If you were to go to them to get and advice and instruction on refreshing the system, you would find them very helpful. You can get a used example, for even less than four figures, but of course, to get peace of mind, you may like to pay more. The evolved version of the vehicle was so good that we had to call it the best-riding car in 1989.
But, the ride quality of the vehicle is both a gift and a curse. If you do a little research, you would know that the science used in the system is very straightforward, and you can handle all jobs at home even if you are only half-competent with a spanner, well, except for the most involved of jobs.
You also need to learn about the similarities and more importantly the differences between the Series 1 (1988-1993) and Series 2 (1993-1999) cars. The car also saw some upgrades, to increase the sales, which include enhanced safety gear and sharper handling, thanks to the passive rear steering system and new diesel and petrol engines. Today, the more reliable and useable option would be a later XM, as it received important electrical and suspension tweaks.
If you can find a Series 1.5 example from 1992 or 1993, it can be a fair compromise. It will provide the refinement of a complete facelifted car, but not with the conservative styling. It’s also important to think about whether or not we would be able to move freely on the road and get the fuel we need. If you know anything about the industry’s history, you would know that these things matter a lot.
You have to be careful with the engine, suspension, electrics, and bodywork. The 2.1-liter diesel is easily available, the 2.0-liter CT turbo petrol is very thirsty, and the rare 3.0-liter V6 is quite expensive. For an average amount, you can get the solid examples in good mechanical health, where for a higher amount, which is still low, you can get the cleanest Phase 1 and 1.5 cars.