600-02 was shared with its E10 successor, but modifications for better stability and durability made it stronger overall.
Paul Fröhle contributed crucial knowledge about camshaft bearing failures when redesigning the M20 engine in order to optimize cam timing and improve performance in later models like the E30 series.
The work done by BMW's engineers during the development of the BMW 2002 had lasting impacts on their company, including improvements to handling and overall vehicle dynamics.