E24 interior work, etc.

[gray635]

As some here already know, back in October, I was able to repurchase a 1985 635CSi that I bought from the original owner in Atlanta back in 2001. At the time of my purchase, it had about 43K, all books and records and was Alpine white/taurusrot - one of my favorite color combinations. I sold it to TimJ/m-racer in 2007 and Tim later sold it to a doctor in northern Virginia.

While I really liked the taurusrot interior, I did not like the "comfort" seats - which were anything but comfortable. Unfortunately, the doctor decided that the taurusrot needed redying and basically turned the lovely taurusrot interior into a shade of dingy, dark purple. The contrast shows up best on a shot of the door card:



Anyway, this botched redye job made it a pretty easy decision for me to change the interior color to black after I found a terrific set of black front seats for sale by Ralph in SoCal, who is very active on the www.bigcoupe. com board and occasionally posts here. Ralph sold me the front seats and front and back door cards, plus some extra parts. I bought a nice used rear center console from a guy in England and had my local leather guy redye the speaker pods and the rear seats.

Here is how the interior color change turned out:















The front seats really look better in person than in these photographs, which tend to over-accentuate the grain in the leather.

I've also replaced the rear bumper,cleaned up the engine compartment and replaced the foam insulation, as shown:









I've just about run out of things to upgrade on this old girl! Not too bad for 87K, I think.

[tesko]

Awesome work all around!

[m-racer]

Mike, As much as I flinched a bit when you first spoke of changing the interior, I think it just looks terrific! I really hated the old seats (primary reason I sold it). The Doc should be convicted in old car court for what he did with that dye, but you probably would never have been able to match the Taurusrot to new leather on a set of sports anyway. Great improvement, but I would be surprised if it wasn't! Probably much better driving experience as well. Glad our old car found it's way home. Tim

[gray635]

Tim:

Glad you approve! I loved the taurusrot but hated the "comfort" seats, too. The sports look better and are much kinder to my sorry old back.

[5280 JB]

The interior upgrade project turned out great! Deserves the highest of compliments: "It looks like it belongs that way."

I love that version of sport seats.

Jim

[ACHTUNG]

Fantastic

[leadphut]

Congrats! The taurusrot would've been nice to see, but it looks like you came out just fine in the end.

[GaAlpinaOwner]

Mike it looks terrific. Damn what are you going to do now that it is finished?

for comparison
http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?id=4 ... 0VQiqzD_V0

[gray635]

Well, I just ordered some new fog light lenses from BluntTech this morning, because the originals were a bit sand-blasted! Obviously, I've now run out of things to do to the old girl.

Thanks for the link to the 6 series car at EAG. I had not seen that listing. Hate those Moda wheels on it, though. Hope they get their price! You could buy mine for lots less than $25K.

[wkohler]

That's because you aren't absolutely insane, Mike.

Looks great. I'd have preferred the Taurus as well, but after seeing the discoloration, you certainly went the right direction I think.

[m-racer]

That's because you aren't absolutely insane, Mike.

Looks great. I'd have preferred the Taurus as well, but after seeing the discoloration, you certainly went the right direction I think.

Depends on how you define insane . He has replaced stuff on the two cars we have shared that I never even noticed, much less thought about replacing! Let's just say, Mike's cosmetic standards are a bit higher than the norm. Does than make him insane? One man's lunacy is another man's obsession.

[Zieg]

Mike I understand the switch perfectly. When I purchased my 84 633CSi it had comfort seats. I spent a good deal of money having them re-built and recovered we had the back seats dyed to match the pearl interior color.

Joanne and I drove to our first Sharkfest back in 2006. We were about half way to Spartanburg from Tampa and we had to pull into a Wall mart to purchase seat cushions because our butts were so numb.

As soon as we got home I tracked down a pair of sport seats and had them re-built recovered and installed.

Have driven that car to many distant events and have never experienced "numb buns" again

[gray635]

Well, I think I'm absolutely normal! Perhaps just the tiniest bit obsessive. You should see my sock drawer.

But I do need to give considerable credit to Tim (replaced the cooling system, AC work, Alpina wheels/tires, etc. Unfortunately, the Dr. sold the Alpina shift knob and Alpina steering wheel that Tim installed on the car, but I was able to replace them) and the Dr. (OE exhaust from the manifold back, new suspension, etc.). Aside from the interior, the car was really much better than when I sold it to Tim in 2007.

Bob's 100% right about the "comforts". They put my fanny to sleep, too.

I'm glad you guys approve of the color change. Seemed like the only practical approach after the dye job on the interior.

[three5ives]

Mike, please ignore the following link - nothing to see there.

for comparison
http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?id=4 ... 0VQiqzD_V0

Looking great, hope it shows up at the May C&O.

/Clint

[tonym427]

I had a question on the floor mats, are these the Black or the "ANTHRAZIT" color mats? I know there is the deep black mats and the lighter grey/black mats. I was asking because I ordered the black for mine and they seem really dark compared to the carpet.

thanks!

[bkbimmer]

After seeing your car it makes me want to crush mine

Beautiful car sir!

[GaAlpinaOwner]

Mike when are you coming north....time to show this at C&O or?