635csi Highline, thoughts?
Discussion
Hi all,
What are our thoughts on a 635csi Highline? I have always loved them and my dad had one when I was a kid, so lots of memories.
The M models have been rising rapidly and as I only want to cruise in one the Highline ticks the boxes really.
What are your thoughts on the car, maintenance and appreciation. Cheers.
What are our thoughts on a 635csi Highline? I have always loved them and my dad had one when I was a kid, so lots of memories.
The M models have been rising rapidly and as I only want to cruise in one the Highline ticks the boxes really.
What are your thoughts on the car, maintenance and appreciation. Cheers.
It's all about the rust on the E24. You definitely need a very thorough inspection and beware the car bogged up and flashed over to sell.
Good advice here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Also beware millimetric rims bearing 100 year old TRX tyres.
Good advice here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Also beware millimetric rims bearing 100 year old TRX tyres.
Looks smart enough but you need very careful rust inspection. TRX tyres are £400 each so expect to store the millimetric wheels and put some non-millimetric wheels on for actual use. Advert written by someone trying to be Quentin WIlson generally puts me off, but that's not the car's fault.
Edited by Lowtimer on Saturday 19th May 09:10
As lowtimer says, it's worth a look but you'll need to take a good, long, close look.
They rust anywhere and everywhere. Check the inner wings (take a look down the sides of the engine bay), inside the front wings where the bumper bracket attaches, around the rear lights and rear screen, and around the bottom of the A-pillar / door hinges (as well as all the usual places).
It sounds like it has had a lot of work done, which is encouraging. When you take it out, make sure the box kicks down eagerly and check that the sport setting seems to be working too. Front wheel shimmy around 50-55mph is very common and is usually worn bushes. And the steering can sometimes feel vague (these have a box rather than rack & pinion, and the box can be tightened).
Personally, I'm not a fan of the comfort seats. And, as lowtimer says, you'll want to replace the metric wheels.
They're wonderful old cars, but they are old cars. The M30 engine really benefits from regular use. And expect to spend a few bob each year on preventative maintenance.
They rust anywhere and everywhere. Check the inner wings (take a look down the sides of the engine bay), inside the front wings where the bumper bracket attaches, around the rear lights and rear screen, and around the bottom of the A-pillar / door hinges (as well as all the usual places).
It sounds like it has had a lot of work done, which is encouraging. When you take it out, make sure the box kicks down eagerly and check that the sport setting seems to be working too. Front wheel shimmy around 50-55mph is very common and is usually worn bushes. And the steering can sometimes feel vague (these have a box rather than rack & pinion, and the box can be tightened).
Personally, I'm not a fan of the comfort seats. And, as lowtimer says, you'll want to replace the metric wheels.
They're wonderful old cars, but they are old cars. The M30 engine really benefits from regular use. And expect to spend a few bob each year on preventative maintenance.
Lowtimer said:
Looks smart enough but you need very careful rust inspection. TRX tyres are £400 each so expect to store the millimetric wheels and put some non-millimetric wheels on for actual use.......]
+1 
A quick Google search will bring up plenty of information about the E24's notorious rust issues, and what to look for.
On the car in the advert: It looks pretty good in the pictures, but you really need to see it in person, as photo's can always be a bit deceptive.
A slight niggle that I did note is that the rear bumper is lower on the driver's side than the passenger's.
A review of the cars MOT history shows that in 2012, there was damage to the nearside indicator, and to the offside rear lamp. It might be nothing whatsoever to worry about, but combined with the bumper alignment, I'd be having a good look for any signs of a rear end impact.
Added to that, in 2014 there was an advisory for: "general body corrosion" (which to be fair, is not a massive surprise on an E24). I'd be asking about that, and if there is any information as to what repairs were carried out, and by whom).
I've always loved the E24 six series - It's a remarkable blend of an aggressive, shark-like front end, with a very graceful and elegant body (Have to confess - I prefer the later plastic bumper versions, with the sports seats, but they are all fabulous looking cars!)
The golden rule with E24's is that if it's expensive, it's probably crap and if it's cheap, it's worse.I looked at a £35'000 white Highline on a dealer stand at the NEC last year and that had rust if you looked hard enough. Very few - if any - have escaped the rust bug and there is some shocking rubbish around the £10'000 mark. Apart from the rust you have shagged cams (a £3000 top end rebuild), the usual sagged engine mounts allowing the fan to imprint itself onto the rad, rusty brake pipes, rusty front struts, w
ked front suspension, the hydraulic servo brakes that can cause so much grief etc etc etc etc. Keeping on top of these as they got older was an expensive endeavour which is why so many turned to st.
A really good one that has a sheaf of invoices is a nice car. Sadly there aren't many like that. Specialist dealers are just waiting for the unwary - it's a tough call but the E24, like so many ancient cars, is one where you really need a st hot independent inspection to sort the wheat from the shyte. Depending on where you are, I can suggest a few guys who know their stuff.
The grey one has TRX GT tyres, the latest gen versions that are quite good. To me they don't look right without the big BBS style TRX wheels.
ked front suspension, the hydraulic servo brakes that can cause so much grief etc etc etc etc. Keeping on top of these as they got older was an expensive endeavour which is why so many turned to st.A really good one that has a sheaf of invoices is a nice car. Sadly there aren't many like that. Specialist dealers are just waiting for the unwary - it's a tough call but the E24, like so many ancient cars, is one where you really need a s
t hot independent inspection to sort the wheat from the shyte. Depending on where you are, I can suggest a few guys who know their stuff. The grey one has TRX GT tyres, the latest gen versions that are quite good. To me they don't look right without the big BBS style TRX wheels.
Edited by iSore on Saturday 19th May 16:59
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