Regarding my desires, interests, and preferences in vehicles, I must admit that my past is a little of a mystery. Things changed, I was no longer involved, prices plummeted, I became quite broke, Elon went crazy, and I learned to prefer estates, but I almost bought an electric vehicle as a BIK business car.
Then I became enamoured with the Octavia VRS 2020+. Beautiful vehicle, but the price tag was too high, and I kept wanting more power. It was difficult for me to let go of the desire for a Skoda dad vehicle after having an incredible experience driving a fully equipped 4WD Superb in the Arctic Circle two years ago.
If I had infinite funds, I would still choose a C8 RS6 before any other car, sorry, but I've never been a big fan of BMW and have always considered myself more of an Audi man.
The 320D–335D 3 Series Estates, meanwhile, had a certain allure for me. I don't know what it was, but the n57's engine problems, especially the spinning bearings, really freaked me out. To the point that I've turned a blind eye. According to what I've read, the m57 is a tank—very sturdy and resilient. That, I suppose, is what drew me to the 535Ds. They look like a great value, and they're strong and versatile enough to handle most situations. Similar to a maris piper. Make full use of it!
In my previous position, I was typically putting 100-600 miles on the m4 or m5 every week, so I'm no stranger to highway driving. Currently, my weekly output is usually closer to 100. In the next few months, I intend to increase my weekly mileage to between 250 and 350 miles.
This is when things become tough. I'd want to stay within my budget, so I won't spend a fortune. If it's not crazy for a 530-535D M57, I'd like to pay somewhere around $10,000. "If you can find one that looks good, at least has a fsh and is around 100,000 miles, you should be doing good," my brain assures me, and I'm starting to believe it. However, my knowledge of BMW engines is limited. I'd prefer to have it running and not sitting in a garage full of expensive BMW components, even though I've changed the belt and done some other light maintenance on a 1.6TDCI. Apparently they have a problem with the turbo, glow plugs need to be changed, and the rear air suspension compressor can be a bit of a joke.
I've seen a couple on the market, but I have no idea what to look for beyond the essentials, like a timing chain that has been done, oil, gearbox oil and any necessary repairs. Inspect the tires for smoke during cold starts, uneven wear, brand, and tread depth. Will rusting occur on these? What I mean is, would you recommend these guys for £100 to cure your back pain or other structural issues? If I were thinking about it, would it be a good idea to have a BMW expert have a look at the car? Although I'm originally from Bristol, I've seen a couple for sale throughout the nation, including one in the Bournemouth/Southampton area (Sea = rust) and another close to Oxford. Could you suggest some guys from those locations to have a look? I aim to get as much knowledge as possible since I enjoy delving into things.
Oh my, that's just a bunch of irrelevant details. Apologies if I lost you at RS6, but I appreciate you taking the time to read this.