1985 M635CSi - my Great White Shark

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francoid

Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by francoid »

You are a better man than I am... I plan on getting buried in the M6, even though my daughters have asked me to bequest it to them ;)
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sharkfan
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by sharkfan »

This lovely car has just passed its 31st MoT now that it is 34 years old. 5 more tests and it will be 40 years and no longer require testing according to current legislation, and thankfully it is in stunning condition inside and out and should be fine for another 20 years or more...

...but I most get it out and use it more. It had done less than 700 miles in the last year - all fabulously enjoyable but I really wish I found the time and excuses to use it more.
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Edit to add; Of the 524 rhd M635 cars delivered to the UK there were still 338 still taxed in 1994, but in the last quarter of 2018 there were just 62 cars taxed and able to be used on the road...

For comparison, there were over 3000 635CSiA's taxed and on the road in 1994 and only just over 300 now...
Last edited by sharkfan on Sun Jan 21, 2024 1:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2001 Alpina B10 V8 Touring (1 of 12 rhd)
1997 Alpina B12 5.7 L (1 of 2 rhd)
1995 Alpina B10 4.6 Touring (1 of 1 rhd)
1985 BMW M635CSi (1 of 524 rhd)
1982 BMW 635CSiA (1 of 100's left from the 1000's made and still valiantly fighting against a rusty grave)
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by GRNSHRK »

Wow, those are staggering numbers :-k

Quite the attrition rate :(

Good deal on Passing MOT, sounds difficult ](*,)
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olympia57
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by olympia57 »

sharkfan wrote: Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:43 pm This lovely car has just passed its 31st MoT now that it is 34 years old. 5 more tests and it will be 40 years and no longer require testing according to current legislation, and thankfully it is in stunning condition inside and out and should be fine for another 20 years or more...

...but I most get it out and use it more. It had done less than 700 miles in the last year - all fabulously enjoyable but I really wish I found the time and excuses to use it more.

Edit to add; Of the 524 rhd M635 cars delivered to the UK there were still 338 still taxed in 1994, but in the last quarter of 2018 there were just 62 cars taxed and able to be used on the road...

For comparison, there were over 3000 635CSiA's taxed and on the road in 1994 and only just over 300 now...
Frightening statistics .
Well done on the MOT pass and have a good summer with it ( notice gender neutral description in case we get targeted ....). :lol:
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by zinnocoupe »

Those are indeed shockingly low low numbers of these cars still on the road in the UK. Its a wonder they haven't become much more valuable there given the rarity. Makes me curious to find out how many are still alive in NA. Not sure if thats info that is even known.
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by sharkfan »

Just got it back from my 'The Man', a chap called Lee Shannon that works out of Bentley, just West of Farnham.

He's set the tappets, swapped in all new coolant hoses and replaced a strangely snapped bush on the brake reaction arm - it drives beautifully again - I enjoyed a rapid drive home after picking it up last night and despite it's 139k miles and 37 years of age it drives like new - what a fabulous motorcar.
2001 Alpina B10 V8 Touring (1 of 12 rhd)
1997 Alpina B12 5.7 L (1 of 2 rhd)
1995 Alpina B10 4.6 Touring (1 of 1 rhd)
1985 BMW M635CSi (1 of 524 rhd)
1982 BMW 635CSiA (1 of 100's left from the 1000's made and still valiantly fighting against a rusty grave)
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by Pod »

sharkfan wrote: Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:43 pm Edit to add; Of the 524 rhd M635 cars delivered to the UK there were still 338 still taxed in 1994, but in the last quarter of 2018 there were just 62 cars taxed and able to be used on the road...

For comparison, there were over 3000 635CSiA's taxed and on the road in 1994 and only just over 300 now...
Interesting to note that as of Q3/2021, there were 79 M635CSis taxed and 176 on SORN. 635CSiA was 340 vs 802 and 635CSI was 49 vs 133 (the numbers for the manual cars in Q4/2018 were 35 vs 140). No doubt the numbers will swing around a bit for Q4/2021 & Q1/2022 as owners will have them parked up for the winter. Still a few cars that have never been SORNed as well!

I find it amazing that some 50% of the M635 RHD cars are still out there! (and note,as we have discussed before, a significant number of the 524 have been exported to Asia and the Antipodes!)

Anyway, since I'm in 'Anorak' mode, for manual cars, I can report that out of 351 633CSis, there are now 7 vs 14; out of 221 628CSis there are now 10 vs 25 and out of 1350 635CSis (excluding the 70 catalyst models which I don't believe were imported into The UK) there are, as above 49 vs 133. I have disregarded 630CSis which I don't think came to these shores.

So, as far as rarity goes, from the DVLA website, the 633 is the winner with 6% (21 cars) still extant, 635 with 13% (182 cars), 628 with 16% (35 cars) and last but not least, 49% (255 of the M cars!).

(I may have made an error here, either in my number crunching or raw data, so please do correct me if I have been amiss).
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by ron »

Thanks for posting the numbers, Paul. It makes for very interesting reading.
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by Pod »

ron wrote: Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:08 pm Thanks for posting the numbers, Paul. It makes for very interesting reading.
My pleasure! Not much else to do with this awful weather we've been experiencing. I've hardly laid a hand on any of my cars for months and can't wait until the weather starts to improve!
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by olympia57 »

Good post Paul , thanks .
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by K1W1 »

Having a pedant moment ... 524 RHD were made but not all were sold new in the UK.

20 were sold new in NZ (as mine was).
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by Pod »

K1W1 wrote: Fri Mar 11, 2022 6:40 pm Having a pedant moment ... 524 RHD were made but not all were sold new in the UK.

20 were sold new in NZ (as mine was).
Thanks, useful information! I guess I should take the opportunity to state the obvious- #001 & 002 apparently never left the factory in one piece, so the total exported to The UK was no more than 502 units. No doubt someone can chime in and reduce this total a little more. Oz, Far East etc??

Do you have any idea as to how many of these 20 are still around? Or how many of the UK supplied cars have been exported to the Antipodes?
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by ron »

Pod wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 10:21 am Do you have any idea as to how many of these 20 are still around? Or how many of the UK supplied cars have been exported to the Antipodes?
We used to have a guy from Oz on here who was doing a spread sheet on all the M635s. Think his name is Gary.

I'll have a look to see if I can find it.
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
'85 M #228
'87 M #367
'88 High line.
'10 X5
‘84 Alfasud 1.5 ti
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by K1W1 »

Hi - sorry I don't tho there was a Kiwi ? who also had or was working on a list. will try and find it. regards
# 328 RHD M635csi 1986 Dinan 3.8
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Re: 1985 M635CSi

Post by sharkfan »

So back to my car which has just passed its 34th MoT test with no advisories - I have a list of little niggles to over come;

OBC backlight bulbs need replacing
Front offside fog light needs alignment.
Check control panel surround is cracked
After market alarm/immobiliser bright led flashes continuously- the immobiliser still works but the alarm had given up a few years back.
Going to change the staggered 17” Style 32’s for staggered 17” Alpina’s and possibly put the walnut Alpina gear knob that the car came with back on.
I’m toying with the idea of a rear window aftermarket roller sunblind - it’s four small screw holes into the carpeted panel and would help protect my eyes at night from bonkers bright xenon or laser lights and bonkers high SUV lights. I bought a good sized trapezium shaped one a few years ago for a few quid (8 I think) so nothing ventured - nothing gained.

The biggest niggle is I don’t drive it enough - I said to my daughter today that it’s probably driving the best it ever has done in nearly twenty years in my hands but I did less than 160 miles last year and less than 700 in the past three. It is kept in a garage now but I must aim for between 650 to 1000 miles a year to really enjoy it properly.

Edit to add: I just read my post from 2019 saying I had only done 700 miles in the previous one year and following that I’ve only done 700 miles in three years - I MUST use it more.
2001 Alpina B10 V8 Touring (1 of 12 rhd)
1997 Alpina B12 5.7 L (1 of 2 rhd)
1995 Alpina B10 4.6 Touring (1 of 1 rhd)
1985 BMW M635CSi (1 of 524 rhd)
1982 BMW 635CSiA (1 of 100's left from the 1000's made and still valiantly fighting against a rusty grave)
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Re: 1985 M635CSi - my Great White Shark

Post by Pod »

Good to hear it’s all well. Unusual for any car to pass the MOT without any advisories- well done!
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Re: 1985 M635CSi - my Great White Shark

Post by sharkfan »

Pod wrote: Fri Oct 07, 2022 6:58 am Good to hear it’s all well. Unusual for any car to pass the MOT without any advisories- well done!
I've had to dig deep into my pockets over the last few years on my Fleet so they are nigh on perfect now - this old thing also passed without advisories the day before - but bear in mind 18 months ago it had new fuel, brake and SLS lines - new rear calipers, new brake hoses all round, new SLS hoses, various new suspension links, a full Inspection II service and then in the last six months a brand new fuel tank too...

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2001 Alpina B10 V8 Touring (1 of 12 rhd)
1997 Alpina B12 5.7 L (1 of 2 rhd)
1995 Alpina B10 4.6 Touring (1 of 1 rhd)
1985 BMW M635CSi (1 of 524 rhd)
1982 BMW 635CSiA (1 of 100's left from the 1000's made and still valiantly fighting against a rusty grave)
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Re: 1985 M635CSi - my Great White Shark

Post by M718ax »

Mine
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