hi everyone, I have been in love with the bmw 6 series and especially the m6 for many years now and also my dad used to have one. I think they are the best looking cars of all time, its amazing how it looks so elegant , classy, powerful, and very sleek all at the same time. I decided that it was time for me to get one or at least look for one. I found a 1988 m6 for $8800. The miles are rather high, 158,000. Heres what i know so far, he is the second owner and there have been no accidents. Engine in great condition, Fast, quiet, and powerful. Tires are very good, red paint is very good, BMW M5 polished aluminum 17 inch Mag wheels, New gearshift bushings, replaced rear struts, New Clutch master and slave cylinders, Zender Side skirts available but not fitted yet, easily passed smog recently, White leather interior renewed in 2003, Dinan Chip available. He also says "Better change new 3rd gear synchro" (not sure if its been replaced or it needs to be replaced?

He wants to add that everything works on the car

anything that needs fixing, i can do on my own and if not, my dad would love to help me and knows how to to fix anything.

i still want to find out if he has any service records for it

So please let me know if $8800 is great for what i would get

obviously i would need to find out a lot more information and go see it before i actually buy it, but from what i have told you please let me know your thoughts

thanks in advance

I would pay 8800 in a heart beat for an M6 with those miles and that condition. last year I paid $7,000 for an 87/M6 with 217,000 on it and I know I got a deal.
Check for rust and ask if he has replaced the timing chain components( white plastic timing chain guide most importantly) If it hasn't then you have a $1500 barganing chip in your hand.You probably already know that these cars can be pricey to work on so get your wallet out, but you won't regret it.
Chris

I agree that you need to know about the timing chain tensioner/rails. Also - you can't just swap syncros in the Getrag 280. It is a pain in the ass tranny to work on. A rebuild will set you back between $1800-$2200. Used ones go for $1200-$1600.

I was a similar story - the E24 was the first car I ever really "noticed" and I always wanted to have one. When I went looking, I wanted either an '88 US M6 or a Euro M635. I knew objectively that this would be a more wallet-hungry ownership experience. I love my car, and I'm not saying I'd choose something different but I'd advise you to think very hard about how financially invested you want to be in the car. That money could also get you a very nice 635, US or Euro and with a stick those are very fun cars to drive and very reliable.

If the car is cosmetically nice w/ no rust, that isn't a terrible price. I drove a long time on bad 2nd/3rd syncros, so you aren't likely to need the replacement/rebuild immediately.

Would it be your daily driver?

i would probably end up driving it daily but probably less than an hour a day

So would you be relying on this car to get to work or to school? Like, would it be your only car?

I ask because the M cars seem to be maintenance intensive and have a lot of down time. This could be a real PITA if you're going to be relying on it day in and day out to get you where you need to be. For a daily driver, I think a non-M 635 would be the better choice. And for $8800 you could get a great, great 635csi.

So would you be relying on this car to get to work or to school? Like, would it be your only car?

I ask because the M cars seem to be maintenance intensive and have a lot of down time. This could be a real PITA if you're going to be relying on it day in and day out to get you where you need to be. For a daily driver, I think a non-M 635 would be the better choice. And for $8800 you could get a great, great 635csi.


That's idiotic advise. He has a great deal pending on an M6. Go for it, they are fantastic cars and they are a blast to drive. Not a lead-sled like a common 635. $8800 sound like a good price in that condition. As far as what it needs, there is always risk with any used car.

This could be a real PITA if you're going to be relying on it day in and day out to get you where you need to be.

M owners don't need to be anywhere.

Wow, tough crowd.

So you'd recommend an M car as your sole vehicle? I have a hard time seeing that as a smart move. For $8800 you could get into an absolutely cherry 635csi. It would be reliable, its maintenance costs would be reasonable, and its performance would be very good (I'm thinking 88 or 89 model with the higher compression engine, chipped) though of course short of an M635's great.

If, on the other hand, we're talking about a father-son project car here, or if there's a second car around that can be used when the M is in sick bay, then that changes things.

Or is $8800 such a good deal on an M635 that practicality issues are totally overridden?

i dont think its idotic to not recomend a M6 for your only car, they are money and maint intensive and if u dont have a lot of cash than u could get stuck, and a 88 or 89 5 speed is a blast to drive and as fast as most people need to drive and a lot less maint. i agree its a great price, but if u need to get around everyday low price dosnt help u much when its broken down.

Just budget in an extra $1200 for the Beater Honda that you're going to want to drive in the snow and ice in the winter anyway. :D :cool

You don't want some idiot sliding into you nor do you want to fill the wheel wells full of salt and rust them out. :mad

M=Money. They can be good for DD if you have the money and/or the skills to keep them on the road, but don't expect life to be trouble free with one. $8800 is agood price, but expect to have to put some into it, and maybe lots into it, if you want it in top shape for a DD.

M owners don't need to be anywhere.

:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

Now wait just a minute...are you guys suggesting that any older BMW can be an only car? I find that unfathomable. I have a 94 740iL, which is not all that old, and I would have been screwed several times without a spare car. Mostly has to do with the 2 days to a week it takes to get parts, none of my cars have ever been unreliable. Since installing the 2002tii engine in my 320i, it's as dependable as a wooden pole. I've never seen an engine so good.

What the hell are you guys talking about?


When did M cars get to be unreliable, and expensive to maintain?


Oh I get it...you have to change the timing chain guides before 150,000 miles. 150,000 miles...what? Yeah thats what I said.

yout m3 is not like the m cars of the 80's, they were more like a racing engine and demand more maint, ive known several people with M6's and they told me the same thing, M=money, and these were low milege examples at sharkfest, compared to a regular 635 they will need more work, but its also true that with any older bmw u will have downtime, i have 5 of them and there is always one of them broke.

That's idiotic advise. He has a great deal pending on an M6. Go for it, they are fantastic cars and they are a blast to drive. Not a lead-sled like a common 635. $8800 sound like a good price in that condition. As far as what it needs, there is always risk with any used car.
Advice, yes. Idiotic, no. It is perfectly reasonable for Hayek to suggest to take reality into consideration when finding a 20 year old supercar at a seemingly too good to be true price. You are correct that there are always risks with any used car, that goes without saying. And there are literally dozens and dozens and dozens of opinions posted by other owners of M6s/M635CSis throughout this and other forums discussing the need for ongoing, dedicated and expensive maintenance with these particular cars.

barry8108 is also spot on with his comment.

M cars may be the cream of the crop, but as Hayek suggested, potentially better value for that kind of money & more easily managed reliability could be found in a non-M car.

I reckon 'idiotic' would be diving in on one of these without considering the risks. That was your advice wasn't it?? I guess that worked out well for you.

What the hell are you guys talking about?


When did M cars get to be unreliable, and expensive to maintain?


Oh I get it...you have to change the timing chain guides before 150,000 miles. 150,000 miles...what? Yeah thats what I said.

Some M cars are more equal than others.

The timing chain guides, in fact most of the timing components, should probably be changed at 100k miles. You can get 200k out of them, in the right circumstances, but is it worth the risk of a costly rebuild?

The issue isn't unreliability, it maintenance. Any older machine requires more hours of maintenance relative to its time on the road. Valve adjustments every 20k miles, a time-consuming job that involves special tools, for 24 valves. Don't do it, and you end up with expensive problems.

Plus, buying one usually means immediate additional costs, unless you want to continue to run it when it needs attention. The cars often sell when the owner decides it's not worth the money for chain components and insallation, or reconditioning the suspension. If you're paying someone to do the work the $$ run up quickly.

It's not intended to scare the OP, but to provide a bit or realistic advice. Unless you're doing the maintenance yourself expect to pay way more than you would for anything M30-equipped. Even if you're doing it yourself, parts can be pricey, especially when there are no alternatives.

I guess I have a different mindset.


I would worry about a '67 Ferrari 365 GTB with six Webers on it, not so much the S38 in the E24.

Unless you're doing the maintenance yourself

Who isn't???? You could drop $10,000 per year on a 633/635 if you're taking it to the dealership. No BMW over 10 years old is worth owning if you don't do 100% of the maintenance and repairs yourself.

Who isn't???? You could drop $10,000 per year on a 633/635 if you're taking it to the dealership. No BMW over 10 years old is worth owning if you don't do 100% of the maintenance and repairs yourself. ????? Only if you are trashing engines and transmissions like NASCAR.:):) I have owned a 1980 Euro 635 since I brought it back from Germany in 1981 and now own a 1987 M6. It is true that the M6 has cost a bit to get it like I wanted it, but much of the money was for "appearance" items and performance modifications that were not essential to the car's maintenance. I do develop relationships with independent BMW mechanics to lessen the costs, but never have I run close to $10,000/ year. Got close to $5,000 the first year with my M6 due to a bad transmission that I knew about when I bought the car.

WOW!! so I'll jump in too! I have owned many many foriegns and it's always the same, they all need attention. Each model and brand having it's own bugaboo. Now that being said I'll go one further. ANY motor and driveline when properly set up and maintained and DRIVEN REGULARLY will give good service. The cars that sit around collecting dust and get drug out once every couple weeks or months for that matter are going to be the problem childs. I would much rather buy a car from someone who has used it and knows it and can tell me what he's done, and what it takes to keep it going. Of course a factory tweaked 24valver is going to need more attention than a regular 2 valver, that's just the way it is. And we all know that the further you get from stock the more high strung they can get....I'd buy it...what the hell, even if it doesn't work out you can always sell it and get your $$ back, and it'll probably be a blast!! Oh yeah and another thing..the euro I just bought that's been sitting around for about 4 yrs? Well yes I put a couple quick grand in it to freshen up brakes and driveline stuff but guess what. It's now in service as my daily driver and my everywhere everyday car and it's strong as a horse. Hell, It's a straight six, 5 spd, LSD IRS, and built by BMW. What can be tougher than that?:evil2

I notice the original poster has not responded. :confused

Have we scared him off? :eek:
Or is he out in the garage polishing his new ///M :D :redspot

If you end up passing let me know where the car is as I am only 90 minutes from you and might be interested in it. I personally would hate to see an M being a dd in NE.

Heck, if you want a pristine daily driver, non-M, my wife's awesome 90k 88 CSi could be had for much less than that... let me know, it has entirely new suspension, receipts from po totalling at least 6k as was to house an M3 engine. Bought for my wife as a surprise and she wasn't thrilled. from Hawaii. takers?

fewofm@yahoo.com


///88 M6
88 635CSi

If you end up passing let me know where the car is as I am only 90 minutes from you and might be interested in it. I personally would hate to see an M being a dd in NE.

Heck, if you want a pristine daily driver, non-M, my wife's awesome 90k 88 CSi could be had for much less than that... let me know, it has entirely new suspension, receipts from po totalling at least 6k as was to house an M3 engine. Bought for my wife as a surprise and she wasn't thrilled. from Hawaii. takers?

fewofm@yahoo.com


///88 M6
88 635CSi

Shoot - 5-speed or auto? Price?

What the hell are you guys talking about?


When did M cars get to be unreliable, and expensive to maintain?


Oh I get it...you have to change the timing chain guides before 150,000 miles. 150,000 miles...what? Yeah thats what I said.

Owned one? Priced a used, rebuilt or factory reman. tranny for one vs. an M30-based E24? (280's are notoriously less reliable than the 260/265's) Priced any of the M6-unique parts like diff. mounts or other maint./wear items vs. their "regular" E24 equivalents? Tried to find someone who has the pucks for a valve adjustment on an S38 or M88 (and they're different, if I recall correctly...)?

I'm not trying to say they are unreliable, but you have to be ready for an active and more expensive ownership experience. And parts, etc. are flat out more expensive.

As far as the speed bug, I don't think I'm a terrible or completely inexperienced driver, and on one West Coast trip I was given a US M6 that had seen quite a bit of Dinan attention to drive, and it was everything I could do to keep up with an E12 Euro 635. Net: The horsepower thing is less important than you think in these cars. If I ever stumble on a very nice Euro 635 for the right money, the iX is a goner...

Automatic. Would want 7k. E-mail private message me for pic. She wasn't crazy about idea of selling it but afterall - it is titled in my name..

What happened with the OP? Did he get the car? Just curious, as that seems like an insanely good deal for an M6 if the description is accurate.

That's idiotic advise. He has a great deal pending on an M6. Go for it, they are fantastic cars and they are a blast to drive. Not a lead-sled like a common 635. $8800 sound like a good price in that condition. As far as what it needs, there is always risk with any used car.

I like my common 635, lead-sled or not.