I don't know anything about this car other than I really like it's looks. Haven't spoken to the seller yet.

Please opine on why this would not be a good 40mile a day commuter for the wife. She wants to semi-retire the Element and keep it for when she needs AWD to go out to the rez or up to Flagstaff in the winter, and wants something classy and sporty but reliable. I am going to call the owner tomorrow and invite him to come to the winery where I'll be all day. Buy him a glass of Zin and get him to loosen up a bit on his car. For my own part I think it's a damn nice looking car.
Is it rare? What can you tell me? Go crazy gentlemen.

1985 BMW 635 csi

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Looks nice. Much less common than the 3 and 5 series from that era, so parts availability might be a concern. All the normal 27 year old car issues. Not sure what kind of gas mileage they get. I'm sure if it's well sorted it'll be a fun ride.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Beemer (or Beamer) is the bike, Bimmer is the car.

Pics look good. This one is sporting E38 (older 7 series) rims.

Like any old German car, they ain't cheap to maintain. I've read about HVAC issues and other electrical issues with these cars. However, the drivetrain is rock solid.

Personally I wouldn't want one for a daily commute, but it would make a great second car.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Looks good. Parts are going to be pricey.

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Jim

BigCoupe.com - The Ultimate 6-Series Website

There's a nice buyer's guide on this site. Norm Grills' old site is also helpful.

The original rims could have been for the 390mm Michelin TRX tires, which would make them unusable today, unless you want to go to Coker Tires for TRX repros.

Get an M6. Same body, better engine. The M6 has hydraulic rear suspension, not sure about the 635. The windows on all the BMW coupes had trouble sealing because there is no window frame. Check fit of windows and seals carefully.

And it no more expensive than any other German car of the same era.

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MB-less

Don't let the rarity of the car scare you, of my car there were only 8500 build in its 4 year run with 4500 exported to the US. Overtime I have found every part I needed. I can't see with 85.000 build that parts would be a problem.

The 635 CSi is on my list of cars to own, but I will wait for an European version to cross my path; more horsepower and the euro bumpers that make the car look so much better.



$3000 and manual hard not to bite.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

I concur with the above comments though my expertise on BMWs is limited to two cars and a bike the most recent being about 20 years ago.

I think they are very handsome cars too and occasionally have the urge to buy one. They are the equivalent of the 500 SEC in BMW livery.

Probably will struggle to achieve 20 mpg highway, 13 town.
Mechanical parts are shared with the common sedans.
Body and interior parts which are not shared will be hard to find and expensive and some will probably not be available new.

$3000 seems cheap enough.

Stick is nice. If its a five speed you might crack 22 mpg highway.

None of this is based on actual experience mind you.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It's a shame about those US spec bumpers, completely ruin the lines.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

If you want a coupe, buy this: 1994 BMW 850, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States - JamesList

It'll empty your wallet in no time.

There's a guy who owns a black 850 a few blocks from me, beauteeful I wouldn't want it as a daily driver.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

They are pretty good cars, but are pretty expensive to upkeep and many parts are NLA.

The big six BMW motors are pretty bulletproof, but they need regular valve adjusments and tend to have issues with valvetrain wear at high mileages. Expect to get around 14mpg with E10 fuel.

The A/C was marginal when new, today running on R134a, most women won't tolerate the heat in stop and go traffic.

They make great second cars, or toys. As a daily driver, it's going to be a pain dealing with ordering parts and waiting a few days everytime the car farts.

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"I was a dirty bird, Carol's not grungey - she's *****in" John Milner....American Graffiti

I like that one, but, I confess that I know little about them. I agree that a euro version would be more interesting but that one looks nice for the price ( of course CL pix can lie). I am mildly interested in finding a similar 318i stick convertible that I think would be an easier keeper.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Yeah, I'm going to pass. He brought it for me to look at and it's rougher than it looks. He's also pretty desperate. I suspect it's a money pit he's sick of. Didn't want to let me take it for a ppi. Never mind....

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Yeah, it was a rat.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder