Writing about the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL sedan recently got me looking at what writers of the day thought were its competitors. I posted about the Jaguar XJ6 a couple of years ago—perhaps it’s time to finally finish this post about the 733i.

“Engineered for drivers, not onlookers.”

For 1982, BMW’s top-of-the-line 733i sedan received a slight horsepower bump. Otherwise, things changed little from 1981, when the significant upgrade had been the introduction of a five-speed overdrive manual. The general look and marketing of the 7-series remained about the same as it had been when BMW launched it in 1977.

The 733i’s standard powertrain was the M30B32 181 bhp 3.3 liter inline six coupled to the aforementioned five-speed manual. More than forty years later, the manuals are popular with collectors, but the smart money is that most 733i’s were ordered new with the three-speed automatic ($775). With the manual, 0-60 came in about eight seconds—crazy fast for a sedan in 1982, let alone one with a curb weight of almost 3,600 pounds. Fuel economy was rated at 19 city/29 highway mpg—with a 22.5-gallon gas tank, a 733i driver could expect a range of 395 to 435 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The $33,315 733i (about $114,700 in today’s dollars or almost what a 2025 760i xDrive sedan goes for) came well-equipped. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included tinted glass, halogen high beam lights, an electric dual position sunroof, power assisted steering, power assisted four wheel disc brakes, and P205/70R14 steel-belted radial tires (a size still readily available) on 14-inch light alloy wheels. Inside, leather upholstery, fully adjustable front bucket seats, an adjustable telescopic steering column, electric windows, an electric central locking system, air conditioning, and an AM/FM stereo cassette radio with an electric antenna were included. The famous deluxe toolkit was integrated into the trunk.

The View From 2025

Like many BMWs, the 733i does attract collector interest, and there is support from BMW car clubs. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1982 BMW 733i in #1/Concours condition is $32,200, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $8,400. 733i’s frequently appear for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring A Trailer.

Make mine New Polaris Metallic, please. I know silver is a BMW and other German car cliché, but sometimes a cliché is correct.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1987 M6 coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan. I should write about the 5-series at some point.

Last updated June 2025.

I like to think that I was pretty aware of automotive model lines in the eighties. Somehow, I completely missed the BMW L6 coupe until 2022.

“Contempt for Compromise”

For 1987 only, BMW bifurcated the 6-series coupe line into two distinct versions: the sporting M6 and the luxury-oriented L6.

The L6’s only powertrain was the M30B34 182 bhp 3.4 liter/209 ci inline six with fuel injection paired with a four-speed automatic. 0-60 came in a little over 9 seconds in a car with a 3,490-pound curb weight. Fuel economy was rated at 16 city/21 highway by the day’s standards (15 city/20 highway by modern measures). With an 18.5-gallon gas tank, an L6’s proud new owner could expect a range of between 290 and 310 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The $49,500 L6 came well-equipped—a good thing, as that is approximately $145,400 in 2025 dollars, which is substantially more than a loaded 2025 840i XDrive coupe costs. Exterior and mechanical features included a sunroof, power steering, four wheel disc brakes, and 220/55-390 Michelin TRX tires (available from Coker Tire) on 390 mm aluminum wheels. Inside, automatic air conditioning, cruise control, power leather seats, power windows, and power mirrors were included. Distinctive features included a rear center console with individual climate controls, a leather headliner, and a unique leather dash that was notorious for peeling and warping due to the heat from the windshield. 

Options & Production Numbers

With all that standard equipment, few options were available. A limited slip differential was $390.

The L6 did not sell very well in its single year—BMW moved 1,217. For comparison, the M6 sold 1,767 in the same year.

The View From 2025

Many vintage BMWs have strong forum support, and there is definite collector interest in the 6-series coupes. L6 coupes are sometimes available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and at online auctions such as Bring a Trailer which cater to the eighties car market.

Make mine Salmon Silver Metallic, please.

BMW models I have written about other than the 1987 L6 and M6 include the 1982 733i sedan, the 1983 320i coupe, the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan.

Last updated October 2025.

At the 2021 Mecum Indy, a Cinnabar Red 1987 BMW M6 coupe with tan leather front bucket seats sold for $50,000. That compelled me to write this blog post, but that price would be somewhat of a steal now.

“For the zealots.”

For the 1987 model year, BMW finally brought the European M635CSi (available since 1983) to North America, but rebadged it as the M6. This rebadging meant that the “civilian” 6-series (previously the 633CSi) was redesignated as the L6. Specific M6 details included front and rear M badging, a larger front air dam and rear spoiler, and matching color side mirrors.

The M6’s engine was the S38B35 256 bhp 3.5 liter/211 ci inline six with Bosch Motronic fuel injection. With an 18.5-gallon gas tank, the fuel economy rating of 10 city/19 highway mpg (9/17 by today’s measures) meant a short range of between 220 and 240 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds.

The M6’s base price was $58,970—about $173,300 in today’s dollars, and about 23% more than a 2025 M8 Gran Coupe starts at. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included metallic paint, halogen headlights, speed-related power steering, four-wheel power anti-lock disc brakes, and Michelin TRX 240/45VR-415 tires (still available!) on 7.7-by-16.3-inch BBS alloy wheels.

Inside the very well-equipped M6, BMW paired leather reclining front bucket seats with memory with leather rear bucket seats. Other interior accouterments included front and rear air conditioning, power heated side mirrors, power door locks, a three-spoke leather-covered steering wheel, a trip computer, and a digital clock. Audio entertainment was provided by a BMW Sound System with an AM/FM stereo radio, a cassette player, eight speakers, and a power antenna.

Production Numbers & Period Reviews

The 1987 M6 had no factory options—buyers chose the exterior and interior colors, and that was it.

BMW produced a total of 1,767 M6 coupes for North America between September 1986 and September 1988. Reviews were excellent, with the only complaints being the eye-watering price and the fuel mileage (“drinks gas like a fiend”). Car and Driver stated that the M6 was “one of those wild, wonderful cars that throw the scales of automotive justice totally off balance.”

The View From 2025

Like many BMWs, the M6 attracts collector interest, and there is series-specific club support along with that of the bigger BMW car clubs. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1987 M6 in #1/Concours condition is $120,000, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $38,600.

M6s are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I update this post in December 2025, a Black 1987 M6 with grey leather front bucket seats and 87,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings, asking $49,900.

Make mine Silver, please—I think.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1982 733i sedan, the 1983 320i coupe, the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1985 535i sedan, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan.

Last updated December 2025.

A neighbor of mine owned a BMW 633CSi for many years. I think all 6-series coupes from the seventies and eighties are good-looking, but this one was exceptionally attractive, with a dark blue exterior and a tan interior.

“A conspicuous exception”

For the 1983 model year, BMW changed the platform of the 6-series coupe in North America. This substantial update—the first since the introduction of the series in 1977—resulted in changes to the exterior styling, the engine, the chassis, the suspension, the electronics, and the interior. These changes still left the 633CSi both very recognizable to and quite comfortable for its intended market.

BMW updated the 633CSi’s engine to the M30 181 bhp 3.2 liter/196 ci inline six with Bosch Motronic fuel injection. This engine was available with a standard wide-ratio five-speed manual or an optional automatic. With an 18.5-gallon gas tank, the fuel economy rating of 19 city/29 highway mpg meant a range of 360 and 400 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. 0-60 mph came in about 8.5 seconds—competitive performance for a luxury coupe in 1983.

The updated front suspension featured double-linked struts, making the big coupe less likely to dip under hard braking. The new rear axle assembly added a top-mounted link to the trailing arm layout of the E28 528i. BMW replaced the ventilated rear disc brakes seen in previous years with solid ones in a token bid at simplicity.

The 633CSi’s base price was $39,210—about $127,400 in today’s dollars, and about 39% more than a base 2025 840i coupe goes for. Notably, this price was still less than its putative German competition; a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SEC was almost $15,000 more. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included quad headlights with halogen high beams, power steering, four-wheel power disc brakes, and 205/70R14 tires (a size still readily available) on 14 x 6.5 inch light-alloy wheels. Inside the 633CSi, BMW paired leather reclining front bucket seats with leather rear bucket seats. Other interior accouterments included air conditioning, power heated side mirrors, power door locks, a three-spoke leather-covered steering wheel, and a digital clock.

The View From 2025

BMW would build the 6-series coupes through the 1989 model year. Like many BMWs, the 633CSi attracts collector interest, and there is series-specific club support along with that of the bigger BMW car clubs. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1983 633CSi in #1/Concours condition is $52,400, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $17,500. 633CSi’s are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors, and they also show up at auction—both online (Bring a Trailer) and in person.

Make mine Lapis Blue, please.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1984 325e coupe, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1987 M6 coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan.

Last updated March 2025.

“High technology dedicated to heightening your pulse rate.”

For many years, I saw BMW’s 325e as a rare misstep for BMW in the eighties, a decade where BMW generally could do no wrong.

The e stood for efficiency, and the engine was BMW’s torque-optimized M20B27 2.7 liter/165 ci inline six with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, making 121 bhp and 170 lb-ft of torque with a fairly low 4,700 rpm redline. Mileage by the standards of the day was pretty good: 21 city/28 highway (18/26 by 2025 measures) with the standard five-speed manual transmission. With a 14.5-gallon gas tank, proud new owners of a 325e could expect between 290 and 315 miles of range with a 10% reserve.

0-60 mph with the five-speed manual took between 8.5 and 9 seconds, and the 325e’s top speed was 116 mph—not exactly the kind of numbers one would expect from the “Ultimate Driving Machine.” As Car and Driver wrote, “the 325e is less of a goer than you would imagine.” Despite this, BMW did its best to present the 325e as a legitimate part of its overall product line.

The 325e’s base price was $19,700—about $62,900 in 2025 dollars, which is 15% more than what a 2026 BMW 430i xDrive coupe goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included tinted glass, bumper-mounted fog lights, halogen headlights, power four-wheel disk brakes, power steering, and 195/60R14 tires (the same size as those on the Isuzu Impulse) on 14-inch wheels. Inside, the 325e came well-equipped: cloth or leatherette manual sport seats, a power sunroof, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, air conditioning, a three spoke leather sport steering wheel, and a BMW/Alpine four-speaker AM/FM stereo with cassette and power antenna were all included.

Options & Model History

There were relatively few options available for the 325e: a four-speed automatic transmission ($595), leather seats ($790), cruise control ($240), many choices of metallic paint ($420), and a limited slip differential.

In 1986, BMW introduced the 325es variant, which included revised suspension tuning and made the limited slip differential standard. BMW would continue with the 325e and 325es as the top-of-the-line 3 series until 1987, when the 325i and 325is were released with the 2.5 liter/152 ci M20B25 inline 6 featuring a much more sporting 168 bhp. Horsepower for the 325e would climb just a little in 1988, but by 1989 it would be gone, replaced completely in the 3-series model line by the 325i.

The View From 2025

One of the things that strikes me, approximately forty years later, is that I have never heard from a 325e owner who didn’t like their car. We tend to think of our vehicle purchase decisions as valid, but it is rare to see such unanimity. Perhaps I and the automotive press missed something about the appeal of these cars.

The 325e is rarely seen in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, but examples do show up on eBay Motors and Bring a Trailer. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1984 325e in #1/Concours condition is $34,200, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $14,100.

Make mine Baltic Blue Metallic, please.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1982 733i sedan, the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1985 535i sedan, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1987 M6 coupe, the 1988 750iL sedan, and the 1988 M3 coupe.

Last updated August 2025.

“Enter into a new world.”

After a year in production with just the straight 6, the second generation of BMW’s top-of-the-line 7-series sedan got a V12 option in 1988. This engine, designated M70 and BMW’s first production V12, used Bosch Motronic M fuel injection and made a fairly effortless 296 bhp from its 5.0 liter/304 ci size.

The late eighties were back when BMW’s number and letter designations still meant something, so the breakout of the 7-series with the V12 was this:

7 – series
50 – 5.0 liters
i – fuel injected
L – long wheelbase

The 750iL’s eye-popping base price was $69,000—about $193,300 in 2025 dollars, and 55% more than a 2026 760i xDrive sedan goes for. For all that money, the purchaser got almost every piece of equipment BMW could put in the car. Exterior and mechanical features included a ZF four-speed automatic, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, ZF’s Servotronic power steering, a self-leveling rear suspension, and Pirelli P600B 225/60VR-15 tires (a size still somewhat available) on 15-inch wheels. Inside, a driver’s side airbag, a trip computer, dual-zone air conditioning, and leather seats were all standard.

Options, Performance, & Period Reviews

Beyond this, there were a few options available; one was a limited-slip differential. In addition, the buyer of a 750iL was paying the dreaded $1,850 gas guzzler tax—the original EPA estimate was 12 city/17 highway (the modern equivalent would be 11 city/16 highway). With a capacious 27-gallon fuel tank, a 750iL owner could expect a range of 330 to 350 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

I remember being in one of these cars when it was new, and I felt that it accelerated like a Learjet: weighing in at about 4,235 pounds, it still could do 0-60 mph in about 7.5 seconds and hit 155 mph—respectable sports car numbers in the late 1980s. At the time, Car and Driver called it “the sedan of choice when money is no object.”

The View From 2025

Like many BMWs, the 750iL does attract collector interest, and there is support from BMW car clubs. Maintenance costs can be daunting, and Hagerty does not track the 750iL—perhaps because they rarely trade hands. 750iLs do occasionally appear for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring A Trailer.

Make mine Salmon Silver, please, though Diamond Black also has its attractions.

I have also written about the 1982 733i sedan. Other BMWs I have written about include the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1985 535i sedan, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1987 M6 coupe, and the 1988 M3 coupe.

Last updated August 2025.