After a few years I thought about replacing it and tried an 827 but hated it. So stayed with the SD1.
In the mid '90s, I bought a one owner high miles BMW 525 at auction and liked it. But it was useless for carrying things - I remember getting a new TV and was surprised when it wouldn't go in the boot or inside the car. The SD1 would have managed several of them at once. And since it was now worth very little kept it as a van for carrying the stuff you need when doing up a house.
2000, with improving finances, I bought a low mileage fully loaded '97 one owner 528 from a main dealer. Cost twice what I paid for my house in '75.
I still have it.Round about 2005, the SD1 was looking very scruffy - the black paint had gone dull and T-cut and polish would only restore the finish for a short time. There was also some rust in a couple of doors and one wheel arch - all down one side where it had been scraped and repaired professionally. So I decided on a rolling restoration. Body repairs and a full respray followed shortly. Since then it's just been a case of keeping on top of things, body wise. Mechanically, it soldiers on.
