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BMW 635 CSi - The joy of shifting gears

Name: BMW 635 CSi Automatik 1981
Brand: BMW

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Created on April 14, 2022

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - Left with three-speed automatic transmission, right with five-speed manual transmission

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - In sapphire blue and graphite gray

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - Left with automatic transmission, right with manual transmission

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - The sleek coupé line remained current for almost 13 years

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - The same at first glance, but very different in detail

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - Heavily inclined front with recessed headlights

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - BBS light-alloy wheels in cross-spoke design

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - Early rubber spoiler with decorative stripes

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BMW 635 CSi (1979 & 1981) - The rubber spoiler was one of the features of the sports model

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - In the color "Graphite-Metallic"

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - front spoiler and trim strips are original, the wheel arch chrome has been retrofitted

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Formerly a common sight in the rear-view mirror on the left-hand lane

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Four round headlights as a typical BMW feature

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - With original BBS alloy wheels

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Exhaust pipes emerging almost centrally

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - sports steering wheel and sports seats were available at extra cost

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Well-hidden door opener

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - "Check-Control" for monitoring the fill levels and functions

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Until 1981 the speedometer sat alone in the middle

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Only the 635 had red needles

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - The bezel of the analog clock regulates the blower level

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Wonderfully easy to operate, long ratio five-speed gearbox

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine with 218 hp

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Six vertical intake manifolds characterize the L-Jetronic

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BMW 635 CSi (1979) - Wide-opening doors with frameless windows

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Wide-opening doors with frameless windows

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Cozy interior in blue and black

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - fabric seat covers, leatherette door trim

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Display for the selector lever position above the speedometer

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - The speedometer and rev counter were not the same size until 1982

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Consistently German-labeled center console with digital clock

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Less than charming automatic transmission backdrop, cheap-looking lever

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Seat backrest adjustment by lever

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine with 218 hp

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - six-cylinder engine tilted 30 degrees to the right

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Auto, Motor und Sport found the stripes "intrusive" at the time

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - In the color "Sapphire Blue Metallic"

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Barely higher than the "penguins" on the roadside

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - A right-hand exterior mirror was available at extra cost

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Discreet, yet impressive exhaust note

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Exhaust pipes emerging almost centrally

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Clearly sloping trunk lid

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BMW 635 CSi (1981) - Slim, high kidney grille in the shark nose

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Summary

Does the transmission determine the character of a car or does the character determine the transmission? Some people don't like automatic transmissions because they find them unsportsmanlike and sluggish. Others swear by the convenience of the automatic gearbox and would never dream of going to the trouble of changing gear themselves. We dared to try it out for ourselves and asked two BMW 635 CSi models to take part in a "comparison test" - guaranteed to be free of scientific claims and precise measuring methods.

This article contains the following chapters

What came first?
The E24 in brief
The manual gray
The automatic blue
A definite "maybe"

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

I'm getting old. It's a stark realization, even though I'm only just approaching the legal age for classic cars. Ten years ago, when the paint on my driver's license was not yet completely dry, I would never have had a car with an automatic transmission in my house or garage. After all, I was now an officially recognized and licensed driver, and nothing spells the word "expert" as clearly as the smooth hand-foot choreography of a quick gear change with intermediate throttle. The word "driver's license" read suspiciously like "racing license" back then. Today, I prefer not to stir the gearbox like Paul Bocuse after every braking or starting maneuver and instead let my mute servant shift gears. The only exceptions are English roadsters. But they are not a means of transportation, they are sports equipment. And using them requires meaningful physical activity.

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