Euro 635csi new project or partout?

[Sepp]

I'm voting on saving it.

I see a lot of potential with that car.

[Raxe]

Sacrifice it for the benefit of others.

[MacBudd541]

Looks like there is lots of mixed opinions! hopefully tomorrow I will be able to clean it up a bit and maybe throw some wheels on it while it sits. depending on how it cleans up maybe it will push me into a direction.

[RainierHooker]

I say save it. Heck, its a Euro csi with original Recaro interior. It won't be an easy project, but when its done it will be dead sexy...

[madformx5]

I love the 635csi so save it if it isn't too rusty. Euro/gray market is even better.

[MacBudd541]

I did a quick wash today and a little interior cleanup, here's how it turned out.











and I originally thought this had a US engine but then i heard some 81 gray market 635csi had motronic m90s. this car has a 12/80 build date. motronic intake manifold. 3,5 stamped on the block along with 5581094 (the vin) and 35 6E C. it has a 1980 casting on the head. shed some m90 light?

[Massive Lee]

You have the good Euro motor. The previous generation had L-Jetronic and 6 elbows.

Ca is worth saving.

[BenM]

You have the good Euro motor. The previous generation had L-Jetronic and 6 elbows.

Ca is worth saving.

Bingo. Some of the late E12 based euro 635csi and early euro 735i (around 81) used the M90/L-Block motors combined with a very early Motronic ECU (1.0 basic IIRC).

One way to tell would be to check on intake side of the block, there should be a white "L" stamped there. Another way would be to check the last 3 digits of the ECU, which should be 002.

HTH,
Ben

[Jean]

No early 1980 grey market car should be parted. If you have room for it, keep it and fix it when you have time. Replace the nose panel, swap the tranny for a 5 speed, or the engine (S38). Car has a rare Recaro interior (not lesser BMW sport seats). The rear seats might have mildew, but they can be saved.

The big Coupes are becoming as much classics as the 3.0 CS. Think about it...

Save it, or sell to someone else who will restore it/convert to 5speed :)

[MacBudd541]

One way to tell would be to check on intake side of the block, there should be a white "L" stamped there. Another way would be to check the last 3 digits of the ECU, which should be 002.

HTH,
Ben

Great news! where abouts is the "L" though, i looked over the engine pretty hard yesterday pulling numbers and such. does it favor the front or rear of the engine? Today i am going to go look for another nose panel and throw some different wheels on it to get an idea of what she could become.

[Massive Lee]

If I remember, the Euro motors had no O2 sensors...

[BenM]

Should be a little to the right side, between the alternator and the starter or thereabouts. I can check later on my E28 if you want.

The cool thing about the L-Block/M90s are they are true 3.5 motors (3453cc) instead of the B34/B35 engines which are 3.4 (3430cc), as well as being a related closely with the M49 and M88 race engines.

Read this too: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...73&postcount=4

[BenM]

If I remember, the Euro motors had no O2 sensors...

Correct. I believe euro engines which used ECUs ending in 002, 011 and 061 where Motronic 1.0 Basic which did not utilize and O2 sensor like the Motronic 1.0 Adaptive found in the US 535i/635csi/735i 059 ECUs. The exception I believe is the 008 ECU used in the 83-84 US 533i/633csi which was Motronic 1.0, but used a single wire O2 sensor.

[jeffw]

You got a lot of work to do to it but it could be a beauty. Personally I'd part it. You got what three or four cars now? Lol

[RainierHooker]

Concidering the exterior and interior 'after' pictures, KEEP IT. Needs some work in the engine bay though...