BMW E24

[pac1982]

Thinking about getting myself a nice E24 but i know nothing about them so thought i would seek some advice from you guys

Just looking for info on what engine sizes you can get i know theres a 3.5 but that would be a tad thirsty for me but i could live with a 2.5.

Also what are they like to run and are they really prone to rotting away??

from what i gather you can pick up a tidy one for around £2500-£3000

For people that dont know what an E24 is heres a quick pic.......

[darkchild]

Don't think there was ever a 2.5 E24. IIRC early ones (based on the E12) were 630cs (carb) and 633csi and later examples 628csi and 635csi (as well as the M635i). You seldom see the earlier models and 635s are the most common followed by the 628csi.

They're very prone to rot everywhere as Karmann, rather than BMW, built various body parts. Front wings are particularly expensive (£600 each iirc).

The motto is to buy a very, very good example to start with.

Unless you've got very deep pockets, I'd avoid them. They cost as much as a house to buy in the '70s/'80s with running costs to match. They can't be maintained on a budget like an E30.

This is an excellent 6 series website.

http://www.bigcoupe.com/

[drjim]

I have a 635 which has been off the road for a year while I welded up the floor - detatched itself from the sills both sides plus the obligatory huge hole in drivers footwell. It was only a few days work but I have too many things to do! The E24 can rust better than a bit of bare steel left in the sea, so even nice looking ones have holes underneath.

Exhausts cost £1k for BMW parts, £5-600 for aftermarket. Lots of parts interchangeable with e28 so not too bad. I got new front springs for about 50 quid as I recall.

I am getting mine back together, and intend to get it to serviceable status rather than pristine, might sell it or just keep it until something else major falls apart. They are great cars to waft about in, but unless you blow tons on an M it isn't a performance car ride quality/handling.

either buy a very cheap one as a resto project or spend the most you can for the best car. There's a nice looking one on bigcoupe at the moment...

http://bigcoupe.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9388

Fuel cost isn't too bad, mine always seemed to sip fuel compared to the Audi S4 I had at the ttime!

[B7]

You need an e28 based one (later 628's etc.) rather than an e12 based one (633's etc.) as the e12 ones are more prone to rotting than an old pear.

Even with that said, the e28 based 24's are still very prone to rusting and I'd say unless you really research the e24 properly (and the zone ain't the best place) and are willing to go in with your eyes wide open, forget the idea. They are the money pit of all classic BMW's and should be given a wide swerve unless you either know exactly what you're letting yourself in for, money is no object (read have more money than sense) or are just plain stupid.

I've restored a few cars in my time and consider myself fairly well read on all BMW's. I also love the e24 but would I buy one? Only a truly mint original or one thats had a full photographic resto with all reciepts to prove. All the others scare the shit out of me.

Oh and the 3.5 M30 is the only one to have (apart obviously from the M635csi). The 2.8's are false economy with verty little difference in the fuel economy.

[pac1982]

Hmmm cheers for the advice people i shall do a bit of research and if i do buy one i'll make sure its a minter, i dont keep cars for long so looking at the running costs in the long run dont bother me to much but its one of the cars i really want to own at some point in my life weather it be for 6 months or 6 years.

My other choice is spending more money and buying a nice E39 M5 but i really like my retro metal and the E39 aint retro enough for me yet

[Blitz]

I'm sure a E39 M5 cost more to run then a E24.

[pac1982]

Yeah but its worth paying for in a good M5

[mt1104]

those e24s looks so pretty though, it was a shame bmw out sourced the panels. One of those with a nice s50b32 in it...

[Rav335uk]

These cars are brill to drive, used to have a 633csi back in the days, but be warned, they are extremely tail happy in dcamp and wet conditions, but fun non the less.
Good hunting.

[B7]

the difference with buying an e39 M5 over an e24 is that you'll lose money on an M5 as they are currently in freefall pricewise. Buy a good sound e24 and it'll hold it's dough well.

you are looking at two entirely different animals. Chalk and cheese to be honest.