1985 BMW 735i - SOLD

[gtom]

1985 BMW 735i

VIN: WBAFH8402F0970286

Transmission: Automatic Transmission
Color: Zobelbraun Metallic - 196
Upholstery: Perlbeige Leder - 7206
Production date: 1985-02-01
Options:
S290A - BMW Light –Alloy Wheel Star Spokes 44
S415A - Sun-Blind Rear
S458A - Electric Front Seat Adjustment
S551A - On-Board Computer II with Remote Control

This is a very original low mile survivor BMW E23 735i with only 84K miles from new. There is zero visible rust and the paint appears to be about 90% original showing no clear coat failure. Only the rear doors and lower passenger door show evidence of non-factory paintwork. However, the color and texture match is good and it is unnoticeable at first glance. All the glass has the original BMW logos and is in great shape. The car does have some minor dings that can be easily fixed with PDR.

The interior is completely original (aside from the radio unit) and is in exceptional condition for its age with supple leather seating showing very little wear except for a tear in the driver side bolster. The HVAC system is fully functional with cold AC and all electrical equipment and accessories work with the exception of the cruise control, power radio antenna and an intermittent driver seat recline mechanism that seems to work fine in warm weather. Carpets are very clean but have some scattered spots that can clean up. All interior wood and plastic is in great shape aside from some chipped away wood over the center console storage bin and a few minor cracks in the dash. The headliner is as from the factory, but is showing its age. The rear sunshade is near perfect showing minimal usage.

Mechanically, this car is very well sorted. It starts easily and idles smoothly. As expected, it drives like a low mile BMW E23 should; solid, comfortable and quiet and a joy to drive on the highway cruising at high speeds. New lowering springs and performance gas shocks make the car surprisingly agile. It handles very well with a nice supple, controlled ride.

Within the last 5000 miles: (by previous owner)
- New valve cover gasket
- New oil ramp banjo bolts
- Valve adjustment
- New battery
- New Bosch ignition coil
- New Bosch spark plugs and wires
- New Bosch distributor cap and rotor
- New Bosch oxygen sensor
- New fuel pressure regulator
- Oil and filter change
- New throttle gasket
- Cleaned throttle body
- Flushed power steering fluid and changed filter
- New OEM throttle rubber boot
- New vent hose
- New rebuilt hydraulic brake booster
- New ATE master brake cylinder
- New brake pressure accumulator
- New FTE brake lines
- Brake fluid flushed with Pentosin
- New Brembo brake rotors and pads
- New SKF front wheel bearings
- New pitman arm bushings
- OEM BMW E38 BBS wheels with new 215/55VR16 tires
- 4 New Pioneer speakers
- New JVC stereo CD head unit

Within the last 3000 miles:
- New straight pipe center exhaust section
- New rebuilt AFM
- Pressure washed engine top and bottom and full undercarriage
- New driveshaft
- New drivebelts
- New Bilstein gas shocks and struts: Sport (F) & HD (R)
- New H&R lowering springs
- New OEM front and rear strut mounts, spring pads, absorbers, gaskets, guide supports, etc.
- New rebuilt AC compressor, AC expansion valve & R134 refrigerant
- Oil change (Castrol GTX 20W50) & OEM oil filter
- New magnetic oil pan drain plug
- Wheel alignment
- New Bosch OEM main fuel pump and Mahle OEM fuel filter
- New soft fuel lines
- Auto transmission service; fluid, filter & pan gasket

Recommended:
- Engine shock absorber mount
- Gas tank evaporator canister hoses
- Sunroof seal gasket

Included:
- Misc. spare parts
- Original metric alloy wheels
- Original factory radio/cassette stereo head unit in working order

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-735i-2/

For pictures see:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

With Alpina Wheels (available separately - please inquire)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[leadphut]

stunner! certainly hope you get what you're asking.

[gtom]

stunner! certainly hope you get what you're asking.

Thanks! It is a very nice car and I hope that it will go to a good home.

[gtom]

Iv'e seen this car, it's beautiful...

Thank you! I get a lot of compliments on the car from the neighbors here, especially while waxing it in the driveway. It's in the garage now, but when the M5 comes back from the shop, it gets the spot and the 735i goes back outside on the street. So, it needs to go, hopefully to someone that has the space for it.

-- Added 08 Feb 2017 20:14 --

Iv'e seen this car, it's beautiful...

Thank you! I get a lot of compliments on the car from the neighbors here, especially while waxing it in the driveway. It's in the garage now, but when the M5 comes back from the shop, it gets the spot and the 735i goes back outside on the street. So, it needs to go, hopefully to someone that has the space for it.

[ElGuappo]

Very clean, GLWS. I certainly hope you get close to your asking price, makes comps for my car look better!

[gtom]

Very clean, GLWS. I certainly hope you get close to your asking price, makes comps for my car look better!

Another thanks! Yes, I hope I get close to my asking price and honestly, I think it's priced fairly for what it is. There is room for negotiation with the option of switching out the wheels and tires. I have a set of OEM BMW E38 16x8 BBS with nearly new tires if anybody is interested.

[domenico]

Is the 735i market getting stronger? I have a change to buy a euro 1985 and was just curious. TY

[gtom]

Is the 735i market getting stronger? I have a change to buy a euro 1985 and was just curious. TY

Not sure what the market is, but in general, there aren't a whole lot of these cars that come up for sale in any condition and, of the cars that do, this car is one of the most original, low mile examples remaining, which accounts for my asking price. I've already had an offer that isn't to far off from my asking (without the Alpina wheels) so I'm waiting for the right buyer who can appreciate the car for what it is.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 2438466908

[leadphut]

[warning! unsoliticed advice]

if you've got a seller close to your asking, sans alpinas, i'd recommend taking it. alpinas have held their value for as long as i can remember. whereas e23's are hit-n-miss. i only bring that up because i don't know of many people in the market for these cars.

[gtom]

[warning! unsoliticed advice]

if you've got a seller close to your asking, sans alpinas, i'd recommend taking it. alpinas have held their value for as long as i can remember. whereas e23's are hit-n-miss. i only bring that up because i don't know of many people in the market for these cars.

Asking without Alpina wheels is $10,300.

As far as interest goes, at last count on previous eBay auction prior to non-paying buyer, was 647 views and 30+ watchers. Relisted on eBay yesterday and have received offers already. So it's a wait and see for now.

[muleskinner]

It may take a while to sell, but I think that's a very fair asking price in that nice of a condition with less than 100K on the clock. Great color. A set of euro bumpers and lights would really finish it off.

[offroadkarter]

I think you should put it up on BaT, ebay has proven not very good for selling clean e23's at a strong price whereas BaT is the exact opposite. Sell it without the alpinas, you might, might get your 10,300 price met.



I hope you get what you're after. This is a very lovely car for sure, if it was a 745i or even a euro 735i 5spd I could see you getting your asking price no issues. But a US spec 735i automatic is going to be a tough sell at 13 grand. One strong thing you have going for your car which I'm glad you put in bold, is the fully functioning HVAC.

[gtom]

It may take a while to sell, but I think that's a very fair asking price in that nice of a condition with less than 100K on the clock. Great color. A set of euro bumpers and lights would really finish it off.

Thank you for your comments! I agree about the price considering how much has gone into the car to sort it to this point. And yes, if I were to keep the car, I would have eventually mounted a set of euro bumpers and headlights after doing a TCD turbo kit with intercooler and a coarse spline sport steering wheel. I hope the next owner of this car has the same vision!

-- Added 16 Feb 2017 22:02 --

I think you should put it up on BaT, ebay has proven not very good for selling clean e23's at a strong price whereas BaT is the exact opposite. Sell it without the alpinas, you might, might get your 10,300 price met.


I hope you get what you're after. This is a very lovely car for sure, if it was a 745i or even a euro 735i 5spd I could see you getting your asking price no issues. But a US spec 735i automatic is going to be a tough sell at 13 grand. One strong thing you have going for your car which I'm glad you put in bold, is the fully functioning HVAC.

My thoughts exactly. If there's no luck on eBay or here on the board, I hope that BaT will accept it on their auctions.

Yes, the HVAC system works well, face vents and all with cold AC. Nice heating and defrosting as well.

[offroadkarter]

My thoughts exactly. If there's no luck on eBay or here on the board, I hope that BaT will accept it on their auctions.

Of course they'll accept it, hell look what just went up today

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-728i/

[gtom]

My thoughts exactly. If there's no luck on eBay or here on the board, I hope that BaT will accept it on their auctions.

Of course they'll accept it, hell look what just went up today

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-728i/

Oh...hmm ok. Car has been sitting in the garage collecting dust since I took the pictures so I need to wash it again, change the wheels and take some more before it starts raining again lol.

[cegeste]

Of course they'll accept it, hell look what just went up today

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-728i/

Is this Bunty's ?

[leadphut]

Of course they'll accept it, hell look what just went up today

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-728i/

Is this Bunty's ?

si. although his CL ad has been deleted.

[gtom]

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-735i-2/

[offroadkarter]

Price Reduced

$49 dollars to list a car on BaT for the March sale, just saying

[Batushka]

Nice E23! I would be tempted to buy this one if it weren't for the fact I just sold my E28 for a reason (going out of the country for a few months). If this was a 745i Turbo then I would probably make an incredibly irrational decision before I moved out, haha. GLWS, looks especially amazing with those Alpina rims.

[gtom]

Price Reduced

$49 dollars to list a car on BaT for the March sale, just saying

Yep, thanks for the reminder. The BMW is on eBay right now at:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 2466707793

Will try this first.

-- Added 10 Mar 2017 18:56 --

Nice E23! I would be tempted to buy this one if it weren't for the fact I just sold my E28 for a reason (going out of the country for a few months). If this was a 745i Turbo then I would probably make an incredibly irrational decision before I moved out, haha. GLWS, looks especially amazing with those Alpina rims.

Thanks for your comments! The BMW is in great shape. I hope it sells soon but if it's still around when you get back please let me know if you'd be interested.

Thanks again

[offroadkarter]

Price Reduced

$49 dollars to list a car on BaT for the March sale, just saying

Yep, thanks for the reminder. The BMW is on eBay right now at:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 2466707793

Will try this first.

sicstang03's 745i is due to hit BaT next week, should be a good tell tale for the market on a nicer e23 like yours and his.

If his car doesn't do well, I'm not saying a word about BaT ever again

[sixxxer]

Never understood auctions with a reserve

[m-racer]

Never understood auctions with a reserve

why? It's the only way I would ever sell anything of value at an auction.

[gtom]

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-735i-2/

[sixxxer]

Never understood auctions with a reserve

why? It's the only way I would ever sell anything of value at an auction.

The car is awesome... I just bought a 635 and I hate myself as I would love to have bought your car as the price is quite good.

I just think the auction has to go without reserve and the price that car sales would be the correct price determined by the market itself. Otherwise it just has to be a buy now price with a best offer option. But this is just my opinion .. gl with the sale man.

[offroadkarter]

I see you just hit BaT. I wish you all the best with the sale!

Do you have a reserve on the car?

[gtom]

I see you just hit BaT. I wish you all the best with the sale!

Do you have a reserve on the car?

Hey thanks! No reserve auction: http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-735i-2/

[leadphut]

if it reaches passed 7k, i may put my euro up for sale.

[gtom]

I see you just hit BaT. I wish you all the best with the sale!

Do you have a reserve on the car?

Hey thanks! No reserve auction: http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-bmw-735i-2/

Good luck gtom, I'm sure the car will do very well, probbably eclipse your "reduced" asking price.

Thanks, I hope it does well!