My 635 is back.....and

[bmwdrivernigel]

its p1ssing out fuel from the rear, smokes like Marlboro man and has got cr4p wheels on it, what have I done????? Got it 5 months ago, got hit up the 4rse by perfect pizza man after 3 weeks and 320 miles, just back after 14 weeks in the bodyshop and now I dont want it! Suggestions on a postcard please! Any one want a 1988 635csi, M-Tech kit in good condition, new rear bumper, 110000 miles with history?

[silverback mike]

Too many cars already

[bob1179]

I don't mind a bit of work.

How much you looking for it?

[derin100]

silverback mike said:

Too many cars already

Me too!

Would you still want it if it wasn't doing those things you mentioned? You could spend the time and get it sorted out?

Or if you really just don't want it anymore you could just cut your losses and just get rid. The price will certainly suffer 'as is'. My friend Donnie might be interested...didn't I give you e-mail before when you wanted some suspension stuff?

[bob1179]

derrin, when you selling that gorgeous 528iA?

*drool*

[verysideways]

Nige, take it for a good long drive over the weekend and see if you can sort the fuel/smoke issue.

Wheels? Easy fix...

[derin100]

Very nearly there Bob!

Picked up the 5 refurbished metric rims yesterday...but they forgot to give me the centre caps back...so will have to pick them up on Monday and get tyres re-fitted.

Fitted the new chrome front and rear screen surrounds...bloody fiddle!

Then need to a few more photos i.e underneath with new suspension fitted plus a few 'accessories/extras' that are coming with the car. Then do a full write-up for my website and that's it!

So could/should be up for sale next week hopefully.

Cheers

[bob1179]

I await with baited breath...

I can't wait to see it mate!

[derin100]

Yeah Nigel as Verysideways said...or just take it to someone who knows what they're doing with these cars and get it set-up properly. One of those engines with only 110K miles on the clock is unlikely to have anything seriously wrong with it unless it's been totally neglected or you're very unlucky?

I'd stick with it if I were you..."Rome wasn't built in a day"?

What kind of wheels does it have on it that you don't like?

S'ok...I just checked the picture of the car...you mean the original TRX's? Well, yeah...I see your point. They are total crap to drive on...only good for 'show' really...as in my opinion they do actually look good! Trouble is the tyres are very dodgy (esp. in the wet!) and horrendously expensive! But you can get alternatives...just keep an eye out and be careful not to get something that looks too 'gangsta' Something like some genuine Alpinas would be nice?

My feeling is...if the car is really structurally sound (biggest consideration on an E24!) and the interior trim is very good (actually often the hardest thing to overcome if it's below par) then you've a decent basis to work with. The rest can all be fixed with time and a bit of money. If it can't meet those first two criteria then I have to agree with you...and just get rid of it and start again with something else.

I've got two friends who have ploughed £thousands upon thousands into their cars because they didn't adhere to the above (one with an M635CSi; the other with an M535i)...and the cars are still crap...in fact, for one of them that should read SCRAP!

Edited by derin100 on Friday 12th January 09:04

Edited by derin100 on Friday 12th January 09:15

[verysideways]

Or 17" splits like i have on mine:



I reckon they'd look great on a 6'er

[derin100]

Yes, Very!!!...I've just been checking on Ebay for Nigel...I reckoned he'd need something at least 17" plus to go with that bodykit...and the only thing that caught my eye was a set just like the ones that you suggest that appear to have just been listed!

[bob1179]

verysideways said:

Or 17" splits like i have on mine:



I reckon they'd look great on a 6'er

They look nice.

But I'm a bit old fashioned and I like the 15" multispokes that the e34's came with originally. I mate of mine fitted some to his e28 to replace the metric rims he had. It looked lurverly.

[derin100]

I forgot!...I've got a set of those! But they're metric as well Came off my wife's E34 Touring...which is an absolute dead-ringer for Very's (well...from 20 paces anyway ...not as clean looking as Very's)...same colour combo etc.

I reckon those wheels may look a little 'small' on Nigel's 6-er? Those TRX's he has are already an approximate 17" equivalent. I dunno? With that M-tech kit in place smaller wheels might look a little 'lost'?

Sometimes (rarely) you might get lucky and find a set of the old style Hartges...they might look nice as well?

www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0401ec_bmw_e24_6_series/photo_10.html

Just realised...I was talking rubbish about the E34 wheels above...didn't realise you said the 15" E34 ones Bob. (I was thinking of the 390 metrics that were on my wife's E34 originally...differnt wheel...sorry!)


There are these for sale on German Ebay...but they're only 16"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-HA

Edited by derin100 on Friday 12th January 09:32

Edited by derin100 on Friday 12th January 09:38

[bob1179]

I didn't know that e34's were sold with metrics. I suppose it was the earlier cars in the late eighties that came with them?

There is a beautiful 635i knocking around Huddersfield, its an '88 mtech car and the owner has fitted a set refurbished 15" wheels and it really really looks good. Bright red with a full black highline interior.

I've got a great poster at home with a Hartge e30 with a lovely set of wheels. I was sad enough to get it framed so I could put it along side my e28 M535i and M635csi posters!

[bmwdrivernigel]

Thanks Guys, I do still want the car but I suppose I have fallen out of love with it, I'm going to get out in it tomorrow and go for a play, I spent ages looking for it over the last few years and just feel a bit gutted that now at last I have it sat outside I dont get that look over the shoulder feeling!

I will look for new wheels today, are 18's the best size? I have the TRX off at the moment but a set of Alpinas would be nice.

Will update tomorrow evening after a bit of 'furious driving'

[bob1179]

17" inch alpina would look a treat. I think 18" would be too much.

Take her out for a spin, when that straight six is on full chat, you'll be in love again.

[derin100]

"I didn't know that e34's were sold with metrics. I suppose it was the earlier cars in the late eighties that came with them?"

No Bob, surprisingly it was some of the later E34's that came with Dunlop TD tyres...again expensive! My wife's is '95 car. I took them off my the car before the worn out! So when we come to sell it the Dunlops can just go back on...car won't be worth that much anyway...so no point 'giving' away five good wheels that can be used on other cars as I fitted it with a set of 16" rims from an E38...looks quite nice.

Various options open to you Nigel...personally I would go up to 18" but not beyond. These could look nice? i.e 'Style 32'...fitted to E38 I believe...possibly some bigger engined E39's as well?

www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/wheels/bmw_wheel_032.jpg

[Cavey]

Nigel

Stick with it! Car looks lovely, and very unusual but very nice colour. 6's are beautiful cars (i've had two) and a real bit of BM history. Need sympathetic owners, and need looking after. What else are you going to get for the same money that looks anywhere near as special? Hang on to it...

[derin100]

As Bob, Cavey and others have said...I'd stick with it if I were you (if the caveats I mentioned earlier are fulfilled).

There is still something about that 'big six' M30 engine that is quintessentially 'BMW'!

It is remains a paragon of engine design...that lasted BMW for so many years...right from the 1960's into the 1990's. Just the sound at high revs, smoothness, no-corners-cut build-quality and shear guts of the thing!

Your 635 won't be the fastest thing around anymore...but that's not the point!

You'll get it right in the end...I've been where you're feeling at this point many times! The number of times, in the past, I felt my E30 M3 wasn't 'right' and I wanted to pick it up, put on a big boot and kick it into touch...? But then, once in a while, they reward you with a 'special drive' and you'll come back thinking:

"Well, yes...it IS worth all the heart-ache'.

You won't get that from most ordinary cars.

Edited by derin100 on Friday 12th January 20:14

Edited by derin100 on Friday 12th January 20:16

[bmwdrivernigel]

Have been out for a play in it tonight and yes.....I will be keeping it, I stopped to get petrol in Banbury ( I live in Sunningdale!) and had some guy comment on how nice it looked etc etc, so after 125 mile play I have cleared the smoking issue and have decided to go the manual route, and possibly even try and source a 4.5 out of a lhd 7 series Am told it will slot straight in! Bodily it is very sound, apart from a patch by the sunroof which will be getting done in the summer when its repainted. And I did look over my shoulder tonight when I parked up!