1986 BMW 635CSI https://shiftgate.com/auction/1986-bmw-635csi/ Auction ends Wednesday, April 6 at 3:00pm Eastern History During the late 1950s, BMW was struggling to keep the doors open. The company had a number of slow selling vehicles and deals that simply did not pan out. As such, they needed a hit – something that would entice people to visit BMW showrooms and drive the spectacular cars they were building. Design boss Wilhelm Hofmeister worked with Paul Bracq to style the New Class BMWs in the early 1960s, which included very nimble, smaller sedans and coupes that were reasonably priced and well-constructed, but also offered spectacular driving dynamics, all of which spoke volumes to customers. The New Class BMWs also included the more exclusive E9 of 1968-1975, an executive-class coupe, which begat the 1976-1989 E24 6-Series. Hugely popular, the E24 evolved from the original 630CSi to the 633CSi to the 635CSi, which largely became the “It” car for yuppies in the 1980s. The E24 helped BMW achieve status levels on par with Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, but retained an athletic youthfulness, a sort of rebellious luxury brand that established new norms in the high-end automotive segment. Exterior Finished in a deep metallic grey with a dark red pinstripe, this BMW 635CSi presents exquisitely well, despite a few minor imperfections. Having covered nearly 168,000 miles, a few imperfections should be expected, and this car has arguably fewer than might be anticipated. Some damage above the grille has been repaired but some visual imperfections remain, and the air dam has been restored. The paint shows dings and rough spots through aging atop the right front fender. Both sideview mirrors show spots on the glass. The BMW-branded silver-grey mesh wheels are shod with Toyo tires and look to be in fine shape, however one of the wheels is missing the BMW logo in the center. Overall, the BMW shows very well, looking like a car that has been very well kept through the years. Interior The black interior is fitted with dark red leather sport seats and door panel inserts, the driver seat and M-Sport steering wheel both show wear from years of enjoyment, but it is the perfect patina. Both outboard front seat hinges are exposed, the passenger inboard seat hinge cover remaining in place; the dashboard shows a crack, and the sunroof liner is separating. The black on the console and dashboard show signs of wear and the information computer entry numbers do not work. The ‘Brake Light’ warning indicator light remains lit, although all the brake lights work. Going over it with a fine-toothed comb will likely reveal a number of other deficiencies too – it has nearly 170,000 miles and is over 30 years old. All this said, the interior has a charmingly aged look and feel and isn’t offensive at all. The air conditioning system was recently refurbished, and the air is cold, although the ‘max’ setting for the variable fan motor does not work. The original BMW AM/FM/Cass stereo system remains nestled in the dashboard, lending the car a remarkably classic, period-correct, original look. The seats, although worn, do appear to be very supportive and adjustable in a multitude of positions. The carpets appear in good shape, including the BMW-branded floormats. Engine BMW has long been regarded as a builder of exceptionally smooth inline engines. The 3.5L inline 6-cylinder used in the 635CSi won over the hearts of the press and public alike, with its healthy, linear torque band and absolutely smooth, predictable delivery. It was more on par with the pull and feel of a jet than an internal combustion engine. On top of that, with proper maintenance, these engines proved capable of providing service well into the 400,000-mile range. This one is showing some age and will need some repairs, such as the oil seepage at the timing cover, rear main seal, oil pan gasket, and transmission rear seal. But the owner provides a lengthy roster of repairs and maintenance performed on the car dating back to 2016, including replacing fuel hoses, clutch master and slave cylinder, all new steering components, a coolant flush, tune ups, the chassis was upgraded with a Turner Motorsports Bilstein H&R sport suspension and Ireland Engineering sway bars, lowering the car and giving it a spectacular look that also enhanced its handling. In February of 2022, the brake fluid reservoir to clutch master cylinder hose was replaced, and both brake system and clutch hydraulic systems were bled and replenished. It all adds up to an ownership that has been dedicated to maintenance and care. Details The 6-Series BMW created a whole new genre in the automotive world. It was elegant and luxurious, but came with an aggressive look and feel, a youthful statement maker of success and vibrancy. It had plenty of power on tap, and was a fabulously rewarding car, a spectacular driving machine, especially with the 5-speed manual transmission like this one. According to the seller, this car was delivered new to Dinan BMW Tuning in Northern California when it was new, although the company cannot confirm it as they do not keep records back that far. This particular 6-Series still looks the part of ’80s road swag. The aggressive stance, the dark appearance, the mesh wheels, the M-Sport interior trim, and more all spell out this car has lost little in its 30+ years of service. The paint shows deep reflection and gloss, the trim, both black and bright, shows very nicely, the driving lights were recently replaced, the glass appears to be without issue, the lenses appear to be crisp and bright. All things considered, it would be hard to tell this car has over 100,000 miles and is 36 years old. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
