<< Prev Page 2 of 2 The new Group A 635 CSi was immediately popular and an impressive number of teams fielded the new BMW in the 1983 ETCC, including defending champions BMW Italia and the quasi-works Schnitzer team. With the more powerful but heavier Jaguars now more reliable, the season saw a formidable battle between the XJ-S and 635 CSi. Eventually, Dieter Quester ended the year as champion in his Schnitzer BMW, ahead of Walkinshaw himself. A BMW also won the blue ribband Spa 24 Hours.
In 1984, the tables were turned and this time the three-car TWR Jaguar dominated the championship, even though the 635 CSi did win the odd race. BMW refused to produce an 500-car evolution version, which would have prolonged the 635 CSi's career. Schnitzer nevertheless soldiered on with a two-car team in 1985. They scored only a single victory but it was the one that counted; the Spa 24 Hours with all-star driving squad Roberto Ravaglia, Gerhard Berger and Marc Surer.
Although no longer competitive over a single lap, the venerable 635 CSis were raced for several more seasons in international and national championships. It was not until 1987 that BMW introduced a true replacement, the Group A version of the newly created M3. Although we do not have an exact number, it is believed that BMW, Alpina and Schnitzer produced over fifty examples of the Group A 635 CSi. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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The new Group A 635 CSi was immediately popular and an impressive number of teams fielded the new BMW in the 1983 ETCC, including defending champions BMW Italia and the quasi-works Schnitzer team. With the more powerful but heavier Jaguars now more reliable, the season saw a formidable battle between the XJ-S and 635 CSi. Eventually, Dieter Quester ended the year as champion in his Schnitzer BMW, ahead of Walkinshaw himself. A BMW also won the blue ribband Spa 24 Hours.