In 1998, I was bitten by the bug of old BMWs fairly hard, and decided to add a 1983 633csi, black over tan interior, with 97,000 miles to my 1974 BMW 2002 and my daily driver 1997 Nissan Maxima 5-speed. I was in the process of restoring my 2002 with the help of a buddy who had two 2002’s and a 1968 2800cs, and he encouraged my interest in buying another BMW. I was married but had no kids, and had a good job and some cash to spend and so when I found the right car, a 633csi, I decided to make a low offer.
Only remaining picture of my 633csi sitting behind the 2800cs behind the 2002
The 633csi was in pretty good shape, with one area of rust over the passenger side rear wheel well, and non-working air conditioning. The engine seemed good, the transmission, all systems were go. The driver’s side front suspension seemed a bit worn, but very drive-able. The woman who sold me the car was the second owner. She had originally bought the car when she was single, but now had a family, and a crowded driveway, and in-laws coming for thanksgiving the following week. She was asking $4,500, and I offered $3,000. She said no thanks, so I drove home. She called me later that night and said if you can get it out of here tomorrow, I’ll take the $3,000. She was even willing to take a personal check.
Ultimate 80s Cockpit
So I picked up the car, and started loving it right away. It was amazing to me how much more modern a 1983 BMW was than a 1974. The car was also very familiar, as my father had owned a 1984 533i, which shared engine, transmission, front suspension and interior design (including the three spoke steering wheel with thumb operated horn buttons) with the 633! I was already used to the feel of the 5-speed, to the semi-uselessness of the “trip computer”, to the perfect placement of the horn buttons mentioned above and also of the mirror adjustment that fell readily to hand.
1976 Euro 633csi bhp & torque curve
This time I quickly mastered using the correct gear to get maximum power and flexibility out of the engine, something that had eluded me in high school. When I drove Dad’s BMW in high school, I tended to shift into a higher gear far too soon, as for some reason I didn’t understand holding a lower gear except when accelerating. This BMW inline six, however, needed 3000 rpm to enter its sweet spot of torque and horsepower, so around town, third gear would provide smooth cruising but also instant response. Fourth gear, on the other hand would cruise smoothly but provide significant lag upon attempting to accelerate.
At the time, the 533i remained my favorite BMW of all time, as it was lighter than the 633csi, and therefore faster, and yet with room for 5 people. The 633csi back seat was a fairly comfortable place to be, however, with 2 nicely developed bucket seats and power operated rear windows.
As I had bought my 633 in November and Washington DC’s winter weather was mild that year, I took to driving the 633 to work fairly often. Everything except the air conditioning worked at first, but there was a repeated small hesitation in the engine in the middle of acceleration, as well as the worn driver’s side front suspension and the rust over the rear wheel well. By June of 1999, the sunroof got stuck open briefly, and the passenger window switch stopped working. So I took a trip to the dealer to check out the price of the window switch part relay (if I remember correctly) and it was something like $100. While I was there I had them estimate some of the other work I wanted to do, and it was $5,000 not including the body work or paint. I decided to stick with the car as it was.
Then, I got the 1999 Saab 9-3! It was my new toy and so fast and fun to drive, that it over-shadowed my BMW’s. Plus, at this point I had $7,500 invested in my BMW’s, and I had no property insurance on either car, and I figured I’d better see if I could recover my money.
Before Craigslist
So the For Sale signs went in the windows, and the classified ads went in the Washington Post. Craigslist didn’t expand to cities outside of San Francisco until 2000, so the classic car market was owned by local papers and Hemmings Motor News. Hemmings create a national market for classic cars, but for average folks who wanted a cheap classic, the main option was the local market. I also advertised both cars in the classifieds of www.bmwcca.org, the web site of the BMW Car Club of America, but the enthusiast audience didn’t seem to want either car, as they were neither resto-modded, nor perfect restorations.
Next thing you knew, I sold the 2002 for a $250 profit to an attorney who saw the car with the for sale sign, and I sold the 633 to a gentleman who came to see the car from the Washington Post ad. He offered me $4,000, and I took the $1,000 profit, counting my blessings and expecting I would soon have another classic with which to do the same thing. Sixteen years later and counting, I have not yet had the same luck again!
A 9-3 over this? It is better to have loved and lost…
I can understand. By the time it was sold, the 633csi was beginning to show its Money Pit credentials.
Unlike Don, I think I can understand why the switch from “the ultimate driving machine(s)” to a car crafted by engineers who craft jet aircraft (or however it goes). For starters, you traded 2 older performance sedans, for a nearly new one. And it wasn’t like you traded 2 Ferraris for a Fiat. Or even like you traded 2 Fiats for a Yugo.
However, had either of those BMWs been “showroom”, then I’d find it a bit difficult to understand why you would replace a 633….especially for a Saab.
Does anyone else build 2 door sedans that are as consistently appealing as BMW?
“Does anyone else build 2 door sedans that are as consistently appealing as BMW?”
Well, not “sedans” but generally two door coupes – Mercedes.
I’ve had a ’79 280CE, a ’98 CLK320 and an ’04 CLK320 and still covet the ’80s 380SEC/500SEC. The 300CE/E320 coupe is one of the most balanced designs, right sized car I can remember. It was one of the best built Mercedes in my time. And satisfying Mercedes coupes go back farther in time – 300S, 300SC, 220SE, 250SE, 280C. So yes, I submit that Mercedes coupes are also as consistently appealing.
I know the Mercedes are completely different in character but they simply have suited me better than the admirable BMW coupes; I’ve always preferred Stuttgart cars to Munich’s.
Mercedes two door coupes look great, especially the bigger ones, based on the E- and S-Class. Then and now.
I’m also a fan of today’s BMW 220i and the Audi A5 Coupe (below).
Johannes – I too admire the A5 coupe. Also right sized and useful with the ability to use the car as a hatchback. I do not like the nose of the A5 at all, but from the headlights back it is a fine design.
Well, the Audi A5 Coupe can’t be used as a hatchback. It’s a real 2-door sedan / coupe. It still comes with a decent trunk though !
Constellation, your experience mirrors my own with Mercedes coupes. I have had four, beginning with a ’74 280C, an ’83 300CD, a ’91 300CE, and a ’99 320 CLK. I fell under the spell of Mercedes-mania in SoCal in the mid-70’s, it took some thirty years to shake myself of it. But I agree with you, the Mercedes coupes had consistent appeal, and the 300CE was the best looking, best balanced design of them all. But all of them, once out of warranty or extended warranty, became money pits extraordinaire. I would occasionally look at the BMW 3-series coupes, but somehow the Mercedes suited my needs better, and I just kept gravitating back to them. Expensive German cars are a closed chapter in my book, though. I remember my doctor, who was also a friend, had a 6-series BMW coupe, it was constantly at the dealer for one repair or another, great looking car but the TLC factor was huge.
Johannes – the A5 coupe I inspected at a dealer showroom in Phoenix had fold down rear seats that allowed a bicycle (with front wheel removed) to be loaded into the car through the trunk. I never had this feature on any of my Mercedes coupes and I considered the A5 a sort of Scirocco like hatchback.
Don W. – Repair expense is an issue, very sad but true. However durability is very good. My Mercedes coupe days may be over but I still love the integrity of the pre-Chrysler cars and have a ’98 SL500 that I keep as a coupe; hardtop has never been off.
My 1983 633 BMW, Is a blessing so beautifully car design. Everything is balanced With perfection. 1984 325 E also sits in my backyard.**** ****. I’m so proud of their beauty add performance and I should get my tools out and get to work. I didn’t know how much I missed them until i’m driving subaru Outback . sleek Outline of the shark with its balanced performance And beauty is simply unique…. forever not to be forgotten. german engineer perfection based on performance and sleek driving comfort.
I love the original 6-Series. Such Eighties style! Not that I’ve driven a classic 6-Series, but having driven current generation 650s and 640s, I can confidently say the driving experience is somewhat different.
I saw this beautiful 1987 M6 for sale just over 2 miles up the road last year. I don’t know if the owner is still intent on selling it, as it’s still there without the for sale sign attached. Now it wears a car cover and some newer non-original (but thankfully OEM) BMW rims.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/used-car-classic-1987-bmw-m6-the-ultimate-80s-bimmer/
Its kinda funny that most people associate the 6 series with an 80s design.
In fact it was launched all the way back in the 70s….1976 to be exact.
Somehow it didnt really get noticed by too many people in the 70s it seems.
Maybe simply because it was too upmarket und too few were around.
Things started to turn around once the 635 CSi variant was launched and they car finally was as fast as it looked.
Sales surged throughout the 80s. Especially in the US.
In Europe, and also in Germany, it always was an exotic car.
I used to own a cyprusgreen metallic 628 CSi. The car was a real looker and got lots of attention.
Its kinda funny that most people associate the 6 series with an 80s design.
In fact it was launched all the way back in the 70s….1976 to be exact.
Somehow it didnt really get noticed by too many people in the 70s it seems.
Maybe simply because it was too upmarket und too few were around.
Things started to turn around once the 635 CSi variant was launched and the car finally was as fast as it looked.
Sales surged throughout the 80s. Especially in the US.
In Europe, and also in Germany, it always was an exotic car.
I used to own a cyprusgreen metallic 628 CSi. The car was a real looker and got lots of attention.
Beautiful cars, but the Karmann-built bodies are really rust-prone. Some of the later production cars had really nice interiors too, sort of like the L7 variant of the 735i, with the offwhite leather on the dash and headliner and everything.
There was, in fact, an L6. Same interior accoutrements as the L7, plus it borrowed the M6’s front air dam. My high school art teacher had one in the late 90’s–gorgeous car!
One of the few non British Non American cars I always wanted. i found 4 of them rusting away near Blackpool’s north station earlier this year.
You were wise not to spend the Big Bucks on dealer repairs; especially the marginal air conditioning system.
I’ve had experiences with two 6 series coupes; both had A/C systems that were about as good as a wet, cool washcloth on your face….NOT what is needed in perpetually hot and humid New Orleans.
Both coupes required lots of TLC and expensive dealer parts.
Reliable, tight tolerance Japanese cars were a joy to behold after those Break My Windows.
I think you made a wise decision not to put money into it. Got to drive it for a while and made $1000. I really do like the 6 series and thought about getting one. In the long run probably a good thing I never followed through.
I had a major crush on these in the mid 1980s, but unfortunately (fortunately?) they were waaaay out of my price range. All these years later, I could consider taking the plunge, but I think I have reached the time where my tolerance for the steep learning curve that one of these would require is not such that this would be a good idea.
You, however, did it, got the experience, and even made money at it. Bravo!
The design of the 633csi dashboard is like a piece of modern art, just beautiful.
The best looking BMW ever and the only model that would interest me now, trade one for a Saab absolutely NOT.
Great read, however this should be removed from the internet forever. Your luck and the vain hope that it can somehow be repeated will lead the overly optimistic to grief for generations.
Make it gone.
I’ve only had first hand experience with one 6 series and the thing I most remember is the grey leather trim of non uniform finish. It was factory. I looked somehow the equivalent of acid wash denim. It was creepy. Nice to see the smooth cream in the picture above, that goes some way to undoing the damage.
Amazing cars–I’ve wanted one ever since I was a child (of the 80’s, naturally) and haven’t ever stopped. Very, very jealous of the fact that you had a chance to own one and doubly so that it didn’t break you financially! A 6er, preferably an M6, is still on my all-time Want List.
The closest I ever came to ownership was in 2004, when I saw a classified ad for a garage-kept 1989 635CSi with far less than 100k miles, well within my budget (I was actively looking for a new-to-me car at the time). I spoke to the seller, arranged a test drive, then cancelled it at the last minute when reason intervened–if it was as good as the photos, it would have been criminal to use the car as a daily driver, and I didn’t have a garage to park it in. If it wasn’t as good as the photos (and probably even if it was) the repair costs would have been hard to swallow. I should have driven it, just for the experience, but I knew that if I drove it and loved it, it would have come home with me reason-be-damned.
Beautiful car, but way out of the realm of my experience (U.S. domestic products).
To the best of my knowledge (which is pretty weak here), BMW and Benz products have good resale values for a least a few years after purchase.
What age is the cliff for value on these – where they are no longer useful playthings of the well off, and most sane 95th percentile and below U.S. residents wouldn’t accept one as a gift for fear of the repair costs?