I run a 1997 BMW 323i Tourer that has done 150,000 miles (admittedly it had a factory replacement engine at 30,000 miles due to cylinder liner corrosion) and apart from the usual bushes, bearings, shock absorbers and annual service with a local BMW independent, it usually sails through its MoT. The engine is as sweet as a nut. It owes me nothing and is of course worth more to me than the scrap man. I can't afford a new one (retired) so scrappage was not really worthwhile and, having read some of the horror stories in your column about the complexity and apparent unreliability of the latest "Euro-boxes", where do I go? With a budget of only £12,000 I would like to stay with a secondhand BMW Tourer, but are they still as reliable as the old ones? Can they be serviced by independents? I would still rather spend money on maintenance than depreciation or should I just run my 1997 car into the ground?