Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 5]
Discussion
longblackcoat said:
The attraction of a good 124 is obvious, and I'd happily buy one for, say, £5-7k knowing that the fuel consumption would be poor, the maintenance costs would be higher, and that I'd get bitten every so often for something expensive like a suspension refresh or a torque convertor reconditioning. That's OK and in my man-maths world, a bit of a bargain.
But I'm not sure I'd be prepared to buy a cheap one and try to obsessively re-build it to better-than-factory specification, knowing that the only person I'd be pleasing would be myself, and that I was chucking money down a drain. To me that's dangerously close to classic car territory, where all of a sudden you wake up and realise that you have an intimate knowledge of autojumbling, are able to recite a car-detailing regimen in your sleep and sre, in fact, the chairman of the local branch of your Mercedes Owners Club.
Essentially, barges at £1-2k are (in my mind at least) usually too far gone - these are expensive cars, and even from new the maintenance spend is high, and has to be continuous, otherwise you end up with exactly Derin's problem of needing to throw many thousands of pounds at a car to get it right. Over the years I've found it more cost/time-effective to do it my way - pay a bit more, restore/fix a bit less. And actually drive the car, rather than have it sitting on the drive/in the garage with a grumpy wife complaining that "you spend all your time fiddling with that thing".
Derin & R129SL are meticulous enthusiasts (nothing wrong with that), you don't need to spend anything like the cash they do to keep one running nicely. Half the attraction for me is that you can diy & bodge them for peanuts. Tbh as long as the ignition consumables, OVP/FP relays and vacuum pipes are in order there isn't much to let you down. But I'm not sure I'd be prepared to buy a cheap one and try to obsessively re-build it to better-than-factory specification, knowing that the only person I'd be pleasing would be myself, and that I was chucking money down a drain. To me that's dangerously close to classic car territory, where all of a sudden you wake up and realise that you have an intimate knowledge of autojumbling, are able to recite a car-detailing regimen in your sleep and sre, in fact, the chairman of the local branch of your Mercedes Owners Club.
Essentially, barges at £1-2k are (in my mind at least) usually too far gone - these are expensive cars, and even from new the maintenance spend is high, and has to be continuous, otherwise you end up with exactly Derin's problem of needing to throw many thousands of pounds at a car to get it right. Over the years I've found it more cost/time-effective to do it my way - pay a bit more, restore/fix a bit less. And actually drive the car, rather than have it sitting on the drive/in the garage with a grumpy wife complaining that "you spend all your time fiddling with that thing".
Edited by SuperHangOn on Wednesday 19th June 09:26
SuperHangOn said:
longblackcoat said:
The attraction of a good 124 is obvious, and I'd happily buy one for, say, £5-7k knowing that the fuel consumption would be poor, the maintenance costs would be higher, and that I'd get bitten every so often for something expensive like a suspension refresh or a torque convertor reconditioning. That's OK and in my man-maths world, a bit of a bargain.
But I'm not sure I'd be prepared to buy a cheap one and try to obsessively re-build it to better-than-factory specification, knowing that the only person I'd be pleasing would be myself, and that I was chucking money down a drain. To me that's dangerously close to classic car territory, where all of a sudden you wake up and realise that you have an intimate knowledge of autojumbling, are able to recite a car-detailing regimen in your sleep and sre, in fact, the chairman of the local branch of your Mercedes Owners Club.
Essentially, barges at £1-2k are (in my mind at least) usually too far gone - these are expensive cars, and even from new the maintenance spend is high, and has to be continuous, otherwise you end up with exactly Derin's problem of needing to throw many thousands of pounds at a car to get it right. Over the years I've found it more cost/time-effective to do it my way - pay a bit more, restore/fix a bit less. And actually drive the car, rather than have it sitting on the drive/in the garage with a grumpy wife complaining that "you spend all your time fiddling with that thing".
Derin & R129SL are meticulous enthusiasts (nothing wrong with that), you don't need to spend anything like the cash they do to keep one running nicely. Half the attraction for me is that you can diy & bodge them for peanuts. But I'm not sure I'd be prepared to buy a cheap one and try to obsessively re-build it to better-than-factory specification, knowing that the only person I'd be pleasing would be myself, and that I was chucking money down a drain. To me that's dangerously close to classic car territory, where all of a sudden you wake up and realise that you have an intimate knowledge of autojumbling, are able to recite a car-detailing regimen in your sleep and sre, in fact, the chairman of the local branch of your Mercedes Owners Club.
Essentially, barges at £1-2k are (in my mind at least) usually too far gone - these are expensive cars, and even from new the maintenance spend is high, and has to be continuous, otherwise you end up with exactly Derin's problem of needing to throw many thousands of pounds at a car to get it right. Over the years I've found it more cost/time-effective to do it my way - pay a bit more, restore/fix a bit less. And actually drive the car, rather than have it sitting on the drive/in the garage with a grumpy wife complaining that "you spend all your time fiddling with that thing".
And sure, big barges are great value secondhand, but getting a top-end car for a few quid and bodging it doesn't attract me in the same way as it used to. There's no way I could live with a car not being mechanically perfect - hence my absolute insistence on beuying a car with a big stack of bills, and walking away from any car that says things like "air-con probably just needs a re-gas". A bargain for someone, perhaps, but often a sign that stuff's just been ignored or skimped on.
longblackcoat said:
You're absolutely right that Derin and R129 are perfectionists, and as I've said I can't play that particular game. I have a wife who really doesn't care what I spend on a car, but is very time-jealous, so anything I get has to require minimum work. I can't devote time to perfection.
And sure, big barges are great value secondhand, but getting a top-end car for a few quid and bodging it doesn't attract me in the same way as it used to. There's no way I could live with a car not being mechanically perfect - hence my absolute insistence on beuying a car with a big stack of bills, and walking away from any car that says things like "air-con probably just needs a re-gas". A bargain for someone, perhaps, but often a sign that stuff's just been ignored or skimped on.
I'm pretty much taking this attitude with my 7er. Body wise I've not done anything and the rear electric window won't work but I'll leap on anything mechanical straight away. This needs to be done as you go or it just gets too costlyAnd sure, big barges are great value secondhand, but getting a top-end car for a few quid and bodging it doesn't attract me in the same way as it used to. There's no way I could live with a car not being mechanically perfect - hence my absolute insistence on beuying a car with a big stack of bills, and walking away from any car that says things like "air-con probably just needs a re-gas". A bargain for someone, perhaps, but often a sign that stuff's just been ignored or skimped on.
richardxjr said:
6 cyls, 7 brown seats, gingers, working a/c, 88k, home counties, £2750.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C398143#
If that had heated seats, I'd be on my way right nowhttp://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C398143#
SuperHangOn said:
^^ Really don't know how you manage it!
This looks nice (and possibly bargain basement if you're lucky)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-540I-TOURING-AUTO-GR...
What a nice (and useful) thing for a thousand pounds (maybe).This looks nice (and possibly bargain basement if you're lucky)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-540I-TOURING-AUTO-GR...
longblackcoat said:
SuperHangOn said:
longblackcoat said:
The attraction of a good 124 is obvious, and I'd happily buy one for, say, £5-7k knowing that the fuel consumption would be poor, the maintenance costs would be higher, and that I'd get bitten every so often for something expensive like a suspension refresh or a torque convertor reconditioning. That's OK and in my man-maths world, a bit of a bargain.
But I'm not sure I'd be prepared to buy a cheap one and try to obsessively re-build it to better-than-factory specification, knowing that the only person I'd be pleasing would be myself, and that I was chucking money down a drain. To me that's dangerously close to classic car territory, where all of a sudden you wake up and realise that you have an intimate knowledge of autojumbling, are able to recite a car-detailing regimen in your sleep and sre, in fact, the chairman of the local branch of your Mercedes Owners Club.
Essentially, barges at £1-2k are (in my mind at least) usually too far gone - these are expensive cars, and even from new the maintenance spend is high, and has to be continuous, otherwise you end up with exactly Derin's problem of needing to throw many thousands of pounds at a car to get it right. Over the years I've found it more cost/time-effective to do it my way - pay a bit more, restore/fix a bit less. And actually drive the car, rather than have it sitting on the drive/in the garage with a grumpy wife complaining that "you spend all your time fiddling with that thing".
Derin & R129SL are meticulous enthusiasts (nothing wrong with that), you don't need to spend anything like the cash they do to keep one running nicely. Half the attraction for me is that you can diy & bodge them for peanuts. But I'm not sure I'd be prepared to buy a cheap one and try to obsessively re-build it to better-than-factory specification, knowing that the only person I'd be pleasing would be myself, and that I was chucking money down a drain. To me that's dangerously close to classic car territory, where all of a sudden you wake up and realise that you have an intimate knowledge of autojumbling, are able to recite a car-detailing regimen in your sleep and sre, in fact, the chairman of the local branch of your Mercedes Owners Club.
Essentially, barges at £1-2k are (in my mind at least) usually too far gone - these are expensive cars, and even from new the maintenance spend is high, and has to be continuous, otherwise you end up with exactly Derin's problem of needing to throw many thousands of pounds at a car to get it right. Over the years I've found it more cost/time-effective to do it my way - pay a bit more, restore/fix a bit less. And actually drive the car, rather than have it sitting on the drive/in the garage with a grumpy wife complaining that "you spend all your time fiddling with that thing".
And sure, big barges are great value secondhand, but getting a top-end car for a few quid and bodging it doesn't attract me in the same way as it used to. There's no way I could live with a car not being mechanically perfect - hence my absolute insistence on beuying a car with a big stack of bills, and walking away from any car that says things like "air-con probably just needs a re-gas". A bargain for someone, perhaps, but often a sign that stuff's just been ignored or skimped on.
I might do a 190 E 2.5-16 next year but I'll probably start off with a better one and do more on it myself. But really, the goal is just to enjoy what I have got rather than keep hankering after more: and that applies to more than just cars.
CampDavid said:
I'm pretty much taking this attitude with my 7er. Body wise I've not done anything and the rear electric window won't work but I'll leap on anything mechanical straight away. This needs to be done as you go or it just gets too costly
Have you tried running a flat bladed screwdriver round the external seal to 'unstick' it and then given the door a good slam? Has worked for me a number of times on E34's, may work on E38's....bmthnick1981 said:
Have you tried running a flat bladed screwdriver round the external seal to 'unstick' it and then given the door a good slam? Has worked for me a number of times on E34's, may work on E38's....
No, it's not thatThe E38 is such an awesome thing that it has very thick, heavy, windows, which snap the steel cables. I've had it appart and that's the issue. New bit is £550 from BMW or about £70 off ebay. Tricky choice
r129sl said:
The points you make LBC are spot on (and your GL sounds interesting, too). I have put so much into my 124 solely for my benefit and enjoyment, to please only myself. I can justify it rationally because (1) I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it (isn't this the bottom line for everything), (2) it's still not that much money compared to a new car and (3) I won't be selling anytime soon. Interestingly, having got the 124 into shape it has become cheap to run and it has served us extremely well. It is the best car I have ever had. Once it's finished (and that point is close), I don't suppose I'll spend much on it other than servicing. In the meantime, in the first year I have owned it, I have covered 18,000miles and I reckon it has been off road for at least four months, maybe five.
I might do a 190 E 2.5-16 next year but I'll probably start off with a better one and do more on it myself. But really, the goal is just to enjoy what I have got rather than keep hankering after more: and that applies to more than just cars.
Please don't think for a minute that I'm being critical over your efforts - on the contrary, I can only applaud your efforts. I simply don't have the desire, the skills or the time to do the same and it would rankle that although mechanically & cosmetically the car might be better than ever, the market would not value my efforts. A curse of my trade - I'm a finance director - is that I simply can't divorce costs and returns, although I make heroic efforts to justify car purchases. Witness my sales pitch to my wife that a GL420 is a more sensible choice than the previous Disco 3 as it's faster (most things are, including the average fridge-freezer), more economical (spraying diesel down an empty drain is more economical than a Disco!), and a bit easier to park as it's narrower (sort of a lie, that one). I might do a 190 E 2.5-16 next year but I'll probably start off with a better one and do more on it myself. But really, the goal is just to enjoy what I have got rather than keep hankering after more: and that applies to more than just cars.
I find a relativistic approach to the truth to be a great asset when man-maths-ing, but even I couldn't kid myself that chucking, say, £10k at a W124 would be anything other than foolhardy. Obviously that's a personal thing, and if you can see yourself driving the car for a good number of years, it's perhaps money well spent; it would annoy me, however, that I'd need to keep the car for an additional number of years to have justified the financial outlay.
Yes, I know that I'm waaaaay over-analytical. Proof that although you can take an accountant out of a grey suit, you can't take the grey suit out of the accountant.
Rollcage said:
And yet I'd wager that the overall cost of ownership in R129's case will likely be way lower than yours, were he to sell the car. 
Absolutely, could well be the case, but then I've got the advantage of being able to use the car immediately, and have a far more modern car. Horse for courses, and all that - we all have different criteria for pricing our decisions.longblackcoat said:
Rollcage said:
And yet I'd wager that the overall cost of ownership in R129's case will likely be way lower than yours, were he to sell the car.
Absolutely, could well be the case, but then I've got the advantage of being able to use the car immediately, and have a far more modern car. Horse for courses, and all that - we all have different criteria for pricing our decisions.Worked like that for a good few years now, only time ownership of a car has cost me money was with my Alfa 156 a couple of weeks ago, when the cambelt snapped and I sold it for spares/repair.
Having use of several cars negates the times that they are off the road for various reasons - just as long as they all don't need money spending on them at the same time!
Working on them myself is also part of the pleasure of ownership, but I realise that's not the same for everyone, and indeed hasn't always been the case for me.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
BMW 7 SERIES 735I E38 2000 62,100 miles (2000) £2,500
BMW 7 SERIES 735I E38 2000 62,100 miles (2000) £2,500
longblackcoat said:
Rollcage said:
Working on them myself is also part of the pleasure of ownership, but I realise that's not the same for everyone, and indeed hasn't always been the case for me.
1 wife2 teenage kids
3 dogs (plus 2 cats & 5 chickens if we're going for full disclosure)
0 time
0 Kids (not full time, at any rate)
0 Pets
=
10 Time!
edo said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
BMW 7 SERIES 735I E38 2000 62,100 miles (2000) £2,500
Very nice. BMW 7 SERIES 735I E38 2000 62,100 miles (2000) £2,500
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