Jalopnik
It was bad enough to go a month without a Chrysler A-Body in this series, but two months with no BMWs? That's how long it's been! I've got several 2002s photographed (and I've been stalking a 1502 that roams the island), but all the recent K.I.T.T. talk around these parts has me feeling mighty Eighties. That means we need to don our Members Only jackets, put on our Vuarnet shades, apply some ointment to our suppurating herpes sores (wait, is herpes more of a 70s thing? OK, make that chlamydia!), brush up on our Oliver North quips, and take a look at that beautifully apt symbol of Eighties excess: the 1987 BMW L6.
Even though I was living in dirty-S&L-money-drenched Orange County in the mid-80s and no doubt saw hundreds of these things back in the day, I have only the faintest memories of the BMW L6. When I first spotted this car, I thought the L6 emblem was actually an I6 emblem, and it seemed odd that a manufacturer would be boasting about having an I6 engine (though if anyone had a right to be proud of an inline six, it was definitely BMW).
Basically, the L6 was an extra-luxurious version of the 635CSi, complete with leather headliner. It was available in the US for the 1987 model year only, for a cool $49,500- nearly 10 grand more than a 911 coupe and only $2500 less than a new Mercedes 420SEL. A fine year for excess, 1987 was.
This example, which I spotted parked in Alameda's downtown area, is in pretty good shape- a few nicks and dings, but nothing serious.
Eighties jokes aside, I've always thought the E24s were great-looking machines, so I was glad to see this one still on the street.
Comments
I almost bought a 635CSi once.
Cool cars.
They must be embarrassed to share their name with that obese blob flopping around these days.
I'm pretty sure the M6 or M635 or whatever was also available at the same time as the L6...for about the same price.
eck... those rims are awful on this thing... what you need are some original bottlecaps...
then again, I might be biased: Here's my '83 633CSi [www.facebook.com]
man when I see this car i think "Moonlighting" all I need is Bruce Willis singing "Papa was a Rolling Stone"
I came within a gnats dick of buying one immediately before I quit working for BMW. An old guy had an immaculate '89 635CSI Highline, 72k miles, in Platinum Grey. Not a mark on it. The guy was buying a new 650i off me, and since we had had a few drinks would sell me his 635 for £two grand.
But I didn't. Why? Because I didn't feel I deserved it. Because, with me in contol the car would have slowly dies. I would skimp on maintenance, it wouldn't live in a garage, I would accelerate hard rather too frequently. My friends would spill drinks on the seats. My girlfriend and I would soil the leather, obviously, I mean, this is a 635, right?
One day I will be man enough to own one. But not yet. I need to grow up first.
*died, illiterate scumbag...
@Rust-MyEnemy:
gnats have dicks?
Downtown Alameda, or Gothenburg?
Five Volvos and an '80s BMW sound like a Europe reunion.
@yellofury: Prolly, small ones.
Now that's a BMW. None of that awkward, flame-broiled shiznit.
ok, here's a link to mien E24 for people that aren't face-bookies:
[www.flickr.com]
The thought of a L6 engine... why aren't there any?
Talk about in-excess... how about those massive 15 inch wheels.
I too love the body style of E24, a guy in my town has a mint 635csi that he put 17 inch BBS on. I make a mess in my pants everytime I see it.
The 6 series is the best looking Bimmer since the 507. A timeless classic. Although the sticker price is alarming. What would that be in todays money?
@MarkVictorArnold: Dude, she's beautiful. Is that Dolphin or Platinum?
@Rust-MyEnemy: Thanks, Delphin Grey
A friend of mine had an L6 in highschool. He got it from a family friend for about $1000. It had a white leather interior. It was not fast. Not Fast.
The first time I beat him off the line in my 4-cyl 1988 Grand Am I think I broke his heart. It must have been all the extra weight from the extemely supple white leather headliner.
@lounatic: About $91,000
And I did't even take my Standard STA off the bike rack for the race.
@thesubstitute: line up against a 635CSi with a 5spd and its a different story...
Unfortunately, all of the L6s were automatics. I would love to have a M6 or 635csi.
@thesubstitute: Equally, try beating him on the 100-120mph increment....
These cars really couldn't give an ass about the traffic-light grands prix. It's all about effortlessness and overtaking. Autobahnstormer way.
@Rust-MyEnemy:
yeah, I don't think the Grand Am would make it much past 100
Oh, the good old times when BMW's were BMW's and Paris was the capital of France.
@FastGTI:
A guy in my neck of the woods has some Alpina wheels on his mint 635, and I do the same thing every time I see it.
@Rust-MyEnemy: I would love to. Unfortunately my Grand Am's speedometer only went to 85.
I've always thought that this car would look bitchin' with a chopped top.
@yellofury:
Exactly, i'm surprised you're the only one who remembered it.
I recall Bruce Willis never wore his seatbeat whenever he was in it 'cause he was just too damn cool...
@thesubstitute: I can see you winning the race if you had a Standard 125R on back. But given the weight of the STA, I'm compelled to call you a liar. In real life, as opposed to your fevered imagination, putting an STA on the bike rack of a Grand Am immediately caused it to wheelstand. This was the main reason Moeller sold so many PBRs.
@skaz: Dude, you'll like this
[www.yourprops.com]
BMW 633 from Back To The Future 2
@skaz: dude... you start hot-rodding a 6-series and you end up with this:
[fusion-industries2.tripod.com]
[www.zidz.com]
yes...that's Biff Jr's car.
@Rust-MyEnemy: beat me to it
@MarkVictorArnold: I mean Griff... same difference
I'm just happy to see it's been restored
@yellofury: [www.imcdb.org]
Neat. I had never even heard of the L6 before. Still, those 6-series, like everyone else has said, are great looking cars, and real BMWs.
I can't say when the last time I've even seen an E24 was, but this just made me think of the 8-series I see in town... in a neighborhood where you get stabbed for being white, no less. The oddly shaped BMW coupes are great.
@Rust-MyEnemy: [www.imcdb.org] indeed
Looks a hell of a lot better than any BMW I've seen in the past few years.
Yes, the 6 series has truly gone from shark to orca.
@sos10: Yes, those were the days. Seeing this car reminds me of the old joke--What's the definition of a cautious investment broker? He beeps the horn on his BMW as he runs the redlight.
Well, it was funny back in the 80s.
My friend's dad had an L7 (the 7 series sedan) in the late 80s/early 90s. It had more buttons than Cape Canaveral (sp?).
@lounatic: Could not have said it better!
@Rust-MyEnemy, MarkVictorArnold: I love you guys. Jalopnik is still the coolest place on the webotubes.
I must have been out to lunch in 1987, but I don't even remember the L6. I never thought BMW was making Luxury Packaged 6's and 7's. It would have been nice to see some shots of the interior, but other than that, this car is pure sex on wheels.
My cousin has one of these. Nice car.
That said, I'd prefer a late-'80's M6.
@Rust-MyEnemy: There's a wonderful song in the Sondheim musical "Assassins" in which Squeaky Fromme and John Hinckley proclaim that they are unworthy of the love of Charles Manson and Jodie Foster, respectively. Everytime I walk past my usually non-operational E12 to board the Metro Green Line, I sing a little bit of that song.
@PatFromGundo: Almost brought a tear to the eye.
Almost.
Non operational E12? Shurely Shum Mishtake? Those things aren't allowed to break... Every time I see Dad's black on black '03 E39 540i Sport I hope he keeps it in good shape so I can have it when its' 20 years old.
I have always loved the 80's 6 series, there is an M6 for sale at a car lot up the street from my house and I know better than to even stop and see the price.
The E24s distract me so much that I'll turn my head all the way round to see one going in the other direction, wondering if it's an M6. I've almost rear ended quite a few cars doing that.
I don't know what I'd do if I saw the Alpina B7 turbo ... the ultimate E24: [www.automobile-sportive.com]
@MarkVictorArnold: Beautiful car! And you're quite the photographer too!