RE: BMW 635CSi: PH Fleet
Discussion
Burwood said:
Lusted over these in my teens. If I knew it wouldn't be ruinous I'd love to own one now
Granted, I've got some (very) big bills coming up this winter to deal with burgeoning rust, but so far I've had two and a half years of remarkably reliable motoring. Apart from regular servicing and consumables, all it's really needed was a set of engine mounts -- though I guess even these you could consider consumable by the time they're nearly 30 years old!Mid 80s, my mate's dad had a gold 635 and, even as a passenger, the car just oozes 'difference' from anything else (other than his previous 735i) I'd ever been a passenger in. In those days, these cars really were a cut above and BMW as a brand were far less ubiquitous than today.
Arguably, I favour the 6 series even over the beautiful CSL that preceded it. 80's grand touring coupes were, in many ways, the pinnacle and, even with a gun to my head, I'd struggle to say whether I prefer the BMW 6 series to the Jaguar XJS as they are both wonderful, original takes on the theme.
Recently saw an Alpina 8 series which reminded me of those too. Perhaps the last, great BMW GT coupe.
Arguably, I favour the 6 series even over the beautiful CSL that preceded it. 80's grand touring coupes were, in many ways, the pinnacle and, even with a gun to my head, I'd struggle to say whether I prefer the BMW 6 series to the Jaguar XJS as they are both wonderful, original takes on the theme.
Recently saw an Alpina 8 series which reminded me of those too. Perhaps the last, great BMW GT coupe.
Rearwheel said:
Remember when they had one of these on wheeler dealers? Doner car was £300! Long gone are the days of picking a good one up for a few grand. Beautiful car imo
I watched an old espisode of Wheeler Dealers recently, they restored an Audi Quattro and sold it for about 6 grand!Digga said:
80's grand touring coupes were, in many ways, the pinnacle and, even with a gun to my head, I'd struggle to say whether I prefer the BMW 6 series to the Jaguar XJS as they are both wonderful, original takes on the theme.
Really nice way of putting it. I've long been a fan of the XJS's, and seriously considered one instead of the 6. I'm confident the BMW has given me less trouble than the Jag would have by now, though. paulyv said:
Given that £33k in 1986 is equivalent to just under £90k these days I would argue that it was an utter fortune!
Wonderful car.
Strewth, I went on the Bank of England site & as you say it's £89k.Wonderful car.
I knew it was expensive but had no idea just how much!
No wonder they were a rare sight on the roads!
nicholasm said:
That would make sense, as she was the one with the money IIRC. Bruce Willis probably borrowed it and crashed it.
I love this about some TV shows. We should never forget Magnum PI didn't own a Ferrari - he was always borrowing it from his absent employer 'Robin Masters'. Freeloader.
Scrof said:
Burwood said:
Lusted over these in my teens. If I knew it wouldn't be ruinous I'd love to own one now
Granted, I've got some (very) big bills coming up this winter to deal with burgeoning rust, but so far I've had two and a half years of remarkably reliable motoring. Apart from regular servicing and consumables, all it's really needed was a set of engine mounts -- though I guess even these you could consider consumable by the time they're nearly 30 years old!sutts said:
Lovely (I am a bit biased!).
Was the original owner's haulage company Firmin Transport by any chance?
I worked at Waldrons in that era - they ran a Black/Lotus White 635 which I managed to get a few drives of - still so much want for one. The 735 also being run at the same time had the reg'n number F69FKR...that raised an eyebrow or two! I sold (the original) Mr Firmin a couple of highly-specced 3-series for his wife (henna red/grey) and sister-in-law (luxor/havanna) ...my attempt at taking his Bentley Turbo in against the then new 750iL would've meant us paying him - Dutton Forshaw in Parkwood were at the time the only RR/Bentley dealer in the SEast so knew exactly every car and how to pitch (and control?) the trade underwrite value. I dont think it (the featured car) would be a Firmin car....maybe it was "the competition" (whose name i struggle to recall, looked after by one of the other salesmen) based along the road nearer Chart Sutton.Was the original owner's haulage company Firmin Transport by any chance?
Off to peruse the classifieds.....
Here's ours, out of the garage for the weekend. Ours is an earlier E9 based car with a manual dog leg box
We have had it for about 4 years now. Costs are very reasonable as parts where shared with other models and rather amazingly for a car pushing 40 years old, BMW still offer quite a few new parts which you can order over the counter at your local dealer. We recently put a new BMW centre box on the exhaust and replaced some perished rubbers. The dealer just looked on their computer and they had all the original schematics numbering the part numbers we wanted...
Good write up, look forward to the next one in 5 years time!
Fancier shot!
Edited by Itsallicanafford on Saturday 8th July 08:28
Notanotherturbo said:
Lovely old things the 6 series, just had mine recommissioned , literally taxed it yesterday. Alpina engine and manual gearbox.
Wow! That must be truly lovely to drive. Manuals are rare things, as I'm sure you're aware; sadly couldn't stretch to one, but I don't mind the cruisey nature of the car when fitted with an auto!Burwood said:
I'm a bit gun shy of BMW's although this is not the same thing as my 7 series which shat itself constantly (under warranty). My brother has a late model 750 and that too has been through some very expensive repairs. Again, under warranty but it scary stuff what a gear box costs. His car is well maintained and on 40k miles.
Ah, I see! Generally the more modern 7s are a lot more complex and with their CANbus electrical systems suffer many more teething electrical glitches. While there are some electronics on the 6, they're generally quite simple and robust, and the rest of the car is very mechanical by contrast. I think that makes a difference!NickJC said:
I worked at Waldrons in that era - they ran a Black/Lotus White 635 which I managed to get a few drives of - still so much want for one. The 735 also being run at the same time had the reg'n number F69FKR...that raised an eyebrow or two! I sold (the original) Mr Firmin a couple of highly-specced 3-series for his wife (henna red/grey) and sister-in-law (luxor/havanna) ...my attempt at taking his Bentley Turbo in against the then new 750iL would've meant us paying him - Dutton Forshaw in Parkwood were at the time the only RR/Bentley dealer in the SEast so knew exactly every car and how to pitch (and control?) the trade underwrite value. I dont think it (the featured car) would be a Firmin car....maybe it was "the competition" (whose name i struggle to recall, looked after by one of the other salesmen) based along the road nearer Chart Sutton.
Off to peruse the classifieds.....
Fascinating. Would you have known a Richard Walton? He's the chap who (I think) sold the car, according to the business card in the book pack. No, it wasn't Firmins, but a rival, though they weren't in Chart Sutton - I think they were north, rather than south, of Maidstone!Off to peruse the classifieds.....
Itsallicanafford said:
Here's ours, out of the garage for the weekend. Ours is an earlier E9 based car with a manual dog leg box
We have had it for about 4 years now. Costs are very reasonable as parts where shared with other models and rather amazingly for a car pushing 40 years old, BMW still offer quite a few new parts which you can order over the counter at your local dealer. We recently put a new BMW centre box on the exhaust and replaced some perished rubbers. The dealer just looked on their computer and they had all the original schematics numbering the part numbers we wanted...
Good write up, look forward to the next one in 5 years time!
Beautiful car! Thanks for sharing!We have had it for about 4 years now. Costs are very reasonable as parts where shared with other models and rather amazingly for a car pushing 40 years old, BMW still offer quite a few new parts which you can order over the counter at your local dealer. We recently put a new BMW centre box on the exhaust and replaced some perished rubbers. The dealer just looked on their computer and they had all the original schematics numbering the part numbers we wanted...
Good write up, look forward to the next one in 5 years time!
I spotted this one for sale on FB in Worksop, belongs to a BMW specialist. It's a 1985 635CSi Auto. I know it anyway snd it's not a bad one at all. It's had the expensive stuff done (top end rebuilt, rebuilt outbox, new wings etc) and it drives really well - it went through an MOT last month. Needs bits doing - front bumper, rear valance edges, drivers seat bolster etc but it's under 4k. You could use it as is or put 2-3 k into it. 
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