E24 635 CSI Advice please?

[lambo_xx]

Looking for some advice for a friend who is after a E24 635 CSI.

Couple questions, I have read that the original BBS wheels were metric size, so getting tyres can be an issue. Is this true?

The car he has been offered is off market, it's one of the last ones built just before the final 1988 facelift.

Any other general advice on what to look for would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Zener]

I am sure the 635csi was fitted with TRX / Metric alloys as a few other makes were around that period certain Austin Metro & Ford Granada models IIRC for example, you may need to speak to a classic car tyre outlet , see here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_TRX

[4rephill]

Unless your friend's a fanatic about originality, or intends to enter concours events, I'd ditch the TRX tyres/wheels, if that's what the car comes with.

They were a bit of an improvement over standard tyres back in the day, but now, they're expensive to buy, and modern non-metric tyres do a better job of keeping your car on the road.

As for other things to watch out for with an E24 - There's plenty of advice on the 'net about them, but the biggest thing to look for is rust, rust, more rust, and.........rust!

[Dinoboy]

The facelift to 'Highline' spec was around August 1987, not 88 so check what it actually is.
Alloys aren't an issue as any 5x120 BMW alloy will go on a 635 if you don't want to pay for new TRX's. Alpina's look great on them and are period correct.

[McGee_22]

A 1988 car would have come with 415mm TRX rims as standard and tyres are still easily available... but at £400 each and only from Michelin.

You can fit other 14" to 17" rims easily on a 635CSi instead (16" or 17" on an M635CSi due to bigger front brakes) and 18" if you wish but the standard steering and suspension will wear and wobble incredibly rapidly on 18" rims and bigger.

I always say to people wishing to own an E24, either be a welder, or be prepared to become very close friends with one at some expense.

That said, they are one of the most striking looking of classic BMW's and classic cars in general and they always attract nice attention, but they are the thick end of 40 years old now and some of them certainly feel it and drive that way.

Spares and replacement parts are becoming hard to get so beware of that if you're considering a 'project', and car prices have risen quite rapidly over the last dozen years with decent 635CSi's going up from c£5k to around the c£20k mark and cheap M635CSi's rising from c£10k to mid-twenties with nice M635CSi's nearly double that.