Barn Finds reader Edd spotted this super cheap BMW 633CSI on eBay, a non-runner for only $650! If you were so inclined, you could easily part this out for a profit, but there are already too many kids doing that to these fine automobiles. The engines in the E24-series BMWs (and cars like my 1987 535is) is an extremely reliable mill, and I doubt it would take anything more than some basic troubleshooting to get it to run (plugs, wires, cap and rotor – the usual stuff). In addition, it has some nice add-ons, like the chin spoiler and fog lamps on the front end and the later 5-Series wheels and tires. Most importantly, it appears corrosion-free. The interior is a mess, but there are plenty of sources for used replacement pieces. For $650, why not?
Wow, I’ve seen better interiors in the salvage yard! Sounds like the title is iffy too. Seems it would be best parted out, sadly enough…
Sold as a non-runner, interior already part-stripped with some messed up electrics, no engine bay shot—what might be missing there?, etc…
Parting it out is probably best but you still don’t know the condition of the drivetrain, electrics, etc. You couldn’t sell the mechanical/electric parts as good/working unless you checked them out first. That takes time, and while you’re doing that you’re not doing other things. Why did the seller buy the car, start to part it out, and then list it for peanuts? Components not check out?
The title might be a problem unless the car was deemed legally abandoned, and then legally sold by the storage facility. I believe you can get a title from CA for a car like this if you have that paperwork.
Probably the only person who should tackle this as a project is a BMW tech with experience on these, and access to parts. Then it would still be a roll of the dice whether it could be brought back, including paint, for less than it would be worth, keeping in mind that the 633 is not as desirable as the later 635.
It’s amazing….these were so desirable when new, and now they’re throwaways. Question is, will they stay at the bottom of the depreciation curve or move up like the 2002 and 3.0 CS? Look at how long those values stayed down, and now good ones have moved up. I think these will move up, but not much until maybe when we’re all being driven around by electric cars that think and get their driving commands in real time from Google.
I agree with you – I think if I had the space and the time/commitment to store them properly, buying ten or so shark-nose 6 series would be a sound investment. Same with the 8 series, especially the 850 – the V12. Many of the 6 and 8 BMWs have ended up with owners who can’t really afford to look after them so a lot have been scrapped or parted out; there are fewer and fewer each year and they have one of my signals for a future classic – iconic design.
With interest rates at historic lows, and still showing no signs of increasing dramatically, if you can pick a future classic whilst they’re still cheap it is, literally, better than money in the bank. The trick, of course, is being able to pick them!
Ten years ago I could have bought a Ford Cortina in nice condition for about $1000. Now they sell for about $6000. Although they were ubiquitous rep-mobiles in the 70s and 80s, so many were abused and scrapped that despite millions being sold, very few survive in usable condition. The Ford (Merkur) Capri is another car that is seeing huge price rises.
The 80s and 90s, in my opinion though, belong to the Germans and the Japanese. British and American cars of those decades were, with one or two exceptions, pretty woeful and I think the real money will be made in buying unmodified, unmolested examples of cars like this 633. If you can find 10 un-modded Supras or RX7s, a handful of 840s or 850s – buy them now. You won’t make millions from it, but they are good investments.
Pretty much the logic with my fleet: ’87 325is, ’87 535is and a mostly-stock ’95 M3. All cars that were throw-away for many years, followed by rabid popularity when they were cheap, leading to many becoming permenant projects and track rats. The market for clean, mostly stock examples is going to wake up in the next 10 years. We’ve already seen pristine examples of non-M cars reaching into the lower teens, with perfect E36 M3s going for upper teens/low 20s…like you said, you won’t make millions, but definitely sound investments.
wow. i know it doesnt run and i know it has a lousy, lousy interior and i know it sounds like there might be issues with the title but i am drawn to this car.
first saw a 6 series almost 35 years ago in france and was struck by the styling. i still like them. it would be fun to get this running even if it required chasing wires through the dash.
heck i even like the color combo.
Lemons!!!