1987 BMW 635CSi
Discussion
After selling my Aston back in August and replacing it with a perfectly nice but dull Saab 9-3 diesel I decided I needed an exciting RWD petrol car again. I also started thinking a little while ago it would be good to have a car from the same year as me, so I started looking at 1987 Mercs and BMWs. I first wanted an E30 325 or a 318/320 and swap the engine out with a M60/M62 V8 but as I have enough work to do on my Westfield I thought best to get something that is not going to be a major project.
So I started looking at the 635CSi as I've always liked the classic shark nose shape.
Through chance the only 1987 example on eBay was only 20 minutes away from me so I went to go and take a look. It was the first time I've looked at one in the flesh in real detail and it was nice, especially with the nice shine in the metallic grey paintwork. This one was an auto, had almost 200k on the clock and had no service history at all. It drove nicely though, it pulled well and the gearbox was smooth. But it was going to need a fair bit of welding and the engine was a bit tappety in the top end. This wasn't the car for me but I knew now this was the car I wanted.
It was then that I was pointed towards a car on Car and Classic by a member on here in my previous thread. At first I was put off a little as I'm not a big fan of red cars but it was a factory manual car and the advert seemed honest.
It had a big list of things that were working or work that had been done:
- All electrics work including the dashboard, gauges, mirrors and windows
- Factory manual car
- Staggered 8 series split rim BBS wheels in good condition with new tyres
- Reupholstered cream leather interior
- Huge history folder
- Stormforce car cover
- Sills and floors have been fully repaired with full photographic documentation of the restoration
- Front and rear suspension fully serviced with new bushes and control arms
- New stainless exhaust system including manifolds from Fritz Bitz – probably the best thing done to this car
- Fritz Bitz AFM tune which has smoothed out the drive significantly over standard
- 4 new Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres
- Top end rebuild and head gasket change
- Serviced fuel injectors
So what was left to do was a bit of rust repair on the outer passenger rear arch and the tailgate. Also the gear shift is very worn but a rebuild kit was included. And some scrote broke into the car previously and put the lock through into the door and stole the facsia to the stereo. There is a new barrel for the car which just needs to be set (you can adjust the tumblers to match the key) and swapped over.
After speaking to the guy he clearly cared a lot for the car and even had a restoration thread on Retro Rides ( http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/167124/1987...) detailing everything he's done to date.
So I booked a train ticket down to see it and wasn't disappointing. The red appealed to me more in the flesh so that was a relief. Next the condition of the interior was fantastic. The seats had been re-trimmed but not in quite the same shade as the plastic trim, but then again maybe thats how it was OEM. On the test drive I admit I was more caught up in the noise the straight six with that exhaust made than looking for faults.
So I decided it was the car for me and did the deal. In the end he was reluctant to sell as he still loved the car but he wanted the money for a house purchase. I couldn't get too much off as he was going to not sell it at all and live on beans on toast instead!
So now I have the car home. After a 3 hour drive I've developed a a small list of jobs to do. Luckily my dad has taken an interest and has already started tackling the rust repairs. I've decided to get a short shift kit which is on its way over from the US now to replace the sloppy shifting.
Also the first job I did was fit a new stereo which then highlighted the poor speakers so thats my next job
Here are a couple of photos from the advert:
So I started looking at the 635CSi as I've always liked the classic shark nose shape.
Through chance the only 1987 example on eBay was only 20 minutes away from me so I went to go and take a look. It was the first time I've looked at one in the flesh in real detail and it was nice, especially with the nice shine in the metallic grey paintwork. This one was an auto, had almost 200k on the clock and had no service history at all. It drove nicely though, it pulled well and the gearbox was smooth. But it was going to need a fair bit of welding and the engine was a bit tappety in the top end. This wasn't the car for me but I knew now this was the car I wanted.
It was then that I was pointed towards a car on Car and Classic by a member on here in my previous thread. At first I was put off a little as I'm not a big fan of red cars but it was a factory manual car and the advert seemed honest.
It had a big list of things that were working or work that had been done:
- All electrics work including the dashboard, gauges, mirrors and windows
- Factory manual car
- Staggered 8 series split rim BBS wheels in good condition with new tyres
- Reupholstered cream leather interior
- Huge history folder
- Stormforce car cover
- Sills and floors have been fully repaired with full photographic documentation of the restoration
- Front and rear suspension fully serviced with new bushes and control arms
- New stainless exhaust system including manifolds from Fritz Bitz – probably the best thing done to this car
- Fritz Bitz AFM tune which has smoothed out the drive significantly over standard
- 4 new Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres
- Top end rebuild and head gasket change
- Serviced fuel injectors
So what was left to do was a bit of rust repair on the outer passenger rear arch and the tailgate. Also the gear shift is very worn but a rebuild kit was included. And some scrote broke into the car previously and put the lock through into the door and stole the facsia to the stereo. There is a new barrel for the car which just needs to be set (you can adjust the tumblers to match the key) and swapped over.
After speaking to the guy he clearly cared a lot for the car and even had a restoration thread on Retro Rides ( http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/167124/1987...) detailing everything he's done to date.
So I booked a train ticket down to see it and wasn't disappointing. The red appealed to me more in the flesh so that was a relief. Next the condition of the interior was fantastic. The seats had been re-trimmed but not in quite the same shade as the plastic trim, but then again maybe thats how it was OEM. On the test drive I admit I was more caught up in the noise the straight six with that exhaust made than looking for faults.
So I decided it was the car for me and did the deal. In the end he was reluctant to sell as he still loved the car but he wanted the money for a house purchase. I couldn't get too much off as he was going to not sell it at all and live on beans on toast instead!
So now I have the car home. After a 3 hour drive I've developed a a small list of jobs to do. Luckily my dad has taken an interest and has already started tackling the rust repairs. I've decided to get a short shift kit which is on its way over from the US now to replace the sloppy shifting.
Also the first job I did was fit a new stereo which then highlighted the poor speakers so thats my next job
Here are a couple of photos from the advert:
I love these E24's, but I'm not sure how I could get on with the steering box - I fitted a fast rack to my e36 M3 and that really made a big difference, it's such a shame the same can't be done to these old beasts.
In my lottery win alternative future I'd get a black one of these and swap in the front e36 M3 subframe and drivetrain and smoke around South London looking like a gangster.
I'm very jealous.
In my lottery win alternative future I'd get a black one of these and swap in the front e36 M3 subframe and drivetrain and smoke around South London looking like a gangster.
I'm very jealous.
shalmaneser said:
I love these E24's, but I'm not sure how I could get on with the steering box - I fitted a fast rack to my e36 M3 and that really made a big difference, it's such a shame the same can't be done to these old beasts.
It can. You can use an E21 rack I think? You can even use the quick rack (2.5 turns as opposed to 4) which would transform the steering.Very nice car OP. Just about the only BMW of the era I haven't had....yet. I want an early manual car (e12 based) with LSD built into a TWR race replica on triple 45's
Turn the volume up and listen to this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU12THb74Og
The steering box sounds like a bad idea but that isnt really the case. I have driven an M635CSI and also I own an E28 five series and in both applications I actually think the steering was better (more feelsome) than the standard rack fitted to E36s (both 328 and M3 models).
Its all a bit subjective but a lot of it is down to tyre choice and geometry.
Oh and to the Op, great car Btw!
Its all a bit subjective but a lot of it is down to tyre choice and geometry.
Oh and to the Op, great car Btw!
Great car and good photos.
Just an observation, and it maybe the camera angle, but it seems to be sitting quite high ? Maybe that we are all used to lower ride heights these days !
Would look so cool if it was lowered a little....IMO of course !
Having said that I have a mint E36 318iS that had been lowered by the previous owner ( by 50 mm !!) on Schnitzer springs, and although it handles really well ( I have done 4 Track Days with it !), it is too low for everyday use/ parking / speed bumps etc.
I considered reverting to OEM M-tech springs/dampers but the factory ones are just unreasonably expensive !
More pics of the 635 please !
Just an observation, and it maybe the camera angle, but it seems to be sitting quite high ? Maybe that we are all used to lower ride heights these days !
Would look so cool if it was lowered a little....IMO of course !
Having said that I have a mint E36 318iS that had been lowered by the previous owner ( by 50 mm !!) on Schnitzer springs, and although it handles really well ( I have done 4 Track Days with it !), it is too low for everyday use/ parking / speed bumps etc.
I considered reverting to OEM M-tech springs/dampers but the factory ones are just unreasonably expensive !
More pics of the 635 please !
Paul S4 said:
Just an observation, and it maybe the camera angle, but it seems to be sitting quite high ? Maybe that we are all used to lower ride heights these days !
Would look so cool if it was lowered a little....IMO of course !
The car is sitting just right in my lengthy experience and as you suggest, our eyes are all used to standard cars with significantly less suspension travel these days. Would look so cool if it was lowered a little....IMO of course !
Standard E24's can take a small drop in suspension down to M635 and Alpina levels but any further than that 10mm or so and two things go wrong; 1. The wheel camber, especially the rear, becomes exaggerated and causes dramatic wearing of the inner edge of the tyres, and 2. They just look broken.
A manual 635CSi is a rare-ish vehicle because I think (iirc) over two thirds of all 635CSi's were automatics of various types (3 speed, 4 speed and 4 speed switchable) but this figure changes over the 13 or 14 years of E24 production with relatively more earlier cars being manuals and very few of the post 1987 'Highline' cars being manuals. All M635CSi's were manuals.
Lovely car OP, I am well jealous
I had three 6 series back in the day, a 633 auto in gold which was a 'special edition' Bavaria with air con and all sorts of goodies, a standard 635 auto and a 635 in silver with a dog leg manual box which was a proper flying machine and I loved it to death. I loved it soooo much I bought new genuine wings from BMW which were about £300 each back in the 90s. I was quite appalled at how much they rusted given the cost of them.
I actually got my manual one really cheaply as the owners had been told by the main dealers that the head gasket had gone so they sold it cheap (£700!) complete with a new stereo which cost more than I paid for the car! A new rad cap and a fuse for the auxiliary fans and she was absolutely perfect.
Such a shame that so many of them succumbed to 'tinworm' especially front wings as they were truly fantastic cars.
I had three 6 series back in the day, a 633 auto in gold which was a 'special edition' Bavaria with air con and all sorts of goodies, a standard 635 auto and a 635 in silver with a dog leg manual box which was a proper flying machine and I loved it to death. I loved it soooo much I bought new genuine wings from BMW which were about £300 each back in the 90s. I was quite appalled at how much they rusted given the cost of them.
I actually got my manual one really cheaply as the owners had been told by the main dealers that the head gasket had gone so they sold it cheap (£700!) complete with a new stereo which cost more than I paid for the car! A new rad cap and a fuse for the auxiliary fans and she was absolutely perfect.
Such a shame that so many of them succumbed to 'tinworm' especially front wings as they were truly fantastic cars.
Thanks for all the comments.
Done some more rust repair this weekend so starting to look a bit better. The last visible bit left now is the front of the front drivers outer arch.
The short shift kit and gear linkage arrives this week from Turner Motorsport in the States so that will be this weekends work. Finally have a use for my 3 ton trolley jack as it seems easier to fit with the prop off.
Ran the VIN through a decoder and found it had cruise control which explains why there is a hole under the wiper stalk for another stalk. Not sure why the stalk would have been removed so will try and source a replacement.
And I'm not a fan of the split rims its currently sitting on. Thinking about getting these 16" E39 style 5 rims that are on eBay at the moment.
I did think about lowering springs and its good to read now that too much of a drop upsets things. Most kits are in the 20-30mm drop region so will avoid them.
Done some more rust repair this weekend so starting to look a bit better. The last visible bit left now is the front of the front drivers outer arch.
The short shift kit and gear linkage arrives this week from Turner Motorsport in the States so that will be this weekends work. Finally have a use for my 3 ton trolley jack as it seems easier to fit with the prop off.
Ran the VIN through a decoder and found it had cruise control which explains why there is a hole under the wiper stalk for another stalk. Not sure why the stalk would have been removed so will try and source a replacement.
And I'm not a fan of the split rims its currently sitting on. Thinking about getting these 16" E39 style 5 rims that are on eBay at the moment.
I did think about lowering springs and its good to read now that too much of a drop upsets things. Most kits are in the 20-30mm drop region so will avoid them.
E24's were initially offered on 13" and 14" rims until the BMW and Michelin TRX tie in.
The TRX wheels were 390mm (15 and a bit inches) or 415mm (16 and a bit inches) and the E24 suspension works well in that range, however 415mm Michelin tyres are about £400 a corner so most owners have reverted back to imperial sized rims. An E24 can work well (and does look good) on 17" rims but, and it's a big-ish but, the slightest weakness in any of the suspension bushes or steering ball joints and linkages will induce the dreaded 'shimmy' which as well as being very disconcerting and sometimes dangerous, is also destroying the remaining bushes and links.
Arrest it, identify the weak link and replace it soon enough and you may not end up replacing everything by chasing your tail, but quite often simply fitting smaller rim sizes helps reduce or remove any shimmy. My M635 is on 17's with regularly checked and fairly new all round bushes and links; the centre link has a tiny amount of play causing a tiny shimmy so that will have to be done this year. My 635CSi is on 15's and has no shimmy at all and a pleasant, if somewhat occasionally floaty ride.
18's cause a LOT of shimmy.
The TRX wheels were 390mm (15 and a bit inches) or 415mm (16 and a bit inches) and the E24 suspension works well in that range, however 415mm Michelin tyres are about £400 a corner so most owners have reverted back to imperial sized rims. An E24 can work well (and does look good) on 17" rims but, and it's a big-ish but, the slightest weakness in any of the suspension bushes or steering ball joints and linkages will induce the dreaded 'shimmy' which as well as being very disconcerting and sometimes dangerous, is also destroying the remaining bushes and links.
Arrest it, identify the weak link and replace it soon enough and you may not end up replacing everything by chasing your tail, but quite often simply fitting smaller rim sizes helps reduce or remove any shimmy. My M635 is on 17's with regularly checked and fairly new all round bushes and links; the centre link has a tiny amount of play causing a tiny shimmy so that will have to be done this year. My 635CSi is on 15's and has no shimmy at all and a pleasant, if somewhat occasionally floaty ride.
18's cause a LOT of shimmy.
Those wheels would look fine IMO.
Also I would be wary of split rim wheels anyway unless they have been professionally restored...there was a BMW E36 on PH thread ( don't recall which one) that had a set of split rims which looked amazing but had been polished ( diamond cut I think) too much....so much so that they failed. That image has put me off split rims....and they would be difficult to clean /maintain as well.
Edited by Paul S4 on Tuesday 13th December 10:54
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