BMWs normally don’t appear on our radar here at BangShift. They can be fast, they can handle, and some of them can look good, but when it comes to something we’re interested in…not normally. Not that we’d turn down some wheel time in a E39 M5 anytime soon, we’d relish the chance. But they aren’t normally hot-rodding material.
Enter BangShifter “Idsbeaker”, a BMW fan with a penchant for the E24 6-series. If you are unfamiliar with the cars, they were large GT coupes built between 1976-89. They look both aggressive and upscale, and when fitted with Euro-spec bumpers, they can even be consided handsome. Idsbeaker had specific desires when it came to his dream 6, however: it had to be a European model, and it must not have a sunroof. Finding that combination in the United States is rather rare, so when a 1983 635CSi popped up for sale, he jumped. It needed work, but he had the car he wanted. This would be the end of the story, except a second BMW came into the picture: a V12-powered 750i with transmission issues that he scored for $100. The transmission is on the way out and is puking fluid nearly as fast as he could pour it in, but then the magical lightbulb went off over his head: 6 Series plus V-12 equals…
So now the beginning of what promises to be a very entertaining project. The M70 5.0L V12 was good for 300 horsepower and 330 ft/lbs of torque, so moving the 3,300 lb 635CSi should be no difficult task. The difficult part will be wedging the large-by-huge V12 into an engine bay meant for an inline-six and stuffing a six-speed where it was never offered. It isn’t uncharted territory, as another forum member, “zibi8”, has performed the swap as well, but it is certainly not something you see everyday. If you are into German cars or just want to see a different take on shoehorning a big engine into a smaller car, check this one out!
Forum Link: 635CSi + 5.0 V12
Awesome – but that ain’t no V10!
All this beauty needs is the body kit to make it into a 635CSL “Batmobile” clone, black paint and some fluorescent green and blue Alpina decals.
Gimme!
V10 or V12? u keep jumping between the two..
D’oh! Fixed. Thank you!
Neat project! Let’s hope that Idsbeaker likes playing with wiring and electronics, those V12s are notoriously fussy!