My new daily driver
 

Ran across a great deal on another German driver- Its been sitting covered for many years and will take some TLC to get it back in working order, but should be fun.

Its another one that I have always wanted- 1985 BMW 635CSI- 5-speed with LSD. 30,095 miles on the clock

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356400702.jpg

Looks like it was sitting covered in a garage. Looks good!

Nice find. I'll take some doing to get it on the road again. But a damn fun project.

It had not been started since 2010 and prior to that it was driven rarely. A shot of ether and it started and idled well- enough to get it on the trailer.

Few mice nests- (under the air cleaner was a nice one) they must not like older German wire insulation cause I have yet to find any wire damage...... Its a good winter project while the Porsche rests.

I will take a few more pics when I get it cleaned up and driving.

One of the best designs ever and one of the reasons BMW is who they are today. Absolute classic.

This plus one.........simple, minimal and beautiful. Congrats....:cheers:

Very nice find!!!

Very nice. There was a clean 6-car in my area for sale last year. A hail storm got it before I could seriously look at it. Can I ask? Where did you find it?

That's when Bimmers were cool.

Among the best looking cars ever.Major find.Look at the pillars and roof line!
Congrats.

Yeah exactly! I hate the new Bangle designs. Of course I wouldn't turn down a free test drive in a M1,3,5,6,X...

I actually like the Bangle Bims. But anything forward looking will never be a classic. So as soon as the new Bangle model comes out the old one instantly becomes uncool to drive. Merc went down the same road.

Porsches always look cool. Well except for the sedans and SUVs. Dont get me wrong theyre nice but are more like Audis, Jags, Etc. More luxury oriented than Steve McQueen.

A labor of Love!
 

The BMW DD is coming together nicely- I've taken several trips to KC (about 45 miles) and a lot of around town driving. I must say it is a joy to drive (Not Boxster Joy) but a very good driver- with Diesel truck torque!

Thus far I have replaced the entire suspension/steering components front and rear (except springs and struts) they are up next. All hoses, many gaskets, many bushings, a few computer boards, thermostat and housing, water pump, catalytic converter and exhaust manifold gaskets, power steering pump, and clutch master cylinder- very easy car to work on and parts are cheap(er) than my other German sweetheart.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1360640599.jpg

Looking good ;)

Nice driving weather around here lately, too.

Indeed! Quite a handsome car.

Even Bruce Jenner would look good in that car !

I don't know if its the pic but the paint looks amazing. I gues it was parked indoors a lot.
How's the interior/leather?

you didn't mention the wheels. Who makes those? They seem like a good update for an 80's Bimmer.

The paint is in good shape for the most part- up close it has some flaws where the cover "molded" to it in several places. It sat for many years with a cover on it and has had some paint work done on the front- it shows a shade difference in the photo- but looking at the car outside it is very hard to tell.

The oxidation was pretty bad when I got it- I've spent a several hours with the buffer and meguire's (I like the #7 for single stage paint) I put it on, work it in and let it set over night before removing it.

I will get some shots of the inside and post them up- small split in the back seat front seats are perfect (re-upholstered I'm sure)

The car is out from Florida originally and I have only found one spot of rust - under the driver side windshield wiper post.

Mr Danger
 

Which one is the real Bruce Jenner?

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1360757521.jpg

There was a time when BMW made real driving machines like the one you have... not the junk that they're churning out now.

^ ouch. I was actually on the fence to buy an E46 M3. The sport seats in that car with the high bolsters are awesome. I was surprised to hear Chris Harris call it the perfect BMW.

The 3 series has hardly been terrible also. Not something I would want to keep out of warranty though. But look whose talking. $10K in major maintenance and unexpected repairs before even hitting 80K miles on my Boxster.

cool. Have you thought about sending the oil to blackstone for analysis? assuming you still have it.

That would have been a good thing to do- I still have the oil but it is mixed in a 55 gallon used oil barrel. I use a Chevron company in KC for analysis on the Boxster and my work trucks- I assume they offer the same data as Blackstone.

The engine seems to run like a champ- (typical BMW lifter/injector tick) All the "rubber" products around it are failing- Just popped a hole in one of the Power steering pump hoses last night. Got a place down the street that can build me new ones for much cheaper than OEM.

I got the Porsche out today- (55f) and it is still much better to drive. It will be nice to get out of one and into the other.

Interior
 

^ That's nuts.

Does it feel heavy or understeery?

It is hard to explain- I have not driven it as hard as I have the Porsche (I don't know it that well, yet) but, some of the on ramps and my favorite local roads it performs and corners well- it feels like a big car and rides smooth- it just feels solid.

It does squat in the rear if I run through the gears hard- but it will also smoke the tires off or easily or "drift" if I get into it around a corner. The plan is new springs and struts soon, this should add to the cornering performance.

Ive wanted one for years- but I also wanted a daily driver that was fun to drive, unique and cheap(er) on taxes. It fits my requirements!