1983 BMW 7-Series

Sedan

3.2L Straight 6 Cylinder Gasoline Fuel

Manual

wbaff7408d7395695

Gasoline

1983 BMW E23 733i 5 Speed As a long standing BWM lover I have been a member of the BMW Boston and White Mountain Chapters for over 10 years. I’m an instructor for the HPDE High Performance Drivers Education program run by these chapters and have owned over 2 dozen BMW’s. I now own this 733i being offered for sale along with a 2001 Z3 M Coupe that I’m preparing for street and track use. My daily driver is a Saab 9-5. When I started looking for a car like this my first interest was to acquire an older 6 series. But with a wife and two boys the idea of 4 doors became appealing. I also grew to love the lines and classic look of the e23. Then when this pristine example with complete documentation, a one owner garage queen, 5 speed , with a unique color combination came up for sale, I acted immediately. The history of this car is completely documented. It was originally ordered and purchased by a gentleman Louis Randle Jr. from Dryer & Reinbold in Indianapolis IN on March 15th 1983 for the price of $32,308.40. Mr. Randall apparently was somewhat of a collector with about 50 cars in his stable. He kept this car in his environmentally controlled garage and used it occasionally for his personal fair weather use. Throughout his ownership he cared for the car meticulously with all scheduled service performed at Dryer & Reinbold. In June of 2009 Mr. Randle began to liquidate his car collection in preparation to move from IN to CO and the car was sold Russell Ault a dealer in the area, the mileage at this time was 68,120 original miles. Due to the economy at the time the car did not sell for the asking price which was north of $10,000. I discovered the car and purchased it on Feb 22, 2010, with about 68,500 miles on it. As a condition of the sale I asked Russ to install a Posi rear end to replace the open differential in anticipation of the drive home from IN to NH in Feb. I flew in and drove it home. The car came equipped with the original 14” wheels and all season tires which are still with the car. During the ride home I encountered a few snow squalls. This is the one and only time the car has been driven in the winter. Surprisingly the car handled it surprisingly well, was completely comfortable and a joy to drive on this 10 hour trek. Upon arriving home I had the car inspected and went over it with a fine tooth comb. What I found was even better than I expected. The car had not a spec of rust anywhere; underneath looked as good as the exterior. The only rust I could find was some minimal surface rust on the rear valance mounted under the bumper facing forward. This was obviously a result of being hit with particles picked up by the rear tires and thrown back. I also found that at some point new Bilstein shocks had been installed on all four corners along with the brake pads all appeared to be brand new. All the rubber bushings, hoses and so forth were in equally impressive like new shape clearly the result of being stored indoors its entire life and being used occasionally. Immediately after purchasing any car I perform a complete fluid change switching over to Red Line synthetic the engine, and transmission fluid. The differential had already been done at my request prior to purchase. I also performed the required oil spray bar nut upgrade and while I had the valve cover off replaced it with a refinished one painted wrinkle black. One thing I found during the long drive was that the front seats although in perfect condition did not provide adequate support for my bad back. To remedy this I purchased a pair of Recaro seats from a BMW 320i along with brackets to adapt the seats to the stock sliders / height adjusters. I had the seats recovered in soft high grade vinyl that matches the stock red interior quite nicely. The cost for the seats, brackets and recovering was over $1800.00. I drove the car throughout the summer and fall then took it off the road last winter. There were a few things that needed attention in addition to the stereo system I installed. The Hydraulic Brake booster unit was starting to weep and with over 70K miles on the original fuel pumps I decided to install new BMW replacements. I also replaced the rear valance and with a new one from BMW, added a sport steering wheel, and new coca floor mats. The car originally came with a dealer installed CB Radio which is still with the car as a collectable which I removed when I installed the stereo system described below. The wheels described below where put on. The car also had a front spoiler / air dam and fog lights on it when I purchased it. I did not like the way it fit and thought it distracted from the classic look of the car and removed it. Exterior Paint and Body The car has never been in an accident. All panels, glass, and paint are original and in perfect condition. The color is rich and deep, the clear coat without swirl marks, any minor chips have been carefully been taken care of. All the trim work looks brand new and shinny, with no oxidation. The front and rear bumpers are free of oxidation and look like new. All moldings are in excellent condition. The rocker panels and lower rear panels behind the wheels look great. The doors sills look new and are free from scratches. The weather stripping and seals are 100% and supple. The There is no rust of any kind anywhere on the car. The only flaw in the exterior is a very minor scratch of about 1-1/2 inches below the rear license plate and a minor ding less than the size of a dime on the located on the drivers side rocker panel. Both are difficult to notice if you’re not looking. Because of these two flaws I would rate the condition of the exterior at 9.7 out of 10. Interior The interior is perfect. The rugs, dash, seats, head liner, door panels all flawless. The installed stereo system is a work of art. Only when examined closely does it become apparent that the head unit is an aftermarket unit. The sport steering wheel adds a nice touch replacing the clunky square stock one. The Recaro seats complement the stock interior beautifully. The original front seats which are in perfect condition are included in the sale and can be easily swapped back in about an hour, held in by 8 allen head bolts. The rear seat looks like fine leather sofa. All controls function exactly as they should. The AC blows cold and has yet to require a recharge. The Automatic climate control, heater / defroster, rear window defroster, seat sliders and height adjust, electric windows, sun roof, door locks, computer, all function 100%. The only known issue is the cruise control, which just recently stopped working. I know this is due to the switch / stock on the steering column since it was working and the switch was intermittent. It’s an easy fix and I’ve been looking for one on EBay as a cost effective alternative to new. I would rate the interior at 9.9 out of 10 Engine, Suspension, Brakes, The engine runs extremely well, starts instantly, idles fine and pulls without hesitation to red-line. This motor is one of BMW’s strongest, most reliable and can easily last for 300K miles. The transmission operates quietly and shifts smoothly; it is crisp and tight, not sloppy like modern cars. The clutch engages fully and is rock solid. There are not leaks, drips or seeping fluids anywhere. The suspension is tight, steering is responsive without play. The car rides beautifully and handles well. The brakes are excellent. There is absolutely nothing mechanically that needs attention. The only known concern is that I’ve noticed when the gas tank has been filled to the very top there is a slight gas odor when parked afterwards. The odor goes away once the car has been driven a few miles. I believe this is a result of overfilling and have since been filling it to 7/8 of a tank without any reoccurrence. I would rate the car mechanically at 9.9 out of 10. Audiophile 10 Speaker Sound System Being an audiophile with a degree in Electrical Engineer, and owning a home sound system valued at $10K+, I set out to design and install a no expense spared sound system into the 733i that would provide concert hall audiophile sound quality without disturbing in any way the original integrity of the interior. Another important consideration was the desire to obtain access to current sources for high quality audio content including CD’s, High Definition Radio, USB, IPOD, and Pandora along with complete Digital Signal Processing control of all audio parameters such as speaker crossover, equalization, balance, fader, subwoofer output and numerous other tuning factors within the head unit for easy adjustment from the cockpit tailored to an individuals listening preferences. This was achieved using only the highest quality audio components and installation techniques offered only at the most exclusive car audio installers. The components alone cost over $2500.00. All components except for the Amplifier where purchased at Crutchfield where costs can be easily verified. The installation took place over several months last winter easily taking 50+ hours with close attention to detail and reliability. To have this system installed at any car audio specialty shop would easily run over $5000. The end result is a system that looks perfect in every respect and performs flawlessly. Several individuals with home audio systems similar to mine have auditioned with a critical ear their favorite music and marveled at the sound quality and levels that this system delivers in many cases surpassing that of their home systems. The Components Head Unit – Excelon Kenwood KDC –X995 Cost $329.99 General features: •CD player with AM/FM tuner •built-in MOSFET amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels) (Not utilized) •plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RW discs, including discs loaded with MP3, WMA, and AAC files •built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling •built-in HD Radio tuner with iTunes Tagging •PANDORA® Internet radio connectivity •fold-down, detachable face with 5-line LCD display •variable-color illumination (the display colors have been set to match the factory dash amber color, providing a factory OEM look.) •remote control Audio features: •Sound Excellence DSP (5-band equalizer, iPod EQ, Highway Sound, time alignment, Digital E's crossover) •high-pass filters (speaker and preamp outputs), low-pass filter (sub preamp output) •receiver bypasses your iPod's digital-to-analog converter for superior sound quality •outputs: 6-channel preamp outputs (4-volt front, rear, subwoofer) (Utilized connecting to 5 channel DLS refernce series amp) The Kenwood Excelon KDC-X995 CD receiver offers a stunning display with programmable color selection, Bluetooth® hands-free calling, and built-in HD Radio™ and reception with PANDORA® Internet radio connectivity Plug into PANDORA® This Kenwood Excelon receiver keeps you hooked up to your PANDORA® stations. Connect an iPhone to the receiver's USB port, and you can use the receiver's controls to navigate your way through your favorite stations. You'll enjoy outstanding control, including displays of artist, album, and song information on the receiver's screen, along with the ability to give your songs a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down." Easy iPod controls You can use the receiver's direct iPod controls to access your playlists and albums, while the multi-line display shows off your artist and song info in clear detail. Grab the big jog dial and skip through your files in 10% jumps, or search alphabetically — either way, you'll get there fast. Plus, your passengers can use the iPod's controls to switch songs if you want to concentrate on the drive. Bluetooth lets you focus on the road Distracted driving is a safety hazard. When a call comes in to your mobile phone, the KDC-X995 will mute the music and allow you to take the call without taking your hands off the wheel — it's a safer, more convenient way to stay in touch on the highway. Superior radio sound HD Radio stations offer superior sound quality on their AM/FM broadcasts and additional programming on secondary channels. The KDC-X995's built-in HD Radio tuner lets you access that improved sound and extra programming, as well as tag tunes for future purchase at the iTunes® store. Beautiful, realistic sound Kenwood's Sound Excellence feature offers audio enhancements designed to give you the best possible listening experience in your vehicle. Highway Sound optimizes your music so you can hear more of the details over the road noise, while the Supreme+ feature enhances the frequencies in your digital files that get lost during compression. You can adjust the timing of your front and rear speakers so it strengthens your music's focus. The Digital E's crossover feature is used to trim some of the lows out of the front and rear speakers, and adjust the low frequencies going to a sub, so the system plays more efficiently. The three sets of preamp outputs send a strong 4-volt signal to the amp for superior sound quality and lower noise levels. Expandability: •iPod direct control via USB input — no adapter necessary, but adding Kenwood's optional connection cable lets you leave your iPod cable at home •compatible with Kenwood's satellite radio and CD changer •inputs: rear USB and auxiliary inputs Amplifier - DLS RA50 Cost $735.00 Made in Sweden the DLS RA50 is from the Audiophile reference series of high end amplifiers using AB transistor configuration manufactured by DLS. Impeccable craftsmanship and sound quality are delivered from this amplifier with specifications exceeding amplifiers at two to three times the cost. The REFERENCE series RA50 is a 5-channel amplifier rated at 4 x 70 + 1 x 265 Watts with over 100db signal to noise ratio. The amplifier is 2 ohm stable on all channels. Total output at 2 ohm = 765 Watts RMS output per channel at 13,8 volts, 20 Hz - 20 kHz , < 0,1% distortion. Mode : AB Number of channels : 5 Nominal power in 4 ohm : 4 x 50 Watt + 1 x 250 Watt on mono channel Typical power in 4 ohm : 4 x 70 Watt + 1 x 265 Watt on mono channel Typical power in 2 ohm : 4 x 100 Watt + 1 x 365 Watt on mono channel Frequency range : 10 Hz - 50 kHz S / N ratio, A-weighted : > 100 dB Damping factor : > 200 Input impedance, low level input : > 10 kohm Input impedance, high level input : 330 ohm High level input with auto start function : Yes Input sensitivity, variable : 0,5 - 8 V **Filter configuration channels 1&2: HP: 50-140 Hz. LP: 250-700 Hz (2,5 kHz- 7 kHz with x10 switch) **Filter configuration channels 3&4: HP: 50-140 Hz (x5 switch: 250 - 700 Hz) (x50 switch 2,5 - 7 kHz) **Filter configuration sub channel (5): LP: 40-125 Hz, Subsonic fixed 25 Hz **Grand bass filter : variable 0 - 18 dB (only on sub channel) **Variable phase shift control for subwoofers : variable 0 - 180 degrees (only on sub channel) **Filter slope : 12 dB/octave (subsonic filter 18 dB) **Remote sub level and phase shift control : Yes Current draw, idle : 1,2 A Current draw, maximum : 90 A Dimensions W x D x H : 479 x 245 x 59 mm (18,85 x 9,65 x 2,33 inch) **Note: (All filtering is completely programmable and done in the Digital Signal processor internal to the Kenwood head unit. Providing full adjustment capability from the front seats. As such filtering of all channels in the amplifier are bypassed, so these functions in the amp are not utilized ) Rear Deck Speakers – Infinity Reference 5030cs Cost $199.99 Mounted onto rear deck are speaker boxes taken from a BMW e30 series. I installed into thes spearboxes these Infinity components. The tweeters were installed using hand fabricated pieces of carbon fibre., The crossover is mounted in the trunk under the rear deck. This provides a completely BMW factory appearance and superb spatial quality from these speakers. With these Infinity Reference component speakers you'll hear subtle nuances and little details in your music that you may never have noticed before. The Reference 5030cs system features low-impedance 5-1/4" woofers, designed to extract maximum power safely from the amplifier. Infinity uses oversized rubber surrounds to increase woofer cone area up to 30 percent over other speakers of the same size category. The result efficient, increased bass output. Mounted on the deck the speaker boxes are angled forward and inward with a clear shot to your ears, this enables the soft dome tweeters to open up the sound stage in the tight confines the car. External crossovers direct the high and low notes to the proper speakers for great clarity and high efficiency. Highlights: component speaker system includes 2 woofers, 2 tweeters, and 2 crossovers 5-1/4" Plus One+ Injection-Molded Polypropylene (IMPP) woofer with hi-roll rubber surround 1" edge-driven textile dome tweeter 2-way external crossover network (18 dB/octave, 3,500 Hz high- and low-pass) 2-ohm impedance for extra power tweeter adjustment circuits (0, +3 dB) power range: 2-75 watts RMS (225 watts peak power) frequency response: 67-21,000 Hz sensitivity: 93 dB Front Kick Panel Woofers and Tweeters - JL Audio CL5075-CT Cost $199.99, plus ~ $150.00 pre-owned woofers Utilizing the stock plastic grills covering the factor speakers in the kick panels I modified the grills and mounted a pair of ABS 5-1/4 speakers. This assembly was then covered in black speaker cloth and installed back into the factory location providing an improvement over the OEM grill, while retaining a stock appearance. The ABS woofers where taken from an ABS 4x6 plate speaker that I had removed from another car I sold. Of the highest quality these speakers originally cost close to $400. To compete the front speaker system I installed the JL Audio CL5075-CT 3/4” tweeters into the black vinyl area located at the upper front edge of the front doors which completely blend in for a factory OEM appearance. This location is also the best location for accurate sound staging, stereo seperation and imaging. The crossovers for the tweeters were mounted in the kick panel speakers wells. The JL Audio's C5075-CT 3/4" silk dome tweeters bring your high-frequency sounds into crisp, clear focus. Mounted on the doors you hear more details in the music, with a real sense of where each instrument is placed in the mix. Each tweeter was surface-mounted using JL Audio's ratcheting swivel rotation flush-mount system permits precise aiming even after installation. The C5075-CT tweeters feature strong, ferrofluid-cooled neodymium magnets for superior performance. The Subwoofers – 2 each 10” Boston Acoustics G310-4 Cost $509.98 Sound Ordnance BB10-50S Sealed Speaker Boxes Cost $119.98 Utilizing the cavernous trunk space I mounted a cutsom assembly that contains the subwoofers, amplifier and storage capacitors. By building a 1-1/2 inch spacer made out 2 sheets of 3/4 plywood I was able to cut two 10” circular holes out of the rear bulk head sheet metal seperating the trunk from the cabin while at the same time increasing strutual strength. The 2 speaker boxes where first bolted together, the spacer covered in black grill cloth, then the amplifier and capcitiors mounted to it. Using eight 4 inch lag bolts the entire assemble was then mounted to the bulk head. This enables the sub woofer to provide exceptionally tight bass facing forward into the cabin without being obstrusted by sheet metal. Additionally the subwoofer speakers are completely protected and not exposed to items placed in the trunk that could damage conventionally mounted sub woofers. In the trunk the trim piece mounted up against the bulkhead was carefully cut out to provide the border around the speaker box assembly for a completely neat and factory appearance. The 10" G310-4 subwoofer features a rigid copolymer woofer cone and a large compressed foam surround. Extended cone excursion lets these subs pound out ultra-low notes, while the 2-1/2" voice coil handles 375 watts RMS for bass that hits hard. The G3 Series subwoofers from Boston Acoustics incorporate innovative technologies with advanced materials for low-frequency firepower that'll enhance any type of music. The patented RadialVent® cooling system shunts heat away from the voice coil, and the ultra-rigid chassis provides a rugged platform for high-powered bass. Interconnects and Wiring Cost ~ $300.00 Most aftermarket car audio systems are prone to noise problems, alternator whine, clicks, pops, ignition induced hiss and other undesirable effects. This is most often caused by poor grounding, and/or +12 volt feeds, inadequate gauge wire and wiring techniques used during installation. The approach I used was to over engineer this subsystem to insure long term reliability and immunity to any of the typical problems described above. Another problem with such a high wattage system is the instantaneous drain it can put on the cars electrical system. This will often cause the headlights to dim or flicker when the system is playing drawing high current. To avoid this 2 each 1 farad capacitors where installed. The desired results where achieved. The only thing that is heard from the system under any conditions idle or at 80mph, at any volume is what is suppose to be heard, clear and pure. Absolutely no induced noise, and no issues with strain on the cars electrical system. Monster 300 Series 6 Channel RCA Interconnect & Y Adaptor Cable 2 each 1 farad storage / stiffing capacitors mounted on the speaker box assembly and protected by a clear plastic cover to prevent accidental shorts 4 Gauge +12 volt from Battery to fuse/distribution block, Mounted in engine compartment 2 each 8 Gauge +12 volt from fuse/distribution block to each capacitor 6 gauge +12 volt from stiffing capacitors to amplifier 2 each 6 gauge ground wires from the amplifier and capacitors to car chassis in trunk 6 gauge ground wire connection from trunk chassis ground to battery 10 gauge ground from chassis to head unit 16 Gauge Remote On from head unit through relay to amps 16 gauge speaker wire front & rear, 14 gauge for subwoofers Hard copy manuals for the head unit and amplifier are in hand. Wheels and Tires Starting with a clean set of used BMW style 5 2 piece BBS wheels purchased at an initial cost of $800.00, I created these classic and beautiful wheels for the 733i. The first step was to have the wheels checked for straightness and to insure that they were true. This was done before disassembly and again after the wheels where reassembled. They checked out fine both instances. I disassembled the wheels, then cleaned and inspected the barrels, faces and center caps closely for any flaws. The barrels where then sent out to have the outer lips polished to a mirror finish with the inner barrels professionally refinished to factory standards. This work was performed by Rim Pro located in Tewksbury Ma. The cost for this work was $600.00. The faces where then chemically stripped, bead blasted and powder coated Nagaro Silver at a cost of $300. This rich metallic color is a dark grey that was rarely found, offered as a factory exterior color on the BMW e30 M3. The center caps which are plastic and therefore cannot be powder coated where painted to match the faces at a cost of $200.00. The wheels where then reassembled using steel Ti-Ni plated (Gold Look) screws and new stainless steel nuts purchased from Pertsh & Partner in Germany at a cost of $450.00. I then carefully reassembled the wheels by hand using Loctite on each of the screws. All 532 nuts where torqued in sequence in a star fashion and in stages to the required specifications and then checked again to ensure an even clamping force and none had been missed. Finally I installed brand new BWM emblems. Four nearly New Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45/17 tires purchased on EBay at a cost of $600.00 where mounted and balanced, at a cost of $100.00. The Michelin Pilot Sport tires were original equipment for the performance package BMW E46 3 series. They are still one of the best Max Performance summer tires out there providing a comfortable yet nimble ride. The tires now have about 90% of there tread remaining and are in prefect condition. The faces of the wheels offer a beautiful contrast to the Alpine White finish of the 733. While the polished lips and gold bolts providing a stunning yet classic accent. The total amount invested into these one of a kind wheels and tires is over $3000.00 not including labor. Pictures Over 130 pictures can be viewed here: http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu53/dcroteau1/1983%20BMW%20733i/ A sampling of them follows. The car as it sits very close to perfect aside from those items mentioned in the detailed descriptions above and now has ~73,800 original miles on it. In all likelihood it may only E23 that came with a manual transmission in this condition and color combination in the US. The car is immaculate and absolute joy to drive. I would not hesitate to turn the key and set off for California tomorrow without touching a thing. It greatly pains me to part with the 733i as I’ve invested a tremendous amount of time and energy into finding it and then making some subtle changes yielded the car it is to day. But I have to finish the M Coupe and my wife has made plans to remodel the kitchen so something has to give. The sale of the car includes the original; front seats, radio, steering wheel, tires and wheels, valve cover, front air dam and fog lights, valve cover along with all owners’ manuals and documentation. Taking what I paid for the car along with the wheels, tires and stereo system, I have over $18,000 invested into it. This one of a kind classic is being offered for auction with an undisclosed and low reserve. Any questions: Contact Seller Dan Croteau dan@fpcsalemnh.com P. 603-893-7571 Car Fax Report Run on 11/28/2011 Total Loss No total loss reported to CARFAX. Structural / Frame Damage No structural / frame damage reported to CARFAX. Airbag Deployment No airbag deployment reported to CARFAX. Odometer Rollback No indication of an odometer rollback. Accident / Damage No accidents or damage reported to CARFAX. Manufacturer Recall Check with an authorized BMW dealer for any open recalls. Date: Mileage: Source: Comments: 06/03/1988 Indiana Motor Vehicle Dept. Indianapolis, IN Title #88155100007 Title issued or updated Duplicate title issued 07/15/1988 49,000 Indiana Motor Vehicle Dept. Indianapolis, IN Title #88198151004 Title issued or updated 08/11/2008 Indiana Motor Vehicle Dept. Indianapolis, IN Registration issued or renewed Vehicle color noted as White 06/25/2009 68,120 Indiana Motor Vehicle Dept. Indianapolis, IN Title #09533124000011 Title issued or updated New owner reported 03/01/2010 New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Dept. Salem, NH Registration issued or renewed Vehicle color noted as White 08/24/2010 73,501 Tulley Volkswagen Mazda Nashua, NH 603-888-0550www.tulley.com Vehicle serviced On Dec-13-11 at 12:57:17 PST, seller added the following information: I firmly believe that this is the only orignal manual 5 speed in this color combination in the US and possibly anywhere. Without question the only one like it in this condition being offered for sale at any price. To the best of my knowledge there is not a single 733i that originally came equipped with a manual transmission for sale anywhere at this time. With production data to verify it I can only speculate that this is the only one like it left in exsistance anywhere. Checking on Ebay it is the only BMW 7 Series with a manual transmission for sale supporting these claims.On Dec-13-11 at 13:00:26 PST, seller added the following information: Typo: should read Without production data to verify it I can only speculate that this is the only one like it left in exsistance anywhere.On Dec-15-11 at 07:30:25 PST, seller added the following information: An interested buyer from California asked if the car was 50 state legal and could pass emissions testing. The car was design and brought into the US to be 50 state legal and pass all the required tests. Since NH does not require emissions testing I have no way of knowing if the car would pass but there is no reason to assume it would not since it was design to do so and remains 100% original in regards to the motor, exhaust and emissions controls from the factory. A picture of the sticker from the passenger side shock tower indicating this is show below. On Dec-19-11 at 06:08:58 PST, seller added the following information: NEW ! I HAVE LOWERED THE RESERVE, THE CAR WILL SELL WITH THE NEXT BID.