Restoring a M635 csi

[Geo M635csi]

Hey guys, Just bought myself an 1985 M635csi Euro. It belonged to a scarp yard owner and he had left it for about 8 years in a corner in his scrap yard and as you could guess it needs a lot of work. I took the car to our local BMW dealership to get a quote and a job scope for the car. As you could guess the cost of doing it that way is very high. I'd just like to ask for two pieces of advice. Would it be a good idea to restore the car at the BMW dealership. And if anyone knows of any good part sites for this car that i could have a look at and possibly order the parts from their to cut costs.Any reply would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

[steale]

Nope, you should just sell it to me. I'll take that rusty bucket off your hands and save you some real heart ache. To sweeten the deal, I'll give you my wife because I feel sorry for you..

[FernandoBunster]

Welcome to the insanity. Based on where you live, rust, the big enemy of our cars, should not be a problem.

Here are some sites that will be useful:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/
http://www.bavauto.com/
http://www.autohausaz.com/
http://www.bmwmobiletradition-online.com/

Don't hesitate to ask questions and post pictures when possible. We're here to help.

[Geo M635csi]

Nope, you should just sell it to me. I'll take that rusty bucket off your hands and save you some real heart ache. To sweeten the deal, I'll give you my wife because I feel sorry for you..


send a pic of ur wife and will discuss

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks a lot Fernando, surprisingly ive checked the undercarriage and there is not much rust nothing that cant easily be repaired. Thanks a lot for your help. ill post some pics soon!

[eric1ono]

First, you should give a more specific definition of what restore means to you. If you are just talking about updating mechanical components to get the car in running condition, the dealer could probably handle that. If you are talking about fixing torn interior pieces, repairing dents or rust (sounds like not much of an issue for you luckily) and repainting, then I doubt most dealerships are set up for that kind of work.

Having said that, ideally you'd do as much work yourself as that's be the least expensive. If time or skill precludes that, then I'd first recommend looking around for an independent shop that specializes in BMWs, ideally, German cars or European cars in general. I have no idea what the situation in Dubai is like so take my comments in that light.

One final option, if money is no object, you can contact BMW directly and they seem to be in the business of now restoring their cars back to like new condition:
http://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/bmw_classic/en/offers_service/classic_center/index.html

Keep us posted,

Eric

[EuroGeorge]

M635's were and still are one of the finest examples BMW has ever produced. That being said, there are some unknowns surrounding the condition of your car and the law of diminishing returns should be applied.
Perhaps you could provide some detail on the cars condition. I am certain there is a sufficient brain-trust here that can provide solid advice on the direction you may want to take.
If I had the money, I would save all these cars from the scrap yard. The really bad ones would be donors for the rest.

[dmac156]

Without seeing pictures of what you are starting with, knowing your goals for the restoration, or your budget, it's hard to say what the best option is. However, in the US, the answer would almost certainly be no, the dealer would not be the right place to bring it. It looks like you are in Dubai, so maybe things are different there. The BMW restoration place that Eric provided the link of looks like a great place if you are looking for a 100% concours car, but I'd guess that you'd be in $150k or more. You could pick up a really nice M635 in the states for $15-25k. At that price it makes it hard to justify paying someone to restore it.

Please post some pics, we'd like to see what you are staring with.

[Geo M635csi]

file:///Users/GD/Desktop/427438_10150615827947005_1589415585_n.jpgThanks a lot for all your help guys really appreciate it. Eric that site you sent me would be ideal but i do think it will be too pricey to go down that road but for sure there is no harm in me asking which i will do. BMW dealership quoted me for for the full body work, engine, suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres, etc (excluding interior) for about 54,000USD which is quiet a big amount for me especially to give out all in one. But at least i can get off them exactly what the car needs doing (in their eyes anyway)

However I have started to look for specialised european or german car garages (thanks Eric) to see if i could take it in there.

Dmac - My goals are to restore it fully back to its original self I want the car to look like how she first did rolling out the factory back in 1985. :)

EuroGeorge - Amen to what you said about saving all these cars they are truly amazing looks wise, mechanical wise and most importantly driving and the feeling they give you wise. Hopefully after this one i can start looking for a 2002 or a e30 m3.

Heres some Pics of the car guys any advice is more than helpful and thanks for your time.

[Geo M635csi]

Thanks a lot for all your help guys really appreciate it. Eric that site you sent me would be ideal but i do think it will be too pricey to go down that road but for sure there is no harm in me asking which i will do. BMW dealership quoted me for for the full body work, engine, suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres, etc (excluding interior) for about 54,000USD which is quiet a big amount for me especially to give out all in one. But at least i can get off them exactly what the car needs doing (in their eyes anyway)

However I have started to look for specialised european or german car garages (thanks Eric) to see if i could take it in there.

Dmac - My goals are to restore it fully back to its original self I want the car to look like how she first did rolling out the factory back in 1985. :)

EuroGeorge - Amen to what you said about saving all these cars they are truly amazing looks wise, mechanical wise and most importantly driving and the feeling they give you wise. Hopefully after this one i can start looking for a 2002 or a e30 m3.

Heres some Pics of the car guys any advice is more than helpful and thanks for your time.

[Layne]

If you like a challenge and you want to 'make it your own' then I'd go for it, doing as much of the work yourself as possible. If you just want a nice M635, import it from the US. Prices are still pretty low here for what you're getting. Now is the time to buy.

[Geo M635csi]

As you can probably guess am new to this forum stuff so if anyone could help me getting photos uploaded from my pc it would be great! :)

[Layne]

As you can probably guess am new to this forum stuff so if anyone could help me getting photos uploaded from my pc it would be great! :)

It's best to upload them to photobucket.com or a similar site, and then post the links here. New users can't upload photos until you have 20 posts or something like that.

[Geo M635csi]

thanks a lot Layne. Well here is the photos of the car guys! any advice from anyone would be great!
http://s1243.photobucket.com/user/geodee4/library/?sort=3&page=1

[rlkrlk]

This.



If you like a challenge and you want to 'make it your own' then I'd go for it, doing as much of the work yourself as possible. If you just want a nice M635, import it from the US. Prices are still pretty low here for what you're getting. Now is the time to buy.


Cheers,

Ray

[6erWEBB]

That car is BEAUTIFUL, whats its story? How did it end up at a scrap yard?

Id send it to the dealer for the maintenance if youre not able to do it yourself, then after that take it to some specialty shops for paint and interior.

Very few places will do everything, and do it well.