Private Collector Selling Superbly Kept 1985 BMW 635 CSi

By Arison Knapp - June 15, 2016

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Judging from the superb shape of this anonymous private collector’s 1985 BMW 635 CSi, I’m shocked it didn’t meet the reserve last month at Vicari’s Nocona auction. For a limited time, Vicari Auctions are allowing second chance bids, since it looks like the majority of their consigned fleet wasn’t sold.

Consider yourself lucky to have another chance to swoop up this clean, late model, manual BMW E24 with an original 68K miles. After speaking with Vicari about the 635 CSi this week, I found out the final bid was $15,000; for most, that may seem like the limit, but certainly not for this particular vehicle.

Nothing I’ve found online really compares to this exact model, year, transmission, and color — certainly not in this condition. There are M-model 6-Series more powerful for sale, and other grand touring 635 CSis, but could those owners say they garaged in a climate controlled environment, gingerly drove, and maintained the car through the years? Examining the pictures of the interior quality, including the leather upholstery, leather gear selector, and other contact points in the cabin, and this 635 CSi looks barely driven. The listing remarks match the pictures, which call it an “original survivor car.”

Underneath the front lies a brutish M30B34-coded inline six-cylinder petrol engine twisting out of a now rare 5-speed, traditionally-synchronized manual transmission. Touching 60 MPH right below 8 seconds is surely “Grand Touring” by today’s standards, but topping out below 140 MPH offers enough pull on the flats to make up for it. Some pre-sale servicing has been done to see her off nicely for the next owner, including fresh fluids, battery, tires, clutch, and master cylinder.

Happy Bidding!