Picked up a big coupe - 635CSI

[Jean]

Always wanted a 635CSI, couldn't find a clean manual example that wasn't stupid expensive. Found a clean title 89 635CSI (last year for these) with clean enough exterior and interior to get it going.

Mechanically I have no idea what I am getting myself into, other than the M30B35 engine that I am very familiar with. It's a bit of a gamble with it being automatic, that's one thing I am really worrying about. Previous owner said REAR A/C works better than the front, will have to dig into it. It was a runner until it "died" and then it was parked for about a year, tomorrow I'll find out if there more fees that are due with DMV than what the seller told me and what the title shows.

Dropped it off at a local independent BMW/MB shop for inspection/diagnostics to see what I've gotten myself into LOL

Impulse buy, no clue what it will need other than what I am seeing

- battery
- driver seat leather is worn
- driver side inside door panel need to be fixed
- inner driver side door lock handle
- center console switch panel
- rear speaker/parcel shelf
- clear coat

[jpod999]

Nice! I've always loved the E24. Follow in Riley Stair's father's footsteps and do an M60 swap ;) http://www.stanceworks.com/2016/12/l...-bmw-635csi-2/

[Jean]

LOL - actually was thinking about how much work it would be to drop an M60 in there as I have a spare M60 ;) Thanks for the link !

[oekundar]

Looks relatively clean...with the work that you've done you might as well find a 6 speed tranny to swap into it as well.

[decay]

nice! congrats! plans?

(and goddamn i need to find a set of those rear seats. i've been hunting for e30m3 rears but i forgot that i'd seen someone fit these.)

[Jean]

Honestly, I would like to be able to drive it as a comfy daily driver. It's currently at a shop for diagnostics, I should know on Monday if it's worth getting it back on the road or if I should move on. It currently cranks, but won't start... PO said it died and he thinks it was a fuel pump, but you guys know how that goes, it could be a nice lie.

If it only needs a fuel pump or something minor to get it up and running I'll be stoked, but if it ends up needing everything and the kitchen sink then I'll get rid of it. 635csi parts are NOT cheap...at least for e30/34/32 you can find mostly anything w/o going crazy parts are out there...for 635csi some parts are just crazy to find or priced like they are made out of gold.

[captain awesome]

If it's only mechanical work the car needs, it's probably no more expensive than an e30. I had a 633csi with a 5 speed and mechanically the car was stone simple. There's a few people on the BigCoupe forum that have spare parts for reasonable prices too. The chassis is basically an e28.

[James]

Looks like a nice project, if it cranks but doesn't start it could be a reference senor. They are a little bit pricey to just replace blindly but you can test them really easily: http://www.hiperformancestore.com/motronic.htm

[dasmanschaft012]

yyeahhhh boiiiiiiiii

[MCreally?]

I have always liked these, but as you said some people want way to much for them. It looks as though you got yourself a nice one. It should not be to much to get back on the road. What its the worst that could happen? As you said you have a spare m60, just swap them out. Then you would have one hell of a CSI. If you don't mind me asking, how much did this one cost?

[wworm]

As you said you have a spare m60, just swap them out. Then you would have one hell of a CSI.

I’ve always felt like this car deserved a v8


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[Jean]

Shop got the car to start after replacing the in-tank fuel pump, so I got a new pump on order and crossing fingers it will arrive tomorrow. They've also confirmed it's an L6 model, I guess that's a plus. The rear SLS stuff is all still there but disconnected.

PO lied about fees due on the reg, went to DMV expecting to pay about $150-200 for taxes/reg/fees and it ended up being $411 !!! PO let the reg expire, and there were a bunch of late fees and penalties, I ended up paying for it as otherwise more fees add up.

No plans to put the m6x into it, just want to clean it up and get it running so I can decide if I like it or if I'll sell it.

Ordered new interior door handles, e-brake console with a good brush, and ordered this book but looks like it doesn't have much info on E24 cars :/

https://www.amazon.com/BMW-E12-Restoration-Tips-Techniques/dp/1855209624

[Jean]

And..... she starts and drives!

New fuel pump
Intake boot
FPR vacuum line
Plugs
Belts
Main Relay
Valve adjustment

Still need some more work, but at least she starts right up now and moves on it's own power. Shop owner said engine runs and sounds very healthy, which is a good start and trans shifts good as well.

Low beam headlights turn ON and stay on as long as the battery is connected, so need to figure that out perhaps PO put a wrong relay somewhere.,

PPI shows it needs pads/rotors/tires/exhaust hanger/coolant hoses/front control arms.

[pandaboo911]

Probably has the same 4hp22 EH that my 88 735i has. It just shit the bed after 250k miles. A-clutches worn out. I even did preventative maintenance by pulling the valve body out and replacing all the check balls and filters in there. Sadly the trans going out pretty much writes off the car. A rebuild is $$$
Also the trans will shift perfectly when its warm/cold, but will start to clunk between gears when the fluid gets hot.

I would recommend you pull the trans pan and check the magnets in there for metal, that'll give you an idea of how much life is left. If you can't see the magnets because theyre covered in metal goop.. well you know what that means.

Flush the ATF asap, not just drain it. you'll only get 1/3 by draining the pan.

The engine is a peach, obviously. Easy as fuck to maintain, runs forever. Not great on gas tho
The best mod for a stock M30B35 is swapping injectors to a new 4 pintle design. It'll run wayyy better.

How many miles does it have?

[Jean]

You are probably right, I haven't even driven the car yet...it's got some electrical issue where if the battery its connected then low beams turn on right away and stay ON... pulling the K4 relay turns them off. I need to dig into it some more, but I am hoping it's nothing too serious and maybe it's just a faulty headlight switch?

I am probably not going to touch the trans at all, I need to test drive the car and then smog it so I can register it (as I bought it not running, the reg process is kind of on hold with the fees paid but still car needs to get smogged). It's got 200xxx miles on it, clean carfax and engine starts right up and runs smooth. If I like how the car drives/feels and I keep it, I'll just drive it until the automatic fails and then it will get a 5speed conversion.

I picked up another M30b35 car though, and it's a 5speed so I am not sure if I'll keep the e24 or just get it running and sell it. I am not liking how hard it is to find parts for it (not engine related), things like interior door handles / panels and stuff like that.