The BMW 635CSi is an awesome car. And its story begins with one man. A guy that was the mastermind behind BMW’s legendary E21 3-series, E24 6-series, and their E23 7-Series cars. His name is Paul Bracq. And it’s thanks to Paul, and his amazing talent, (as Chief Designer at BMW), that we have the iconic 635CSi gracing us with its presence. (Thx to Rob Charles HotCars.com)
This BMW 635CSi is a sleek looking piece of late ’80s nostalgia, it’s an old grand tourer that doesn’t provide all of the bells and whistles which make today’s cars so easy to drive. However, it does provide an authentic rawness that is seriously fun to experience. Fans of the 6-series will also be aware of its success on the race circuits, with the numerous Touring Car Championships and 24 hour race wins that it has under its belt. All of which add to the charm and drama of this car, and its immense desirability. So, today, this powerful front-engined, rear-wheel drive super coupe is a very popular classic car choice. One that has a huge following, with car clubs and social media groups spread all over the globe. 6-series enthusiasts hold large events which they refer to as ‘Sharkfest’ gatherings, to show their support for this awesome car that really defines everything about the eighties era.
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ExteriorWith its raked kidney bean centered grille, and flanking dual dual headlights it does give the viewer the “sharklike” aforementioned look. 1989 would be the last year for this model, so by this time all the bugs were worked out and this was a true sports sedan that was made to cruise all day at 150kph on the Autobahn. Straight steel covers this car and it’s all bathed in bronze beige respray. A light area of surface rust has gone through the paint on the driver’s side just above the rocker, but has been sprayed over. Gaps are well minded, and some black accent trimmings are noted throughout. A sleek overall line to this rocket ship 2 door sedan allows it to slice through the air. 17 inch ASA black wheels have 235/45R17’S in front and 245/R17’s on the back.
InteriorMany hides of leather cover this interior that shows in excellent condition. The drivers seat leather is gracefully aged and shows just a slight bit stretched with small wrinkles in the inserts. Black is the accent color for this interior just as it was on the exterior, and we note the dash uses plenty of it. Gauges are under a square and rectangle hooded dash to keep the sun off the gauge faces and the dash shows no cracking on the top, A tan band runs beneath the steering column and runs the gamut of the front of the car. A center console is in and has the shifter and various power convenience option buttons for their controls. In back is a 2 plus 2 rear bench and tan carpeting is covering the floors. Plenty of padding for this rear seating area with nice clean tuck and roll inserts. Above is a tan headliner and there is a sunroof option put into this roof.
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DrivetrainUnder the hood and shock strut crossbar, is a 3.5 liter I-6 cylinder mill. It sports a WAR performance chip and has EFI with a cold aroid induction system installed. A 4-speed automatic is in because shifting is so pedestrian for the upper crust. On the back is a 3.64 geared pumpkin for the rear axles. A new radiator and water pump are now in as well as the A/C dryer and condenser, with the original compressor. All good under here with slight corrosion on the aluminum parts, but it’s very clean and well maintained with records to show it.
UndercarriageA slight patina on the black rustproofing, and some surface rust on the pipes especially aft of the muffler. Structural steel and floor pans are nice and tight with no rust. New calipers are reserved for the front brakes, and the rears have new calipers brake lines and pads. These are fed fluid with a new master cylinder. The control arms have been replaced and are virtually line new and all shocks were replaced by Bilstein, and a full Eibach suspension system, (suspension components like springs and sway bars), and the front and rear were lowered 1.5 and 1-inch respectively.
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Drive-AbilityIt started right up and I noticed a slight surge when the engine was idling. It took off with no problems and performed swimmingly. Smooth endless acceleration for cruising, bias free braking for the back roads, and smooth effortless steering for the curvy back roads and the track. All else was just fine for this car.
A BMW which is definitely a classic, this was the last year for the coupe speedster as BMW was moving on to bigger and better things. Don’t be fooled though this car will not fade into obscurity, but rather continue to age gracefully all the while holding its value.Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
