1985 BMW 635CSi
Mecum Auction, Kissimmee, Florida, USA 9 January
For a short period of time, there was an active market for domestic German cars to be brought into the States and this 54,000-mile Delphin Gray CSi, with Pearl Beige leather and striking BBS RS005 three-piece wheels – rebuilt in 2019 – and an automatic transmission, was shipped to the US in 1985 as a grey market import. The process, known as ‘Federalizing’, included making cars compatible with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications. This process often included the installation of catalytic converters, welding braces inside of doors, and a downgrading of lighting to sealed-beam units.
Values keep increasing on many 1980s and 1990s BMWs, including the 635CSi, and the exterior styling and luxury interior fittings are now considered among the highlights by collectors of these full-sized grand tourers. Of course, as a 635CSi, it is one-step down from the full-on motorsport-derived M6 (M635CSi in Europe), but this European-spec car does have the more powerful 215bhp and 229lb ft-spec M30 engine.
The $48,400 price achieved at this sale is on the high end of what we have recently seen, but don’t be surprised to see double this amount on well-restored examples in the not-too-distant future. Rusty and tired examples tend to start at the $10,000 mark or less, and with good reason, because there are few cheap fixes to be had.
Dave Kinney is an auction analyst, an expert on the US market scene, and publishes the Hagerty Price Guide.