- A 4.9-litre S62 V8 and six-speed manual sit beneath this 2002’s classic bodywork.
- The conversion includes a fabricated front subframe, reinforced rear floor and upgraded brakes.
- The Bring a Trailer auction is scheduled to end on 5 November 2026.
A 1972 BMW 2002 with a 4.9-litre S62 V8 is up for auction on Bring a Trailer. Finished in Inka orange with Turbo-style arches, it combines familiar classic BMW styling with a much more involved mechanical transformation.
The interesting work goes well beyond squeezing a larger engine under the bonnet. A fabricated front subframe and reinforced rear floor form part of a conversion that also brings a six-speed manual gearbox and an E36-sourced limited-slip differential.
More than an engine swap
According to the listing, the V8 was installed in 2017 after receiving replacement head gaskets, a water pump and an oil pan. The VANOS variable valve timing system was reportedly refreshed at the same time.
A Kassel Performance ECU tune, Griffin radiator and 255-litre-per-hour fuel pump are also fitted. However, the supplied description gives no measured power output, so there’s no confirmed figure for this particular installation.
Drive reaches the rear wheels through a Shaft Masters one-piece propshaft. The differential mounts to a boxed and framed section of rear floor, with further chassis bracing also listed.
Those details matter when assessing the build: the engine is only one part of the conversion. Its mountings, cooling arrangements and supporting drivetrain deserve just as much attention as the V8 itself.
HKS coilovers, E30 anti-roll bars and an E21 steering rack feature underneath. Braking hardware combines Wilwood front calipers and two-piece discs with E30 rear discs, while 16-inch Enkei wheels wear 205/45 Toyo Proxes R888R tyres.
Inka paint and a stripped-back cabin
The orange finish followed extensive body repairs in 2017. The listing describes replacement sills, rear wings, lower rear quarter sections and a rear panel, alongside floor repairs and aftermarket front wings.
Turbo-style arch extensions and a front air dam give the body a more purposeful appearance. The car is not presented as a factory 2002 Turbo.
Inside, black Recaro seats with red stitching sit alongside a leather-trimmed dashboard, MOMO Prototipo steering wheel and Tilton pedal box. Speedhut instruments replace the original gauges, with separate readings for oil pressure, oil temperature and coolant temperature.
The digital odometer displays approximately 2,000 miles since the build was completed, rather than the car’s total lifetime mileage. Around 200 miles were added by the current owner.
There are compromises to note, too. The heater has been removed, the headlining hangs loose and the listing identifies a scratch around the windscreen.
The seller bought the BMW through Bring a Trailer in July 2025 and is now offering it with a clean Massachusetts title. The current auction is scheduled to close on 5 November 2026.
As for the missing heater, perhaps that was the moment someone decided a 4.9-litre V8 already counted as enough optional equipment.
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