1988 BMW M6 (E24)

Longterm ownership, recent extensive servicing, rare 17-inch OZ Racing wheels, great driver's car!

BMW brought the 6-series (E24) M6 to the US shores for 3 years starting in 1987 and concluding in 1989 with only 1632 total cars being imported making it a very desirable collector car today. The M6 was the flagship of the M-branded model line and it was the ultimate Autobahn stormer. At the time of introduction, the M6 was truly a world class performance coupe having a 3.5L DOHC, 24-valve, 256 HP, hand built, aluminum engine that was capable of 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds, and a top speed of 150 mph. The only real direct competitors having 2+2 seating, manual gearbox, and luxurious appointments would be a Porsche 928, Aston Martin Vantage, Maserati Biturbo S, or Ferrari Mondial.

The Teutonic BMW was a “tour de force” of engineering then and remains so today as it has aged gracefully over the years and is still just as thrilling to drive now as it was in the fast paced life of the late 1980s. This era of BMW represents the best of German build quality, performance, and style. Today, the high survival rate of these cars are a testament to the passion of the engineers and designers of this exciting time period. The M6 was for the true enthusiast in that only a 5-speed manual gearbox was offered. Other impressive standard equipment included, vented disk brakes with ABS, limited slip differential, deep front air dam, trunk mounted spoiler, and sport tuned suspension. Inside the cabin, acres of fine leather covered every surface. 8-way power adjustable seats with memory were fitted up front while individual buckets were in the back with a separate AC system and storage console. Neat BMW innovations at the time included an electronic trip computer, check control system to alert for faults, and digital service indicator which monitored how the car was driven to display when routine maintenance was due.

Authentic Motorcars is pleased to offer this well preserved 1988 model year BMW M6 to market. 1988 cars received some welcome upgrades over the 1987s that included: better integrated and painted bumpers, revised airdam with aero designed fog lamps, driver air bag, ellipsoid beam halogen headlamps, and an optional 6-disk CD changer mounted in the trunk. This M6 was was built in December of 1987 and was sold new to by Weatherford BMW of Emeryville, CA to a Ron Saunders of Reno, NV in September of 1988. The current owner purchased the car in October of 1992 with 47,000 miles from The BMW Gallery of Overland Park, KS, the car was used as a daily driver for many years. In 1997 the owner moved to WA State when the car had approximately 97,000 miles and the car has resided here ever since.

Over the years the car has been serviced religiously by BMW specialty shops. Major campaigns include: 112k miles: new complete clutch kit, rear main seal replaced, new radiator, water pump, T-stat, and brake accumulator. 128k miles: self-leveling rear suspension removed (common E24 issue) new springs/shocks fitted. 147k miles: New larger cross-drilled brake kit installed, front E31 calipers/rotors/pads, rear E34 calipers/rotors/pads. 149k miles: shifter rebuilt. 154k miles: alternator replaced. 165k miles: new tires. 166k miles: new water pump. 168k miles: driveline rebuilt. 169k miles: clutch slave/master cylinders replaced. Recently the following work has been performed to ready the car for sale: new battery, rebuilt engine ECU computer installed, new fuel pump and filter, new main FI relays, valve cover gasket replaced, new spark plugs, ignition distributor cap/rotor, crank position sensors replaced, and a fresh oil change was done.

The car was detailed top to bottom and the front airdam was repainted to correct rock chips and some minor scrapes. LeatherTech of Bellevue, WA restored the interior, repairing bolster wear and re-dyeing both front seats which look beautiful now. The power seat controls operate as designed with the exception of the headrest up/down power motions. Windows and sunroof functions work well as does the central locking system. The trip computer display is good and the check-control panel and service display function as designed. All lamps, signals, horn, wipers, and interior heater fan are in working order. The AC system is in need of a freon recharge and the odometer just stopped working on its last shop visit but all previous mileage is verified with extensive service documentation from 1992 to present. The engine fires up with ease and has a strong power band, the transmission shifts well up/down in all gears and the brakes feel great.

This M6 has survived remarkably well over the years showing very little wear to the exterior or interior. Period upgrades fitted include a Dinan Stage 2 chip, lowered suspension sitting on 17-inch staggered OZ Racing 3-piece wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport tires; 245/40/17 in front and 265/40/17 in rear (tires last replaced in 2015). There is a dealer accessory M-Technic rear spoiler fitted and the windows have been tinted. The Natur Beige full leather interior is in very good condition unlike cars that were sold to hot, sunny climates which caused the interiors to shrink, dry, and degrade. The Schwarz Black single stage paint shows well with no fading or cracking present.

All rubber trim and brightwork is likewise in outstanding shape. All glass is original to the car with the exception of the windshield which has been replaced at some point with a Pilkington branded windscreen. The body is rust free and panel gaps are excellent. The car includes its original owner’s books, 2 keys, glovebox flashlight, complete tool kit, the spare is a 16-inch BBS alloy wheel with a Pirelli tire and is in good condition.

The CarFax report is clean and the car has a clear WA State title in the current owner’s name. This is a great driver’s car that can be enjoyed for many more miles ahead and still looks great enough to take to Cars and Coffee shows and BMW club events.