Powertrain families
M30/M90 petrol I6 · M88/S38 high-performance I6
6 Series (E24) — Coupe
1976–1989
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E24
- Production
- 1976–1989
- Body style
- 2-door coupe
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
6 Series → E24 → Coupe
6 Series E24: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected coupe fits into the family.
E24 was the first BMW 6 Series and existed as a single two-door coupe body from 1976 to 1989. Paul Bracq's long-nose, low-glasshouse form replaced the E9 coupe family in BMW's range, while early body manufacture and assembly involved Karmann before production responsibilities moved more fully to BMW.
The long lifecycle spans two technical phases. Early cars used running gear related to the E12 5 Series; the 1982 revision moved the model onto E28-related chassis and electrical foundations while retaining the recognisable E24 body. Engine, suspension, brake and identification data therefore need a pre-/post-1982 boundary.
The M635CSi added the M88-derived high-performance six-cylinder engine in Europe, while the North American M6 used a market-specific S38 derivative. These cars are historically part of E24 but also belong to the separate BMW M model tree; their names, emissions specifications and production counts cannot be merged with an ordinary 635CSi.
1976–1989generation lifecycle
1body branches
2engine/drive families
6range designations
E24factory code
longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Coupe: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,755 mm
Width1,725 mm
Height1,365 mm
Wheelbase2,626 mm
Luggage≈ 481 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats4
Doors2-door coupe
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupe | E24 | 1976–1989 | 2-door coupe / 4 | 4,755 mm | ≈ 481 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented coupe applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 630 CS | 1976–1979 | M30B30 carburetted inline-six | 185 PS | 4MT / 3AT | RWD | Europe | BMW 6 Series (E24) |
| 633 CSi | 1976–1984 | M30B32 injected inline-six | 197–200 PS | 4MT / 5MT / 3AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 6 Series (E24) |
| 628 CSi | 1979–1987 | M30B28 injected inline-six | 184 PS | 5MT / 3AT / 4AT | RWD | Europe | BMW 6 Series (E24) |
| 635 CSi | 1978–1989 | M90 / M30B34 / M30B35 inline-six | 211–220 PS | 5MT / 3AT / 4AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 6 Series (E24) |
| M635 CSi | 1984–1989 | M88/3 3.5 L inline-six | 286 PS | 5MT | RWD | Europe | BMW M635CSi (E24) |
| M6 | 1987–1989 | S38B35 3.5 L inline-six | 256 hp | 5MT | RWD | North America | BMW M635CSi (E24) |
Factory designations
628 CSi · 630 CS · 633 CSi · 635 CSi · M635 CSi · M6
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- E24: 4,755 mm × 1,725 mm × 1,365 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
First 6 Series
630 CS and 633 CSi opened the E24 coupe range in the first half of 1976.
635 CSi flagship
The 3.5-litre 635 CSi broadened the grand-touring performance range.
E28-related technical revision
BMW revised the underpinnings, electronics and interior around newer 5 Series engineering.
M635CSi
The M-developed flagship combined E24 with the M88-family four-valve engine.
Production ends
The final E24 left production on 18 April after more than thirteen years.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Coupe
E246 Series E24 is a distinct E24 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: M30/M90 petrol I6, M88/S38 high-performance I6.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- E24 — Coupe
- Range designations
- 628 CSi, 630 CS, 633 CSi, 635 CSi, M635 CSi, M6
- Powertrain families
- M30/M90 petrol I6, M88/S38 high-performance I6
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 6 Series (E24)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary production, platform-phase, engine and model overview.
- 02BMW 6 Series (E24)BMW Group Archive
Factory-archive series period, final-production date and position in BMW history.
- 03BMW 6 Series Coupé (E24)BMW Group Archive
Factory-archive body design, Karmann production context and coupe-only scope.
- 04BMW M635CSi (E24)BMW Group Archive
Factory-archive M635CSi engine, production and market-position context.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- E24 has one factory series-production body. Convertible conversions must not be promoted to a BMW factory body without coachbuilder-specific evidence.
- The 1982 engineering change and the European M635CSi/North American M6 split are mandatory boundaries for an exact modification matrix.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.