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BMW Highline M635 CSI
£130,000
Specification
Year
Engine Capacity
Exterior Colour
Service History
1989
3.5 litre
Zinnober Red
Full History
he designation “Highline” introduced by BMW during 1987, even by 1980s extravagance, could not be exaggerated. It took BMWs awesome, high performance flagship GT car to new heights in luxury. Every possible part of the interior was trimmed in BMWs highest specification of leather. The headlining, sun visors, pillars, rear parcel shelf, complete dashboard, glovebox, undertrays, centre console sections, seats, armrests, side trims and door panels were all trimmed in beautifully stitched Nappa leather. The cosmetics were lifted to new levels with a redesigned gear knob, ellipsoid headlights and fog lights, new front spoiler and redesigned colour coded bumpers. The Highline was a massive success for BMW and ensured sales of the now long running E24 continued with strength right to the end of production of both the 635 and the M635 CSI.
Just 524 right-hand-drive examples of the E24 M635 CSI were built between 1985 and 1989 and only the last 102 cars to leave the factory carried the Highline label. Even today the M635 CSI offers an unrivalled blend of exclusivity, build quality, practicality and effortless continent crossing performance.
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The touring capability of these superb coupes still impresses today. An excellently appointed cabin with the trademark 70’ & 80’s BMW ‘acres of glass’ for first rate vision, a lavish array of creature comforts such as full leather, sports seats, air conditioning, sunroof, on-board computer and of course, four ‘proper’ seats and a commodious boot all add to the practicality. The much-revered M88, 3.5 litre, 24-valve, 286bhp engine delivers the excitement that BMW had demonstrated with the M1.
This sporting thoroughbred will sprint to sixty in six seconds and in an awesome display of torque, pulls smoothly and increasingly rapidly from 25mph to 158mph in fifth gear. Overtaking ability is equally impressive with 30-70mph taking a mere 5.5 seconds. A Getrag sport gearbox, limited slip differential, Bilstein gas-filled dampers, Motorsport springs, larger diameter roll bars, larger wheels and bigger ventilated discs with M1-spec 4-pot calipers, are all testimony to a proud racing heritage and the bespoke nature of this Garching product.
Still rated by journalists to this day as the finest and last true hand built, BMW Motorsport, competition bred, GT Supercar. The M635 must surely rank as the ultimate 80s GT. A blend of classic GT styling, blindingly quick, satisfying on the twisty bits, effortlessly refined as a motorway mile-eater and just as easy to simply totter around to the supermarket.
M635 Buyer's Guide Part 1
For 31 years my business has bought some of the kindest and most fascinating people from all over the world through my office door. Peter, the owner of this M635 CSI is one of those chaps. We all look forward to him joining us for coffee. His amazing stories just keep coming and coming and yet he is one of the humblest chaps you could meet. Just beautifully told stories going back to his childhood in pre 2nd World War Venezuela.
Peter wrote this short article for my news page on the website to help entertain us through the first Covid lockdown of 2019. See link below:
https://www.classicheroes.co.uk/post/readers-drives-a-love-affair-with-the-m636-csi
Peter was already a very established fan of the BMW marque and its build quality and during 1990 was enjoying his new 318is. As a valued BMW client Peter was invited to Silverstone to sample some of the new toys being produced by BMW Motorsport. Peter could not have dreamt of buying an M635 CSI brand new with its stratospheric price tag so this was a bit of a dream come true. A chance to experience the legendary M88 engine borrowed from the M1 but now in the front of BMWs flagship GT car. After a few laps in a M635 with a professional driver, Peter was allowed to experience the M635 CSI around Silverstone for himself. This caused him a problem! Nothing would now stop him owning one of these amazing cars. For the next 5 years Peter prayed for depreciation and by 1995 a used M635 CSI was in his sights.
Mileage
Transmission
Interior Colour
Owners
20,000 miles
Manual
Silver Leather
3 Owners
A Diamond black example with only 17,000 miles was sourced through Sytner BMW. This car survives to this day. Now one would have thought that Peter was now happy having succeeded in his quest - but no. This car simply made Peter’s obsession for a brand new M635 even greater but now the car was 6 years out of production.
Peter started to nag dealers and in 2000 a tip off from Frank Sytner himself about a new M635 Highline owned by Drambuie and part of their very impressive Glenvarigill Collection. Peter made it his business to pursue the car weekly and after two years of chasing managed to persuade them to part with the collections 761 Mile Highline M635 CSI. Finally Peter was satisfied.
Since the purchase in 2002, Peter has covered just 20,000 miles in this awesome M635 and ensured his pride and joy has wanted for nothing.
It is with great sadness that Peter now aged 92, has decided that it is time for an automatic transmission. The very difficult decision has been made and I have been asked to find this extraordinary car a new home. I have strict instructions from Peter to personally vet any potential new owner to ensure that they have the same level of passion.
Specification
1989
First registered March 1990
M635 CSI Highline
3 Owners
20,000 Miles
Full-service history
Zinnober Red
Silver Leather
17” Alpina wheels (since new)
Sports front seats, electric with memory
Rear headrests
Air conditioning
Electric Sunroof
On-board Computer
Headlight washwipe
Rear blind
BMW over mats
Becker Grand Prix Radio
Unlike most owners who decide to sell, Peter has insisted that his car pass through our workshop for a full programme of mechanical age-related maintenance before being handed over to the new owner, stating “this car must want for nothing and be presented fully future proofed”. The following has been agreed: -
Inspection II service, all 30-year-old rubber replaced, suspension bushes, ball joints, coolant hoses, fuel hoses, brake hoses, differential seals, gearbox seals, belts, wiper blades, gaskets and Bilstein dampers.
All wheel arch liners and splash shields removed. Underside of the car cleaned and detailed. Clear cavity wax applied and injected as necessary.
The car will be presented to the new owner with all original manuals, handbooks, fully stamped service book, original service wallet, lovely document file, all original tools and a collection of magazines this car has featured in during Peter’s ownership.
Please call Barney for full details of this stunning and low mileage Highline M635 CSI.
BMW E24 M635 Underside 1min
Please enquire with Barney for further details