Potential New-To-Me Car

"John_Harbinson" (jensenkid97)
05/17/2015 at 22:04 • Filed to: None

The car in question is a 1985 BMW 635CSI. Going for an inspection at the local vintage import shop this week so they can get it up on a lift and check out the strut towers and underside extensively for rust, do a compression test, check the fuel pump, power steering pump/brakes (brakes have hydraulic power assist not vacuum) and then it’ll be time to ser everything in stone (or paper) and make it mine!

Full write up on its purchase will follow.

DISCUSSION (15)

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > John_Harbinson
05/17/2015 at 22:07

Ohhhh yes

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > John_Harbinson
05/17/2015 at 22:13

Delicious

whoarder is tellurium > John_Harbinson
05/17/2015 at 22:15

Love the driver-centric console layout in these cars.

Go forth, opponaut.

Birddog > John_Harbinson
05/17/2015 at 22:15

One of my “dream cars” there.

I reeeeeeeealy hope it checks out “Good”.

Steve in Manhattan > John_Harbinson
05/17/2015 at 22:38

Good idea having it checked out by a mechanic you hired ... just don’t get sucked in by want. I mean, it could be a black hole for cash.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Steve in Manhattan
05/17/2015 at 22:40

I decided that I will henceforth always do an inspection on cars I buy.

John_Harbinson > Steve in Manhattan
05/17/2015 at 22:51

Exactly why I’m having it checked out. If it comes back with anything major (upwards of $1000 in parts) I’m going to move on, and find another one, because mending something big on these cars is like mending the greek economy. In my book, a $500 inspection is always better than a $500 tow bill and a $2000 part to fix the darn thing.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > John_Harbinson
05/18/2015 at 06:37

I’d also highly recommend going to a BMW forum and asking what you should also be looking for. I don’t know if there’s a specific shark nose forum, but the thing about BMW enthusiast is they own several. I know cooling systems can be faulty and quite expensive.

Here are two quick things I found:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthre…

http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/20…

Best of luck!

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Steve in Manhattan
05/19/2015 at 22:40

Are these really that expensive to work on? I’ve always said if i find a decent example for <3k i’d jump on it...

Steve in Manhattan > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
05/20/2015 at 10:53

Mercedes is the best for keeping parts for old cars in stock, and I’ve heard BMW is pretty good. Check with a dealer to make sure you can gets parts for it easily. And if you’re going to wrench it yourself, then why not?

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Steve in Manhattan
05/20/2015 at 19:40

www.pelicanparts.com - used it for all my porsche parts, now i use it for all my bmw stuff. not sure about price but they always have stuff in stock

Steve in Manhattan > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
05/20/2015 at 20:20

If you can get parts, why not? If I needed a car, I’d probably buy a Saab 9/5, one of the last ones. There has been a company set up to supply parts. And damn that’s a nice sedan.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Steve in Manhattan
05/21/2015 at 20:11

the why not at the moment is too many cars already, my wife would straight up murder me. the original 6 series is on the bucket list though

Steve in Manhattan > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
05/21/2015 at 20:16

Since I don’t have cars anymore, the SigOther and I have a standoff about kitchen appliances. If I buy the Kitchen Aide stand mixer I want, I’m a dead man.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Steve in Manhattan
05/21/2015 at 22:17

I was skeptical when we got one but its pretty badass...(do it)