From 1985 through 1989, the North American market received a delicious BMW coupe, the 635CSi. The original 630 coupes were soft, down on power, and sort of Thunderbirdy in their reluctance to behave like proper race-based BMWs. The 633 was a huge improvement, but when the 635CSi came along it showed American enthusiasts exactly how a BMW coupe was supposed to behave. It also showed us, once again, the contempt BMW engineers felt for U.S. clean air regulations. Europeans had access to proper 635 coupes for several years before we got them. When we’d ask a BMW executive why, he’d smile and say something patronizing like, “But this is the sort of car you Americans prefer—moderate performance, soft ride, but good fuel economy and emissions management.” It gave me great pleasure to crucify a 630 in the pages of Car and Driver.

The 635CSi is getting a little long in the tooth, but generally speaking, the owners of these cars have always taken very good care of them, understanding and appreciating that it was a classic GT car, way out of the ordinary. Do not buy a car that has obviously been misused. It will nickel and dime you to death—and we’re talking very large bags full of nickels and dimes. Shop hard. Do your homework, pay for a thorough inspection before you commit. To own a good 635 is worth whatever trouble you suffered to find it. Checking Kelley Blue Book, eBay, and Auto Trader we found them priced from $7000 to $17,000.

Magazine Issue: Winding Road Issue 38