New E24 resto project: Update w/photos

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gray635
Posts: 207
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: Perry, GA

New E24 resto project: Update w/photos

Post by gray635 »

Guys:

I've been casually looking for another "project car" over the last 6 months or so. Missed out on a 1990 318i cab and couldn't find anything else that struck my fancy.

About a week ago, I spotted a 1986 euro 635CSi, blue houndstooth interior, 5 speed, 182K, in the Roundel classifieds, out in Tuscon. Looked pretty nice. I contacted the seller and we came to terms. Essentially a 1-owner car. Original owner imported it back in 1986 and owned it until his death earlier this year. Seller purchased it from the estate, kept it about 6 months and, with 1 son in college and another on the way, decided he didn't need 6 cars, so he decided to sell. Will be loaded on an Intercity truck next week, bound for GA. Here is a link to a few photos:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... NxYTJ3amd3

So now I've got TWO white 635s! :D Looking forward to having something else to fool with.
Last edited by gray635 on Fri May 08, 2020 11:57 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Mike Gray
1985 635CSi - Alpine white/black, 5 sp.
1991 M5- Alpine White II/black,
1988 M5 - Euro bumper conversion
2013 Aston Martin Vantage V8, MT, white/chestnut,
2011 M-B E350, 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, 2014 Porsche 911 7MT w/aero kit, 15K
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Sbeaud
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Re: New E24 en route

Post by Sbeaud »

Looks very nice! I guess the E class was an outlier.
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ron
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Re: New E24 en route

Post by ron »

Congrats Mike. It looks beautiful. Love the reg. plate.
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
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gray635
Posts: 207
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: Perry, GA

Re: New E24 en route

Post by gray635 »

Thanks! I've got a set of open lug 16" Alpina wheels that'll be the first thing that goes on the car. I've been saving those for just the right occasion.
Mike Gray
1985 635CSi - Alpine white/black, 5 sp.
1991 M5- Alpine White II/black,
1988 M5 - Euro bumper conversion
2013 Aston Martin Vantage V8, MT, white/chestnut,
2011 M-B E350, 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, 2014 Porsche 911 7MT w/aero kit, 15K
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olympia57
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Re: New E24 en route

Post by olympia57 »

What a beauty ..'tis clean !
The stance is perfect ,it's got presence .
Enjoy it .
Don
1981 635 series 1
speter
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Re: New E24 en route

Post by speter »

Awesome car 8)
Have fun!
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KINGJOHN808
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Re: New E24 en route

Post by KINGJOHN808 »

Wow! Absolutely stunning! Great find. =D> O:)
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GCR
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Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:08 pm
Location: Canton Ga

Re: New E24 en route

Post by GCR »

Ohhhhhh, now you’ve done it. Another Euro. I like it!
gray635
Posts: 207
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: Perry, GA

Re: New E24 en route

Post by gray635 »

Hey Alan! You'll be seeing this one soon enough! Just need to get it here, find out what I've actually bought and start making my "to do" list. Then over to you. :D
Mike Gray
1985 635CSi - Alpine white/black, 5 sp.
1991 M5- Alpine White II/black,
1988 M5 - Euro bumper conversion
2013 Aston Martin Vantage V8, MT, white/chestnut,
2011 M-B E350, 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, 2014 Porsche 911 7MT w/aero kit, 15K
GCR
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Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:08 pm
Location: Canton Ga

Re: New E24 en route

Post by GCR »

Road trip? :D
gray635
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Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: Perry, GA

Re: New E24 en route

Post by gray635 »

^^^^ Unfortunately, no. Would have been fun, though. Coming via Intercity Lines - I hope by the first part of next week.
Mike Gray
1985 635CSi - Alpine white/black, 5 sp.
1991 M5- Alpine White II/black,
1988 M5 - Euro bumper conversion
2013 Aston Martin Vantage V8, MT, white/chestnut,
2011 M-B E350, 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, 2014 Porsche 911 7MT w/aero kit, 15K
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Slownrusty
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Re: New E24 en route

Post by Slownrusty »

Beautiful car!
gray635
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Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: Perry, GA

Re: New E24 en route

Post by gray635 »

It has been about 6 months since the euro 6 showed up from Tuscon and I thought it might be time for an update.

This was a very nice, solid, RUST FREE, NO DASH CRACKS car upon arrival to GA - the 2 most important points for me. It was sold to me based on the representation that it was "mostly an original paint car, with maybe a little work on the left rear fender - I had the car about 6 months before I even noticed it". That turned out to be incorrect. I was disappointed but not surprised.

Since then, I have had the entire car repainted, with the exception of the roof/sunroof panel (which I believe to be original paint) and the trunk (repainted previously, but well). Euro stripe kit, but not on the front spoiler. Lots of exterior trim replaced, to include all lights, almost $6K in deferred maintenance taken care of, Interstate battery, engine bay clean-up, new coolant overflow tank, new washer fluid tank (just got it in from Latvia!), etc. You know how it is when you buy an old car and have automotive OCD.

The car runs and drives just great. AC blows cold, heater blows hot, after I replaced the heater control valve. Quick cold start and no apparent oil usage. Engine is dry - no leaks on the carport floor. However, the first leakdown and compression numbers were not great on a couple of the cylinders. My mechanic termed it an "aberration" and encouraged me to keep on driving and enjoying the car. Which I have done.

However, as things turned out, Marc Kohler here on the board had some spares from his "electricification" project, to include a 130K dirty motor. I bought that about 3 weeks ago and am in the process of having it redone as a spare engine - valve job, reseal, new timing chain, guides, etc.! Also got his spare ECU, just to be on the safe side. That transplant will take place next week.

I still need to do some work on the driver's seat. Padding is about gone and some wear on the driver's side bolster. I've got the proper cloth from Ivo Christov in the Netherlands (active in the e28 community, as many of you already know), but it's anthracite, not Pacific Blue. I will try to get it redyed to match. Until then, the sheepskin cover will protect what's there.

Anyway, I know you guys like photos, so here are a few taken this afternoon with my point and shoot Kodak. The covered lug "Alpinos" are Maxilites - pretty nice wheels for the price, but these will only be on the car temporarily. I've sent my real Alpinas to Paul Ehrlich at Ehrlich Wheelworks for refinishing. Those will go on the car at some point. Here's the link to the pix;

https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21A ... 27D6D3C770
Mike Gray
1985 635CSi - Alpine white/black, 5 sp.
1991 M5- Alpine White II/black,
1988 M5 - Euro bumper conversion
2013 Aston Martin Vantage V8, MT, white/chestnut,
2011 M-B E350, 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, 2014 Porsche 911 7MT w/aero kit, 15K
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thelastastronaut
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Location: Richmond, Virginia

Re: New E24 resto project: Update w/photos

Post by thelastastronaut »

What a beautiful example! Thanks for sharing...
-Tinos

CURRENT FLEET:
'88 635csi 5-speed: Cirrus blue/silver gray
'08 E93 M3 6-speed: Silverstone/black
'14 X3 35 M-sport: Space gray/black
'01 X5 3.0: Alpine White/natur
'72 911T: Gemini blue /houndstooth
gray635
Posts: 207
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: Perry, GA

Re: New E24 resto project: Update w/photos

Post by gray635 »

Well, I got the car back last Friday and drove her 2.5 hours south, down to Perry. The replacement engine w/cylinder head work, new tensioner/chain/rails, E34 starter, etc. is terrific! Quick start, smooth (for a M30) and steady idle. Coupled with a Z3 shifter rod and rebuilt linkage, new clutch master cylinder and throw-out bearing, the drive train on this car is really spot-on. What a pleasure to drive one of these old cars, well-sorted. :D

The guys at German Car Repair really know their way around these cars. Best shop, by far, that I have found in 35 years+ of fooling with these cars.

Now on to obsessing over the driver's seat...... Got a lead on an upholstery supplier in Germany that may have the correct fabric. Now if I could only speak German!
Mike Gray
1985 635CSi - Alpine white/black, 5 sp.
1991 M5- Alpine White II/black,
1988 M5 - Euro bumper conversion
2013 Aston Martin Vantage V8, MT, white/chestnut,
2011 M-B E350, 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, 2014 Porsche 911 7MT w/aero kit, 15K
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86_6series
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Re: New E24 resto project: Update w/photos

Post by 86_6series »

I bought a have a hide from these guys years ago and had my seat guy redo what was needed.

Just the bolsters on drivers side and replace the black vinyl arm rest I installed with the

correct leather color to match. Next time I'll do the complete seats with their covers.

https://worlduph.com/bmw/6_series/e24/
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gray635
Posts: 207
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: Perry, GA

Re: New E24 resto project: Update w/photos

Post by gray635 »

^^^ Wish it was that easy. Interior of my car is Pacific Blue highland plaid cloth.
Mike Gray
1985 635CSi - Alpine white/black, 5 sp.
1991 M5- Alpine White II/black,
1988 M5 - Euro bumper conversion
2013 Aston Martin Vantage V8, MT, white/chestnut,
2011 M-B E350, 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, 2014 Porsche 911 7MT w/aero kit, 15K
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