Powertrain families
M88/3 · S38B35
M6 (E24) — Coupe
1983–1989
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E24
- Production
- 1983–1989
- Body style
- 2-door coupe
- Platform
- BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
M6 → E24 → Coupe
M6 E24: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected coupe fits into the family.
E24 is catalogued as the first M6 generation, but its name was market-dependent: most markets received M635CSi, while North America and Japan used M6. The European M88/3 and catalyst-equipped S38B35 are related but distinct engines with different rated outputs and emissions systems.
The car combined the long-running E24 coupé body with M-developed suspension, brakes, differential and the M1-derived four-valve inline-six. Production start, trim and bumpers vary by market, particularly before and after North American safety and emissions requirements.
The ordinary 635CSi and appearance-only Motorsport packages are not M635CSi/M6 modifications. Catalog search may show both names together, but every technical row must preserve the sales name, engine and market that actually applied.
1983–1989generation lifecycle
1body branches
2engine/drive families
2range designations
E24factory code
BMW M · 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
Height1,354 mm
Wheelbase2,626 mm
Luggage≈ 481 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats4
Doors2-door coupe
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupe | E24 | 1983–1989 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M635 CSi | 1984–1989 | M88/3 3.5 L inline-six | 286 PS | 5MT | RWD | Europe | BMW M6 E63/E64 history |
| M6 | 1987–1989 | S38B35 3.5 L inline-six | 256 hp | 5MT | RWD | North America | BMW M6 E63/E64 history |
Factory designations
M635 CSi · M6
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
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: BMW M · 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 × 1,354 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.
M635CSi production
The M88-powered European high-performance coupé entered production.
M6 market name
North American and Japanese programmes used the M6 badge and catalyst-equipped engine.
Late E24 changes
Body and equipment revisions followed the underlying 6 Series production cycle.
First M6 family ends
Production concluded with the end of the E24 era.
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
E24M6 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: M88/3, S38B35.
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
- M635 CSi, M6
- Powertrain families
- M88/3, S38B35
- 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 M6Wikipedia contributors
Secondary E24 naming, engine, market and production overview.
- 02BMW M6 E63/E64: the coupé that became a super sports carBMW M
BMW M retrospective linking the E63 successor to M635CSi/M6 E24 and documenting the lineage.
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.
- M635CSi and M6 badges map to market-specific M88/3 and S38B35 specifications.
- Do not include regular 635CSi or appearance-only Motorsport packages.
- 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.
2 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026