1983 E23 BMW 735i

Lovely looking car! Jealous!!

Just sublime.

Wheels look unusual - what size are they?

V nice - seem to getting popular here
retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=93772

Saw this one on the bay it looks nice, just going to change the front springs on my E23 728

Quick update.

The car passed it's MOT. Unfortunately, it's been keyed twice in the last couple of weeks.. gutted.
Anyone recommend a paintshop/chip repair place in the Manchester area?

Decided to take it on the annual pilgrimage to Le Mans this year instead of my usual MGB. Felt a little guilty because my MG turned 40 in June!

Dropped the green beast into my garage on the Monday before Le Mans. Major problems with overheating and brakes (nothing too important for a long drive to sunny France then!)
It's an independent Alfa Romeo specialist (they look after my Alfa 156) but the main guy there used to run an E23!

They kept the car overnight and diagnosed a problem in the cooling system with the viscous fan. Part arrived Tuesday and was fitted straight away.
The brake issue was a problem with the actuator sphere (no, I'd never heard of one either) BMW wanted £300 for this part, they are available for under £100 elsewhere but would take longer to arrive!

Le Mans ferry was booked for 8am Thursday, I'm in Manchester.
Luckily, the part arrived Wednesday morning, was fitted immediately (Thanks John, MVC Alfa Manchester!) picked the car up lunchtime and set off down south.. car running like a dream!

Gave the car a quick wash at my Mum's house in Stratford Upon Avon on the way down. The electric windows stopped working!
At least we still had a sunroof or reasonably efficient air con!

Car felt great on the trip. Only downside to the weekend was not being allowed into the display area of the Classic British Welcome at Saint Saturnin because we 'Weren't a classic!"



Some cameraphone snaps..


Waiting for Portsmouth- Le Harve ferry





Campsite





In good company





Picking up fuses to try and sort electric window problem





Fueling up at Arnarge for journey home





Matt, Stefan ..Let me know if you're ever over Manchester way- it'd be good to hook up with someone else with an E23


Tyres are 225 50 16. Wheels not original, were replaced sometime to avoid huge prices for metric wheel tyres.


I've bought and scanned in a few 1983 E23 brochures/price lists and the factory options list for my car.

PS. There's a nice E23 buying guide in this months edition of 'BMWcar' magazine.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Car-June-2011-M535i-E28-M3-E92-507-118d-X1-28i-E23-/380350932595?pt=UK_Magazines&hash=item588eaea673

Was the main dealer you went to the one which supplied ther car originally?



That is crazy. The E23 has been a classic for a few years now - its successor is becoming a classic.

"Exclusivity" does put me off classic events. Still, it looks like you had an excellent trip; these classic BMWs are perfect for long distance touring.

David

I bought the BMW Model Price List for 1983, from eBay.

When I've a little more time, I'll work out exactly what my car would have cost new.

My basic price was £18830 in 1983. For reference, my parents 3 bed semi detached house in a decent area cost £13000 just 5 years earlier!
The air conditioning in my car was £1601! Looks like this was a pretty well specced example. I think it my have been a demo car for the first couple of months of it's life.

That price list is very interesting, thanks for posting it up. I had heard rumours that 7's were specced with manuals and it cost extra for an automatic, it just goes to show the type of people who bought them! My 728i was luckily left alone in that department!

They did however pay extra for headlight washers, rear head rests, front fog lights and sunroof, still pretty povospec!