RE: SOTW: BMW 635CSi

Friday 24th September 2010

SOTW: BMW 635CSi

Martinis in Monaco or bingo in Blackpool? Shed can't quite decide...



Having fallen in love with our own M6's mix of restrained looks and continent-crushing performance, this week Shed looks to satisfy an itch that's been developing since the BMW arrived on the PH fleet back in April. Unfortunately, with a hefty price tag in excess of £90K - including extras - the current M6 looks set to remain out of Shed's grasp for a long time. Thankfully, the same is not true for its forefather, the 635CSi.

Like the black M6 currently nestled in the PH car park, the 635CSi's styling points to its grand-tourer credentials, with a long out-stretched bonnet, 2+2 interior and a boot that can comfortably consume a week's luggage. Unlike BMW's current offering, the 635CSi has none of the M6's swoopy Bangle-ised curves, favouring instead 1980s chisel-work, sporting BM's traditional shark-esque snout and twin headlights.


It's not all good news at our budget, mind. This example can't claim to be box-fresh, suffering from corrosion in all the 'normal' places - wheel arches, wings, sunroof, doors and, er, bonnet - but 'nothing serious' underneath... And perhaps this example struggles to hide its near-140,000 miles. A respray apparently suffering from one too many visits to the car wash doesn't help, lending the gold finish a 'charming' patina, but that will only serve to bolster the Bavarian mile-muncher's sleeper credentials.

Lurking underneath the slightly down-at-heel 80's suit is a drivetrain whose heart, reputedly, beats strong. The 635CSi's 3.4 litre straight-six should be good for 185 brake horses, propelling Shed's chariot from 0-60mph in 7.4 secs and on to 138mph. Meanwhile, the smooth-shifting three-speed 'box and ample slug of torque (214 Ib ft) should mean effortless progress, if the cross-Europe dash to Monaco is on your mind. The 'chunnel' at least should be a realistic target, given this example's 10 month MOT and ample list of new parts.

Bought by the vendor as a project that he's been forced to give up, will today's SOTW fall to a member of the PH community ready to convert one man's loss into another's gain?


As the incapacitated vendor puts it: 'grab a real bargain now!' And at £950, Shed's tempted to put its money where its mouth is...

The Advert reads:

Here is my BMW 635 CSI for sale  -  a project which I cannot now do due to knee problems.  Taxed 'til September 2010,  with new MOT Cert. 'til 28th July 2011,  and mileage of 139.5k

This model was designed to be a German competitor for the Italian Ferraris and Lomborghinis of the 1980's,  and has many features as standard which even some cars of today do not have.  A powerful machine  ( 185 bhp ) with excellent comfort levels and performance,  this car cost around £42000 when it was new  -  so grab a real bargain now !!


ENGINE  -      3430CC;  petrol;  great starter and runner;  no overheating;  new radiator fitted just before I bought car;  heater and air-con both working.

GEARBOX  -  Automatic;  3 speed;  switchable modes of "economy"  -  "sport"  -  " pre-select";  smooth changes through gears;  new selector cable fitted last week and 'box serviced at a   cost of £450.00.

ELECTRICS  -     All working;  on-board computer modes all functioning;  light check computer working fully;  sunroof opens and tilts;  all electirc windows work;  electric aerial needs plastic securing dome.

SUSPENSION  -  PAS;  recent cross strut fitted;  alloy w


heels;  good tyres.

BRAKES  -         Working well.

INTERIOR  -       Ivory leather;  good condition; radio / CD player ( modern );  crack in dash cover.

BODYWORK  -  No serious corrosion underneath;  underseal still visible;  wheel arches solid enough;  front wings have been replaced at some time;  corrosion blisters at screens and on sunroof (normal);  front bumper quarters corroded ( normal ),  otherwise O.K.  Car has been resprayed at some time,  but has been affected by carwash brushes.

GENERAL  -     A good running project with lots of life left yet  -  good onefor an enthusiast  -  get yourself a powerful running car whilst you are working on it !!   Will make a good Classic carwith  some work.

 I have given you an accurate description of car  -  don't miss out on a good buy !!

Collect car in person,  or arrange own collection and transportation.

Car will be advertised elsewhere as I need the space urgently,  so I reserve the right to remove from the auction before completion date.

Author
Discussion

mister.t

Original Poster:

3,006 posts

195 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
That gen '6' has stood the test of time well.

I've seen far worse than that for a lot more too - One of many on my list of must owns! smile

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
Personally still rank the 635CSI as one of the best looking Beemers, esp in orange biggrin . Certainly think it's more than worthy of SOTW status, even with an automatic gearbox.

In fact, considering the price of 325 e30's and 328 e36's, I'm amazed at how cheap and evidently unloved the 6 Series is confused

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 24th September 09:01

M3John

5,974 posts

218 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
Had a Highline model in one of these a few years back and loved it. Will own another one day !

S3_Graham

12,830 posts

198 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
the worrying thing with these are parts prices, front wings are MEGA expensive.

there was one of these on C&C last month for £600...

carinaman

21,222 posts

171 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
'This model was designed to be a German competitor for the Italian Ferraris and Lomborghinis of the 1980's'

I didn't know that. You learn something new everyday.

It's not quite as good as that one that was in the PH classifieds in South Wales a couple of weeks ago. It seemed to be a different shade of silver from the OS door back but was manual with an LSD, but was more than £1K. I seem to remember it being less than £2K though.

Slim pillars smile

I sometimes see one parked up on the other side of town that shows signs in the front wings between the front wheelarch and indicators from the slightly mottled paint.

Don't these engines last forever?

thirsty

726 posts

263 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
S3_Graham said:
the worrying thing with these are parts prices, front wings are MEGA expensive.

there was one of these on C&C last month for £600...
There are after market vendors out there meaning that you don't always have to go to BMW for parts. Some even specialize in repaired or overhauled orginal parts. If this is a rust free example, it may be worthy of restoration. IMHO these will be collectors cars in the future. Just can not get past the colour on this one however ....

jonno990

420 posts

177 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
Didn't the 3430cc have around 215bhp?

Geoffcapes

670 posts

163 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
That just says Money Pit to me!

varsas

4,004 posts

201 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Personally still rank the 635CSI as one of the best looking Beemers, esp in orange. Certainly think it's more than worth of SOTW status, even with an automatic gearbox.

In fact, considering the price of 325 e30's and 328 e36's, I'm amazed at how cheap and evidently unloved the 6 Series is confused
All being equal, I'd certainly rather have a 635 then an e30 325. A 328i would be a better daily driver, but no where near as cool.

only1ian

684 posts

193 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
It looked great in October 2009! Why no more recent pictures?

Suspect already in my mind!

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
Geoffcapes said:
That just says Money Pit to me!
Oh yes

Proper 'shed'.

Wayne King

1,100 posts

192 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
S3_Graham said:
the worrying thing with these are parts prices, front wings are MEGA expensive.

there was one of these on C&C last month for £600...
What the whole car or just the front wing? hehe

Agent Orange

2,194 posts

245 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
Geoffcapes said:
That just says Money Pit to me!
Not to me.

It's MOT'd until July 2011. Drive it and when it goes bang or uneconomical for you to repair sell it as a parts donor car. I'd be amazed if you couldn't get £4-500 for it as a non-runner.

<>£500 for a 635csi? Inspection aside - bargain.

J4CKO

41,286 posts

199 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
I do like these but that one is in the wrong colour and has the wrong wheels, dark colours or red, black, white suits these not that naff gold. I think its missing what the six series was about and just looks like and old woofer.

Sure its a nice drive but it wont be all that fast and it will guzzle fuel at a rate that makes your eyes water.

Black with some lattice or BBS alloys, but then that probably wouldnt fit in the shed budget would it.

Rusty-C

291 posts

174 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
jonno990 said:
Didn't the 3430cc have around 215bhp?
Rushing to the office as we speak...

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
80s-tastic

Gruber

6,313 posts

213 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
Great shed!

There's a picture of mine in my profile. Just returned from two weeks in France, and 2,000 miles, in mine. Such a marvellous way to travel long distances. A real head-turner.

Parts are available, but expensive. And there is a lot to go wrong - these are quite complicated cars, especially for their time. But they are marvellous cars and I love mine to bits.

Buy the best you can afford. Or buy a shed and run it into the ground.


redgriff500

26,765 posts

262 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
Rusty-C said:
jonno990 said:
Didn't the 3430cc have around 215bhp?
Rushing to the office as we speak...
Yes I thought 185 was too low and a quick google gives 215bhp

Bloody rare to find an ad under estimating bhp

detomaso

1,354 posts

247 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
I do like these but that one is in the wrong colour and has the wrong wheels, dark colours or red, black, white suits these not that naff gold. I think its missing what the six series was about and just looks like and old woofer.

Sure its a nice drive but it wont be all that fast and it will guzzle fuel at a rate that makes your eyes water.

Black with some lattice or BBS alloys, but then that probably wouldnt fit in the shed budget would it.
At least it hasn't got chrome arches...

Gallen

2,162 posts

254 months

Friday 24th September 2010
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
I'll take a lesser-engined one with less rust for the same price please.
...Ok but where can you get one from?! smile

Any semi-tidy 6 is worth a grand.

The wings can be repaired with steel instead of replaced.
If you were to follow this route and add a respray, you'll not be looking at a much more than the price of 2 x "new" wings alone! smile

Edited by Gallen on Friday 24th September 09:16