1984 - M as in Muscles

A new model made it´s entrance this year, the mighty M635 CSi developed by BMW Motorsport Gmbh.

M88/3 engine

The engine, coded M88/3, for the new M-coupe was developed from the 24-valve 3453cc engine that originally powered the mid-engined M1 sports car. The major differences between the M1 engine and the M635 CSi version where in the cylinder heads. The water ways and inlet tracts had to be reworked to suit the 30° slanted installation under the 6 series bonnet (the M1 had it's engine mounted verticaly). The valves, 37mm inlet and 32mm exhaust, where the same as well as the 264° camshaft duration. The compression ratio was slightly higher, 10.5:1 compared to 9:1 for the M1. The dry sump lubrication system used in the M1 was replaced with the same wet sump as the standard 635 CSi had. Together with a refined Bosch ML-Jetronic fuel injection and a Motronic engine management system the M635 CSi got a power source that produced 286 bhp at 6500 rpm and a torque of 250lb.ft at 4500 rpm. This is quite amazing since the fuel economy was basicly the same as the 218 bhp 635 CSi, 17mpg for the 635 CSi and 17.1mpg for the M635 CSi.

The original 3453cc M88 used in a race version of the incredible mid-engined M1 sports car.

The first image shows the 1984 M635 CSi parked beside the M1 sportscar to illustrate where the M635 CSi got it´s heritage from.     1984 3453cc M88/3 Six cylinder DOHC, 30° slant installation Bore 93.4mm, stroke 84mm Bosch ML-Jetronic fuel injection 286bhp @ 6500rpm 250lb.ft @ 4500rpm       The second image show a view of the exhaust side, notice the tuned headers that took years of development before BMW Motorsport was satisfied with them.           The third image show a view of the intake side, notice the six separate injection inlet tracts with individual throttle butterflies.               The fourth image show a view of the new M88/3 installed i a 1984 M635 CSi.

M635 CSi chassi

The chassi was uprated with 10mm lower and 15% stiffer springs with specially developed Bilstein gas dampers in all four corners. The (anti-)roll-bars was also a bit thicker to reduce the body roll at the cornering speeds this car was developed for. The front brakes got larger (300mm x 30mm) cross-ventilated discs with four-piston calipers from ATE.

The rear brakes was basicly the same as of the standard 635 CSi but with pistons with an extra 2mm circumference.

The M635 CSi gearbox was a five speed close ratio Getrag 280/5 with gears arranged in a so called dogleg pattern commonly used by racing cars.

Further back there was a ZF final drive with 25% locking and 3.73 ratio. This final drive was taken from the 7 series and was larger on the outside than the 3.07 used in 635 CSi, so the rear floorplan needed to be reworked to fit the larger final drive. The clutch was basicly the same as on the standard 635 CSi but with a lot stronger springs.

The external differences between the M635 CSi and the standard was minor, a sharp eye could see that the front spoiler was deeper and the fender flares where slightly thinner to accommodate the wider 220/55 Michelin TRX tires on 165 TR 390 alloy wheels or the optional 210 TR 415 BBS three-piece alloy wheels with 240/45 VR Michelin TRX tires.

The rear view was the same, except for the M-badge that where mounted on the trunk lid.

The sporty Recaro front seats that was optional for other 6 series models was standard in the M635 CSi, it also had a sportier 3-spoke steering wheel (optional on other models).

Changes on the other 6-series models

 Only minor changes where made on the other 6-series models.

The headlights where new with two-stage reflectors that improved headlight intensity directly in front of the car, optional was a so called dip-beam headlight system that made it possible to change (dip) the headlights from the drivers seat when the car was carrying extra load.

The 635 CSi got the fog lamps integrated with the front spoiler.

New auto-gearbox for 635 CSi

	New and only available in the 635 CSi was a 4-speed automatic gearbox with a electronic/hydraulic control that allowed the driver to choose individual driving programmes for sport, economy or semi-manual lockup for slippery winter roads.   3 programmes where available: Sport Echonomy Semi-manual lockup

Interior changes

The interior was almost unchanged, except for a new 3 spoke steering wheel and a new 8 function OBC (On-Board Computer) , the OBC was still optional in the cheaper 628 CSi.

Key English Description UHR-DAT HR-DATE Shows time and date GESCHW SPEED Average speed LIMIT LIMIT A gong sounds when the specified speed is reached VERBR CONSUM Average fuel consumption REICHW RANGE Distance to go with current fuel ZEIT TIMER A 24 hour timer TEMP TEMP Outside temperature CODE CODE Personal code for the built-in anti-theft system SET-RES SET-RES Reset button for some of the above functions 1000 100 10 1 1000 100 10 1 Buttons to set time, date and anti-theft code

Last year for the US version of 633 CSi

This was the last year for the US version of 633 CSi.

Production numbers for 1984