<![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Kudos Mark; that's a seriously cool car.

Euromobile

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @MurderMitten:

oops, e23...duh

MurderMitten

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Nice choice.

Last year I bought an '83 e32 735i Euro 5spd manual (rare indeed) for 2800 and drove it from KY to MI. It has wooden brakes as well, the wipers suck, and the heat doesn't work, but the motor makes up for all that and more.

Just don't let the salt eat it

[www.flickr.com]

MurderMitten

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @SeanKHotay: Thanks for the center drain clue. I'll check it before I take it for professional help. With the exception of swapping out a water pump on a SBC, ooling/heating systems are something I've had zero experience with, having never had one go bad on me in 30 years of owning dozens of old Swede, Jap, British and US cars.

lascauxcaveman

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]>

My daily driver is a 1987 635CSi in Schwarz Black. A 5-spd with 160k on it.

[www.dvsmith.net]

For me, it was love at first sight -- when I discovered the E24, I absolutely had to have one. Three weeks and $7,500 later, I was driving a pristine example (it's won a couple of local concours events) with full documentation back to its purchase at VOB BMW in Rockville, MD.

It's the second car I've ever owned (the first being a 30-year old '65 Mustang convertible 3-spd, when I turned 16) and the cause of my track addiction -- fear of dinging it during HPDEs led me to buy an '87 325iS beater, which has become a respectable SpecE30 racer.

---

As for the brakes, going up to E32 750i front discs and calipers and E34 535i rear discs and calipers, along with an E32 master cylinder made a huge difference in the braking performance.

sharkd

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @lascauxcaveman:

The only reasoning I can invent is, at least with the vehicle you have, you know it fairly well, and you're not likely to throw bad money after good, unless you have what many consider an unreasonable attachment to it.

It's that 'unreasonable' part I'm working to avoid. I'm never going to get to this point with a 15 year old Corolla or Sentra, but a nice luxury/sport ride... ummmm....

You might could find an inexpensive rebuilt trans for your Saab. Plus, it's effectively summer, now, so who needs heat?! Well, unless your travels regularly take you to above 10K feet of elevation.

What it comes down to is, will your ROI of funds/time into the machine result in either enjoyment or dislike for said machine. I know, personally, there comes a point where you don't care if it's nickle and diming you to death... I'm old enough to at least attempt to avoid this.

Kelly

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @mytdawg: Ramone, sheesh.

mytdawg

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> He doesn't look like a Ramon, he looks like one of these guys...

mytdawg

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> "But to be honest, I had no intention of buying it when I went to go look at it. The problem was... I looked at it, and kept looking..."

That's exactly what happened to me with the Saab...

petersterncan

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Mark, do you get mistaken for a Ramone very often?

jbarrow

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Lovely car. I wish my kid had your taste in cars and that my hair would grow just enough to even cover my head.

GTBruiser

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Just love old BMW's. But the one I own is really cool..and scored a 271 on the Jalopnik test.
That's me coving up the missing bondo chunks and rust spots with white duct tape.
[smg.photobucket.com]



fltrplntman

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> But I got a laundry list of misdemeanors and civil infractions...

Then I got old.

mytdawg

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> I was never that cool. In 83 I had been kicked out of high school, kicked out of the house, was living in a house with no heat or electricity. The neighbors thought it was abandoned.

I had a 66 GTO clone but couldn't drive it because I had racked up 56 points in a state where you lose your license at 12. She was pretty rough by then anyway.

I was living with the soon-to-be future ex Mrs. Mytdawg.

And I was a bus boy.

Yeah, my parents are proud of me boy... My greatest accomplishments so far have been no tattoos or felonies.

mytdawg

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> 633csi's are so cool,my dad had one when i was a kid,it was great getting picked up from school in it.Probably one of the cars that started my car obsession when i was a kid,an obsession that will live as long as i do

layabout

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Nice ride. Back in 85' I was a 19yo working in a body shop that had a deal with a local BMW dealer to do their repairs. I mainly drove the 3's and 5's of that year, but I did get to drive an M635csi. Now THAT was a wickedly fast car! Bright red with white interior. As I entered rte 4 in Paramus with their short little entry ramps I nearly rear ended someone as I upshifted into 3rd at about 60-70?!?!?! I had to back vear left and of course but some more boot into the accelerator upto a 100mph!!
WOW WOW WOW. What a car for a dopey 19yo to be driving! Up until then the fastest thing I had driven was a Porsche 944 Turbo and as Buick Syklark GS350. The 5 speed is far more enjoyable than the Auto box.


monsterajr

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Weren't they all this color grey?

Lounatic

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @lascauxcaveman: Have you checked the center drain for plugged-ness? Bottom-center of the firewall.

@Mark Arnold: Nice ride! And in MI, no less! Did you buy it from a guy named George?

BTW, in '83 I was listening to your parents Joey & Lou in 10th grade...."Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock and roll high school...."

SeanKHotay

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> those are dead sexy! just check your rear mounts.. they like to pull the rear axel out...

Foo2rama

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @NotACoolGuy: My best friend drives a Cutlass Ciera. One night, for reasons still unknown to mankind, he failed to notice a sandbagged, fully-equipped "ROAD CLOSED" getup in the middle of the road and took it head-on. The Cutlass doesn't have a scratch and still roams the earth. The sign setup does not.

If Kowalski drove an Olds, the world would be a different place today.

Eric Merrill

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Kelly: I'm in a similar quandary with a Saab 9000cse. It still runs and drives great, and every time I take it out on the road that little turbo 4-pot is screaming "Hit me harder, sir!" But the tranny is making ominous sounds (failing pinion gear), and the heater has mysteriously stopped working. (No, no coolant smell. A/C works great) It, too is near the end of its tires.

All in all, I need to do about $3000 work on a car that is worth about $3000 when I'm done with it, so ....?

lascauxcaveman

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Damn, the car, the hair, the stubble. I wish I was as cool as Mark Arnold.

Waitasec... when I was 25 I was driving around in a '66 Malibu convertible, wavy mullet wafting in the backdraft. And working in television. And playing in a rock band, and going skydiving and hang gliding (when I wasn't going skiing.)

Hey, I was as cool as Mark Arnold!

What happened?

Oh yeah. Marriage.

lascauxcaveman

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> We need more Jalopnik Reality Garage stories.

Not Jalopnik, but one of my favorite car stories ever (and I'm sure everyone here has already seen it):

[www.somethingawful.com]

NotACoolGuy

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Benito: When I had long hair, I paid 800 dollars for my car. After I cut it, I paid 6000.

Clearly there must be a direct correlation.

Eric Merrill

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Let me ask you this, if I grow my hair out, can I get a beautiful car for $2500, too?

Benito

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Mark Arnold: I just KNEW IT you young whipper-snapper! You have a sharp BMW 633 whip -AND- I have clothes in my closet older than you...!

Bless you, young Mark. I am teasing, as I know that the one thing worse than growing older is NOT growing older, if you catch my drift. May you enjoy all that life has to offer to its fullest...!

charles_barrett

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Jeb_Hoge:

That's a damned good question, as I am addressing it, somewhat, with my '89 Mercedes W126.

Above $2500 is a difficult area for me, but I knew that going in.

The timing chain and guides I knew needed to be attended to before plunking down $3K for it. It's been 8 months, though, and I'm wrestling with the front-end. It needs attention, period, but how much do I throw at a beater car, even though it's a nice one? Hell, I even had the rear tires flipped around on the wheels so the barely-showing-cord edge wouldn't touch the ground anymore.

Damned independent rear suspension and rubber bushings!

It needs tires, relatively soon, but do I spend another $500 on consumables without dropping at least another grand on the front-end maintenance...and that's doing likely a sizeable amount of work myself.

It's not a ride most here would dig, I'm guessing, but I like land-yachts...

Unlike your Contour, when the W126 gets to 150K miles, it'll be middle-aged.

Kelly

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Nice ride there, Woodstock. Your barber go back to Havana?
Sorry...I couldn't stop myself.

Chuckie_A

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Sloop_John_B:

Must be nice. I have 5-o'clock shadow by noon.

Damned genetics.

If I don't shave for more than 48 hours, people stop speaking to me on the street...it's kinda scary-looking.

Kelly

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> crap - brain fart, it's an '87 L6.

hypo

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Man, makes me want to call my dad up to make him an offer on my Mom's '86 L6. Now THAT's a 6 series - even has the 3 can AC cooled armrest fridge in the back seat.

Hmmm, wonder if he'd take $2500 for it?

hypo

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> So when you buy a $2500 6 series, or even 3 series, what's the threshold for how much you'll spend on repairs? I paid $2500 for a Contour SE (V6, 5spd) and walked away when the AC had died and the engine locked, even though the rest of the car was in great shape.

Jeb_Hoge

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @chrystlubitshi: I haven't shaved since summer '97- don't plan to ever again, either..

slantsick- leaning 30* towards awesome

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Seth L: SEE! I knew he wasn't old enough to use a razor!

POLAЯBEEЯ

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @charles_barrett: haha
well, let's just say the car is slightly older than me

Mark Arnold

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Mark Arnold: The interior looks pretty good for $2500. Sharp car.

Rick Astley

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Mark Arnold: So, dude, you never did respond... how big is the gap between the birth of your '83 633CSi and yourself. I bet not too much, but throw us old farts a bone (if you don't want to be too specific, just tell us greater or lesser...) At the start of the '83 model year (fall '82), I was beginning my sophomore year as an undergraduate at Caltech.
Yeah, I'm that ancient...

charles_barrett

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> gorgeous car, you're a lucky guy! :)

dominetta_vitali

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> What a nice car. Back when BMWs had so much style. When I was growing up, there was one on the way to where I studied piano. It looked amazing, even though it wasn't in the greatest of shape.

musicalmcs8706

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Paul Y. is Going Dumb at the Sideshow:
i haven't cut my hair in 2.5 years... (and four days) or shaved since october 30, '07

and yes... feels great... 'au naturale'... except that i won't do dredlocks... still shower/wash it..


chrystlubitshi

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> What I loved about mine, on those miserable hard TRXs, was that you could say to yourself "I think I'll understeer through this corner" or "I think I'll oversteer through this one" or "I think I'll do a four wheel drift" and there you'd go. In an e90 you'd have to be going about four times the speed to do the same thing, which could be a little anti-social.

Olyoop

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> So if Joey Ramone and Lou Reed had a baby...

NovaloadMissesPolar

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Armand, Star-Spangled Pedant: I think the first model I built was a 55' Chevy from Revell (orange/yellow? with no front bumper) then it was The Warlock then Black Gold...

I still have this M4 Sherman that I need to finish...no wait my wife threw it out...cursed philistine!!!

vr6john

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Nice ride, but shave and cut yer GD hair, hippie!

Rock517

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @vr6juan: That was the second car model my father and I ever built, after a Ferrari 288GTO. I was about three-and-a-half years old at the time, which meant my contributions were mostly limited to making a mess and choosing the paint color. Soon afterwards, my father bought the 528e in which I learned to drive. Aah, '80s Bimmers... this generation of BMWs (the E30, E28, E23 and E24) have always just seemed right to me. Fast, dignified, and beautiful in a strong, masculine way. Maybe it's just because those were the BMWs that were around when I was first noticing cars, but I think these represent the pinnacle of BMW-ness. Thanks for the memories, and I'm impressed with your taste, Mark.

Armand Bengle

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> and this is why I continue to buy old E28's E30's, and 2002s. Because the tick the boxes for enthusiasm, performance, good looking, usable, well engineered, full of heart... and rear wheel drive!!!!!

There are very few things that compete with driving my E28 533i over a slightly iced mountain back road - pushing it but not being a total hoon, just getting to the train to head to Manhattan for work.

I say that as a daily driver, that's more enjoyment than anyone gets out of their sensible import, riced ride, or 911. I've driven my 911 to the train every day - to really enjoy it I need to be in triple digits. My Lotus Europa on the other hand... well that's just the best train car ever but I keep finding myself driving the Taconic State Parkway going 4 stops down the line.

$2,500 - bought right!

marcgoldleaf

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]>

I love old 6s & 8s. They are timeless. Neither of these are mine but they are my style for shure. They just look like a mans car should.

[www.my635.com]

[www.mcsmk8.com]

Picarso

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]>

[www.imagehosting.com]
quick little chop I did


fenwick

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Yes indeed Chris Bangle has alot to learn.

BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Grows trees to get his CO² balance done

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Given the exterior/interior condition, I'd say $2500 was a pretty good price for that car. It looks great.

cyclopticgaze

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @vr6juan: Revell 1/24 scale black...

[www.amazon.co.uk]

vr6john

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> your philosophy on the "reality" between the fantasy garage and project car hell reminds me of myself, and my E34 540i. nice 6, looks clean.

Lotucris

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Didn't Monogram or Revell have a red 1/24 scale 633csi kit? or was it a 635csi?

I know I built 2 of them at one point...was the first Bimmer I grew to love...

vr6john

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Mad_Science:
In my defense, I generalized: two of those blown engines were merely shattered oil pans.
Besides, I'm trying to be gentle to this one...

Though if anyone knows of a E30 for sale with an S50 swapped in...

Mark Arnold

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Nice Bimmer. From the photo, it looks like the original owner was one of The Ramones.

goatrope

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> now THATS a great BMW dashboard.

wonder what this would look like if Bertone got ahold of it... nah

prost!

Nurburgringer

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Well, I wish I had the genetic faculties that forced me to shave. Then, I could grow manly facial hair. Unfortunately, what I grow constitutes as peach fuzz and rinses off under the faucet.

Btw, nice car man. Is it your only car? Or is it more of a hobby car?

Sloop_John_B

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> From: [jalopnik.com]

"Mark has a philosophical belief that an automobile should die under its own power. He has killed 8 cars in the past 6 years by means of blown engine or total-loss collision."

We're going to need the keys to this fine auto.

Now!

Mad_Science

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> You look like you are stuck on the road from Jeepers Creepers...

Braff S. Preston, Esq.

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Seth L: Wuss.

Shaving is for wimps.

I went four months without a shave or a haircut this winter. It was quite liberating.

@Mark Arnold: Nice wheels! I can't say I haven't looked into one of these myself, but for the time being, any car I own has to get me to work and back without making me broke.

Paul Y. -- Now With More Sodium!

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> This is the exact car that got me into BMW's. A guy I worked for in high school/college had one and was so cool as to let me drive his 633csi AND treat me like an adult.

I've owned a BMW almost every year of my life since, yet have never gotten around to owning one of these. I still look for a cherry euro-spec one every now and again, but have never pulled the trigger.

Congrats mark - these are beautiful and special cars.

peakay

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Very nice. I've almost bought one of these on two or three occasions as a sunday driver (e46 daily driver) but self control and rationality has ruled the day. Classic lines.

FishingCrue

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @charles_barrett: Yeah. There's method to the madness.

@Eric Merrill:
I'm not gonna let THE MAN tell me what to do.

Mark Arnold

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @charles_barrett: I'm sure Mark will, Seth's just jealous his 9-to-5 bank job demands he shave twice a day. ;)

Eric Merrill

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Mark Arnold: Mark, continue shaving every few days. A bit of scruff is a damn sexy look for most dudes... even after it goes grey... just ask Harrison F. or George C.

charles_barrett

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> whoops, looks like i missed my jalopnik bookmark and clicked on cardomain! or am i on facebook...?

fr9kl

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> So, Mark, you and your car are roughly the same age...?

Your car is older than my MBZ '97 E320 and way cooler... I am WAY older than you, and considerably less cool, I suspect... life is SO unfair... I need another drink... Oh, and nice wheels. Thanks for sharing with us all on this BMW 6-series day at Jalopnik.

charles_barrett

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Oh, you lucky bastard. I was aiming my efforts towards one of these at one point...but I opted for the safety and reliability of a newer Japanese car. I'll have one some day, oh yes.

Eric Merrill

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Very nice - the old 6 series never fails to make me smile. While the new 6 series never fails to make me gag.

brownie

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> @Seth L: I shave... every few days.

Mark Arnold

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Nice!! It's very rare to see a car this far north, this old, and this nice. Well, at least for a reasonable price, that is!

dculberson

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Seriously, what's not to love about these cars? Good on ya, Mark!

Brian B

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> YEah, I think I'd have to consider the 6 a classic at this point. That's what I call a hard nosed bimmer, and probably one of the best BMW "eras". I drive a '90 325i, which is an absolute blast to drive. I've always had a hard on for the M6, and with any luck I'll have one in my collection when I can afford to do so, one day. That baby deserves a nice set of Euro bumpers, or an M6 kit. Nothing like those glorious straight sixes!

BMWer

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> This era bimmers have character. And the price was right. Having a few issues with the gauges and the brakes just gives you an excuse to work on it. Hell, you got entertainment AND transportation out of the deal. I would check the pan out on a lift though. There could be stuff going on under there you will need to repair, if it is really a Michigan car. May need fix some of the metal and seal it.

DoctorNineTenths

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> Nice article, but please, shave.

Seth L

]]> <![CDATA[Jalopnik's BMW 633CSi]]> If I'd have come across that car, I'd be a sucker too! Plus, I think 25 years old is a classic...

SethyT

]]>