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635 or M6 - usable daily driver ???

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Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: The Big Coupé Forum
Forum Discription: for the older big coupés only (E24, CS, etc.)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=17773
Printed Date: 28-March-2024 at 14:19


Topic: 635 or M6 - usable daily driver ???
Posted By: pebisit
Subject: 635 or M6 - usable daily driver ???
Date Posted: 17-May-2005 at 15:46

I am the proud owner of an E30 M3 convertible

Im also lucky enough to have a TT and a Merc ML in the family (The ML is the Mrs's).

Think is, much as I like the TT, after having the M3, I really hunger for something a little different for driving every day, and always being a fan of the 6, was considering getting hold of a good one and getting shot of the TT

Question is, is this a realistic proposition ?? I've read all about the rust issues, but apart from that, I dont hear any reliability issues.

How many of you run these cars day to day, including over the winter. If you were prepared to spend a reasonable amount of dosh a year on one to keep it top notch, would running a 635 or M6 motorsport be a realistic option ?? Ive had 10 Bm's now, all 3's but apart from the E30, they've been E36's and E46's (4 convertibles, an M3 ,an Alpina B3-3.2 and 2 others) but I finally got shot of last E46 last year after seeing too many of them. BMW's success with selling them has led to their downfall in my eyes. But, the point is, compared to a modern BM, would I notice a huge difference. Is the aircon as effecient, what about handling, would you drive yours in the snow if you had to ???

Anyhow, enough rabbiting, thanks in advance for any advice. I must admit its great to see so many 6's being looked after so well. One of the best looking BM's ever, in my opinion




Replies:
Posted By: Horsetan
Date Posted: 17-May-2005 at 16:51
Originally posted by pebisit pebisit wrote:

....How many of you run these cars day to day, including over the winter. If you were prepared to spend a reasonable amount of dosh a year on one to keep it top notch, would running a 635 or M6 motorsport be a realistic option ??



I currently run my 1983 635CSi daily for work (12-14 miles a day minimum), and at weekends for going up to the stables (14 mile round trip up and down the M1, twice).

I spend about £38 to £48 a week on petrol (LRP currently, but 4-star leaded (at £1.10/litre) if ever I come across it. I average about 22-24mpg at the moment (more on long-distance assignments).

On the original TRX metric tyres (Avon / Michelin mix), it's currently £130+ per tyre; Michelins are nearer £200+.

Quote

....But, the point is, compared to a modern BM, would I notice a huge difference. Is the aircon as effecient, what about handling, would you drive yours in the snow if you had to ???



The standard 628CSi/635CSi is set up for wafting, so don't expect it to go round corners as quick as your average 3-Series of today. But you can still feel everything it does, so you have time to bottle out before the car does.

The M635CSi is something else! But if you must buy one, then do so before they all get exported to Australia.....

I've got aircon, but haven't used it in yonks, so it'll need re-gassing.

I've driven in sun, rain, mud, snow...... and in all conditions, the metric tyres are sh***.

One caveat: I have never owned a new BMW, so I'm obviously going to be biased, and the only new one I've ever driven (apart from a three-year old E39) was the E64 630i convertible I test-drove about a month ago. Nice, but not my style.

Quote

...I must admit its great to see so many 6's being looked after so well. One of the best looking BM's ever, in my opinion



....which may explain why the car still turns a reasonable number of heads today, mainly because it looks so different from the aerodynamic "same old same old" that people drive now. It must be all that chrome. And obviously they don't make 'em anymore....

So if you need any further encouragement, just stare at this pic for as long as you like



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Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 17-May-2005 at 17:29

I was running a '98 Audi 2.4 auto & decided to give up on the never ending depreciation, get a 635 & spend the money on petrol instead.

Rather than get a rolling restoration project I spent big money (for a 635 that is) at Munich Legends in order to minimise garage time.  Some may say I've paid well over the odds but so far the only bill has been £35 for a fuel pressure regulator which was getting a little lazy.

You can buy a 635 for £5k or less but you'll start spending on it straight away.  The best private sales are getting over £8k now.  ML prices start around £10k but that's for fully sorted top cars with 60 - 70k miles. You pay up front or you pay later.

M635's are more specialised, more expensive & cost more in servicing. You pays your money . . .

Fuel works out around 18 - 20 mpg (unleaded) against the 22mpg of the Audi. Around 25mpg cross country & up to 28mpg motorway. I replaced the TRX tyres with 17" G/years around £110 a corner.

Ride & handling aren't up to E46 standards as you would expect but they're good enough. The a/c won't give you frostbite but it's better than nothing.

I used it daily until a E30 Touring came along a a good price. The 6 now leads a more pampered life.

It certainly gets attention & not the wrong sort either.

I'd get yourself a test drive & see if it suits you.  Just make sure you get a good one - doing up a ropey six can make you lose the will to live!



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AndyS
Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.

http://www.photostick.co.uk/view-933_BaurSig1.jpg" rel="nofollow">


Posted By: bmw1066
Date Posted: 17-May-2005 at 17:49
I know it is not a six it is as close as I can get at the mo but I use http://philipuk.org/redbaron/Dcp_0065.jpg - 82 735 and do 200 miles a week in it and it is very good, and fast sell the TT go the 6ex appeal

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Mark 735 se 1982
RED BARON A E23 is for life not just for x-mas
BMW e34 530 v8 Sport kit
Spelling always Bad


Posted By: Horsetan
Date Posted: 17-May-2005 at 17:54
Originally posted by AndyS AndyS wrote:

...Some may say I've paid well over the odds...



"You've paid well over the odds". There. Satisfied!?

Quote

...ML prices start around £10k but that's for fully sorted top cars with 60 - 70k miles. You pay up front or you pay later....



Or, as in one "fully sorted" car I saw there, £9k with cracked tyre walls. You pay up front and you pay later....

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Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 18-May-2005 at 13:22

Originally posted by Horsetan Horsetan wrote:


Or, as in one "fully sorted" car I saw there, £9k with cracked tyre walls. You pay up front and you pay later....

So Horsetan, you checked out the deal on this car in detail? 

As you can tell Horsetan has a problem with Munich Legends (amongst other things) because of the prices they charge which is a bit rich considering his profession. 

Don't let his bitterness put you off ML. There are plenty of other people who are more than satisfied with their cars & service.

What you don't want is some "bargain" six picked up for a song which "just needs a bit of welding" & a new whatever. There have been several people on this forum who've gone down that route & as the days turn into weeks their enthusiasm wanes until they end up ditching a hateful bodged up wreck.

Get a good unmolested six with history & you'll love it.



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AndyS
Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.

http://www.photostick.co.uk/view-933_BaurSig1.jpg" rel="nofollow">


Posted By: Horsetan
Date Posted: 18-May-2005 at 15:06
Originally posted by AndyS AndyS wrote:

Originally posted by Horsetan Horsetan wrote:

Or, as in one "fully sorted" car I saw there, £9k with cracked tyre walls. You pay up front and you pay later....


So Horsetan, you checked out the deal on this car in detail? 



Yup, during an open day. Not impressed.

Originally posted by AndyS AndyS wrote:

....As you can tell Horsetan has a problem with Munich Legends (amongst other things) because of the prices they charge which is a bit rich considering his profession.



Let's make this personal, shall we?

Quote

Don't let his bitterness put you off ML. There are plenty of other people who are more than satisfied with their cars & service.



http://www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=17189&PN=4 - ...and a goodly number who aren't

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Posted By: pebisit
Date Posted: 18-May-2005 at 15:09

Guys, thanks for the info, its much appreciated.

Saw this car, and since its local, Im off to have a look at it this Saturday. It looks pretty much just what Im after, but Im always wary first time I look at a new car, I dont know much about.

What should I be looking at ?? I doubt very much it'll be the one, even if I do decide to take the plunge, but the spec looks spot on.

Anyhow, cant hurt to have a look at one ?? I always say that, and then somehow the damn things end up on my drive ...



Posted By: pebisit
Date Posted: 18-May-2005 at 15:59
OH link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4549663600&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1& ;item=4549663600&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT


Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 19-May-2005 at 04:32

When i got my driving licence I used the 635 as daily driver...

I used it to do about 60 kms per day, in average condition( the trip was right divided in urban, highway and free statal ways- 90km/h limit)...

I managed to fill up about 62-65 liters of Premium(98 octane till the lead fuel was still available, then 98 Premium unleaded), every 640-660 kms( about 10 kms per liter....)...

But the car was technically perfect....

TRX Tyres lasted  44000 kms, not bad I Think.....in wet condition TRXs are not like glue on the tarmac(If You learn to drive on wet  with TRX on a 635 , especially a 2nd serie car, You will be able to drive a 635 in dry condition also with 3 tyres on the car....).

I change oil every 5-6 k miles, despite the foolish thing  the Si board told me.....

Over routine manteinance I changed:I changed thrust arm bushings, an oil pressure sensor, a brake pedal switch, 2 AMP connectors,1 brake pads set for front axle( this from 67000kms when i bought the car in 1997 since 3 years ago, when i purchased a Diesel daily driver, and the 635 clockindicates 111000 kms.Rear exhaust box and batteries lasted till 2002 , when the car was forced to a stop and a summery restoration project(a repaint and a lot of trim parts changed).

I hope that my experience will help.

Francesco from italy

 



Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 19-May-2005 at 08:15

Originally posted by Horsetan Horsetan wrote:


Let's make this personal, shall we?

After your sarky comments??? ...

Originally posted by Horsetan Horsetan wrote:



http://www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=17189&PN=4 - ...and a goodly number who aren't

and a goodly number who are....

The guy was asking for advice.  You gave some, I gave some.

You may not agree with my views but then I don't necessarily agree with yours either.



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AndyS
Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.

http://www.photostick.co.uk/view-933_BaurSig1.jpg" rel="nofollow">


Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 19-May-2005 at 09:14

Good one , PEBISIT, I had always the idea to get a second BMW 635 , if possible  the highline...

But here in Italy the sales of 6 serie dropped fast, after 1986-87 , so there are no one left in my conutry.....

I hope to get one in Germany or in one other LHD country....

SiSco from Italy



Posted By: IamSpartacus
Date Posted: 19-May-2005 at 09:53
I'm in the market for a late LHD M6 too, preferably a French one as it's just taken me 6 months to make my M5 French!

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The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.


Posted By: Brucey
Date Posted: 19-May-2005 at 14:49

Any ~20-year-old (6ers run from 16 years old to 29 years old now) car will need some looking after, regardless of mileage.

The mechanical foibles are fortunately relatively few and reasonably well-understood. Asides from a few suspension bits they don't seem to wear out too badly. But even on low mileage examples rubber bits are now starting to crack, and auto gearboxes may fail at any point from 75000 miles on. If you are going for an auto, the switchable one is very good. Some parts are v expensive, eg metric tyres, door seal rubbers, and front wings. You are looking at two grand (plus paint) to replace all this lot.

Some say the last chrome bumper 635s (early '87) are the pick of the bunch (and who am I to disagree, I own one after all). They are a little lighter than the highline model, less fussy inside, and share the revised and improved brake master cylinder arrangements (but not the lower compression engine). Earlier cars have this torsion bar brake linkage arrangement that feels all weird in use. 

I'd use one as a daily driver (and have done) but only if I had a second car for when the 6er isn't fit or sensible to drive. At 150000miles my car is mechanically good (uses no oil), still on the original auto gearbox, rusty wings, electrically a bit flakey, still goes like stink, turns heads when polished. All quite typical.

Do it, you only live once....

cheers

 



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~~~~~~~ Brucey   ~~~~~~


Posted By: pebisit
Date Posted: 19-May-2005 at 17:39

Thanks again for the advice guys, am going to view this one Saturady so will check out the bits mentioned above

Door seal rubbers, and wings in particular. Where do the wings go, is it obvious from an external view or do you need to look underneath, if you know what I mean



Posted By: Horsetan
Date Posted: 19-May-2005 at 17:49
Originally posted by pebisit pebisit wrote:

...wings in particular. Where do the wings go, is it obvious from an external view or do you need to look underneath, if you know what I mean



The Achilles heel will be the section between the front indicator and the start of the front wheelarch. ANY sign of bubbling paint, and you know you've got a job to do.....


*kof*

There's a pair of new unpainted wings advertised in the back of the current "Total BMW" magazine. Seller is in Swindon, Wilts. and wants £400 for the pair.

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Posted By: Sohlman
Date Posted: 20-May-2005 at 13:05

I have been using my six everyday now for 7 years. My view is that what you would pay on depreciation on a modern car you will probable end up paying in running costs. Not because the car is exspensive to run, but being 20 years old in my cars case, preventative work is required that a new car does not. I use my car rain or shine, summer or winter and the car is still in good shape.

My problem with the six is that the longer i have it the more money i want to spend on it. Having kept the car standard for many years i now want to modify the old girl. Now this is when it gets exspensive.

With regards to using the six in the snow i think on those days it would be time to pull rank and use the ML. Lets just say that a six is lively enough on wet road, add snow into the equation and progress is slow and involves a lot of corrections of the steering wheel.

James



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Sunday 10th July Brooklands Sharkfest and Big Coupe Day. http://635csi.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ - Coupe Events



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