BMW 1500, 1502, 1600, 1602, 1802, 2002, E10/E20 (USA)

Coolant capacity & service interval

BMW 1500, 1502, 1600, 1602, 1802, 2002, E10/E20 (USA) models require 7 liter of coolant. Service intervals include checking every 4000 miles or 6 months and changing every 24 months. The data covers 6 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
1502 (1974-1976)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7 liter
  • Check 4000 miles/ 6 months
  • Change 24 months
1802 (1971-1975)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7 liter
  • Check 4000 miles/ 6 months
  • Change 24 months
2002 tii (1971-1975)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7 liter
  • Check 4000 miles/ 6 months
  • Change 24 months
2002 Ti (1968-1971)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7 liter
  • Check 4000 miles/ 6 months
  • Change 24 months
2002/2002A (1968-1975)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7 liter
  • Check 4000 miles/ 6 months
  • Change 24 months
1600-2/1602 (1966-1971)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7 liter
  • Check 4000 miles/ 6 months
  • Change 24 months

Additional Notes

  • All six configurations listed across the BMW 1500, 1502, 1600, 1602, 1802, 2002 E10/E20 range share an identical cooling system capacity of 7 liters, indicating a consistent engine bay and cooling circuit architecture across these variants despite differences in displacement and fuel delivery.
  • A 7-liter cooling system capacity is a moderate figure for compact inline-four engines of this era, typical of a full-circuit fill that includes the radiator, engine block passages, heater core, and connecting hoses rather than a partial or block-only service fill.
  • The check interval of every 4,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first, applies under normal use conditions across all listed configurations. The dual-trigger format means time elapsed can prompt a check even when mileage accumulation is low.
  • The coolant change interval is set at 24 months for all configurations under normal use conditions. A 24-month coolant change cycle was a widely accepted standard for conventional green (silicate-based) antifreeze formulations common during the production years of these models.
  • The 1600-2/1602 production span of 1966-1971 represents the earliest years covered in the dataset, and the cooling specifications for that variant are identical to those of later models such as the 1802 (1971-1975) and 2002/2002A (1968-1975), reflecting no evolution in cooling system capacity or service timing across the range.
  • The 2002 Ti (1968-1971) and 2002 tii (1971-1975) carry the same 7-liter capacity and identical service intervals as the base 2002/2002A despite the Ti and tii variants using higher-output carburetor and mechanical fuel injection setups respectively, suggesting the cooling circuit dimensions were not altered to accommodate the increased thermal load of those engines.
  • The 1502, produced from 1974-1976, shares the same cooling system specifications as the other variants, including the 7-liter capacity and the 24-month change interval, even though the 1502 was introduced later as a lower-specification model during a period of fuel economy focus following the 1973 oil crisis.

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