1978 BMW 635CSi

1978 BMW 6-Series 635CSi Additional Info:

This BMW 635CSI was the precursor of the later "M" cars. It is designated as an M40, which was for the early European models, but the "M" designated 635 cars did not come out until the mid 80s. Therefore the M insignias on this car did not come from the factory, but were attached as accoutrements, including the upgraded M steering wheel. This car was the 1,114th 635CSI built in the first year of production in 1978. Only 1,193 cars were built in that first year and they were all sold in Europe. They have more horsepower and longer lasting engines than the later US versions due to the lack of emission equipment, which did not work well with these cars. This car has just over 82,360 Kilometers or just over 51,176 original documented miles! The car is occasionally being driven so the mileage may change slightly prior to the sale. It is also advertised locally so the right to close the auction early is preserved unless the reserve price is met. In full disclosure the following is the history of this car as I know it: A good friend of mine was a pilot in Vietnam and after the war was over he was subsequently stationed in Europe. He bought this car new in 1978 and brought it to the states in 1979. It was titled as a 1979 car in the US despite being a 1978 car. Unfortunately and fortunately depending how you look at it, in 1984 he was hit in the right front by another car at 77,439 K or . Being unable to find some of the parts needed to repair it back to its original condition, primarily the wiper/wash system this car came with, he decided to sell the car as is. The next owner had the car repaired in September of 1986, which included replacing the right fender, radiator support and a complete service of the car due to having sat for two years. As fate would have it, the original owner of the car, (my friend), found out about the car having been repaired, being driven but not yet painted, and bought it back. He subsequently garaged the car planning to have the paint work finished but never getting to it. It was garaged and stored from 1988 to 2021, which was when I talked him into selling it to me, which is when I had the car painted and serviced. You now know why this car has the extremely low mileage; it sat due to being wrecked, which to me is a somewhat positive thing because the car was not damaged to the point of being totaled out and it has had only one repaint. My friend was a collector and had over twenty collector cars. He drained the fluids put preservative in the cylinders and properly stored this car in a garage for over 30 years. This car is a very special car in that besides being a very early European car, it came with the headlight wiper/wash system, dog leg 5 speed transmission, and rear hydraulic suspension. I would challenge anyone to find a 1978-79 635CSI with all three of those factory options! I have however placed conventional Bilstein shocks in place of the hydraulics, because I could not get it to quit leaking fluid, which is a common problem with the early hydraulic systems as they get old. I do still have the system with the car for anyone wanting to tackle getting it working with no leaks. The original upholstery and carpet is in keeping with a car that was stored in a garage for all those years. The original interior and still supple leather are in near perfect condition, with no cracks in the dash. If you look up the 1978 635CSI in the Hagerty price guide, the average retail is currently at $25,600 #3 car and a high value of $64,700 for a #1 car. I believe this is a solid #3 car. The 78-79 Euro cars are a completely different beast than the us models and much better in terms of performance and looks. The current price is a give away. This is a very rare car and should be a good investment or a very fun driver! Interested parties are encouraged to inspect the car and/or email with any questions. It is in very good driving condition, but still has some flaws due to age and being driven. There are a few flaws in the paint and some minor damage to some chrome trim.