Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 22]

[RUI488]

AlexNJ89 said:

They said they took it in as part-ex and it just isn't the type of car they'd put on the forecourt, think they like their 2015 onwards type cars.

It has 165,000 miles, full main dealer history until 2020 and 2 keys. A few recent bills too.

It has a suspension knock/creak/popping wen I slowly turn left or go over a bump, I'm suspecting control arms which is pricey on these and I reckon anyone retailing it this cost would eat in to their margin.

The front parking sensors don't work as the front badge has a crack in it which is meaning the radar at the front isn't happy.

So I've ordered a new grill off eBay for £200, did a full valet at £120 and let's say £1,500 for the control arms.

I'm also planning to install Apple Carplay for £450

Thanks for the response.
Fingers crossed for you and it’ll be very interesting to see how it gets on

[phil_cardiff]

£1500 for control arms?!

[donkmeister]

AlexNJ89 said:

RUI488 said:

Reason for price!?!

They said they took it in as part-ex and it just isn't the type of car they'd put on the forecourt, think they like their 2015 onwards type cars.

It has 165,000 miles, full main dealer history until 2020 and 2 keys. A few recent bills too.

It has a suspension knock/creak/popping wen I slowly turn left or go over a bump, I'm suspecting control arms which is pricey on these and I reckon anyone retailing it this cost would eat in to their margin.

The front parking sensors don't work as the front badge has a crack in it which is meaning the radar at the front isn't happy.

So I've ordered a new grill off eBay for £200, did a full valet at £120 and let's say £1,500 for the control arms.

I'm also planning to install Apple Carplay for £450

Check the government E5/E10 fuel checker. At least some (possibly all) 2007 cars cannot use E10 as it corrodes internal fuel pipework. In the US they had to do a massive retrofit, in the UK we just have to use super unleaded.

Control arms are expensive because it's a very fancy suspension system with lots of bearings and bushings that are not designed to be replaceable. So... All new parts required. HOWEVER... they can be pressed out and replaced, replacement sets are available (no idea what is regarded as good/bad though).

An alternative to the Apple Carplay "Grom" device is the Blue music Bluetooth adapter - I can give you details of which one fits if you are interested. It's cheaper (audio only of course) and more importantly much more reliable! I've heard a lot of people aren't happy with the Grom long term.

Edited by donkmeister on Wednesday 15th May 09:38

[W00DY]

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

[donkmeister]

phil_cardiff said:

£1500 for control arms?!

It's a very good suspension/steering set up that does flatter the 2-tonne 17 feet long bulk of the car when in sport mode.

Here is a picture to show the complexity:

[donkmeister]

W00DY said:

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

100k miles already in 1997... I bet his friends heads exploded that he wasn't trying to scrap it at that mileage, back then!

Proper car.

[pneumothorax]

W00DY said:

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

Please please stop doing this, you keep dragging me back in

[W9LL95]

Fermit said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276466599400?itmmeta=01...

Edited by Fermit on Tuesday 14th May 18:46

That's a proper bargain for a touring. Saddle brown the best interior on these too. Shame it's the big tax.

I own one of these, I doubt it's an electrical problem. There's a myriad of known mechanical problems on them. My money is on the HPFP.

[nobrakes]

pneumothorax said:

W00DY said:

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

Please please stop doing this, you keep dragging me back in

Splendid.

[BenS94]

W00DY said:

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

Phwoar. Local car. It's a yes from me.

[Hippea]

nobrakes said:

pneumothorax said:

W00DY said:

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

Please please stop doing this, you keep dragging me back in

Splendid.

Someone needs to buy this, before that someone is me

[deadtom]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Not superb, but utterly ste and a grim experience. Trust me, and don't be tempted.

For some reason I have it in my mind that you're a former scaleyback?

If that's true... I take it you've spent too many hours in the back of one of these in FFR flavour?

[RUI488]

Is a scaley-back a marine?
CdG was Army, i know that.
Oh no, it’s Sigs.

I’ll let him say anything else he wants to add on to that.

[deadtom]

W00DY said:

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

oooof, it's a good thing this wasn't for sale when I was looking for a new estate a couple of months ago.

I'd have foolishly bought this and damn the requirement for respectable fuel economy, which would then have led to the complete draining of my bank account, and subsequent divorce.

Those seats look sublime.

[deadtom]

RUI488 said:

Is a scaley-back a marine?
CdG was Army, i know that.
Oh no, it’s Sigs.

I’ll let him say anything else he wants to add on to that.

Marines are 'bootnecks'.

'Scaleybacks' because signallers carry the radios on their backs, and the radios were powered by lead acid batteries. Badly sealed lead acid batteries.

[0a]

W00DY said:

Great work on the LS Alex, sounds like a mega-bargain.





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256511685288

Could be a lovely car if it's as good as it appears.

I love this one, and the miles wouldn't put me off.

Someone buy it for Nick, he would have loved to see it being used as intended... (from the ad)

[RUI488]

deadtom said:

Marines are 'bootnecks'.

'Scaleybacks' because signallers carry the radios on their backs, and the radios were powered by lead acid batteries. Badly sealed lead acid batteries.

Of course they are, i should have remembered the Bootneck one.
It’s been a lot of years since i thought about any of that stuff!

Thanks for the info!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

deadtom said:

For some reason I have it in my mind that you're a former scaleyback?

If that's true... I take it you've spent too many hours in the back of one of these in FFR flavour?

As RUI488 correctly mentioned, I'm ex-army but not a scaley. I nonetheless spent far too much time in poorly heated Land Rovers on the North German plain to have any enthusiasm to spend any more time, let alone money, with them! Happy days!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

deadtom said:

Marines are 'bootnecks'.

'Scaleybacks' because signallers carry the radios on their backs, and the radios were powered by lead acid batteries. Badly sealed lead acid batteries.

Interesting. I never knew that was the origin of the nickname for the R Sigs.

[AlexNJ89]

I also think it's the sheer damn weight of the LS460 that is the reason it gets through control arms so quickly.

I have shopped around and it does seem the OEM ones are still the way to go, but I'll find a specialist to fit them.

Cleaned up the front headlights today: before/after





New grill arrives tomorrow which I hope fixes the front radar issue. Not that it's causing me any inconvenience but I'm a bit OCD about warning lights.