1982 BMW 635 CSi

With just three keepers from new – two of those within the same family – this 635CSi is an early E28-based model. Prior to ’82, early 6s were underpinned by BMW’s E12 5 Series platform. With a much lower than average 78,370 miles displayed, this 635CSi benefits from a very substantial refresh back within the dealership network. This might have been 25 years ago, but the car’s covered fewer than 2000 miles since. Don’t worry though, this hasn’t sat around unused and rotting, a recent second recommission apparently sees that it’s ready for action once more.

This example majors on its cruising ability, fitted as it is with the standard three-speed automatic transmission, though it also has effectively every option fitted that BMW could charge for back in the day. There’s air-conditioning (recently upgraded), premium audio (for ’82), ABS, the sought-after multi-function computer, power steering, four electric windows (yes the rears drop too) and an electric sunroof… What we’re saying is that when the original BMW salesman secured this deal, he took the rest of the week off to wallow in a bath full of his commission cash. 

In a rare colour combination with excellent history and no known faults we were also wondering why the seller was parting with this 635CSi, well sadly due to health issues, he’s no longer able to drive.

Sapphire Blue is a rarely seen shade on a 6 but it really accentuates Paul Bracq’s famously sharp-penned lines – further reinforced in this instance with those snazzy 1980s swage decals. The paint on this BMW appears to be in very fine shape, but then again, it should be really having been reapplied by BMW dealership Robert Stern back in 1996. That was a while ago, but as mentioned already, the car’s covered so few miles since and has likely spent very little (if any) time out of storage. Mad, isn’t it? We love that cars like this are still out there…

The panel fit appears to be just as BMW intended and there’s only the mildest signs of wear to be found anywhere on the exterior. That even includes the often-overlooked chrome trim and rubber seals too. Those ‘faults’ we mentioned consist of some very mild cracks to the NSR corner of the rubber boot spoiler and a missing bung from the bottom of the A-pillar trim. We know, we’re channelling our anal concours judge here, but basically the only imperfections we could find were trifling. The vast majority of the car appears to be very clean and tidy indeed.

We did also spy (just) some cleverly hidden rear parking sensors in the centre of the trim just above the bumper. Added in 2020, these really do take some finding and once you do spot them, you could be forgiven for thinking that they’re simply a standard BMW styling device. They’re really that neat. Mind you, there’s a less well concealed readout on the top of the dash, but the usefulness of this tech likely far outweighs its deviation from standard specification. It’s easy enough to remove if you think otherwise though.

We’re guessing that if you’ve got this far then you’re likely a fan of the colour blue. Just as well really, as this cabin’s hue is practically pelagic. French Blue leather covers the seats and is complimented by matching blue carpets and door cards. All appear to be tip-top, with just a slightly awkward fit on the driver’s inner door handle/arm rest a cause for slight complaint. The wear to the seat fabric is conspicuous by its absence, though there’s the merest hint of same visible on the outer driver’s bolster.

The original Pioneer stereo has been swapped for a more modern (yet still very much in keeping) Bluetooth-connected alternative; though the original component speakers remain. They’re very ‘of their time’ representing the apex of audio fidelity (for a cassette deck) in 1982. The cabin of this BMWlooks to be very nearly as good as the exterior. The headlining looks fresh and all the dash plastics seem to have stood the test of time admirably. With a very sharp eye, you might notice some excess wax on the door bottoms and the minor staining to the inside of the boot lid, but otherwise, this cabin seems to be in remarkably good shape – especially considering its nearly 40 years old.

The floors and sills look solid and straight with a liberal dose of underseal still in place. As expected, there’s some visible surface rust on things like suspension lower arms. There’s also a line of minor corrosion on the very bottom lip of the rear panel (look above the exhaust backbox). The vendor’s trusted garage RH Classics near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire was given the task of recommissioning this fine BMW after its long post BMW-dealer revival. Said garage told us that it has replaced the majority of the perishable components underneath. This included fitting new Bilstein suspension shocks and refreshing the brakes, including their flexi hoses. The same firm even swapped out the correct Michelin TRX metric tyres. As a result, the vendor informs us that this BMW performs faultlessly.

The 1990s refresh wasn’t a restoration however. That means that things like the original engine bay wiring loom and its accompanying insulation, remain fitted. As a result, some of the latter is starting to come undone in the top corners of the engine bay. The wiring hasn’t been exposed however, it just looks a little untidy, especially when the rest of the engine bay appears to be so well cared for. There are no signs of leaks that we could spot from the engine or its ancillaries and most parts in here look either new or refurbished. It’s a treat to behold.

The majority of the expense lavished on this BMW, according to its accompanying invoices, seems to have been for cosmetic work. With such a low average mileage, even in the mid-1990s when most of the work was carried out, that’s hardly a shock – its oily bits were built to last after all. The cost of paint and materials, plus the accompanying and vast list of clips, trim and body mouldings came to £4062.88 alone. That’s a fair chunk of change today, 25 years ago that would have bought you a decent and much newer secondhand car. Thankfully, a previous owner felt that his hard-earned was better spent on his faithful old 6 Series. With all that said, the mechanical components have hardly been neglected either.

Servicing and further remedial work was carried out at the end of 2017 by BMW specialist Autokraft. The boys and girls from Solihull refreshed the heater and gave the car a full service at a cost of £501.88 and £1186.16 respectively. They were also asked to fit a new fuel tank and undertray for a further £585,80. More up-to-date invoices chart that recent recommissioning by RH Classics (July 2020), which included wiring in those clever parking sensors, fitting new alternator & PAS belts, plus replacing front & rear shocks at a cost of £3265.07. Then even more work in Sept 2020 at RH saw the air-con system replaced with a totally updated alternative – demanding the creation of new custom bracketry. Those snazzy rear headrest covers were also sourced from Germany and are listed on another big bill for £3274,86.

Oh, and that BMW dealership refresh back in 1996 by Robert Stern, cost a whopping £13k all in. Remember, the car’s not even covered 2k miles since then and it has just been refreshed again at a further cost of more than £6.5k.

How often do you come across a classic car that’s been thoroughly refurbished by its maker? Especially one that had that refresh done in the pre-manufacturer ‘Classic’ department era. The majority of the German makers, and most of the British ones now, will happily advertise their in-house restoration and continuation services, but that’s a very recent development. For decades these firms largely ignored older models, only now smelling the business opportunity. That makes this dealership-restored BMW seriously unusual.

If that’s not enough to sway you, did you know that Sean Connery had a 635CSi? He kept it at his home in Marbella and drove it for over a decade. We sold that very car earlier this year for £46,100. This 635CSi might lack the celebrity association of that one, but it’s no less special as a result. That’s why we’re estimating this BMW’s value at between £21,000 and £29,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.