1988 BMW 635CSi (E24) ‘Halfline’ LHD
auctions.single.seller.popular
auctions.single.seller.view-count
auctions.single.seller.images
Highlights
- Impressive history file
- Car has spent much of its life in dry countries
- One owner for last 24 years
The Appeal
The E24 6-Series, built by BMW from 1976-1989, was one of the last to feature the distinctive ‘shark-nose’ grille, and is widely regarded as one of the prettiest cars the company ever made. Renowned for its performance, its sharp steering and its sleek lines, the 6-series was improved throughout its lifetime and the appearance of the 635CSi in 1979, with its improved engine and revised chassis, did much to address the perceived shortcomings of the earlier iterations. The car is now a genuine classic and really good, unmolested examples are few and far between.
Supplied new in the UAE, this left-hooker 635CSi has spent most of its life in the middle East and the south of France, and has been carefully looked after by enthusiast owners.
The History and Paperwork
- Supplied new to Sharjah, UAE
- Registered in UK in 2002
- Huge file of paperwork
- Invoices for recent work
- £722 invoice from Jan ‘23
- Original owner’s manual
- Original service book with stamps
- Original radio manual
- Current V5
- MoT until Jan 2024
In 1994 the vendor was living in Dubai when the car was purchased by a friend. He was impressed by the car and when his friend left Dubai in 1999 he purchased it and continued to use it as a daily driver until he and his family relocated to Paris in 2002. Intending eventually to return to his home country, he registered the car in the UK but subsequently bought a house in the south of France and kept the car in a dry barn there before driving it back to the UK in 2022. He has reluctantly decided to part with car as he has other cars and projects and space is limited.
The car comes with a big lever-arch file full of paperwork – mostly invoices from specialists which testify to the care and attention with which the car has been looked after.
Please note: the PDI stamp in the car's service history shows the car to have been first registered in the UAE in February 1989, while in Arabic on the reverse it says 1988. However, some online VIN checkers point to this being a 1987MY car with a slightly different specification. As such, it appears as if the car may have undergone some upgrades or specification when delivered, or may have sat in a dealership for a while before being registered. Unfortunately, as a 35+ year old car that was registered new in the UAE, it is almost impossible for us to be 100% certain on this.
The car comes with a big lever-arch file full of paperwork – mostly invoices from specialists which testify to the care and attention with which the car has been looked after.
Please note: the PDI stamp in the car's service history shows the car to have been first registered in the UAE in February 1989, while in Arabic on the reverse it says 1988. However, some online VIN checkers point to this being a 1987MY car with a slightly different specification. As such, it appears as if the car may have undergone some upgrades or specification when delivered, or may have sat in a dealership for a while before being registered. Unfortunately, as a 35+ year old car that was registered new in the UAE, it is almost impossible for us to be 100% certain on this.
The Interior
- Leather ‘halfline’ spec
- Two rear seats with reasonable legroom
- Electrically adjusted seats
- Largely original throughout
- Carpets protected by mats
- Original Becker radio supplied
- Original speakers supplied
- Original first-aid kit, unused
The ‘halfline’ designation refers to the interior specification, with this version lacking only the leather roof-lining of the ‘highline’ model. Nonetheless there is plenty of leather here; all four seats have some patina but are remarkably good for the age of the car; the vendor reports that he regularly ‘fed’ the leather while in Dubai and his diligence has clearly kept the interior looking as good as it does. The electrically operated seat adjustment all works as it should.
Inevitably the door cards show a few signs of their age, but are remarkably good given their age. There are no splits or damage to the dashboard. The carpets both front and rear have been protected by mats and are in very good condition although they are a bit grubby and would benefit from a thorough clean. There’s a replacement Kenwood stereo in the dashboard, with a boot-mounted CD autochanger, but the vendor will supply the original Becker unit (which he says works well) with the car. Similarly, there are replacement speaker pods on the rear shelf but the original BMW ones will come with the car.
In the boot, the lining is undamaged but could do with a clean, and there’s an original first-aid kit which would appear not to have been used. In the boot-lid the tool-tray is present but most of the tools are absent. Beneath the boot lining there’s a sound spare wheel and tyre.
The Exterior
- Distinctive profile
- Black paintwork in remarkably good condition
- Original metric TRX wheels have been refurbished and are supplied with the car
- Very good wheels and tyres
- Excellent badges and brightwork
Paul Bracq’s elegant design has stood the test of time, and this 6-series looks remarkably good for its age. The vendor reports that over his tenure he has had some panels repainted after they had suffered in the Dubai sun. Despite the inevitable patina, the paintwork is generally very good, with some rust bubbles visible beneath the offside door mirror and a scuff on the nearside of the front valance.
The vendor replaced the original (metric) TRX wheels due to the high cost of the specific Michelin tyres. Those on the car are 840i split-rim alloy wheels, which show some slight corrosion; the originals have been refurbished and will be supplied with the car. Four of the five originals have tyres on them but these are ‘old’, says the vendor.
The badges and chrome are all in excellent condition.
The Mechanics
- 3.5-litre straight-six engine
- Improved BMW auto gearbox fitted by Munich Legends
- MSport Bilstein suspension
- Starts and runs well
- New alternator in Jan 2023
- Odometer not working
- Headlamp wash/wipe not working
According to the vendor, the car ‘drives like new, the engine uses no oil or water; the oil light goes out straight away and is smooth as a 6-series should be - nice and quiet’. He reports there are no knocks or rattles from the suspension and it is a pleasure to drive. The car was recently serviced in the south of France where all the fluids were changed, and the vendor then drove it 800kms home to the UK without fault.
The brake discs are, says the vendor, hardly worn having done very few miles since they were replaced. The differential was rebuilt by Munich Legends in the 2000s. There are no warning lights on the dashboard, while under the bonnet there is some superficial corrosion but nothing of note.
The brake discs are, says the vendor, hardly worn having done very few miles since they were replaced. The differential was rebuilt by Munich Legends in the 2000s. There are no warning lights on the dashboard, while under the bonnet there is some superficial corrosion but nothing of note.
The vendor points out that the odometer stopped working when the car left Dubai. It’s stuck on 136, 274 km and the vendor says he has covered only around 8000 miles since then. He also reports that the headlamp wash/wipe doesn’t work, suspecting that it seized in Dubai through lack of use.
Summary
A practical, reliable and usable classic, thanks to those proper rear seats and capacious boot, the 635CSi is a popular car with BMW enthusiasts for good reason. This one has had the benefit of a long tenure with an owner who has maintained it carefully and treated it with care. It could hold its head high at any classic event, and is ready to give a new owner a great deal of motoring pleasure.
Notice to bidders
**Re-Auctioned due to the default of the previous winner**
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1988
- Make BMW
- Model 635 CSI 'Halfline' LHD
- Colour Black
- Odometer 136,274 Kilometres
- Engine size 3500
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Fleet
- Location Hampshire
- Country United Kingdom
22 bids
- denis-d•••• £8,500 30/05/23
- omaursy•••• £8,400 30/05/23
- andrew-•••• £8,300 29/05/23
- 100S £8,200 29/05/23
- omaursy•••• £8,000 29/05/23
- Slaterc•••• £7,800 29/05/23
- andrew-•••• £7,600 29/05/23
- denis-d•••• £7,500 29/05/23
- Integra•••• £7,000 28/05/23
- denis-d•••• £6,500 28/05/23
The Gallery
About Max Bids
The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.
Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.
Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.
Anti-sniping
C&C prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.
Auctions are extended by 3-minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.
Auto-bidding increments
- If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
- If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
-
- Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
- We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.
| Bid Amount | Increment |
|---|---|
| £0 to £10,000 | £100.00 |
| £10,000 to £50,000 | £250.00 |
| £50,000 to £100,000 | £500.00 |
| £100,000+ | £1000.00 |
Automatically outbid immediately
When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.
You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.
Matching max bids
When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.
What are pre-bids?
A pre-bid means you’re able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.
Problem with your bid
Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.