5-Spd Black On Black: 1985 BMW 735i E23
The Paul Bracq designed E23 generation BMW 7-series was released in 1977, right in the middle of the malaise era, but it was far from a floating slow boat that induced thoughts of suicide, particularly with a manual gearbox. Domestic cars might have offered luxury in the form of a vinyl top or total isolation from the road, but the German version of luxury involved a properly fast ride with a manual gearbox, taught suspension, and rear-wheel-drive. The only thing you couldn’t get in a late 70s/early 80s BMW was a beverage holder for your giant American big-gulp. Life is full of compromises, I guess. Find this 1985 BMW 735i E23 offered for $4500 in San Rafael, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1985 BMW 735I
condition: salvage
cylinders: 6 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 174000
paint color: black
title status: salvage
transmission: manual
type: sedan
Hi
Please call or text. I don’t check my email very often
SMOG CERTICICATE in hand
new registration just paid $145
This is a very clean and straight bmw 735i black on black bmw
I need to emphasis how straight this car is . Good paint, it was painted about 8 years ago. no chips or dings.
Five speed manual transmission
FAIRLY NEW PAINT
NEW FUEL PUMP $1000
FAIRLY NEW TIRES
NEW MUFFLER
NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER
RUNS GOOD
NO RUST
CLEAN CALIFORNIA CAR
This car has a salvage title due to a hit in the rear quarter panel.
damage was barely noticeable when I got out to look at it. there is no evidence of it. This is an old car , not perfect but nice
please call me or text me at show contact info I’m in San Rafeal ca
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What’s the catch here? This seems like an almost too fair price. Like someone has actually asked for what is reasonable. April Fools?
Yes! +1 upvote. April fools indeed!
Well, Bracq is 86 and still going too.
Suits me just about perfectly. Except for location of car and steering wheel.
Well…the car could be shipping anywhere on the planet and you could install this wheelif you don’t like that one.
Um, huh O_o
And we’ve already talked about the shipping economics of a car that’s worth less than the cost to ship it, especially when that other car is the size of a ship and won’t fit through a Wimpy’s drive-thru.
I bought another e23 from this owner whom seemed to be an enthusiast. The car was a fair price but represented as “clean and sanitized “ & “drives fantastic”. This was so far from the truth. Mechanically a dog and the car was filthy they even left a ziplock bag with a bloody piece of fabric labeled for doctor in the glovebox. Not to mention the owner really enjoyed McDonald’s in the car since French fries and ketchup packets everywhere. Lucky for me it was a rare L7 model I really wanted. I put about $5k in service dozens of new parts, solved all vacuum leaks, replaced every bushing in the rear end and serviced the driveshaft and hours of my labor in restoring the leather interior. I now have a road worthy old car which runs fantastic. I suspect the owner wanted to dump the car due to a hard shifting Auto Transmission. I got the last laugh as the 4spd Auto was an early electronically controlled unit and needed the throttle sensor replaced for under 100 bucks car now shifts like a dream silky smooth. Moral of the story is the advertisement is a fair price for an e23 which are now rare cars but expect alot of work on these over 30 year old cars and parts are a fun search but attainable.