1. Development and production

2. Suspension and steering

3. Transmissions

4. Engines

5. M version

6. Model year changes
     1978    1979    1980    1982 facelift    1987  

7. North American and Japanese model range
     630CSi    633CSi    635CSi    M6  

8. Motorsport

9. References

The BMW E24 is the first generation of BMW 6 Series grand tourer coupés which was produced from January 1976 to April 1989. It replaced the E9 coupés and was, after a 16-year hiatus, succeeded by the E63 6 Series in 2004. The E24 was produced solely in a 2-door coupe body style.^[3] Aside from the M635CSi/M6 models, the E24 was powered by a range of BMW M30 six-cylinder engines.

The M635CSi is the first of the BMW M6 model line and is the second BMW M car. It is powered by the M88/3 six-cylinder engine.^[4] In North America, the vehicle is badged as "M6" and uses the less powerful BMW S38 engine.^[5]

Although the BMW 8 Series was released as production of the E24 was ending, the 8 Series is considered a separate model line and therefore not a successor to the E24.^[6]

Development and production

The initial proposal for the E24 was a based on a BMW E9 3.0 CS with an increased height, in order to make it easier for customers to get into the car. However, Bob Lutz rejected the proposal, eventually leading to the shape of the E24 in its production form.^[7] The E24 was designed by Paul Bracq^[8][9][10] Unlike its E9 predecessor, the body of the E24 has a B pillar.^[11]

Production started in January 1976 with the 630CS and 633CSi in February 1976.^[12]
86,216 built^[13] Originally the bodies were manufactured by Karmann, but production was later taken in-house to BMW. Initially, the E24 was based on the E12 5 Series platform.

Suspension and steering

Front suspension consists of MacPherson struts and the rear suspension is independent semi-trailing arms.^[14] In 1982, the front suspension was upgraded to include twin-pivot lower control arms and the geometry of the rear suspension was revised.^[15]

The steering uses a recirculating ball system with power assistance.^[16]

Transmissions

Initially, the E24 was available with a 4-speed manual transmission (Getrag 262),^[17] a 5-speed manual transmission (Getrag 265),^[17] or a 3-speed automatic transmission (ZF 3HP22).^[18]

In 1983 the automatic transmission was upgraded to a 4-speed ZF 4HP22.^[19]

Engines

Figures are for European specification models, unless otherwise stated.

• U.S. only

M version

The E24 M635CSi, introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1983, is the first in the line of M6 models. In 1987, the equivalent model for the North American (U.S. and Canada) market was introduced and badged simply M6.

The M635CSi is powered by a {{convert|210|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} version of the M88/3 engine.^[20] The North American M6 vehicle is powered by the detuned {{convert|191|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} version of the S38 engine, which has a lower compression ratio and uses a catalytic converter.

Over its production run from 1983 through 1989, 4,088 {{nowrap|M635CSi}} cars were built, 1,767 of which were for the North American market.^[21]

Model year changes

1978

In July 1978, the more powerful 635CSi variant was introduced. The 635CSi featured a close-ratio 5-speed gearbox and a single piece black rear spoiler. The M90 engine's bigger bore and shorter stroke resulted in {{convert|160|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} and increased torque in models without a catalytic converter. The aerodynamic changes reduced uplift at high speeds by almost 15% over the other E24 models.^[22]

1979

In 1979 the carburetted 630CS was replaced with the 628CSi;^[23] this car had a fuel-injected 2.8L engine taken from the E12 528i. An anti-lock braking system became available as an option.

1980

In 1980, the fuel-injection systems changed from Bosch L-jetronic to Bosch Motronic.^[24] The 635CSi central locking system could now be operated from the passenger door and trunk.

1982 facelift

In 1982 (model year 1983 in the US), the E24 platform changed from the E12 5 Series to the E28 5 Series, resulting changes to exterior styling, engines, chassis, suspension, electronics and the interior. The struts in the new front suspension were double-linked ones, making the car less likely to dip under hard braking. The new rear axle was nearly identical to the trailing arm layout of the E28 528i, with the addition of an extra top-mounted link.^[25] Meanwhile, the ventilated rear discs had proven a needless complication and were replaced with solid ones.

The 635 CSi engine was updated to the {{convert|3430|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on}} M30B34, which used a smaller bore and longer stroke than the previous {{convert|3453|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on}} M90 engine. The 635CSi became available with a wide-ratio 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

1987

E24s produced after June 1987 were fitted with ellipsoid headlamps, as per the recently introduced E32 7 Series.^[26] The front and rear bumpers and spoilers were redesigned to use a single design worldwide^[27] (prior to this, models sold in North America used a different design from the rest of the world).

The 635CSi engine was updated to the higher compression M30B35,^[28] which resulted in a power increase of {{convert|19|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} for engines with catalytic converters.

North American and Japanese model range

Although other markets offered multiple E24 models, in North America only one model was available at any given time (aside from the M6).

630CSi

In 1977, the 6 series was released in the US as the 630CSi. The 630CSi is powered by a fuel-injected version of the 630CS engine. This 3.0 litre engine produces {{convert|176|hp|kW|abbr=on|order=flip}} and {{convert|185|lbfft|abbr=on|order=flip}}.

633CSi

The 630CSi was replaced in September 1977 by the 633CSi.^[29] In United States/Japan specification, the 633CSi was powered by a {{Convert|181|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} version of the M30B32 engine. Output later dropped to {{Convert|174|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}.

In September 1980 (1981 model year), the manual transmission for US cars was upgraded from a 4-speed to a 5-speed. A 3-speed automatic transmission was optional.^[30]

In September 1982, the major facelift (for all markets worldwide) resulted in the North American and Japanese models being based on the E28 5 Series platform.

635CSi

In 1985, the 633CSi was replaced by the 635CSi for the North American Market.^[31] This model uses the M30B34 engine, which produces {{Convert|182|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} and {{convert|214|lbfft|abbr=on|order=flip}} at 4,000 rpm. An L6 "luxury edition" version of the 635CSi was available in North America for the 1987 model year. The L6 featured leather headliner and trim and an automatic gearbox.^[32]

In 1988, the engine was upgraded to the M30B35. This engine has a capacity of 3.4 Litres (despite the model code and the "3.5" inscribed on the intake manifold) and produces {{convert|208|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} and {{convert|225|lbfft|abbr=on|order=flip}} torque. This upgraded engine resulted in catalytic converter equipped United States models offering similar performance to European models.^[31] Self-leveling rear suspension was added to the 635CSi and M6 features list.^[31]

M6

In 1987, North America and Japan received their equivalent of the M635CSi, called the M6. The main difference between the M6 and its European counterpart, is that the S38 engine is used instead of the M88. Compared with the M88, the S38 has a catalytic converter, the compression ratio reduced to 9.8:1, a double row timing chain, a shorter camshaft duration and a simplified exhaust manifold. The power output for the North American E24 M6 is {{Convert|256|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}, which is {{convert|30|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} less than the European M635CSi.^[21]

Standard equipment on the United States market M6 cars included many features which were optional on the European cars, including heated power seats, self-leveling rear suspension, beverage chiller (cooled by an air-conditioning system) between the rear seats, air-conditioning vents for rear seat occupants, sunshade for rear occupants and an 8 speaker premium sound system.^[33]

Motorsport

• European Touring Car Championship; 3 titles (1981, 1983 and 1986)
• Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft; 1 title (1984)
• Belgian Touring Car Championship (Group N); 1 title (1984)
• Australian Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1985)
• Australian Endurance Championship; 2 titles (1985 and 1986)
• Australian Manufacturers' Championship; 1 title (1985)
• AMSCAR Series; 1 title (1985)
• European Hill Climb Championship; 1 title (1985)
• New Zealand Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (1985 and 1987)
• New Zealand Benson & Hedges Saloon Car Series; 1 title (1985)
• Nissan-Mobil 500 Series (New Zealand); 1 title (1985)
• Japanese Touring Car Championship; 1 titles (1985)

• RAC Tourist Trophy; 2 wins (1980 and 1984)
• 4h/500 km of Monza; 3 wins (1980, 1981 and 1983)
• Guia Race; 1 win (1983)
• Spa 24 Hours; 3 wins (1983, 1985 and 1986)
• 24 Hours Nürburgring; 2 wins (1984 and 1985)
• Sandown 500; 1 win (1985)

References

• Hellfire Clubs
• Hellfire (disambiguation)
• Hellfire Festival
• Hellfire (Marvel Comics)
• Hell-Fire pickle chips
• Hell Followed
• Hell for Certain
• Hellga
• Hell Gate Forest Reserve
• Hell Gate (ghost town)
• Hell Gate, Montana
• Hell Gate National Forest
• Hellgate Rollergirls
• Hell Gates
• Hell girl
• Hell Gorge
• Hellgrammite (disambiguation)
• Hellgrammites
• Hellgrimur Helgason
• Hell Has Harbour Views
• Hell Has Harbour Views (film)
• Hell Has Harbour Views (film)/version 2
• Hell Has Harbour Views (novel)
• Hell Has Harbour Views (television film)
• Hell Has Harbour Views (television movie)