Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[Rocksteadyeddie]

E65Ross said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

But would there be tangible benefit in changing the shock(s) if I get the spring(s) done? They must be getting a little tired on a 2 tonne car and 113k miles?

I'll have a chat with my indy Wednesday when I drop the car off, and mention things like ball joints etc. Hopefully it's nothing too expensive. I'll just keep the car driving to a minimum. I think 100 miles is all I'll need, hopefully!

If you can't tell they're tired, how tired can they be?

Given you'll probably sell it soon, my advice is 'stop hosing your money into it'.

No, no, no. I can't believe he'll ever sell it

I'll be keeping this car for quite a while.

I know. As I said above.

Now, W124s. Lovely aren't they?

[benwoodcock]

750i went for £890, potentially a bargain.

[E65Ross]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

E65Ross said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

But would there be tangible benefit in changing the shock(s) if I get the spring(s) done? They must be getting a little tired on a 2 tonne car and 113k miles?

I'll have a chat with my indy Wednesday when I drop the car off, and mention things like ball joints etc. Hopefully it's nothing too expensive. I'll just keep the car driving to a minimum. I think 100 miles is all I'll need, hopefully!

If you can't tell they're tired, how tired can they be?

Given you'll probably sell it soon, my advice is 'stop hosing your money into it'.

No, no, no. I can't believe he'll ever sell it

I'll be keeping this car for quite a while.

I know. As I said above.

Now, W124s. Lovely aren't they?

They are but you know what, I do love the E65. I'm through that "I fancy a change stage" and just enjoy the car.

It'll be interesting to see what's causing the issue because it drives absolutely fine and doesn't wallow around in corners....would it not handle absolutely hideously if a spring had snapped?

I've decided that IF it's a snapped spring, I'll give the front suspension a refresh with new shocks, springs, suspension arms and any bushes as well. Could be getting on for about £1k though.

If it's just something like a ball joint/suspension arm etc then I'll just get that changed.

[r129sl]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

andy43 said:

73k 320 coop - under 3 large

I quite like that.
It's got the usual faults and foibles, and I prefer the coupes to be in darker colours, but looks like a decent motor with solid provenance.
If the rust isn't too bad, I reckon the post-haggle cost would be sensible. Good spot.

After all this book-talk, it feels like a long time since we've seen a 124.

No money, no money, no money. I have to give up this game.

[Rollcage]

benwoodcock said:

750i went for £890, potentially a bargain.

They're all potentially a bargain!

[slippery]

r129sl said:

No money, no money, no money. I have to give up this game.

I don't believe any of the above!

[mccrackenj]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Indeed a repost. In fact a reposted repost as it has featured more than once before. But a welcome repost as the interior and exterior colours are lovely

[mccrackenj]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Certainly shouldn't - but what's the point of a Mercedes of 50's - 90's vintage without a bonnet star? I'm getting very laissez faire in my old age!

[idiotgap]

andy43 said:

S'funny how many cars are advertised as needing £50 spending at Kwikfit's air con dept.
Nothing at all to do with new condensers, rusty leaking pipework, removal of dashboards etc etc.
W124 AC 'regassing' can easily run into 4 figures.

I guess often it's not strictly a lie. Doubtless if you regass it, it'll work for however long before it takes the gas to escape. My w124 was bought with working air on but it didn't last long. Which is worse?

The recommission on mine was just under £500, if it wasn't black with black leather and a car we planned to take on summer holiday to France I might not have bothered. It took the funds I was going to use to retrofit cruise... Never did get round to that, anyone ever used an after-market cruise or tried to fit factory cruise to a w124 era merc that didn't have it?

[r129sl]

idiotgap said:

I guess often it's not strictly a lie. Doubtless if you regass it, it'll work for however long before it takes the gas to escape. My w124 was bought with working air on but it didn't last long. Which is worse?

The recommission on mine was just under £500, if it wasn't black with black leather and a car we planned to take on summer holiday to France I might not have bothered. It took the funds I was going to use to retrofit cruise... Never did get round to that, anyone ever used an after-market cruise or tried to fit factory cruise to a w124 era merc that didn't have it?

Retrofitting cruise is possible but not easy. There was an article in the Mercedes-Benz Club Gazette explaining how to do it but I can't find it. The system's elements are (1) the actuator in the engine compartment, (2) the cruise control ECU (aka brain aka amplifier) under the dash, (3) the switch and (4) the wiring loom. All of these parts are available new from the dealer at huge expense. The best bet probably would be to buy a parts car although it is always 50:50 whether a second hand ECU will work. I think I have at least three in the garage. In the end I bought one from a NOS merchant. On the 24valve engines it may be a bit more involved. An aftermarket kit will be easier to install but it won't be right, will it?

[Riley Blue]

idiotgap said:

andy43 said:

S'funny how many cars are advertised as needing £50 spending at Kwikfit's air con dept.
Nothing at all to do with new condensers, rusty leaking pipework, removal of dashboards etc etc.
W124 AC 'regassing' can easily run into 4 figures.

I guess often it's not strictly a lie. Doubtless if you regass it, it'll work for however long before it takes the gas to escape. My w124 was bought with working air on but it didn't last long. Which is worse?

The recommission on mine was just under £500, if it wasn't black with black leather and a car we planned to take on summer holiday to France I might not have bothered. It took the funds I was going to use to retrofit cruise... Never did get round to that, anyone ever used an after-market cruise or tried to fit factory cruise to a w124 era merc that didn't have it?

I took mine for a KwikFit regass last Sunday. It has a leak so I'll live with it for a while as there are more important things to be done - like rust but hey-ho, it's not a new car and I expect (and budget) for these things.

[confused_buyer]

E65Ross said:

It'll be interesting to see what's causing the issue because it drives absolutely fine and doesn't wallow around in corners....would it not handle absolutely hideously if a spring had snapped?

Not necessarily. Depends on where it has snapped. Many cars drive around for a year or so with snapped springs which only get picked up at MOT time. Failed (leaking or worn) dampers have more effect. If the suspension is otherwise OK and unless you know for sure you're definately going to be doing another 80k in it I'd leave the rest alone.

[idiotgap]

r129sl said:

idiotgap said:

I guess often it's not strictly a lie. Doubtless if you regass it, it'll work for however long before it takes the gas to escape. My w124 was bought with working air on but it didn't last long. Which is worse?

The recommission on mine was just under £500, if it wasn't black with black leather and a car we planned to take on summer holiday to France I might not have bothered. It took the funds I was going to use to retrofit cruise... Never did get round to that, anyone ever used an after-market cruise or tried to fit factory cruise to a w124 era merc that didn't have it?

Retrofitting cruise is possible but not easy. There was an article in the Mercedes-Benz Club Gazette explaining how to do it but I can't find it. The system's elements are (1) the actuator in the engine compartment, (2) the cruise control ECU (aka brain aka amplifier) under the dash, (3) the switch and (4) the wiring loom. All of these parts are available new from the dealer at huge expense. The best bet probably would be to buy a parts car although it is always 50:50 whether a second hand ECU will work. I think I have at least three in the garage. In the end I bought one from a NOS merchant. On the 24valve engines it may be a bit more involved. An aftermarket kit will be easier to install but it won't be right, will it?

I have a copy of that very gazette on my desk at work, its been saved there as reference for this job since it came out I think in Aug 2012. Jeremy Stevens retrofitted cruise to a diesel like yours in that article but I gather the M104 system is a bit different.

Over the years I've asked several indies about it but none has fancied the job of retro fitting the factory system. I'm not bothered too much by ultimate originality. I already have aftermarket parking sensors and a pattern wing so if it works OK, a modern system would be fine by me. What might not be 'right' about it?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

mccrackenj said:

Certainly shouldn't - but what's the point of a Mercedes of 50's - 90's vintage without a bonnet star? I'm getting very laissez faire in my old age!

I like a bonnet star, but not with the grille star; two together are very wrong.

There is, predictably, an MB 'system' as to what cars get what adornment. Sportier get it on the grille, and 'comfier' on the bonnet. I think.

[0a]

Now this is a proper barge! http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C480771# "For sale is my W116 series 280 SE Automatic, first registerd in late 1979. In good condition throughout, the colour is Metallic Milan Brown, with tan velour interior. Recorded mileage is 115,400 which based on condition and partial history/ old MOTs, is believed correct. £3,500 ono"

[CharlesdeGaulle]

mccrackenj said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Indeed a repost. In fact a reposted repost as it has featured more than once before. But a welcome repost as the interior and exterior colours are lovely

Just to add, that vendor seems spiritually aligned to this thread. He's got some interesting stock, including a nice old Rover P5, a 944, an XJ8, a V12 Sovereign and an XJS all in or close to budget. Also some Bentleys and RR for rather more, along with some odd stuff.

[tobinen]

^ Like that W116 a lot!

[BGarside]

0a said:

Now this is a proper barge! http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C480771# "For sale is my W116 series 280 SE Automatic, first registerd in late 1979. In good condition throughout, the colour is Metallic Milan Brown, with tan velour interior. Recorded mileage is 115,400 which based on condition and partial history/ old MOTs, is believed correct. £3,500 ono"

These still look great - a really handsome car.

Not many left now and the values might finally be going up for the best ones.

I guess the 280 would be pretty underpowered though, not that the 350 or 450 were particularly powerful either with around 197 and 214hp...

[bmthnick1981]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

And at least align it correctly, it's off centre FFS!

[bmthnick1981]

Rollcage said:

benwoodcock said:

750i went for £890, potentially a bargain.

They're all potentially a bargain!

I think the 750's have a bad rep on here! I'm on my second and both have been bought at the lower end of thread budget. Yes the current one is in having some suspension work done, but most E39's, E38's and, dare I say it W124's, need some suspension work as they are all older cars. In my experience if you can stomach the fuel costs a 750 is a good reliable car if subject to the usual e38 foibles of course. I think one key advantage is that given the vast majority of people's fear of the fuel consumption the cars can be bought very cheaply, and the M73 V12 is, in my opinion, truly excellent. I think many are being broken up for bits now, so my advice would be grab one while you can!

Gratuitous picture whoring;







I really shouldn't have sold the red one...