Would you buy a right hand drive M635csi?

[Roku35]

More and more I have been finding some really sweet M635csi to purchase. The one factor that is keeping from throwing it down, is the fact that these are all nice UK cars. Right hand drive. I am experienced at driving on the right side of the car and on the left side of the road. BUT not in a right hand car driving on the right side of the road. I'm sure not to much of a big deal, but I just can't find a decent M635csi (that I can afford).

[maxg765]

I wouldn't buy a right hand drive car in America. You may have experience driving a right hand drive car but, that's in its proper element. Think of what you do today when wanting to pass a car in front of you. You need to overtake on the lane to the left which is oncoming traffic. You inch left just a bit to see if it's clear, for this you need to be in the left seat. The right seat simply won't allow for this maneuver to be done safely. Where you live there are plenty of small two lane highways. Maybe you can get your hands on a RHD to try out. Perhaps an older postal truck or jeep. This is just my opinion, I suggest you keep looking. Max

[shogun]

I am driving a left hand drive E32 750 in a right hand drive country (Japan) since 21 years, no problem, you get used to it. Sometimes it is troublesome, for example at parking lots with ticket machines on the wrong side (for me), but in Japan most of the systems are designed for RHD and LHD cars, so for example the toll booth on the Highway has ticket machines for RHD and LHD.
As for cars from the U.K. you have to be especially careful with corrosion problems.
Cars from Japan normally have no probs with regard to corrosion, but there are other problems because of the hot summer season, for example on E34 and E32 'falling' headliners are "standard". In case the car was not parked under a sun protected cover, probs with fading paint.

[Layne]

I would definitely buy one. They are extremely rare, 524 made. You should be driving very carefully around other cars anyway, and for fun driving when no other cars are around, the driving position probably doesn't matter much. I think with some getting used to, I would enjoy it as much as any other car.

[ShapeShifter]

I would, the novelty factor and surprised look it gives passersby would be worth it.

[dm635]

Don't know how much of an issue this is, but the header is very close to the steering box. Seem to read more about fitting headers as a problem than I do about it getting cooked.

[e24mpwr]

Personally, I'd keep looking. What is your price range?

Things definitely seem to be looking up in the E24 M6/M635 world.

[dmac156]

No, I wouldn't. Although I can appreciate the novelty aspect of it. I don't think it would be as fun to drive in a LHD country.

[RSheiman]

How good are you at tossing toll money over the roof (unless you have fast lane) or if your work requires you use a card to gain entrance into a parking lot. A friend brought his US x5 back to Ireland and found these things a bit of a PIA.

[terrystu]

How good are you at tossing toll money over the roof (unless you have fast lane) or if your work requires you use a card to gain entrance into a parking lot. A friend brought his US x5 back to Ireland and found these things a bit of a PIA.

There's that, as well as drive throughs at banks, convenience stores, fast food joints, and many more, I suspect. I have a feeling the novelty would wear thin very quickly, unless the car is strictly intended for the occasional weekend cruise.

[bkats]

Well, it ain't your only shark, so the normal issues of practicality and system familiarity don't really HAVE to apply here. I just know that some things are a pain for the RHD cars because of the "redesigns" to make them work. The weird brake linkage comes to mind.

But if you're cool with all that, and any weird federalization stuff, I don't see why not. Someone's gotta buy them, might as well be the resident Euro specialist. And if you find you hate driving it here, it's not like they are plummeting in value.

[Layne]

I must have missed where someone asked "would you buy a RHD Chrysler minivan?" Because a lot of 'issues' are popping up in here that don't apply to an M635 AT ALL.

[bkats]

I must have missed where someone asked "would you buy a RHD Chrysler minivan?" Because a lot of 'issues' are popping up in here that don't apply to an M635 AT ALL.

Hey, if there's one thing a RHD car makes you want to do, it's to take toll roads to run every drive-thru errand you have and stop for McDonald's on your way home so you can eat it left handed in your stick-shift, newly-acquired european classic.

edit:

...with no cupholders.

[Roku35]

Personally, I'd keep looking. What is your price range?

Things definitely seem to be looking up in the E24 M6/M635 world.

I have always been in the $20K++ range, 27K+ seems high to me. I can't seem to find that nice untouched example. A couple times, I did lose out to cars being shipped back to Germany or Europe.

[eric1ono]

Hey, if there's one thing a RHD car makes you want to do, it's to take toll roads to run every drive-thru errand you have and stop for McDonald's on your way home so you can eat it left handed in your stick-shift, newly-acquired european classic.

edit:

...with no cupholders.

I love the sarcasm.

I tend to agree with the "I'd do it" crowd.
1) I think you'll get used to it.
2) As stated, this won't be your only car, or even only e24 so I think you could drive the RHD car when it would seem most appropriate and leave it parked when making those pesky runs through the drive-thru.

I've driven RHD cars in the US, granted not mine so not for long term, and I didn't feel it was that big a deal. I adjusted. If I couldn't see around the car at a given moment, I waited until I could.

If you are an adaptable type of person and you find the car you want at a price you want to pay then why not?

Good luck,

Eric

[RSheiman]

We do need a new Mailman up here, last guy got lost in the snow.

[e24mpwr]

I have always been in the $20K++ range, 27K+ seems high to me. I can't seem to find that nice untouched example. A couple times, I did lose out to cars being shipped back to Germany or Europe.

It seems like nice examples are on the way up. With what is happening with E9's and 2002's, I think collectors are turning their attention to nice M6/M635 examples. I consider mine a fairly nice example, and at this point I'd probably start in the mid-$20's at least, and I'm 32 miles away from 100K. (probably going to take my spawn out for a drive to pass that milestone)

Net: depending on your standards, your budget is right, but there are going to be an increasing number of cars at and above the top end of your budget. Come to SESF and see what is available... ;)

[Roku35]

It seems like nice examples are on the way up. With what is happening with E9's and 2002's, I think collectors are turning their attention to nice M6/M635 examples. I consider mine a fairly nice example, and at this point I'd probably start in the mid-$20's at least, and I'm 32 miles away from 100K. (probably going to take my spawn out for a drive to pass that milestone)

Net: depending on your standards, your budget is right, but there are going to be an increasing number of cars at and above the top end of your budget. Come to SESF and see what is available... ;)

Seeing the online hype with these $40K+ M635csi is really shocking to me. But if that is what recent buyers think they need to pay, then it is just more fuel for the fire for the M635csi market. I have more room; just need to sell one or two of my gals to get there. I'll be really happy with an awesome Euro 6 and awesome M635csi :D

[e24mpwr]

Yeah - I think there will always be the bluebirds like that one (heck, I watched a guy pay over $30K for a decent-but-not-amazing US M6 that was parked a few spaces down from me at a show a few years ago), but prices do seem on the rise. Keep your eyes peeled and jump on the right one.

[shogun]

Yesterday on the way to our wrenching warehouse in the Japanese Alps I had for some time in front of me a excellent looking E24 635. Tried to follow him to have some chat with the driver, but unfortunately I lost him out of sight as I was driving with my 660cc Honda Acty truck transporting 1 M70 V12 engine and a ZF 4HP24 trans plus a complete E32 750 exhaust, this reduced the top speed of my truck to about 80 kmh :D