Best Smoker Barges - 1 - 5 Large [Vol 3]

[Fox-]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

This wouldn't be a particularly noteworthy barge (albeit not an upsettingly bad one either), but for the lengths to which the owner will go in order to finance his new house.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-525-m-sport-2002-sel...

This must surely indicate the car's a keeper, if he's willing to give away his brown wings before putting the car up for sale...?

Always confused by adverts like that.

On the assumption he will presumably need another car unless he plans to walk everywhere once he buys his house, he's releasing an entire £1500 towards his house deposit if he flogs his 525i for £2490 and buys a £1k banger. Whats he trying to buy, a beach hut? Doesn't exactly sound like the sort of chap who can easily look after a nice E39. That said it doesnt look like a particularly nice one with its dented front bumper and gangster tints.

Whatever the story is, my spidey sense of tingling.

[SimonConnell]

Apache said:

I'm currently liking this,



http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3523322.htm

what do you think?

I've got a V70R. Others have mentioned cheap Volvo insurance, but when I got a quote for a modified one whilst doing test drives the cost shot up. That alone makes me wary of the mod brigade, and that one has had quite a few.

Also, an owner who mods the turbo, exhaust, ECU, bushes, brakes, strut brace and shocks is looking for better performance (and trust me, they're no slouch in standard spec) which may indicate it's been thrashed a bit. It took me a while but I found one in totally original unmodified spec.

The exterior of the cars changed little between the 850 and early V70s but the interior was substantially modernised - personally I much prefer that in the V70 which is one of the reasons I got one.

Other than that, they are lovely cars - generally very reliable even up to serious miles (mine is about to tick over 200k), and relatively bork-free. Read up about PCV / crankcase breather issues and take a good look when you view the car, although I've since spoken to at least one well-respected marque specialist who was of the view that " they all do that and it doesn't cause a problem".

[mig25_foxbat2003]

Fox- said:

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

This wouldn't be a particularly noteworthy barge (albeit not an upsettingly bad one either), but for the lengths to which the owner will go in order to finance his new house.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-525-m-sport-2002-sel...

This must surely indicate the car's a keeper, if he's willing to give away his brown wings before putting the car up for sale...?

Always confused by adverts like that.

On the assumption he will presumably need another car unless he plans to walk everywhere once he buys his house, he's releasing an entire £1500 towards his house deposit if he flogs his 525i for £2490 and buys a £1k banger. Whats he trying to buy, a beach hut? Doesn't exactly sound like the sort of chap who can easily look after a nice E39. That said it doesnt look like a particularly nice one with its dented front bumper and gangster tints.

Whatever the story is, my spidey sense of tingling.

I was more going for a cheap "selling ass need money for deposit" gag, but not to worry :-)

[Fox-]

Yea, I know.

But I never miss an opportunity to cry into my cornflakes about lovely cars in the wrong hands.

[200bhp]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

Not really a barge, but what do the beards make of this curio, sited within stone's throw of my house?



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-BMW-325I-X-BLACK-E3...

Dodgier than Ed Milliband's spelling? Or just a well looked-after one? Something appears to smell of kippers about it but I really want to believe that it's a goodun, because it's bloody awesome - perfect spec and properly rare.

That is gorgeous!

[Caruso]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

Not really a barge, but what do the beards make of this curio, sited within stone's throw of my house?



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-BMW-325I-X-BLACK-E3...

Dodgier than Ed Milliband's spelling? Or just a well looked-after one? Something appears to smell of kippers about it but I really want to believe that it's a goodun, because it's bloody awesome - perfect spec and properly rare.

Looks lovely in the pics, but... Would driving an E30 without the prospect of imminent backward departure into the countryside have quite the same frisson?

[Zwolf]

Caruso said:

ooks lovely in the pics, but... Would driving an E30 without the prospect of imminent backward departure into the countryside have quite the same frisson?

I'll bet it's still there. I've tried a few 525iXs and they can still step out in inclement conditions, you're just going a bit quicker than you would have been and it's easier to bring back into line - but it's certainly not inert and I wouldn't expect that to be different for the lighter E30.

[ATM]

Zwolf said:

Caruso said:

ooks lovely in the pics, but... Would driving an E30 without the prospect of imminent backward departure into the countryside have quite the same frisson?

I'll bet it's still there. I've tried a few 525iXs and they can still step out in inclement conditions, you're just going a bit quicker than you would have been and it's easier to bring back into line - but it's certainly not inert and I wouldn't expect that to be different for the lighter E30.

Do they have any fancy lsd / is it full time 4wd / is the ratio front to back fixed. Come on gentlemen there is a surprising lack of detail about this thing. Whats going on?

[Zwolf]

ATM said:

Do they have any fancy lsd / is it full time 4wd / is the ratio front to back fixed. Come on gentlemen there is a surprising lack of detail about this thing. Whats going on?

No idea. A function of that one being the first I've seen for sale. I don't even know if it was a low volume official UK model like the E30 M3, or whether they're all imports. Just as I know little about the generations of "Allrad" BMWs since as we've never got them here.

Making the (possibly fatal) assumption that they share the E34 system, it is permanent mechanical four wheel drive, rather than more modern electronically or mechanical all wheel drive. They still feel as RWD as any other BMW, so I will assume there's at least a 66/34 torque split in favour of the rear axle like a contemporary Sierra XR4x4/Cossie.

Edited by Zwolf on Friday 6th January 22:51

[Caruso]

I have just been looking for V8 related reg numbers for the 540 and found V8 8ORK for £344 + fees etc.

[GetSerious]

Caruso said:

I have just been looking for V8 related reg numbers for the 540 and found V8 8ORK for £344 + fees etc.

To tempt fate, or not to tempt fate...

[Gorvid]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

the lengths to which the owner will go in order to finance his new house.

[hornetrider]

Ooh, just checking in.

[Gravy]

I haven't checked in here for 3 or 4 days so not sure if this has been mentioned yet.

Any thoughts, or does it not count seeing as it's a diesel?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3400101.htm

[Vulgar LS2]

W00DY said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C274475#

Loving the extra-wood, the faux-light strip not so much.

Thinking of one of these as a fifth car, how robust are they?

[Gooly]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

Not really a barge, but what do the beards make of this curio, sited within stone's throw of my house?



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-BMW-325I-X-BLACK-E3...

Dodgier than Ed Milliband's spelling? Or just a well looked-after one? Something appears to smell of kippers about it but I really want to believe that it's a goodun, because it's bloody awesome - perfect spec and properly rare.

That is gorgeous, but I could have sworn they never made E30 iXs as right hookers? Or is it an aftermarket conversion jobby? Either way it's an incredibly low price considering a well maintained vanilla E30 325i 2dr can go for the same money.

Edit: nevermind, said so in the ad that it was a conversion. I've heard that RHD conversions on E30s have no steering feel compared to kosher RHD cars, don't know if that holds any water in this context though

[hornetrider]

Gravy said:

I haven't checked in here for 3 or 4 days so not sure if this has been mentioned yet.

Any thoughts, or does it not count seeing as it's a diesel?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3400101.htm

I like it. Looks like it needs a new front plate though.

[General Price]

Ooh,tidy in here.Did someone buy new curtains?

[ATM]

Gooly said:

I've heard that RHD conversions on E30s have no steering feel compared to kosher RHD cars, don't know if that holds any water in this context though

I think that concerns converting the M3 to RHD which means using a standard 325 type rack as there is not one for a RHD M3.

[Gravy]

hornetrider said:

I like it. Looks like it needs a new front plate though.

I like it too. I'm trying not to succumb to diesel power but this particular example seems to make a compelling case for itself.

I need load lugging ability, comfort, and reliability over c.20k per annum. If it can hold it's own on A/B roads too than that's a bonus.
Spending over the thread budget seems pointless given there is so much metal available at this level.

However, it's taken me about 6 months of going around in circles trying to decide what to buy and I still haven't arrived at the answer