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1987 BMW 735i

When the conversation comes around to talking about BMWs from the 1980s, the E30 and original M3 would no doubt be a centerpiece of the discussion. The E24 6 series coupe, however, is fast becoming a collector favorite as we saw from our recent highlights during Shark Week. But what about this sleek coupe’s saloon sibling, the 7 series? Long forgotten and overshadowed at the time by the beloved W126 Mercedes-Benz S class, the E23 is a car longing for some attention. Unlike the 6 series, there are few left in mint condition, as most were used by executives and VIPs who moved on from them rather quickly, which left these cars in the hands of second hand buyers who picked them up on the cheap and were less than fastidious with care.

This 1987 735i for sale in Missouri, however, is an awesome example of the last year of this model and has well under 100,000 miles on the odometer. This car is a serious treat for any executive car enthusiast of the era.

Year: 1987
Model: 735i
Engine: 3.5 liter inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 86,864 mi
Price: $7,000 Buy It Now

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 BMW 735i on eBay

This is a time capsule, pristine BMW E23, 735i with only 86k miles. all original, clean title. All maintenance is up to date.The car drives/handles perfectly. A/C blows cold and has been converted to R134. It has an Alpine head unit w/iPod jack. I have most maintenance records for the car and some of it its listed below:

3/10 Replaced driveshaft, rear suspension links, new front coil springs.
4/11 Repair both power headrests
5/11 Balance tires, adjust valves, install Bosal exhaust.
6/11 Rebuilt fuel injectors, cleaned throttle body
7/11 New Kumho tires.
9/11 Oil filter (Mobil 1, 5W-30)
2/12 @ 79K Brake fluid.
6/12 @ 82K Battery.
6/13 New A/C condenser, Dryer, O-rings, used compressor, and R-134 as stated above.
6/13 @ 86k Oil filter, Oil change (Mobil 1, 5W-30), BMW Coolant, Flush radiator, spark plugs, Distributor cap and ignition rotor.

The transmission has been replaced by BMW sometimes back, and the new one has been serviced recently. (I have receipt for oil/filter kit/gssket..from Pelican Parts).

This is an amazing car, never planned on selling it but a business opportunity came up and I have to come up with extra $$$. But WILL NOT SELL FOR LESS THAN ASKED PRICE.

This 735i is a car that will raise few eyebrows, as the beige paintwork and BBS wheels accentuate its sublime nature. The red leather interior, though, is a nice touch and a departure from the usual tan, black and gray upholstery most often seen on these models. Even though the outside may not shout at you, a vibrant color like this would make this car a nice place to spend some time in. While the seller is firm on his price, I don’t think this is an unreasonable ask. You would be hard pressed to get into an E24 in similar condition and even lesser E30s are pulling more in value these days. The iPod jack is a nice touch and one of those few modifications I would personally carry out on a classic vehicle. A large sedan might go against the grain of BMW’s old tagline “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” but for those who do a lot of highway cruising and want something out of the luxury sedan norm, this might just fit the bill. You’d certainly be in scarce company at the next BMW club concours with a 7er like this.

-Paul

4 Comments

  1. KevinR
    KevinR August 21, 2013

    It appears to be a very nice car in a unique color combination. I believe BMW called the exterior “bronzit.” The TRX wheels/tires have been replaced which is a good thing if you actually want to drive the car.

    However there are a few areas of concern: first, the car has European spec bumpers front and rear with no mention of how they got there. Is this a gray market car or is it a US spec car that has had them retrofitted? Second, the Autocheck reports shows a mileage entry of 3,200 in 1994. Combine these two and I am somewhat skeptical of the mileage shown on the odometer.

  2. Raymond
    Raymond August 21, 2013

    Great point above. The rear shade is also an unusual feature on a US E23. The color combo, another unusual attribute, could be because of the fact it was originally a Euro car. But some details here would be helpful, I agree.

    One thing I would note, in terms of a positive for the car, is that the driver seat wear appears consistent with low mileage. When these cars have high mileage, the driver seat pads deteriorate and you can see that they lack any “puffiness” for lack of a better descriptive.

  3. Larry
    Larry August 21, 2013

    When I was a kid, our neighbor next door bought a new gray-over-black E23 735i. It seemed like the perfect blend of sport and luxury at the time. I’ve wanted one ever since riding in his.

    As always, anyone serious about buying this has some homework to do. Get an in-person inspection, check the history, etc. But barring anything big coming out of that, I’d agree with Paul, the seller’s price really doesn’t seem unreasonable.

  4. Theo
    Theo November 2, 2013

    The auction ended with no buyer and now the same vehicle has popped up again on ebay from another seller. Buy it now is at 8900 now. 🙁

    It would be great buy at 6,500 ~ 7000. I wonder if it’ll pass CA smog check.

    Anyone know if it has differential oils that need to be changed?

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