That familiar feeling has returned, it’s been creeping up for a while and then the other day I caught myself scouring Pistonheads *with intent* and it hit me… I think I want to replace the six.
It’s very hard to even write those words.

The problem is what do I go for? I thought about a Mercedes SEC or an old Ford Granda Ghia, they’re both quite decent old bangers but it’s a step down, neither is as good as what I’ve already got.

I considered a Ford Capri but it’s a bit of a cliche and we’re clear out of luxo-barge territory there.

Perhaps that was it though, I already have a barge and I have the best barge available. I love my barnstorming batmobile of a six! What I need is a change of tack, go in a different direction. Something classic, similar level of cred but just not a barge…

Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi?

It’s quick (probably quicker than the six) it handles (the six doesn’t) but it is still just a small Peugeot and of course it’s front wheel drive.

How does this compare? A worthy replacement or is it just a silly idea? HELP ME OUT!

A bit of beamer bumlove follows, sorry.

It’s a BMW 3.0 CSL or more often than not “a batmobile”. It looks like the mutts nuts and the guy who owned it also has a Z1 *and* and E39 M5 as his daily driver. Not a bad thing to aim for.. I mean you would if you could eh?

The 635 that I’ve got is what replaced the 3.0CSL after ’75 when they stopped making them so it was nice to see them together. We had a good old moan about the new shaped six and then went about our shopping.

Like any car you actually own tho, you still fancy the others, he was quite keen on the fletchmobile, extolling its virtues and despite quite clearly (and rightly I think :( ) preferring his own car, was lamenting some of the technology it used which is now well over 30 years old.

Awesome fucking motor, has inspired me to take the six in for a service and sort out the niggles it’s got left, next stop MONTE CARLO!

It’s not slow, has loads of torque and kicks it’s back end out at every opportunity (especially in the wet!). I’m even loving the automatic, brilliant for traffic and for crusing. In short it’s pretty much perfect for me.

Anyhow, I’ve thought about replacing the tyres. They’re not bald or dangerous but it has got three different types on it, they’re different ages etc and they just look a bit “old fashioned”. In fact one of them is even a remould which is frankly an insult so I decided to get rid of them all and order four P6000s or similar.

So the other night I was shopping around and wasn’t sure if it needed 15″ or 16″ tyres so I went downstairs to check – and jesus christ they’re an odd size. They’re not 15 OR 16 inch.. they’re 390mm!! That’s 15.354″ in old money – metric bloody wheels! What?!

Aparantly these were all the rage for a short period around the time when the beamer was new, but they never caught on. There are hardly any companies left manufacturing tyres in that size and the few companies that do (Avon, Michellin and Dunlop) obviously don’t invest in developing them meaning they’ve got pretty much the same tread-pattern as they had 22 years ago.. and things have advance a little bit since 1986. So, that’s why they look a “bit old fashioned”..

Ah ha! I’ve left the best bit till last though.. the metric TRX tyres I need are £200 each!

Sweet Baby Jesus!

I’m not very good at maths but I think most of you will have predicted the next move. New wheels! So I’m on the lookout at the moment for some 16″ers that look well on my ship of a 635 :)

The moral of the story is that if you’re buying a 635.. check the wheelsize :)