As Fast As A Ferrari, Cheaper Than M5 - Why You Need A BMW M635CSI
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- Опубликовано: 15 янв 2023
- BMW made the E24 6 series during a time of incredible growth and the M version, the M635CSi came with a race derived engine. Today this is perhaps one of BMWs most iconic cars and yet is is cheaper than the e28 M5. This makes it one of the last bargain classic BMWs. How does it drive though and does it still make sense today?
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Patreon Supporters get advance viewings before official release and also a monthly exclusive roundup video of what I've been getting up to. If you want to support the channel please go to: www.patreon.com/number27
BMW used to make BEAUTIFUL cars. That is hard to believe if you think what kind of horrendous designs they put out now.
The i8 and the new 8 series are beautiful.
Their ceo is a woman now, maybe that’s why it’s shite now
@@veridico84Just looked. Yuck.
And mechanical pieces of junk.
@@wades6425 The old ones weren't that bad. Quite simple cars with robust engines.
Post 2000 BMW:s are pretty horrible though. I've owned 2. Engine is full of cheap plastic.
I bought an ‘88 M6 in the same color last year and drove it from San Francisco to South Carolina. It took me over 35 years to get one of my dream cars but now it is at home.
M635CSI has always been on of my favorite cars. As an 80's child that was and still is the most beautiful bmw ever made.
I owned some older bimmers. Another beautiful one is the 1970's 3.0 CL/CSL.
For me, the best aspect of 1980s-90s BMWs are the cockpit. You jump into a BMW and you feel like you're in a jet fighter. And the handling just reinforces that feeling.
Yup, the pale red instrument lighting was 100 percent aircraft inspired. It is ideal for night viewing and unlike today's garish LED's, does not fatigue the eyes.
Brilliant, E28 has the same instrument lighting.
Were they copying the SAAB 900 with this idea?
I.v had over 40 bmws over the years, and the thing I fell for was the cockpit
Dashboard 10,000 times more attractive than the arcade game look crap they stick in new cars.
Have a 1987 635CSi it was the best car I ever own, put on it 280,000 miles ! I donate the car few years back and it still running strong at the time. I sure do miss it.
Idk why YT pushed this video to me. It's 4 am and I'm watching a British dude driving an 80s BMW. And I find it very soothing.
Peak BMW right there.
My Dad had one in the eighties and it was nothing short of exquisite. The looks, the smell of the leather, the sound. When I first saw one at aged 8 I actually went weak at the knees. The definition of magnificent.
Yeah, the smell... my old Bimmer waits for the spring, sitting in the garage. But when I am back home (currently working on a project in a different place) and I am opening the car - the smell of the interior is so special for BMWs ✌
It was the best looking BMW of its era ( appart from the gorgeous Giugiaro styled M1 , my absolute favorite). I remember as a child, a friend of our family had a white BMW 628CSI and I always found it an amazing looking car and happy to be taken for a drive in it. I don't find the back unactractive. infact the M1 uses the same talelights . But the front sharknose and long bonnet is just spot on. Never ever BMW produced a better looking nose before and after. Thanks for this review and a trip down memory lane
The 850CSI is my favorite BMW shape but I don't think we would have got to that shape in the 90's without the 635CSI in the 80's.
wafle wafle wafle!
The M1 racecar is probably one of my favorites with those crazy splitters on the front and rear,
The 635 is arguably one of the best cars BMW have ever made, and the nicest. Its not a race car, its a touring car with spirit. Right up there with Mercedes 300 AMG and Porsche 928´s of the time. Also, the detuned M1 engine actually lasted for a decent amount of miles
I have to have a little chuckle every time I see one of these beauties, my neighbour had one in the 80’s and loved and polished it so much he ruined the paint and had to have it re-sprayed 🥴
The best looking bmw ever, I had a 89 635csi highline back in the day. Built like a tank, swapped it for a E34 M5 20 years ago, the 2nd best looking bmw ever..... Still got it
would you swap m5 e34 for any other bmw from 70-90s? (not m1)
Still an iconic, beautiful looking car… and as you point out, exquisitely made.❤
One of the best looking cars ever made! Always a treat to see it, thanks Jack.
These cars are timeless beauties. Thanks for another great video.
I use to have a regular 635 and I regret soooo hard that I sold it .... and tanks for this great episod
One of the prettiest cars of all time - rear end even better with solid rubber spoiler pre ‘81 models. Thanks really appreciate your reviews
Couldn't agree more! And thank you Gregor, glad you’re enjoying them!
I just don't see it. To me, it looks like a bowl of oatmeal; bland, boring, unexciting.
@@plymouth491 should take a closer look in real .
I drove this slightly used at 16 years old working at a BMW dealership near Chicago, IL. Ours was ORANGE with gold bbs wheels. It was a cool car memory from my youth and back when BMW parts were metal and more reliable. I'm a fan of the sharknose. It's not the fastest today, but its classic and beautiful. If I win the lottery one is going in my garage for sure.
I loved your review. I always wanted one of those but finished up buying the '3.6' (3,535cc as I recall) E34 M5 which by 1991 had 315 BHP. I bought it for £4,500 in August 2008 and sold it 9½ years later for £10,000. Maintenance and rolling restoration cost me about £1.000 per annum and it was nice to hand it over in better shape than when I bought it.
Only in South Africa a four door with the M88 was available in very limited numbers... Beautiful machines
745i
I still remember the first time I saw it when I was 12. Made me fall in love with BMW and still one of my favorite car. What a beauty.
These are by far my most favorite of all BMW’s. They are so classy, yet aggressive looking. The rear seats with the armrest is so cool!
Yep, have been fortunate to own 3 E-24's over the years, and there's something about the curve of that molded leather rear seat that was almost 'sculptural'... plus the incredible handling like it was on the proverbial 'rails', that I used to describe as more akin to a 'luxury go-kart'!
Cars were far more exciting in yesteryear, weren't they? thank you again for the consistent quality of your videos
That was my dream car back in the 80's! Still as beautiful as ever. And what an exquisite example that one is. The interior especially looks like it's in perfect condition.
When you are a quality German car maker and the best car you ever made was 30+ years ago...
My dad had one of these. What i loved about it was the visibility. Look at the size of the windows!!!
I really enjoyed watching that Jack and what a fantastic car that is buddy!
All ways thought this was one of the most beautiful coupes ever!
In her BMW 635 going smooth at 90 feeling good to be alive
One the most perfect cars I’ve ever owned was a 1985 BMW M635csi with a 5 speed. The only downside was the cost of repairs and parts, which was outrageous, but otherwise I can’t think of anything bad about it. And it was REALLY gorgeous in the Cirrus Blue Metallic” paint. I bought the car when I was living in West Germany and it was absolutely incredible to drive it on the autobahn at speeds that would land me in jail in most countries. You could drive at high speeds for hours, and get out of the car without being tired or sore, it was just made for high speed cruising.
The CSi in "Henna Red" i think it was called (the orangey red) was one of my dream cars as a teenager and young man. Absolutely glorious design, especially the front end. Beautiful.
I did a nightshift in a local petrol station in 1986 when a chap pulled onto the forecourt with a bright red CSI. He had a car-phone too - the coolest gadget I'd ever seen at that point.
A couple of years later, a local garage owner built a higher-powered copy out of something that started out more mundane. He bolted chrome wheel arches onto it which I thought was a bit weird.
I'd love one today. It'd be a great car to pop down to the Le Mans Classic in.
Disagree with your assessment of the rear end. I think it's perfect.
I like the oddball models that go against the corporate norm - this 6 Series, the 8 Series (especially the V12) the late 70s and early 80s 5 Series and of course the legendary M1. But as an overall package, this M6 is my favorite BMW!
One of my favorite cars, possibly M6 spec as well. Look at this and it really shows modern BMW has lost its way.
Another great review, Jack. You’re knowledgeable, well spoken, and down to earth, all while hustling along in some truly tasty automotive icons. Bravo
Every time I climbed behind the wheel of my 1988 M6, I became a very happy boy. It was not the fastest car on the road, but rather, one of the most distinctive and beautiful. In addition, the engine was gorgeous to look at, and to listen to. I sold it to a collector when the car was 25-years old - a mistake on my part that I have always regretted. Nothing since (except for my Honda VTR1000 F) has given me the same pride of ownership nor the thrill of operation.
One of BMW's best efforts and one of the best looking cars ever.
Thank you for bringing this one to the channel. I absolutely love these and have done since a back seat ride in a friend's dad's one around 1987. It just seemed so effortless and was like a rocketship compared with my own dad's Rover 216 Vanden Plas 😆
I had a E28 M535 in the early 2000s and today i have a -88 635 csi. I can absolute tell that the E28 is a better handling car.
But the E24 is way more beautiful and gets likes from everybody.
I think the goldilocks here is the 635 csi. You pay way less then the M635 but you get the looks and the sound is pretty nice to.
Another great video.... Your delivery of information is very compelling 👍🏼.
The front ¾ aspect of that Motor is staggeringly handsome and, I can't believe how much glass area there is in comparison to modern vehicles. The view out from inside is marvelous.
I have loved this car since a kid when my neighbour came home with it. Much preferred to the 5, great vid, happy new year Jack.
Had the 635csi back in the days, and lusted after one of these, but it never quite happened. Moved on to E34 M5...all glorious cars...
Lovely looking cars BMW in their stride. I do like the engine sound too. Thanks Jack and a Happy New Year to you. 👍👍
Owned one of these when they were a new car - the big rival was the Porsche 928 with a manual gearbox - that was the primary choice at the time. Absolutely brilliant fun in the wet - drove like a big Escort RS2000. I had a 928GT afterwards - a bit quicker, harsher than the M635, but less practical and a bit more showy. I saw the test M635 was still on the original Michelin TRX specific rims - my bet is that the tyre technology is probably a bit of a limiting factor, as it’s a Michelin only wheel size, and I’m not sure that new TRX tyres would compare too favourably to a Pilot Sport. I agree with Jack, in that the M635 has aged incredibly well.
Thanks Jack, one of the best looking BMWs ever made, barely dated styling and supremely elegant. My favourite combo was Zinnobar Red paint and black interior. Loved the racing Group A versions too, really evocative. Couldn't afford one when I was younger, but I am currently on my second modern 6-series (640). Keep up the good work, you have been getting some lovely cars lately!
Hi Jack. I'm not a fan of BMWs but the 6 Series has always been a favourite of mine. I agree the back end styling was always a little weak in my view and I dont think it's a test of time thing! In my opinion it always was too soft when compared to the aggressive front styling . But it has to be remembered that is was styled in the 1970s and launched in 1976 so by the time of its heyday in the 1980s it was already getting on in age. Great to see one of these wonderful machines being tested again.
One of my favourite cars of all time jack, thanks for bringing us all these wonderful cars 😁👍
I can't believe it took youtube this many years to recommend this channel - but I'm having fun going through your back catalogue now. Awesome, mate - lots of old videos to watch while I wait for the new ones to drop. Cheers! 👍
One of my friends dad's had this exact one in red. Much more impressive in person and to me still the most beautiful coupe ever made!!!!
Thank very much Jack for a superb video which is very informative.
I worked at an auto shop in 1987 that had a dark blue M1 in the showroom. I didn't realize that engine had been sold in a street car.
Wonderful car.
Back in a time when that little M badge really meant something.
These days that M badge is splattered on every model, on every panel and corner. Inside and out.
Just gorgeous. One of my dream cars. I'm sure I would find it goes and handles just fine!!! Loving your channel mate.
Had an ordinary 635i in 1984. Loved it. Epic cruiser.
Peak BMW.
Would LOVE to own a well-sorted one…
I been to young and to poor to buy that car in the 70ies. My boss had this model and I was able to ride it a few times. However, I bought one of the first Golf GTI in 76 and later had company cars like BMW 320i in 79, a 528i in 82. Also had later a 840CE in the mid 90ies. The best BMW ever!
My dad had the 635csi not the m version but what a stunning car. Was such a joy being driven around in it. Would love to own one.
Possibly my favourite BMW of all. Timeless, Classy, Elegant, Effortless and that engine!
That really is a beautiful car Jack, thanks for sharing
Really nice review - enjoyed ❤👌🏾👍🏾
Hands down this is my icon "GOT TO HAVE" car it is beautiful, I thank you for making my day.
Lest we forget this is one of the few sport sedans with bucket REAR seats. Outstanding masterpiece.
I'm not a car guy, but that was one of the first things I noticed and I thought, surely that's unusual.
Not sure a real person can fit back there with a couple of real people in the front.
@@mountainmandale1587 People under 5'10 can fit comfortably in the back, the front of the cabin actually has quite a bit of room in it. Have had people in the back of mine several times.
As EPIC as E21 and E28!
The Best Era of BMW!
Green Alpina M635 CSi was my Ultimate Dream BMW.
We had a 535i back in the late 80's. Smooth as silk straight 6. Now I have a 340i with a super smooth straight 6 putting out more power than I need really. The BMW straight 6 engines are beautiful. I only had a back seat ride in a 635CSI back in the day but it was still loads of fun. Very posh car back then a nd a true classic now. Great review, as always.
I had a '89 535i 5 speed. I put 188k miles on it. It was a great touring car with a superb engine. I miss it even today.
@@judih.8754 those were great! had a e34 530i with that bizzare 3 liter v8. always thought it was cool... and smooth too! i think yours was faster though.
Ya my Dads 84 533i still going strong 39 years later heh.. black with red interior. Great all time engineered car, fast, handling and insane reliability for decades.. the 635CSI M n all that cool but I preferred the M3 and sedans from 80s big time. The 635 was a older gents ride. Any of the straight 6s from BMW or MB always the best
Great review of a legendary car, that dash format is iconic. One thing I couldn't help notice is the quality of the leather compared to top BMW models today with 'painted' Dakota leather instead of aniline or semi-aniline leather like this.
I approve of this video 😇
Seating position is a bit odd, I think that's because the e28 and e24 (5&6 series) share the platform.
The seating makes more sense with the high placed steeringwheel and also the placement of the gear lever, in the 5 series.
In the car you drove the gear lever bushings are pretty worn, I could tell by the video, it's very common.
Hard to say if the e28 is stiffer than, my e24 is so modded today, that I really can't compare it anymore to my stock e28.
Great video !
I have a mint, white M635. Modern tires on 17in rims and front strut brace improve handling (and braking) making a superb GT even better. As for the engine, it really is the business. It is a keeper :)
A classic..as a young kid I admired this car
I still admire it
Great vid Jack... and you managed to get a manual as well. I adore these machines, among BMW's best. However you missed a huge part of the BMW 635's history and that was it's racing record. This was the quintessential BMW touring car racer from the 1980s. It was campaigned by the works team - Schnitzer in the European Touring Car Championship along with a whole host of privateers. BMW GB had several in the BTCC, they were in the DTM, Italian Championship... Australian Championship [in JPS black/gold livery] and were driven by some very illustrious pilots, many of whom were also driving in F1 at the same time e.g. Gerhard Berger. Possibly the greatest hour was victory in the Spa 24 Hours of 1986 where they finished a stunning 1-2-3-4 ! Reliability was metronomic - here's the Spa race ruclips.net/video/qW2c2-hZsso/видео.html
The M635 was only manual. The standard 635 CSI had the auto option
Legendary driver Jim Richards !!!
Always loved the styling of these, its a more brutal and aggressive take on the Jaguar XJS in its lines. More efficient in its use of space too, spicy performance but very practical.
Excellent video. Superb motor car. I've never been on one, let alone driven one, but there was a time when its lesser brethren (628, 633 et al) were common enough hacks in parts of South London and were almost shared between friends. It is an exquisite thing.
My only gripe is that you say it wasn't "showy" when new. It absolutely was. It was the very epitome of a showy car. Parked up when new or nearly new next to an XJ-S of the same year, a 6-Series got all the gawps and stares. Even a 628 or a 630 was clearly a machine from a higher plane. It doesn't look flashy or showy today, but in era it most certainly did. Nonetheless, an excellent review of an absolute unicorn of a car.
Another excellent video. Thank you.
Nice car and video! Time gone by!
You are absolutely spot on, that is a great car! My brother had a friend in the early 80’s that had a ‘77 or ‘78 M635 he had imported from Germany (I.e. US “grey” market car). I was lucky enough to be able to drive it from Los Angeles to Phoenix and then around Phoenix for a week or so. I was 25 at the time and in heaven! Thanks for the great reminder!
He did well to get an M635 6 years before they were built.
I had one in SA and loved it , it was an awesome drive , was faster than most cars of its time and was quite comfortable at high speed . defiantly one of my favored Beemers and I am on my 16th one now
That 6 series is gorgeous back then and more still today.
I worked at a shop in nj as a kid for about 10yrs and one of these cars kicked off a series of events that would change my life and eventually destroyed EVERYTHING.... Here i am almost 2 decades later and i see this.... it was a MINT CONDITION RED CSI WITH COVERS OVER THE SEATS. ill never forget it
You could buy these with under 100k on them for 5k usd 20 years ago. Now nice examples are 20+k. Gorgeous straight six. Sounds like a F1 car at high RPM and competition exhaust. Here in upstate NY they rusted. This was a fairly common M car for its time. Most who ordered 635CSI would just get the M version. I had a Champaign one in college. It would crouch back and just go like a rocket under hard throttle. Sleeper Rocket
I own a 1973 E9 and love the 635CSi as it is a natural, upgraded version of the 3.0CSi.
Still love my E9...
Breathtaking looks, wonderful straight-6 (pity there are so few around these days) - a very desirable car.
BMW straight 6, manual gearbox, what a great car. I wonder how much time is left till the prices sky rocket.
One of my favourite BMWs of all time. Gorgeous.
Fantastic video of my car, Jack. Makes me proud to own it 😊
In 1989 I bought a new motorsport 635csi highline, royal blue with lotus full hide, beautiful car.
Awesome car and video!
What a beauty 🤍! A perfect specimen of a modern classic. I wish new BMWs had more iconic designs like this.
Very nice 👏👏👍
Those roads look A LOT like the roads around Harry's Garage!
oh yes! i used to service one of these bad boys for a lad who used to work on the rigs off aberdeen, known as the "flying scotsman" due to his rather short journey times
due to the mileage he did up to aberdeen, he was a regular customer at our garage
you didn't mind working saturdays when this [rocketship of the time] was booked in....
so yes, i drove one when it was virtually brand new, great car... keep it up young man...
One of the good things about working in a garage 👍
@@nickcook7408 the only good thing these days...
Whats Utterly Crazy is that in the mid 90's you could pick these up for between 2-4 grand and exceptional ones for between 5-6. They always looked incredible and the bucket seats in the back always oozed class and race car appeal in equal measure. Beautiful cars.
I bought a 635CSi (no M and even with the slightly less powerful catalyst) back in 2014 for less than 10k Euros and adored the style and those fine lines and shark nose front end until the moment I sold it - with a bit pain as I needed to invest into my company, but the beauty of this car in the flesh is almost not achievable with modern cars anymore.
Do love the amazing surround view from the seating position with slightly driver angled dash, also those grab handles for the rear passengers are a piece of art, never seen anything like it before or after.
Boot is huge, perfectly works for bigger weekend trips with one or even 3 people (once or twice went out for a picnic).
It was a nice car for occasional driving, bit too special for everyday, eventhough its not too thirsty either - but getting so much attention in this car and thumbs up can get a bit exhausting after a while. That’s why you need a reliable normal daily beside it tbh.
But overall I can only recommend a test drive, they are design icons in every respect.
Cost wise, be prepared to pay into rust prevention if not happened, part prices are still not too bad as you have shared parts with E28, but they became rare as well. Some elements as tail lamp frames in chrome are not available anymore, so consider paying some premium for them.
For long distance the best possible car - drive in style.
Not sure if it needs the big M engine, as you’re dealing with 4 times higher maintenance costs.
Character wise it will stay a bruiser, never a sports car.
Would try a E28 M5 as well, they are a bit more nimble and therefore easier to handle.
Never liked driving around curvy b-roads, as the car doesn’t feel light on its big wheels/tyres.
No way the gonna lose money, so well worth the investment. Market did stop slowly for the prices to come up, but they will carry on in the future, as most of them rust away…
Early e24's (630CS, 633CSI) based on e12 5-series) were built by Karmann just like the e9. Karmann-built cars are very prone to rust badly. (don't ask... ex-e9 owner here)
The later e24 (628CSI, 635CSI, M635CSI) based on e28 5-series) were built in BMW's own factory and is much better.
Thanks for the interesting info Patrick!!
@@jfv65 ...but not that much better. Weak spots are still inner and outer wings, wheelarches, and roof skins. I ran an E24 for 18 years so am more than familiar with all the expensive downsides.
I had an M535i back in the day and tbh it’s probably still the best car I’ve ever owned. It was outshone by the later M5 but this was no slouch and the noise it made and the way it delivered power was delightful . Loved that car .
Great videos and love the content 👌👏👏
smoked a M535i several times all the way to top speed years ao with a 5.7. GTA Trans Am...after 200 the aerodynamics might taken over.
Those cars are so timeless and badass. In the day, someone in my hood had a red one and drove it like he stole it. So many teen days spent fantasizing about having one. Just automotive deliciousness.
I’ll always rember going for a spin in one of these back in 1989. It blew me away !! Talk about head in the parcel shelf… 😊
I agree, I don't care how much better the M5 may be, just looking at the M6 is worth what ever edge you may give up. If outright performance is the ultimate goal, just buy a modern car and call it a day,.. memories are the true reward of vintage.
This car and the Datsun 240z were my childhood dream cars.
Thank you Jack!
Great era for BMW. Perfect colour combo too.
Had one when I lived in Florida. Loved it. Some parts were hard to get like the rubber door moulding where the windows meet the body. Also the trunk was very shallow. All that being said I am sorry I am sorry I parted with it.
Keep up the good work 👍🇨🇦
Great job again Jack!! I remember going to a dealer near my school; trying to get a job but my provisional license wasn't good enough....I was lucky enough to get onto a radio show to ask about an apprenticeship, but the host cut me off, saying I was a timewaster, but I was only 17-18 so I didn't know about the world then lol.....
Looks perfectly balanced around the bends not a huge amount body roll .
The 6’s have always stood out in the crowd of BMW’s. ❤
I have one of these cars, 85 M635csi. Never understood the prices you could get them for, highly undervalued iconic cars.