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 about $131,200 in 2022 dollars, which is substantially more than a 2023 840i XDrive coupe. 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 off and warping due to windshield heat. 

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 2022

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 that cater to the eighties car market.

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1987 BMW L6 coupe in #1/Concours condition is $69,100, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $23,500.

Make mine Salmon Silver Metallic, please.

BMWs I have written about other than the 1987 L6 and M6 include the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan.

At the 2021 Mecum Indy, a Cinnabar Red 1987 BMW M6 coupe with tan leather front bucket seats sold for $50,000.

“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 an 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 meant a range of between 215 and 240 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. 0-60 mph came in a little over six seconds.

The M6’s base price was $58,970—about $143,300 in today’s dollars, and about 10% more than a 2021 M8 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 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 and 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 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 2021

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 $101,000, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $32,700.

M6’s are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors, and they sometimes show up at auction. As I write this post, a Black 1987 M6 with lotus white leather front bucket seats and 42,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings for $94,900. Bring A Trailer auctioned a Royalblau Metallic 1987 M6 with a five-speed manual and lotus white leather front bucket seats for $62,000 in May 2021.

Make mine Silver, please.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan.

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 between 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 $103,900 in today’s dollars, and about 18% more than a base 2021 840i coupe goes for. Notably, this price was still less than it’s 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.

BMW would build the 6-series coupes through the 1989 model year. Like many BMWs, the 633CSi does attract collector interest, and there is series-specific club support along with that of the bigger BMW car clubs. 633CSi’s are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors, and they sometimes show up at auction. As I write this post, an Atlantic Blue Metallic 1984 633CSi with blue leather seats and 231,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings for $6,900 firm. Bring A Trailer auctioned a Sapphire Blue 1984 633CSi with a five-speed manual and blue bucket seats for $11,500 in June 2020.

Make mine Lapis Blue, please.

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

“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/305 ci size.

The late eighties were back when BMW 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

Of course, at the eye-popping base price of $69,000 (about $150,800 in 2018 dollars or about what a 2019 BMW M760i sedan goes for) the purchaser also got almost every piece of equipment BMW could put in the car. Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, ZF’s Servotronic power steering, a self-leveling rear suspension, a driver’s side airbag, a trip computer, dual-zone air conditioning, and leather seats were all standard.

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 27-gallon fuel tank, a 750iL owner could expect a range of between 330 to 350 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

I remember being in one of these cars when it was new, and I felt 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.”

Folks do collect the 750iL, but the maintenance costs can be daunting. The 750iL sometimes makes an appearance in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors, but there were none for sale when I updated this post in December 2018.

Make mine silver, please, though black also has its attractions.

Updated in December 2018.