BMW M635 CSi
Is the eighties GT legend still great after 25 years?
The BMW M635 CSi has cemented its place in the automotive history books. It offered peerless performance for its day, thanks to sharing an engine with the potent M1 supercar. And as the first practical M car, it kick-started the company’s now-famous Motorsport Division into life.
From the outside, it’s clear which decade the M635 CSi belongs to, as the chrome trim, relatively small alloys and large glass area all hark back to another era. But it’s still a striking sight, even parked next to its modern cousin. The shark nose, long bonnet and rubber boot spoiler all hint at its significant potential.
Up front, the four individual headlamps are nowhere near as effective as the hi-tech xenon units on the 640d, but they give the car a very purposeful look.
From behind the wheel, the CSi is very easy to place on the road, as the driver has a great view out. Its thin A-pillars contrast sharply with their thick counterparts on the new car.
The cabin also betrays its old age in other areas. The chunky buttons, haphazard layout and thin-rimmed steering wheel will all be unfamiliar to drivers of modern cars. Compared to the luxurious trim of the 640d, it’s functional, but the sparing use of M badging inside is refreshing.
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Cash £19,400Despite offering electric adjustment, the M635 CSi’s supportive seats can’t match the 640d’s for comfort. Offset pedals and a heavy clutch also belong in the past. The sculpted rear seats look great and the rear side windows open electrically, unlike the new car’s fixed ones.
Another area where the old timer beats the newcomer is the sound of its engine. The straight-six bursts into life with a wonderful burble. The five-speed manual gearbox has a positive action, and the throttle response is much crisper than the 640d’s. And while its diesel counterpart has a smooth, linear power delivery, the 3.5-litre petrol in the CSi howls demonically as performance perks up at the top of the rev range.
There’s nothing wrong with the direct steering, and turn-in is sharp. There’s plenty of front-end grip, too, but while body roll is tightly controlled by eighties standards, there’s plenty of it in evidence when compared to the modern car.
The trade-off is the kind of ride quality that many new car drivers can only dream of. And driving the M635 CSi is an intoxicating experience. The new 640d runs rings around the M car dynamically, but the 25-year-old model is far more involving behind the wheel.
One of the biggest differences between these BMWs comes to light when you look at efficiency. As the modern car is much faster and heavier than its ancestor, it’s logical to assume that it will be thirstier, too. But you’d be wrong.
According to BMW’s figures, the M635 will do 29.1mpg, but the 640d is capable of 51.4mpg. As a result, while the eighties model can manage 448 miles between fills of its big 70-litre tank, the modern diesel can cover 791 miles. Now that’s what you call progress...
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WHY: The M635 CSi is a design and performance classic. Along with the Golf GTI and Porsche 911, it’s one of the automotive icons of the eighties.
