m6's yay or nay

[Guest]

my dad has been keeping his eye out for an old BMW that he can cruise in. But of course he wants something bigger and faster than the three series (especially my eta). He likes the look of those old M6's (e21?) for some reason. But are they really that fast with equally matched handling, and especially durability? Just wondering b/c i see them on ebay all the time.

[Charlie]

E24 chassis. Beautiful cars, big, heavy, and not cheap when it comes to parts. The S38 is a fairly complex motor, so engine work costs a pretty penny when it needs it. Front suspension is a weak point, as it is with the e28, and the rear air-ride/active suspension craps out, if it hasn't already been repaired or outright replaced by conventional rear coils.

If he just wants a "cruiser" without all the headache, the 635csi's make a nice alternative.

-Charlie

[AdamF 88iS]

E24 chassis. Beautiful cars, big, heavy, and not cheap when it comes to parts. The S38 is a fairly complex motor, so engine work costs a pretty penny when it needs it. Front suspension is a weak point, as it is with the e28, and the rear air-ride/active suspension craps out, if it hasn't already been repaired or outright replaced by conventional rear coils.

If he just wants a "cruiser" without all the headache, the 635csi's make a nice alternative.

-Charlie

Truth.

[Jordan325iC]

I love that car, definately my favorite car from the era. (even better than the m3).

[jajou318]

[aschmidt]

HOT!! :shock:

[oh2fly]

I service and get to drive several 6 series cars. The M6 has a sweet spot between 70 and 100 mph where that engine just makes mechanical music. But, how often can you do that? I like the earlier Euro cars from 79-81, that is a 635 with a C/R 5 speed. Not much slower than the M6 and prettier with the thin Euro bumpers. All 6's are heavy, so the handling isn't like our e30s but they do make great cruisers.

[CleanAzzE30z]

Be prepared to take your time searching for an S38 that wont need piles of cash to get it well. Those engines are even more expensivfe than the S14 (E30 ///M3 engine). They are rarer and are a race-bred, tempramental, delicate, fickle engine. Plus I believe those have single row chain, so here is where the "you must change the chain at or before 100K miles" applies. They are out there. I say get a 635, that engine (M30) is as bulletproof if not more than the M20. And the first 6er was an E24, not E21. E21's were the 320's (first 3er)

[uflnuceng]

Be prepared to take your time searching for an S38 that wont need piles of cash to get it well.

That will take a lot of searching... I spent 6 weeks looking for a 6 series and although I found a good version of the M6, it still needs work.

Those engines are even more expensivfe than the S14 (E30 ///M3 engine). They are rarer and are a race-bred, tempramental, delicate, fickle engine.

Truth in every word. Most parts have to be ordered from BMW Mobile Traditions and are expensive. I'm finding that out first hand.

Plus I believe those have single row chain, so here is where the "you must change the chain at or before 100K miles" applies.

Looks like mine is double row. I think the early euros were single row.

They are out there. I say get a 635, that engine (M30) is as bulletproof if not more than the M20. And the first 6er was an E24, not E21. E21's were the 320's (first 3er)

I definitely recommend the 635. I got an M6 for the novelty of it, although I did have an M30 powered E30 and with a lightweight flywheel, 3.73 LSD and a Conforti chip that car could match or just totally spank my new M6 for performance. If you cannot work on the M6 yourself, don't bother because a valve adjustment runs over $1000, and you are not likely to find someone who knows how to do it right. I was able to do it myself for less than $200, including buying the $120 lever tool you need. I needed 6 shims which cost me $30.

Even if the guy says "no rust" most people who own these and are selling them have never gotten underneath the car to find where the weak spots are at. I found a bit more rust than I was anticipating, but I knew it was there. Body work is expensive, even more so on a 6 series. The really good examples of the 6 series, especially the M6, tend to not be for sale.

I got mine for $10k on eBay for an M6 with 133k miles. Will put about $3k into it in maintenance this month. The list of things I need to fix or want to upgrade is growing quickly, and so is the price tag.

Would I do it again? You fucking bet your ass I would! This car is great. It is a little heavy but that is one of my projects... looking for about 3000 lbs (about a 500lb reduction). If you need to get an engine rebuilt that comes at a minimum of $10k... most likely higher than $12k. If you can rebuild this tricky engine all by yourself it has been done for just a scratch under $5k.

Everything about this car is expensive when it comes to the S38, but within a moderate budget for some people, and if you can't do the work yourself then i think Donald Trump or Bill Gates might be able to afford it.

The 635CSi is just as much of a car if not more... I just wanted to get my first ///M car, and have the money and know-how to fix it myself.