Thniking of buying a BMW 635 CSi........

[V8Smith]

Just after a bit of advice really from BMW 6 series owners, I have a hankering for a good 80s BMW 635 CSi I have a 4x4 and a 997S cab so was thinking to add a classy coupe like the 635 as I just love the shape and think they are a pretty cool classic car. It will be driven weekly rather than daily given my other cars so just wanted to find out if there was anything in particular I should look out for.

Is there anything I should look out for?? Are there any known issues? What are likely running costs I can expect? Are they as reliable and bullit proof as I think they are?

Any advice is appreciated and hope you can help me guys....

Thanks

Mike

[4rephill]

Rust,rust and rust!.

Front wings are prone to serious rust and can be expensive to replace, they can also rust around the sunroof's (as do 3 and 5 series of the same period, been there Myself with an E28 and an E30).
This site should provide some useful information: http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/e24.html.

Hope that's of some help to you. Gotta say, I've always loved the old 6 series, fantastic looking car.

Good luck with it!

[E21_Ross]

http://www.fritzsbits.co.uk/

01823 674459. call them, ask for junior richard and tell them ross fripp with an E21 mentioned them. he knows just about anything with old school beemers and can tell you EVERYTHING you need to know. he has one himself which he is converting in to a track car. I have seen a few others down there when i take my E21 there when it needs a little work.

[wrighty78]

V8Smith said:

Are there any known issues? What are likely running costs I can expect? Are they as reliable and bullit proof as I think they are?

Well someone else has already mentioned rust - check inner and outer front wings, in particular, very carefully.

And bear in mind that they are all now between 20 and 30 years old. As with any old car, reliability depends mostly on how well looked after they've been. And they're fairly complicated old things (especially if you get a highline model), so there's no shortage of things to spend money on.

And they were sold with metric tyres - sodding expensive (if you can find them) and "entertaining" in the wet. Hence many now have non-standard wheels.

I still miss mine. It's the only car I really, genuinely miss. Over two years I took it to the south of France, to Le Mans, and even used it as a daily driver for a few months.

But it wasn't cheap to run - I think it cost me about £2k p.a. in servicing (which included a head gasket replacement and re-skim, a brake overhaul, water pump, any various other bits and pieces including a gear box problem that was eventually traced to a plastic connector under the dashboard). And it wasn't like the previous owner had skimped on servicing. It was a 2 owner car, with tonnes of history.

You'll need to find a good specialist.

And don't be conned into buying a garage queen - these engines like to be used. I looked at a few when buying mine and the 50k mile "minter" ran like a bag of spanners while the 120k daily driver ran smoothly and effortlessly. So you might need to kiss a few frogs before you find your princess (or whatever the saying is).

But do it. Buy one. They're marvellous things. Wonderful cruisers, head-turning looks, increasingly rare, very practical and (arguably) the last of the beautiful Beemers.

ETA: this one is probably over-priced, but wow:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1187972.htm

Edited by wrighty78 on Sunday 29th November 23:01

[V8Smith]

wrighty78 said:

V8Smith said:

Are there any known issues? What are likely running costs I can expect? Are they as reliable and bullit proof as I think they are?

Well someone else has already mentioned rust - check inner and outer front wings, in particular, very carefully.

And bear in mind that they are all now between 20 and 30 years old. As with any old car, reliability depends mostly on how well looked after they've been. And they're fairly complicated old things (especially if you get a highline model), so there's no shortage of things to spend money on.

And they were sold with metric tyres - sodding expensive (if you can find them) and "entertaining" in the wet. Hence many now have non-standard wheels.

I still miss mine. It's the only car I really, genuinely miss. Over two years I took it to the south of France, to Le Mans, and even used it as a daily driver for a few months.

But it wasn't cheap to run - I think it cost me about £2k p.a. in servicing (which included a head gasket replacement and re-skim, a brake overhaul, water pump, any various other bits and pieces including a gear box problem that was eventually traced to a plastic connector under the dashboard). And it wasn't like the previous owner had skimped on servicing. It was a 2 owner car, with tonnes of history.

You'll need to find a good specialist.

And don't be conned into buying a garage queen - these engines like to be used. I looked at a few when buying mine and the 50k mile "minter" ran like a bag of spanners while the 120k daily driver ran smoothly and effortlessly. So you might need to kiss a few frogs before you find your princess (or whatever the saying is).

But do it. Buy one. They're marvellous things. Wonderful cruisers, head-turning looks, increasingly rare, very practical and (arguably) the last of the beautiful Beemers.

ETA: this one is probably over-priced, but wow:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1187972.htm

Edited by wrighty78 on Sunday 29th November 23:01

Cheers, that example is beautiful, but yeah probably a little overpriced.......

[downthepub]

Do it!

They are head-turners for sure! There's a good forum with a healthy British contingent and loads of helpful advice.