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1986 BMW M635 CSi (E24)

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£34,980

  • Mileage~119,083
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine3.5L
  • LocationSlough

SOLD

1986 BMW M635 CSi (E24)

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Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

The BMW M635 CSI is up there as one of the automotive icons of the 1980s.

Even during the era of excess and flamboyance, having a BMW M635 CSI parked on your driveway made a bold statement. The "shark nose" flagship coupe was truly exclusive, with just ~524 examples produced for the British market. Defined not only by its suave, purposeful styling it also offered an unrivalled blend of build quality, practicality and performance. Carrying over a race-bred straight-six engine, the experience was far more accessible than one might expect. The 6 Series was designed as a smooth and effortless cruiser, yet when the M635 CSI was unveiled in 1984, it created a new genre of sports cars. Despite the power available on tap, it was roomy, comfortable and easy to manage in town, the M635 CSI soon established itself as one of the BMW greats.

Fitted with the desirable manual gearbox, this 1986 M635 CSI is finished in "Diamond Black" with a beige leather interior. Over ~£20,000 has been spent on the restoration of the bodywork, as well as an engine and gearbox rebuild over the last six years. It comes to market from an impressive ~28 years, and the vendor has ensured it drives and looks as good as possible.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Pete the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I'd always wanted one, it's very much my dream car and has been an absolute pleasure to own.

Pete has always admired the M635 CSI, so leapt on the opportunity to obtain this example in 1996, when the car was only 10 years old. He has systematically kept on top of the car's appearance and mechanical health, which has culminated in a recent engine, gearbox and body restoration.

While there’s no doubting the personal attachment he has forged with the car, an increasing lack of use and storage pressures are the main reasons for its sale. Pete will be happy to answer any questions on the car in the comments section below.

Pete
Vehicle Owner

Pete saved £6,120* when they
sold their BMW with us.

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Exterior

Treated to a professional restoration in 2021, the bodywork of the M635 CSI is in excellent condition.

Wheels and Tyres

The iconic cross-spoke split rim BBS wheels are neatly presented with no obvious rim wear.

The car is sat on a full set of Michelin tyres, which date from 2016/2017. All have a healthy amount of tread remaining. Take a look through the gallery to see the detail.

Bodywork

The exterior presentation is pleasingly reassuring, with the panel fit looking cohesive. The car panel gaps are even. All doors open and close with ease, with their respective rubber seals all in decent shape. The body structure appears to be in very good order, the floor pan, chassis rails, jacking points, inner wheel arches, boot floor and engine bay are solid.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The "Diamond Black" paint has an excellent lustre, with a high sheen gloss. We didn't notice any swirls on the surface of the paint and no suggestions of paint imperfections. The only blemish we spotted were a couple of minor marks on the nearside passenger door.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The body skirts are well mounted with no immediate signs of damage. Both bumpers are level with decent chrome, with just a scuff noted on the off-side corner of the rear item. All of the lights and lenses are intact and the glass is in good shape with no lamination damage.

Both the electric windows function and sunroof were proven to work. The chrome trim is all complete and in very good shape but we noticed that both chrome gutter trims show signs of age. There is also a little damage noted on the boot lid spoiler rubber.

Interior

Lavish comfy leather seats, thin pillars and large glass areas makes the M635 CSI a joy to navigate.

Seats and Carpets

The leather "Perl Beige" seats are complete and generally in good condition, they do show their age somewhat, with mild creases and light wear evident on the driver seat.

The carpets show no sign of dampness, there’s a little wear spotted in the rear footwells. The boot carpet lining is complete but may benefit from some elbow grease.

Dashboard

The dashboard presents well, with the odd minor fracture and mark in places but above the expectation of a car of this age. The facia plastics are in generally good shape, with no outstanding damage. The centre console has a few drilled holes for what appears to be a long-gone after-market accessory.

The beige plastic might benefit from a clean in places. The binnacle is intact and the dials are legible. The switchgear and controls are in good shape, and all are said to work. The headlining is in good shape, but the front courtesy light appears to be missing. The door card has minor scuffs on the driver's side, but otherwise well mounted and tidy.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The M Sport motif steering wheel is in good shape, it looks to have been re-trimmed at some point. The gear knob for the dog-leg gearbox does show a little wear on the gaiter, but generally in good condition too.

Mechanics

Race-bred for success, the 3.5L straight-six engine emits a wonderful burble.

Engine and Gearbox

The cold start didn’t expose any issues with the engine's ability to fire up, with no unwanted noises or actions. The dashboard warning and diagnostic lights remained in check as the engine idled evenly. There was no suggestion of smoke from the exhaust asides from the expected condensation on start up. The engine presented well, with very tidy ancillaries and hoses, all suggesting a good level of maintenance.

The gearbox appears to operate without any issues with no reported problems with the clutch. It engages gears without issue. However, Pete, as something of a perfectionist, did mention that he felt there is a small but noticeable feeling changing down from 3rd to 2nd, despite the recent gearbox rebuild.

Suspension and Brakes

The car's ride was compliant, and we didn’t observe any knock or vibrations from the wheels during the drive. The brakes operated well, with no binding or uneven pulling.

The Drive

As BMW’s flagship model, the M635 CSI was something a little more extraordinary than the normal 6-Series, benefitting from the M88 engine plan as used in BMW race cars as well as the iconic M1. With this red-blooded pedigree in check, its performance was very much the aim of the car. Pete demonstrated the car's remarkable torque flexibility of the engine, as it pulled from a near standstill to town speeds with no ill effects or strain to the engine.

The cabin felt tight, with no mechanical rattles heard from the wheels or the engine. The car is fitted with a full stainless steel exhaust, which certainly sounded the part as we gently accelerated. The chassis tweaks of the M635 CSI were made for the race track, but as a driver's car with motorway cruising in mind, it fits the bill perfectly. Pete has not recorded any issues with the engine temperature or oil pressure and was more than confident to leave the engine running for a length of time.

Electrics and Other

The car is fitted with an aftermarket stereo, along with some neat period parcel shelf speakers. The original plates for the parcel shelf holes are supplied with the car.

It also comes with several spares that Pete has collected over the years.

History and Paperwork

Recent invoices for bodywork, engine and gearbox should assure that this car has been well maintained, it presents exceptionally well too, and comes to market from ~28 year ownership.

First registered in Nottingham in May 1986, we couldn’t verify its history before 2015. However, Pete has mentioned that he does have older paperwork for the car. More importantly, it saw a significant amount of attention in recent years, including a ~£12,000 body restoration in 2021, an engine rebuild in 2018, new fuel pump, timing chain/water pump and service in 2016, and a gearbox rebuild in the past 2 years too. We have also included a selection of photos of the body restoration from 2021, please take a look in the History and Paperwork gallery.

The car has an MOT to January 2025 and comes with two keys. The personal number plate will be included as part of the sale.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned an HPI check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
01-02-2024 MOT 119,076
18-01-2023 MOT 118,691
20-11-2021 MOT 118,686
19-07-2021 Bare Metal Bodywork Restoration -
02-09-2020 MOT 118,655
09-07-2020 Gearbox Rebuid -
04-09-2019 MOT 118,555
20-06-2018 Engine Rebuild
26-04-2018 MOT 118,018
15-03-2017 MOT 117,959
12-07-2016 Service + Timing chain + Water pump 117,919
27-01-2016 MOT 117,885
10-12-2014 MOT 117,610
18-12-2013 MOT 117,228
09-12-2011 MOT 116,156
14-08-2010 MOT 115,529
18-08-2009 MOT 114,689
12-08-2008 MOT 113,287
23-02-2007 MOT 110,089
Key Details
  • ModelM635 CSi (E24)
  • Transmission5-Speed Manual
  • Reg. Date01-05-1986
  • CC3,453
  • Mileage~119,083 On Clock
  • HistoryRecent
  • ColourDiamond Black
  • Interior ColourPearl Biege
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #WBAEE320200760157
  • Engine #42793664
  • Last Service12-07-2016 at 117,919
  • Restored2021
  • Engine Rebuild2018
  • MOT31-01-2025
  • MOT ExemptNo
  • Road Tax ExemptNo
  • HPi ClearYes All Clear
  • Former Keepers6
  • Tyre BrandMichelin
  • Tyre Age2016/2017
  • # of Keys2
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~28 years
  • Key FeatureExcellent condition body & mechanics
  • Auction ID1792







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Ask Questions
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18 Comments
MaryPhillips
MaryPhillips
8 months ago

Hi Pete, I’m curious as to why there’s sticky tape on the rear offside corner just under the taillights? Thanks for all your answers so far

nickrai
nickrai
8 months ago

Hi pete any work carried out on suspension, diff, and brakes

MaryPhillips
MaryPhillips
8 months ago

Hi. Do you have the owner’s manual and related booklets please? Thanks

MaryPhillips
MaryPhillips
8 months ago

Hello. I understand that you don’t have the original TRX wheels. Do you have the original Blaupunkt radio? Also, have you checked recently that the AC works? Many thanks.

Davida
Davida
8 months ago

Hi Pete, does it have Ac?

m3matty
m3matty
9 months ago

hi Pete, During the restoration how much work was done to the underside? There are no images uploaded of this.
Do you have the original wheels?
Can I come and see the car?

Thanks

m3matty
m3matty
9 months ago

There’s no mention of the Aircon in the description. Does it work?

2LRX
2LRX
9 months ago

Hi Pete
which garages/specialist carried out the works to the bodywork and the engine/gearbox ?
is your car running on TRX wheel and tyres?

jono
jono
9 months ago

Hi Pete – your car looks great, can you please let me know if the car had a total bare metal respray or was it just the panels in the photograph’s? Thanks Jon

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Vehicle Location

Slough, Berkshire

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