ssbmw

Hey Phil, Congrats man! Well done. A beautiful car. If you want a set of style 5's, the man who does them better than new (which may conflict with what you want) is a guy called Wolfe who runs a business in Germany selling refurbished wheels. Check out wokke.de A M6 owner from Melbourne that I know got a set from him, and they are unreal. REgards.

Hi Marcus, I sent a message to you, but I know the answer to my question now - you have bought James Katte's car! Nice vehicle - my mate Ross Lamb at BM workshop did alot of the work on that car. Ex Singapore with cream leather. Nice. Regards, SS

hi Paul, its cool, I was just identifying why I think this car has been struggling to be sold here - in my opinion they are a slightly enigmatic car and not appreciated for what they are... I think we all know why the E39 and E34 have such a following... All I think I was trying to do was express my opinion on why this car hasn't sold.....and why they don't have the same love.....I also think the NZ market is slightly different to overseas... I felt passionate about responding to the question because I know that car quite well... Sorry if you felt I was off tangent, wasn't my intention. Just love talking about some of the cars that hold some interest to me.....

I concur - in my world the E34 is the prettiest of them all. I love the exterior / interior design. Very proportionate.

You make a good point. However, one think you have to note is this. All the E34's for sale in NZ generally tend to have high mileage which may inhibit their marketability...I could be wrong but I wonder what a NZN E34 M5 would go for in NZ in great condition with say 130kms on the clock? Would that indeed be a $20k plus car? As for the E24's you will see that the ones that have been languishing on t/me for sub $20k are ex Japan LHD vehicles or EX UK vehicles with spotty provenance. The last NZN vehicle M6 that sold here (albeit with 92 kms) and special history sold for around $40k and most NZN examples in good nick have traditionally gone for $25k plus (and they never hang around on t/me for eternity). I personally think this E28 deserves to be sold for what the vendor wants. I have been in it, and know a previous owner very well and he sold it for $35k around 4 years ago. Weird that the market seems to see it differently- and it has been for sale at $26k for a log time.

Good point. However though, at $26k for the last year , it is definitely off the mark. Worth $18k? If it was a NZN car with FSH, it would have to be worth more......

Hey man, I have been thinking about adding a post about this car for awhile. Th bottom line is this - yes they are rare in rhd (187 for the rhd market, excluding 96 for the Sth African market (CKD I think) and that lends itself to keeping values up. Yes it was the first of the iconic M5's and has its place in M power history. Even with 4 of them in NZ ( 2 NZN, the other 2 imports, including this Sth African example by way of Japan), I think they struggle to sell at international levels because they are misunderstood in this country and probably doesn't have the optical appeal to command much demand. Unlike it's sibling, the E24 M635csi that has a following because of its looks; these are simply not that pretty, and do look old. I have driven one of these, and I actually think they are marginally quicker than the M635csi because they are lighter (echoed by my friend who owned this particular car who owned a M635 prior to the E28 M5). This car has been for sale on and off for 5 years and was originally marketed for $35k. It has had a complete respray and has its suspension replaced. Probably needs a timing chain though. It is a good example though with the body kit that most of the UK cars lacked In Australia, these go for about what this guy wants - mid to high $20's. The E34 M5's over there go for around $20k (even though they got around 70 3.6's delivered to OZ). In this country, I don't people can justify spending big money on an old-looking sedan when there are so many other choices. Besides, it will be probably serve as a weekend toy, and there alot of people who would probably spend that amount of money on a classic sports car or GT. Just my thoughts....in NZ one can get a HSV or Falcon that is newer that could probably (in some people's eyes )provide more kudos...... Shame......

Hi Jonathan, Great to hear about your car. The guy I go to is Ross Lamb at BM Workshop in Botany. He is has helped me immensely for years. Great knowlege on E31's, and I take my one there. Regards, SS

Hi there, I have a friend, Alan who is the oracle of all 70's and 80's BMW's (not to mention modern ones too) who may be able to help with your query. Alan is a member too, but not sure that he reads the topics here too often. He has a blue E9 csi. I will ask him to respond to your query...

Hi mate, I have spoken to the owner and he seems a nice guy who has spent a fortune on making it even better - it has had a re-spray, new suspension, and has a new exhaust etc. Look, what impresses me about this car is the history, condition, and mileage - only 70,000 miles (around 130kms). Where are you going to get a 635csi with that type of mileage these days - most have 200 kms + on the clock. There are some other fantastic examples of Highlines around in NZ including my old one and a friend of mine's black example, but none have mileage like this. There are a few late model 635csi's in this country - but none were given the full "Highline" spec - they did not have the leather dashboards - that was unique to the UK spec cars. All it needs is a set of Style 5's.

Hi guys, Check this car out - one of approximately 5 ex UK 635csi Highlines (that I know of anyway) in the country. One of the last so was given ample leather and has the revised bumpers. This car was sold on trademe about 4 years ago (for around $14k) and I thought it was ridiculously cheap. At $16k, I still think it is. I once owned one of these - fab looking car and this looks wonderful in Lachs silver ? Nogaro silver?. A worthy addition to someone's collection. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/C...n-289388237.htm

Hey man, Are you saying that the Dakar car has been sold? The advert on trademe implies that it never reached reserve. Interested to know as I am trying to put together a E31 register. The Dakar vehicle is ex Singapore and has been in the country for quite awhile. The guy who has been marketing the car, James, has owned it since it arrived here when it had quite low kms. I too prefer the Tobago blue example. It is also a ex Singaporean import and has the M-technic bodykit / mirrors that first appeared on the fire-breathing 850csi.That spec became standard on the later 840 ci Sports. The colour / bodykit coupled with the Style 5's makes this car stunning. Drove it many years ago when it was on the yard at Tradin Post. Like the Dakar example, both very original vehicles. and look like they are in good nick.

Hi Phil, I live in the Tron but only use Ross Lamb at BM Workshop in Botany for any work on our BM's. I have known him for 11 years and he is the only guy I trust implicitly. I know a few people have used SD European here in Hamilton for pre-inspections. A friend however got a M5 inspected there and was disappointed with the things they missed out on. Apart from that Coombes are the only ones in HAmilton I would ever use. Martin who is the manager of the workshop is a BMW trained mechanic from England and has ample experience with older vehicles.

Boris you are so right. I have a friend who uses his E34 M5 as a DD (daily driver) and he is pedantic about maintenance and never skimps on spending money on his car.. Costs him $4k-$5k atleast a year. On the b-side, if you only drive it on a sunday, the annual outlay could be considerably less!

Hey man, I think Audio enz is a good forum (from memory)

I agree with you Brent, but saying that in the dry they are not that bad at all. Additionally, how many people these days drive their nice E24's on trashy days? Additionally, I think if you are trying to restore a car like Ron's, the best case scenario is to make it as original as possible. There are more than a few E24 purists who will only have metrics sitting on their car as they were factory. Another problem is what do you get that looks right? Being objective here, there are very few wheels that look right on a E24 M6. Style 5's are the ultimate option in my books but they are relatively expensive. I have seen a few E24's with 17" genuine Schnitzers which look kind of cool. Alpinas are fantastic too. However when you buy the genuine thing, all of these quite are expensive options. However, too many E24's look naff in my opinion because the wheels they sit on just don't look like they suit the age of the car.

Yes, this is Bruce's car. I agree it is a lovely looking example. It was only sold about 6 months ago (?) I think to a family in Auckland. I was surprised when I saw this on trademe. I like the colour - a real M power colour from that period.

The UK / NZ M635csi's had the M88/3 power plant. There was never a 635csi with m options. It was either a M635csi (commonly called the M6, even though the US were the only market that officially used that moniker ) or a 635csi. Even though the visual differences were subtly - two vastly different vehicles.

Hi there, it is definitely a M635csi. It's a 85 in Lapis Blue.

I know this car. I recall seeing this for sale at Turners at some point over the last 5 years and also at some point resurfaced at a 2nd hand Euro dealership next to BM Workshop in Grey Lynn. At Turners the highest offer was $11k and at the dealership in Grey Lynn it was for sale for $15k. I drove it. It is not the best looking example. The interior was appalling; the drivers seat had a hole in it and ithe leather was parched and worn out. Unusual for the E31 as I understood the leather utilised was of a high quality. Paint was a little dull and required some hard work to rectify. For what it is worth, I remember the car going pretty well. I remember heading onto the motor-way and being very impressed with the way the car accelerated. Rapid and smooth! The mileage was around 200 kms so this 8 hasn't been driven much since. Could be a expensive project. On the flip-side, it may have had alot of money thrown at it mechanically and could be a good, cheap 8.

Hi mate, That is a beautiful car. Fantastic to see that you have the colour that BMW had with all their initial promotional photos of the M6 when it came out. Even the promo car in NZ was Indy red. Sadly most of the m6 buyers in NZ and Australia seem to have ordered black! How many do you think there are in NZ in this colour? The colour I also like is Interlagos blue. There was a fabulous example with white leather that I'd see in East Tamaki regularly 3-4 years ago. Welcome to the Bimmersport community! My goal is to get one of these over the next few years. I love them!

Hi Tim, Btw- Which BM Worshop do you go to? Grey Lynn or Botany? I live in Hamilton but have always taken my cars to Ross at BM Workshop in Botany - he is a great guy and has an immense knowledge of these older special cars. He was the manager at Grey Lynn for many years, working for Guido before he started his own workshop. Either way, they are both very good. I have a friend who has a very tidy 3.6 E34 M5 that is a 220,000 km daily driver and he swears by Ross's handi-work as well. Regards.

Tim, congrats on your collection! I think I have seen your Schnitzer E39 before. Good to see the E34 has gone to a good home. I think I started the topic- re: the discussion about the 3.8 M5. I have an interest in the E34 M5's and was trying to track this car down several years ago. I knew it was indeed the only NZN 3.8 M5 in the country, but had no idea where it was. Congrats again. Avus Blau looks fantastic in these cars. I heard it was heading back to Auckland but had no idea who the new owner was. Well done.

Hi there, there is a genuine 1984 E28 Alpina B9 that I know of. Like a Lachs silver or Polaris, not sure. Blue cloth interior. Interestingly enough, not a UK Sytner vehicle, evidently manufactured specifically on order for the NZ market. 245 BHP. Very rare- only like 65 Alpina E28 B9's in RHD. HAs like 250 kms. I think it may still be available for sale. Contact me if you want the owner's details. A fun car!

I figure that you car has still got tons of life in it and just deserves to be driven. The 3.0 engines are very strong and sounds like you have a car that has some of its age-related issues sorted out. Mileage is an interesting one. I have many friends who swear by buying a high mileage car (and I have bought a few too) that has extensive history /receipts. Often when you buy a car that has clocked 200 kms you get a car that has had extensive maintenance work (like your gear-box (or items like suspension)) already. The only problem really is when you want to sell a car with high mileage - your target market becomes a little smaller! There are some people who would never buy a car with over 150,000kms, irrespective of the car's condition/ history. Sad but true!