1986 BMW

635 CSI Coupe

6 Cylinder 3.4 Liter

Automatic

WBAEC8407G0613682

Gasoline

Did you promise to treat yourself to one of these 20 years ago? A tasteful, luxury sports coupe that can chew up the miles... getting up to 25 mpg at 75 mph on low octane gas because they were designed for it? New technology started here. It has a ZF trans with "economy", "sport" and "manual shift" modes, a trip computer to report your gas mileage, time, distance, fuel range, when to next change your oil, etc. And it all works! (except the brake light and coolant level light are lit even though they are fine.) Remote control side view mirrors, motorized radio antenna gauges, lights, controls, all work. (A remote unlock, start and alarm system was added which also works.) Moon roof works smoothly and does not leak. In fact, nothing leaks, not the engine, trans, gas tank or anything! The rear, hide-away sun screen was years ahead of its time as was climate control. Almost all of the bright-work is stainless steel; it and the chrome are in excellent condition. These are solid, substantial cars that soak up miles by the hundreds- designed for autobaun cruising. (What is the speed limit in Japan, something like 50 mph!) Ever hear of someone replacing the iconic SOHC 6 with an American V8? (sorry Jaguar). The cam is driven by a chain, so no costly timing belt replacement- (sorry Porsche 944's.) True, its not the 635 M, but thats a race engine that is very expensive to repair. Besides, do you really want to flog a car like this? Its nice to know you can get to 60 mph in under 7 seconds, but I have never tried; and if you are looking for a quality car, chances are that you won't drive like that, either. While the accumulated mileage is high, its well designed and was built when price was no impediment for using the best materials and designs. (Nothing "made in China" on this car.) The body and undercarriage are in very good shape. No rust that I can find other than some very minor surface rust under the car, and the exhaust and suspension are still fine. So if you take care of it and don't abuse it, it should last many more miles with ordinary maintenance. The soft spot for these cars are the front shock towers- I have photos of each, they look like they have never been repaired, and are as solid as new. I have been a motor-head for over 40 years, and owned an Audi Turbo, BMW's, Corvair Turbo, Jag MK 2, and S type, MG's an Alfa, Caddie, Volvo, Aurora, '57 Ford Fairlane 500, etc. and I don't think anything compares to a 635 CSI for the value. Compare the price of a 635 CSI in very good condition (like this one) to a Porsche 911, 912 or even a 944 or MGB-GT (or even a Camero, Mustang) in similar condition, for quality, style, comfort and features. And there is a very strong support system for BMW's generally and by model- 635's are designated the E-24 and sometimes called the "Shark". Clubs, magazines and websites abound. I have a notebook of information that I thought one day might come in handy- you can add a performance chip to the Motorola computer for less than $200 if you want more performance; but its stock performance is quite satisfying for even spirited driving. This has been my daily driver for 8 months a year since spring of 2007, since I need a reliable car that can go from city to city and even state to state I keep a close eye on preventative maintenance and have never broken down. Not much of a list of recent repairs, because its so reliable. I did have a front brake replaced this year, and power flushed the radiator, balanced all wheels, and had the air conditioner compressor replaced in 2008 (it blows cold, but could use a recharge). The Ricaro sports seats were an expensive option, covered in water buffalo hide. These are in pretty good shape. The cracks you see in the front seats are not through the hide- although there is a tear through in the rear seat. The seat adjustments work except for the thigh adjustment and the heat function. Even the head rest adjusts electrically. The medical first aid kit and tool box are complete. The odometer quit at 225,000 a few years ago so it estimate another 20,000 miles. The on board computer does work to show range on gas in tank, average and instant gas mileage, elapsed time, distance, arrival calculations are there if you want to participate in friendly, TDS club rallys. The cruise control, lights, turn signals, horn, clock, outside thermometer with warning when conditions are right for black ice, speedo, tach, w/w, climate control and gauges all work as designed; and the feel of the high quality switch gear is hard to find in current cars. The glass is not pitted or cracked. Modifications: newer radio plays CD's but the original is still functional and comes with the car. I upgraded the fuel injectors with Ford Mustang V8 injectors which I am told have a better spray pattern. The front blue/white rondel came off and I replaced it with the logo of my favorite beverage- covered with clear resin (can you identify it?) Nothing permanent- a factory rondel will replace it, if you prefer it. To help the AC a bit this very hot summer, I added a strip of tinted film to the top 3" of the side windows; it will come off, too, if you prefer. I also made the wood surround for the gear shift with 2 cup holders, but the original plastic piece can be reinstalled and comes with the car. There are several, small spots on the hood and roof where the clear coat has come off. I don't know why, but it appears that something got splashed on it. The largest one is less than half the size of a postage stamp and most are the size of a pea. I tried to photograph them, but they are not distinct enough to stand out. Wax could be a short term fix- I will try- otherwise, probably some spot painting would blend in the clear coat. I have to believe this is the original paint, and that there has never been any body repair. There are very few stone chips on the front, the lower air dam and fog light lenses are cracked but not particularly noticeable. And there is a short split on the top of the dash between the windshield and the back of the speedometer binnacle and next to a defroster vent- you have to look hard to find it. I tried to photograph it, but it doesn't show up. The left rear window does not work but can be hand cranked. Some of the plastic molding on the side of the bottom of the front seats are loose or have detached, but also come with the car. I bought the car in December 2006 almost by accident when I made an offer in an odd, random amount because the car sounded too good to be true. He accepted, assuring me the description was accurate. I drove to Cincinnati, Ohio to pick it up, and it was as good as the seller represented it to be. Due to the time of year I bought it, I bought a set of Blizzack snow tires mounted on wheels in case I would be driving it back in a snow storm. They have maybe 500 miles on them, and are mounted on nice wheels. Originally, these cars came with metric wheels and tires, this one has the necessary wheel spacers to use normal wheels and tires. I have been very careful to keep this car in the great condition I bought it in, and have been pretty successful- it was driven in the rain and didn't rust or shrink. These are real cars, not fragile or temperamental. It has always been kept in a garage, as can be seen by the condition of the rear ledge and top of the dash board. No sun fading or dried out fabric and leather. There you have it. I took these photos between rain showers so I didn't get any of the undercarriage. If you are very serious, send me an email and I will get some for you. The car looks large and small at the same time, much more roomy than most coupes, but still agile and responsive. Its really a piece of rolling art, but at a price you can afford to drive and be proud to use as real transportation.