Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[anonymous-user]

Used cars here are pretty much double those in the UK, Hence why up until now i've bought all my cars from the UK however with my Fiance reluctantly learning to drive I'll have to swallow paying the hugely inflated continental prices for our next car.

Seriously in the UK you guys have no idea how lucky you are with the fantastic roads and cheap cars, Even car tax is cheaper than most of the continent

[Motorrad]

CDB1983 said:

Used cars here are pretty much double those in the UK, Hence why up until now i've bought all my cars from the UK however with my Fiance reluctantly learning to drive I'll have to swallow paying the hugely inflated continental prices for our next car.

Seriously in the UK you guys have no idea how lucky you are with the fantastic roads and cheap cars, Even car tax is cheaper than most of the continent

Indeed my E39 would cost 2500 euros to tax and approx 6K euro to buy if I wasn't resident in the UK.

[0a]

Zwolf said:

SpeckledJim said:

I'm a charming combination of poor AND tight, so it all gives me the shiites, but on those figures, 750i LPG it is!

I'm poor and tight too, just not tight enough to ever actually buy a diesel if it can be at all avoided. It seems it still can, so I'm happy.

SpeckledJim said:

It will at least be enjoyable. (DAB radio well-recommended.)

I tend to drive with either no radio or R4 on quietly, but in cars with DAB I do tend to venture around music stations a bit more. Not something I'd spend much on TBH.

jonnydm said:

Question that remains is the conversion itself - I'm sure Google will throw up plenty of results but I'd not have a clue what to look out for or who to go to.

A neighbour of mine had his V8 Disco converted by Capital Autogas in New Malden four years ago and has had no problems with the conversion at all since, just regular system servicing which i sinexpensive enough, so I'm into research mode on that front. Not the cheapest around (pretty much the dearest locally), but worth every penny apparently.

I've been anti-LPG until the present situation arose, it was suggested and having given it serious thought, does seem to tick the right boxes for me. When the choice becomes drive a diesel or LPG a petrol and the figures are as significant as here, it's a no-brainer I think.

If not, at least I've tried my hardest to remain true to the central tenets of the barging faith!

I find the idea of LPG very attractive, especially as I intend to keep my 3.0 w124 for a long time, use it as a daily driver, and use it for longer trips. Availability isn't a particular issue in the areas I tend to drive.

My concerns are around the quality of the installation and the possibility of ending up with a car that doesn't run right, or whether the LPG could cause any damage or issues (I speak from ignorance more than anything else).

Has anybody converted a 12v W124 300?

[0a]

I still like the look of these. Nice wheels and the 4.2 in a great colour with a reasonable 98k miles (though there's still the gearbox to worry about). Not too bad for £1,750, it would be nice to knock it down to £1,500 though. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[SpeckledJim]

Zwolf said:

SpeckledJim said:

It will at least be enjoyable. (DAB radio well-recommended.)

I tend to drive with either no radio or R4 on quietly, but in cars with DAB I do tend to venture around music stations a bit more. Not something I'd spend much on TBH.

I know experiences vary wildly with DAB, but I bought a Philips CE153DR for £80, and an aerial splitter for £20 (so I continue to use the original electric retracting aerial on the Jaguar - no ugly extra aerials) and I've been really pleased with the results.

Absolute 80s and 90s are a good addition, but the main benefit is crackle-free Radios 4, 4extra, 5L, 5L sports extra and 6Music.

Gaining high-fidelity 5 and 6 is brill. Radio 5 on MW is a total disaster.

Considering you'll be spending £350 a month, and god-know how many hours in the car, £100 on DAB is well, well worth it, IMO.

And swappable between cars in (literally) minutes.

[0a]

74k mile 540 for £1,750, seems so cheap! Not sure if the wheels are correct though http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[E65Ross]

r129sl said:

It is hard not to like the smoke silver 200 D with the four-speed manual box. Keep fit windows, too. It doesn't even have a wireless set! I bet it brings new meaning to the word "leisurely". Good town car, though.

I can't think of a worse spec for a W124 to be honest. Hateful engine, no luxuries, and a manual gearbox (defeating the point of a leisurely Merc, no?)

[BrownBottle]

I used to frown upon LPG but with fuel prices these days I wouldn't knock anyone for going down that route, you could say we're lucky to have an alternative.

All you are doing with petrol is paying more tax at the end of the day, I'd rather be able to drive a 750 and give two fingers to the man...

[0a]

E65Ross said:

I can't think of a worse spec for a W124 to be honest. Hateful engine, no luxuries, and a manual gearbox (defeating the point of a leisurely Merc, no?)

I'd agree! It's interesting that it exists, but humming about with 6 cylinders, leather, and all the windows down, while the car sorts the gears is a key part of the appeal. It's taxi spec, but I'm not a taxi driver.

400 bhp for £2,195? Probably both a repost and a bad idea! http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[SpeckledJim]

BrownBottle said:

I used to frown upon LPG but with fuel prices these days I wouldn't knock anyone for going down that route, you could say we're lucky to have an alternative.

All you are doing with petrol is paying more tax at the end of the day, I'd rather be able to drive a 750 and give two fingers to the man...

As one of the country's premier sad goons, I'll admit I do get a little illicit thrill when filling my cars.

Watching the litres go up (much) faster than the pounds just doesn't get old.

And going to the Calor centre, where the people are nice and there's never a wait for the pump is another little benefit. I go to a petrol station approx every 2 months.

[S3_Graham]

0a said:

I still like the look of these. Nice wheels and the 4.2 in a great colour with a reasonable 98k miles (though there's still the gearbox to worry about). Not too bad for £1,750, it would be nice to knock it down to £1,500 though. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

were the gearbox to KABOOM tomorrow. that'd break for more than that. Y2Blade did exactly that... drove it until it broke and then sold it off for a profit IIRC.

Lovely Lovely cars, was looking at them before I took the plunge with this CLK

[deadslow]

0a said:

I'd agree! It's interesting that it exists, but humming about with 6 cylinders, leather, and all the windows down, while the car sorts the gears is a key part of the appeal. It's taxi spec, but I'm not a taxi driver.

400 bhp for £2,195? Probably both a repost and a bad idea! http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

From the look of the driver's seat, the previous owner was a coalman, but there's probs no cheaper way to purchase so many horses

[0a]

S3_Graham said:

were the gearbox to KABOOM tomorrow. that'd break for more than that. Y2Blade did exactly that... drove it until it broke and then sold it off for a profit IIRC.

Lovely Lovely cars, was looking at them before I took the plunge with this CLK

How's the CLK?!

The blue 300e sportline is now "reserved" http://www.classicwise.co.uk/cars/1991-mercedes-be...

[Sterillium]

This is WAY out of thread budget, so doesn't count - I realise this... but how long will it be until these are sub £5000...???


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Can't be long... I really like them.

[E65Ross]

Sterillium said:

This is WAY out of thread budget, so doesn't count - I realise this... but how long will it be until these are sub £5000...???


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Can't be long... I really like them.

No idea, but they definitely hold their value better than the 7 series; which can be had for cheaper despite costing more when new.

My only experience of an "E63" 6er is an M6 which was a brilliant GT car, and despite what some say about the gearbox it CAN be driven smoothly once you learn it. I'd love a 650i.

[0a]

E65Ross said:

No idea, but they definitely hold their value better than the 7 series; which can be had for cheaper despite costing more when new.

My only experience of an "E63" 6er is an M6 which was a brilliant GT car, and despite what some say about the gearbox it CAN be driven smoothly once you learn it. I'd love a 650i.

The cheapest 645 on Autotrader is £5,700 but it has 165k miles on it - they seem to be holding firm at this level just out of budget: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[0a]

I still have a thing for these old 6 series though - a 628 on a D plate - I can't remember seeing one before. A nice list of work done, and based in a nice area of London. £2k.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C531985#

[flatso]

radiodanno said:

Would happily sit on the wrong side for that. Very charming.

£6k is big money, but I think that says more about prices there than here.

Pictures look great, but that engine is just a plain turd. My sister used to run a W124 estate with this lazy ass heap of +#'t motor. I also had a 190D with this engine & transmission combo. As awesome as the W124 is, this engine really spoils the whole thing, and can be rather dangerous when overtaking as the power is simply nonexistent.

[flatso]

Sterillium said:

This is WAY out of thread budget, so doesn't count - I realise this... but how long will it be until these are sub £5000...???


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Can't be long... I really like them.

I can't get over how well these cars have aged. I used to hate their looks with a passion up until about 6 months ago. One day I saw one with the sports pack and it just hit me like a hammer, I suddenly "understood" it. Still waiting to understand the Bangle 7'er though. I did see a 750 iL this week with 20 in. Alpinas and it had loads of presence.

[em177]

flatso said:

Sterillium said:

This is WAY out of thread budget, so doesn't count - I realise this... but how long will it be until these are sub £5000...???


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Can't be long... I really like them.

I can't get over how well these cars have aged. I used to hate their looks with a passion up until about 6 months ago. One day I saw one with the sports pack and it just hit me like a hammer, I suddenly "understood" it. Still waiting to understand the Bangle 7'er though. I did see a 750 iL this week with 20 in. Alpinas and it had loads of presence.

I had a similar moment seeing an E63 M6 the other week. I almost wanted to email Bangle and apologised for the expletives over the years!