BMW E24 635csi - Buyers Guide

[Bobdenero]

Hi
I am going to have a look at a 1988 BMW635CSI over the weekend, it is a high milage (180k) Auto
I am told that the bodywork and interior are in good condition and that the mechanicals are all in good condition (FSH)Any advice before I take the plunge!

[B3Svert]

e24 are notorious for rusty wings, so have as good a look as you can. Take a trolley jack with you and ask the owner if he minds you getting underneath it. Many BMW of that era also had pretty rust sills and I've seen a few (my old e30 included) that had been quite substantially "repaired" with newspaper and filler.
If the bodywork is really good, I would expect some of the panels to be replacements or at least to have been repaired. It doesn't sound (at that mileage) to be a garage queen, not that any repairs/replacements would put me off.
In my personal experience of that engine, they can run very well even at high mileage although I have not yet driven a 180k miler. If it indeed has FSH and you have a shed load of invoices and receipts to prove it then that should be a good sign. Auto gearbox I can't comment on.

Oh and pics please