1977 BMW 6 33 CSI

[james280779]

Already posted on the BMW forum but as most over there seem to be interested in 'the chipust mota for 2 bags of sand that looks like an M3 bruv', this might be more appropriate here.

This one has caught my eye, is there anything I really need to look out for.

There is no rust, mileage about 130k, small tear in the rear seat, unfortunately its an auto.

Also how much is a good price for this- I cannot see any others for sale. Garage is open to negotiations as was a trade in.

thanks

Edited by james280779 on Friday 5th July 02:59

[Jamirecluse]

Looks shiny, afraid that's about as far as my knowledge goes.

[james280779]

Jamirecluse said:

Looks shiny, afraid that's about as far as my knowledge goes.

Thanks for that, at least I got a second opinion on the paint job

[madjules]

Hi James

I ran back a 78 633 csi back in the late nineties as a daily runner for a good few years.
I loved it. To me it was an almost perfect GT car, fast comfortable and the big six is a gem. When I had mine there were still a few in breakers yards and BMW also stocked most of the parts, so maintenance wasn’t too bad, although that was a few years ago.

Some of the main things to look out for from experience;

They rust! Even if it looks good on top it may be full of filler underneath (mine was). The chrome arches on the one in the photo are a sign of possible trouble!
They are mega thirsty, single figure mpg if you push them hard.
The FI can be troublesome (maybe just mine and due to the age).
The handling is certainly lively in the wet. Lots of power, with very little weight over the back wheels with no T/C or ABS.

Good Luck!

[griffter]

If there REALLY is no rust, buy it at anythig under £5k. But check the front inner wings carefully from the engine bay and with a torch and by feel from the wheel arches. Check the lacking points and tow eyes too. Then sills and rear arches. Check as best you can under those chrome arch trims too. The 633 is undeservedly unloved. If it was 635 it would be more sought after. As a 1977 car it could be e12 based (see Wikipedia) and pretty rare. Go to bigcoupe.com for more help. And good luck!

[JMC1]

Advise right inner wings big rust point also beware the sills I have heard of lots of filler and glass fibre to get through the MOT.
There is a pale yellow 633 for sale (see Link below) IMHO this particular garage usually prices cars 15% to 20% higher than the rest of the market so do not think this is the right price for the car.

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

[BobTurner]

Surely the chrome arches indicate pain, suffering and rust lurking beneath - or perhaps they're just a style statement

[MarkwG]

JMC1 said:

There is a pale yellow 633 for sale (see Link below) IMHO this particular garage usually prices cars 15% to 20% higher than the rest of the market so do not think this is the right price for the car.

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

I've had a passing look at that car, & others they offer, & they are usually big bucks for average cars. I agree, I wouldn't see that one as an indicator of the 633 market in general.

[james280779]

thanks guys,

the car is actually located here in Australia. As such cars do not rust like they do in the UK. Its fairly rare to find a car with significant rust. I will check the usual places but as in a previous post, I found a rust free original Alfasud that had been left outside for several years but the price wasnt right, so that indicates how little rust is a problem!!!
I am looking to own for a year and use (I have a company car also) then bring back with me to the UK, so far I have decided on a MGA plus another.
I reckon I could get this and then ship to uk costing me circa 6-7k all up.

I have also found a beautiful late 60's mustang but that will be a little more, maybe 9-10k all up.

[XJ Flyer]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C379575

I think that's what I'd prefer to put the money into if not an E39 M5.633 auto is just the wrong engine and the wrong transmission for a real BM.However the Mustang would have the advantage of being cheaper to maintain in general and much easier to work on at home.

Edited by XJ Flyer on Saturday 6th July 01:54

[anonymous-user]

James, I had a 85 635 M In Malaysia great car never saw 'road salt' but saw plenty of rain, it was taken back to bare metal and there was no rust on it anywere, had it for two years fantastic car, unfortunatly lost it when it was in for ar epair and the garage burned down. If you are in a part of Aus that doesn't use road salt it may well be rust free, if it is thyea re agreat car yoiu can get all the parts from somewhere, perfectly practical classic.

[E24man]

Get over to bigcoupe.com and ask on the forums there - there's a strong Aussie contingent who post and a huge depth of knowledge.

As for the car you posted, it's an early Karmann built E12 based car so more susceptable to rust than the later BMW built E28 cars. The differences are all over the car; engine, brakes, gearboxes, suspension, electrics, engine management and some bodywork and trim stuff. The early cars do feel dated from the cockpit but drive pretty much the same.

The chrome arches are very undesirable and were certainly used in the UK to hide scabby rust patches and and as others have said, inner wings, chassis rails, under the rear lights, behind the front panel.... Just check everywhere for rust. The auto's can quite easily be converted to manual gearboxes, those aren't genuine Alpina wheels and it has front 'comfort' seats which in truth are anything but. You want BMW sports seats or genuine Recaro's. That car also has a much later (1985 on) rear boot spoiler fitted which looks a little out of place on that age of car, it should be the solid rubber type and simply changing the steering wheel from the truck type it has to a three spoke sports would make it feel and look nicer.

Hth

Edited by E24man on Saturday 6th July 07:34

[Cheib]

E24man said:

The chrome arches are very undesirable and were certainly used in the UK to hide scabby rust patches and and as others have said, inner wings, chassis rails, under the rear lights, behind the front panel.... Just check everywhere for rust. The auto's can quite easily be converted to manual gearboxes, those aren't genuine Alpina wheels and it has front 'comfort' seats which in truth are anything but. You want BMW sports seats or genuine Recaro's. That car also has a much later (1985 on) rear boot spoiler fitted which looks a little out of place on that age of car, it should be the solid rubber type and simply changing the steering wheel from the truck type it has to a three spoke sports would make it feel and look nicer.

Hth

Edited by E24man on Saturday 6th July 07:34

The chrome mirror housing are equally undesirable....easily sorted I assume ?

[MarkwG]

Cheib said:

The chrome mirror housing are equally undesirable....easily sorted I assume ?

Nope, they were standard, most things were chromed in the '70s. Swap to later versions if you want & can make them fit...

[Cheib]

MarkwG said:

Cheib said:

The chrome mirror housing are equally undesirable....easily sorted I assume ?

Nope, they were standard, most things were chromed in the '70s. Swap to later versions if you want & can make them fit...

So they were! I stand corrected. My memories are of the 80's cars I suppose....I was still spotting number plates in the 70's rather than the intricate spec details which I moved on to as a teenager in the 80's!

[E24man]

MarkwG said:

Cheib said:

The chrome mirror housing are equally undesirable....easily sorted I assume ?

Nope, they were standard, most things were chromed in the '70s. Swap to later versions if you want & can make them fit...

Spot on. The early mirrors were chrome with a chrome base; in 1982-ish, they became chrome with a black base; with the introduction of, and only for, the M635CSi in 1984 the chrome became body-coloured with a black base, and with the introduction of the shadowline option in about 1986 all E24's were available with body coloured mirrors. From 1987 all cars were Highline cars with body coloured mirrors.

Edited by E24man on Saturday 6th July 21:42

[tali1]

By their nature most 6s are auto anyway (this was a no cost option)- apart from the manual only M635CSI
Curiously 2 months after launch of 635CSi , manual gearbox was stopped on 633CSI at end of 1978