Sean Connery’s BMW is for sale now

Connery’s coupé

On 31 October 2020, we said goodbye to Sir Sean Connery, the first actor to play James Bond, when he passed away aged 90.

Of all those who have portrayed 007, Connery was one of the best-loved, and now the 1986 BMW 635CSi he owned from new for around a decade is for sale with online auction house The Market.

The digital gavel will fall at 7:30pm (GMT) on Friday 15 January 2021 on this classic that’s being sold with no reserve. Want to find out more? Of course you do…

From Munich to Marbella

This left-hand-drive BMW 635CSi was bought new in 1989/’90 by the seven-time 007 Thomas Sean Connery when he resided in Marbella, Spain, the car living in a climate that might well have helped it stand the test of time so well.

And that its owner was probably away from home with work on a regular basis could be a reason why today its odometer reads only 61,841km – just over 38,400 miles. Not bad for a 35-year-old car.

Behind the wheel

Connery must’ve liked the car, though, because he hung onto it until 1998, when it left the sunshine of Spain, bound for a BMW dealer in Lancashire, here in the UK.

Fortunately, it wasn’t about to be subjected to the weather, though.

Safe and sound

Between 1998 and 2007 this E24 grand tourer was kept in dry storage in the UK, before moving to dry storage in Luxembourg from 2008 until 2019, which would explain the numberplates it is pictured with here.

It enjoyed one excursion in 2016, though, when it was taken to a BMW centenary event in Belgium.

Not tyred out

The auction house describes this as ‘a highly original, authentic car’ that is ‘in excellent condition’.

Its original alloys, wearing apparently little-used matching Michelin TRX tyres, certainly seem to back that up.

All white

Meanwhile the Alpine White paint, which suits this coupé’s shape and accentuates its Paul Bracq-penned lines, looks smart and is said to be ‘broadly speaking’ in fine condition.

Most of the paintwork is original, too.

Crisp lines

After so many years of cosseting, you’d hope that this BMW had survived the test of time rather better than the average.

Indeed, the shutlines look to be clean and even, and The Market says no evidence of rust has been found.

Shaken, not stirred

That isn’t to say this classic BMW hasn’t needed some TLC over the years.

According to the vendor, the front of the car, the insides of the wings and also the engine bay have been resprayed.

Ready to roll

That engine bay definitely presents very pleasingly, the 3406cc ‘six’, that the auction house says starts well and pulls strongly, the main attraction.

The brakes are said to offer good retardation, too.

A few creases

Inside, the headlining has been replaced and the Pacific blue leather upholstery is smart but not pristine. Well, this is a car that has actually been used and enjoyed.

However, the leather is intact, so could be brought back to best by this week’s winning bidder.

A breath of fresh air

Given that Connery kept this coupé in Spain and that it has such a dark interior, it probably comes as no surprise that it has a sunroof, to help refresh the cabin.

The sunroof is still operational. And this is one area where there was previously rust, but it has been treated and the car resprayed.

Good as new?

Slip into the back, however, and those supportive-looking rear chairs appear to be in as-new condition.

Have they ever been used? Certainly not very much.

Mind the gap

Now, you may be wondering why this is a 1986 car – its date of production is 4 April – however its delivery date is 19 January 1989, and its Spanish registration document that shows Connery as the owner is from 11 July 1990.

One explanation is that it spent a few years being exhibited in a BMW showroom prior to being sold.

Well travelled

Either way, when it was sold to Prestons BMW Lancashire in 1998 and serviced on 8 June that year, the odometer read 51,959km (32,286 miles), so the Scottish actor had certainly enjoyed a decent amount of time behind the wheel during his custodianship.

It has been driven little since, other than to Luxembourg.

Touching up

Having inspected this modern-classic BMW, The Market says, ‘the door seal on the passenger side is not perfect, the rubber strip around the sunroof could do with being refitted, there is a small crack in the nearside rear-light cluster and there are some tiny blisters to the paintwork on the rear spoiler’.

It is in pretty decent nick, then.

Elbow grease

As we said before, the front chairs, especially around the bolsters, as you can see here, do show some wear.

But that is nothing a little work wouldn’t remedy, while the seats appear to remain supportive.

As cold as ice

As well as having a relatively low mileage, this first-generation 6 Series also has fully functioning air conditioning.

In fact, it is just the cruise control that will need bringing back to life.

Wheely good

And while this BMW might not have those classic, chromed wire wheels of the Aston Martin DB5 that James Bond is rather more associated with, this car’s alloys are both original and apparently in great condition.

Reminders of its past

Built in Germany, sold to a Scottish actor living in Spain and now bearing numberplates from Luxembourg, this BMW 635CSi has had a varied life.

And if you look at the windscreen, you can see it still has stickers for tax paid in Marbella and access to the Puerto Banús harbour, proof of its life in this city and resort in Andalusia.

Stick shift

This might be a 35-year-old modern classic, a grand-touring coupé built for crossing continents, but the 635CSi remains a quick car.

One with a five-speed manual gearbox, like this example, could hit 62mph in 7.6 secs en route to its 143mph top speed.

Capable cruiser

It is also a car that will still turn heads.

Although perhaps less so with you or me sat behind the wheel, rather than Sir Sean Connery. But this BMW is certainly very in keeping with his suave style.

Built to last

As you’d expect from a BMW of this era, the auction house assures us that this consignment has a real ‘built to last’ feel about it.

You can almost imagine the satisfying ‘thunk’ heard when this car door closes.

Discreet details

And as you’d probably expect of a Hollywood film star, this is a car where it is all about the small details that remind you it isn’t just a luxury cruiser, but a pretty potent one, too.

Understated, and well preserved all its life.

To the movies?

What was Sean Connery doing around the time he owned this car, between 1989/’90 and 1998?

Well, during that time the films The Hunt for Red October (1990), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and Medicine Man (1992) starring Connery were among those released.

Easy driver

Quite a backdrop to the early life of this coupé, then.

Perhaps this Bavarian two-door was the perfect car for the Oscar winner to enjoy time out in, while soaking up the sunshine of the Costa del Sol.

Mindfully maintained

In more recent years, this modern classic has still been well cared for.

In September 2007 it had a new battery and air-flow sensor fitted, fresh tyres arriving a month later, then again new tyres and a new battery plus new brakes as recently as 2016.

Bringing it up to scratch

Meanwhile, work in 2019 following three years in dry storage once again saw a new battery fitted.

This was also when the headlining was replaced, some of the aforementioned corrosion treatment was done, when the radio and antenna were repaired, and more.

A nose ahead of the pack

So it might take you some time to get used to the German labels in the cabin, or the fact that it is left-hand drive.

But knowing that the first owner of this car was none other than Sir Sean Connery will, for some people anyway, add a certain sparkling cachet to this coupé.

Time to say goodbye

It might not have the clever, silver-screen tech of James Bond’s film-star cars, but it has a charm all of its own.

What’s more, it is being sold this week, without reserve – meaning it definitely will go to a new home.

The clock is ticking

What will it sell for? It is listed with auction house The Market, which estimates that the hammer may fall at £30-60,000, but following Connery’s passing last year, who knows.

Interested? Find out more here. Bidding closes at 7:30pm this Friday, 15 January 2021.