Raz325 or Raz635

[Raz316]

Hello you lot,

I don't spose any of you have driven both an E30 325i and an E24 635 CSi, which did you prefer?

Regardless, does anyone have an opinion on either car? I'm tempted to get me a new car soon!

Cheers!

[Howard]

The 635 will be infinitely more expensive to run I'd expect, but IMHO it's infinitely cooler Go for that

[99Flake]

635 CSi was basically the M6 of its day, very fast and very cool. Only thing will be finding one in good condition at a reasonable price. They are commonly thrashed and abused unfortunately and the electrics do pack up.

The 325 is a good drive and in many ways will feel more modern inside (is also far more practicle, zero leg room in the back of the 6).

As Howard said 6 is cooler but I would say 3 would probably be better.

[Howard]

...

The 325 ... in many ways will feel more modern inside

...

The E30? They're probably equally "modern" if you get a late model 635 aren't they? Different types of car though. And I'd have the 6 just for the fact it's different People would see and E30 an think "oh an old 3 series" where they'd see the old 6 and think "oh an old... .Hang on what's that? That's cool"

[99Flake]

The six looks and feels older inside, they just didn't seem to date as well as the 3. What I would say is that for the money of a reasonable 6 you can get a tidy 8 which is nice car as well.

One other point is the the 6 was never the best at breaking, it is much like the 8, very very nose heavy, the E30 will be more 'fun'.

[Zak33]

/puts his hand up

I have....both...many many times

I'll compose myself and then reply, trying to be sensible, cos I love them both

[Zak33]

OK: 325i first.

I worked for BMW as a kid, delivering cars from the body shop to the clients, and this car sold (and was crashed) a lot!

It' is VERY tail happy and needs caution in wet weather. It has fantastic feel and if it's the Sport version, with the right springs and dampers, is damn near as fast as anything of that era. It has a lovely gearbox, and nice light steering that's not too distant. It also has a good boot, but crap rear leg room for anyone other than a dwarf.

I have put these things so sideways, so many times, I have lost count. Mainly it was a minor shock, two or three times it was a nappy-filler and once it made me shake.

I'd not put my missus in one, cos I don't trust her to be concentrating hard enough in the rain. She'd turn it about at some point.

[MrP]

if i was being pratical, 325, if i wasnt (and i could afford) the 635 any day of the week

[Zak33]

635 CSi:

Rampant class, aggressive retro looking dream boat. Cruising monster, uber stable in comparrison, and I never ever tailed one out by accident. Best as an auto, with as much trim and M style stuff on it as possible. Always reminds me of a SHARK when it's in grey....dunno why.



Even looks good in red.... Civilised, in an old fashioned way, and a superb 3.5 six, that just LOVES to be revved. Would happily drop my missus in one to drive quickly in the rain.

[Zak33]

Ever heard of the RWD challenge? It's the next stage after the 205 Challenge, and my good mate Pat Flynn helps run it. The BMW's were chosen for the value and the sideways nature

[Raz316]

Cheers everyone (especially Zak and nopes never heard of the FWD challenge!).

I had an E30 316i and while underpowered it was always really fun to drive, god knows how much petrol money was spent on just driving for the sake of it. Not that the opportunity came that often, I was able to kind of get the back end out which was quite a rush. I dunno how happy I'd be if it happened when not planned though!

I love how the E30 looks, especially if lowered slightly with a decent set of alloys. I've seen plenty that just look like 'an old 3 series' but when done properly, wow. I've had a kid hanging out his parents car next to me in motorway traffic start asking alot of questions, but at the same time, I've had a 50-60 year old man also comment when getting petrol.

However, in my opinion, the E24 is so much more. It's ugly, but ugly like a shark and I love that.

Would the running costs of the 6 series really be that much more? Just throwing it out there, what about an old 5 series (E32)?

[MrP]

umm, if the autotrader as i just read was right, ins grp 20

BTW, whats with the horiffic alloys people seem to be putting on them??

[Raz316]

I know what you mean, but I don't think it's exclusively an old BMW thing.

[Rave]

They're completely different classes of car TBH. You could get yourself a nice 325 sport for under a grand, and it shouldn't cost you silly money to run. Any sub-£1k 6-series will almost certainly be a rusty old shed, and will cost serious money to do up (the sills, last I heard, are something like £400 a side and they probably will need doing).

Remember also that there are two types of 635- the standard 635CSi and the M635CSi. Only the M version has the 24V M-Power motor (M88), though the M30 in the standard 635 is a great engine and probably more reliable than the M88 (if only because it'll stand abuse and poor servicing better).

BMW E24 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There's a bloke on Autotrader at the moment selling what he reckons is an M635 for £2k at the moment. If it really is an M it seems a bargain.....

[99Flake]

There's a bloke on Autotrader at the moment selling what he reckons is an M635 for £2k at the moment. If it really is an M it seems a bargain.....

If it really is an M then it will be truly awful at that price I would have thought, never understood why they never called that car the M6, very odd.

Lovely car though, my Dad looked at one years ago when they were new and I could fit in the back! The engine is awesome.

In fact both engines should be ok if well looked after, M engines are just as durable.

[Rave]

In fact both engines should be ok if well looked after, M engines are just as durable.

Yes, if well looked after, which on a car this age is unlikely unless it's been owned by an enthusiast all its life. Find one with a stack of history 2" thick and you should be fine, I agree.