Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[r129sl]

Old friend or bad penny?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-Mercedes-560-SEL-96...



Leasing. It's not for me because (1) the cars are st boring (even a Golf R I'd find a bit tedious after a while), (2) I do lots and lots of miles so the money doesn't stack up, (3) I like owning cars for a long time, (4) I quite enjoy improving my cars and (5), most important of all, I want to own and drive the cars I dreamed about owning and driving 20 years ago when I was an impressionable youth. I suppose there is also (6) the barges are a cult choice and there is definitely a bit of knowing appreciation among fellow bargistas, whereas every fker and his dog has a new TDI on lease.

I've done 14,000 miles in my 124 since April and I can't think I've spent much on it. Two oil filters, a fuel filter and 16 litres of cheapish motor oil. A new seat pad and its installation. It hasn't needed taxing and the garagiste forgot to charge me for the MOT. All in all, pretty cheap to run.

I've done about 10,000 miles in my 129 since the start of the year. It has cost a fortune. Road tax, £230. 4 tyres, £700-odd. A new seat pad and installation, £230. ABS sensor, £80. Battery, £130. Steering box, £400. Steering links, £100. Discs and pads all round, transmission service, oil service, £1,000. Rear callipers, £230. Alternator, steering pump, xenon headlamp level sender, MOT and a load of stuff I cannot remember, still waiting for the garagiste to draw a bill. Plus there's something up with the air con, I suspect a weak or slipping compressor. All in all, horrendous.

Edited by r129sl on Sunday 28th September 21:17

[mccrackenj]

just idly browsing this evening, after too many beers, and I appear to have bought this - completely spur of the moment and obviously unseen.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-SL320-R129-Conv...

What have I done? What will I do with the C126 - which STILL isn't on the road after 13 months? What will I do with the 190e? What will the wife do to my 'man parts'?

F_CK.

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 28th September 21:11

The E-bay link seems to be shown a catalytic converter, so here's a different link:

http://www.usedcarsni.com/1996-Mercedes-SL-AUTO-13...

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 28th September 21:13

[r129sl]

What are you going to do with that 500 SEC? And why isn't it finished?

PS: well done on the 129. Obviously a sensible purchase on which your Mrs should be congratulating you.

Edited by r129sl on Sunday 28th September 21:32

[harry kular]

mccrackenj said:

just idly browsing this evening, after too many beers, and I appear to have bought this - completely spur of the moment and obviously unseen.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-SL320-R129-Conv...

What have I done? What will I do with the C126 - which STILL isn't on the road after 13 months? What will I do with the 190e? What will the wife do to my 'man parts'?

F_CK.

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 28th September 21:11

The E-bay link seems to be shown a catalytic converter, so here's a different link:

http://www.usedcarsni.com/1996-Mercedes-SL-AUTO-13...

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 28th September 21:13

Nice one John! It was only a matter of time before you rehomed another Benz. Seen this one around a few times, the owner seems to be an enthusiast, judging by his driveway.

[MJK 24]

The ex Syrian Embassy 126 560SEL looks like a superb old machine. I bet there's been numerous interesting conversations over the years within that particular monocoque!

[jke11y]

I'm pretty sure that embassy 560sel is the one I posted on volume 1 of this thread about 4 years ago- was up for sale still with the diplomatic plates and an A4 for sale sign in the window on Belgrave Square.

Dangerously, I need to go to the street its parked on tomorrow.

Edited by jke11y on Sunday 28th September 21:45

[0a]

"Here for sale is an immaculate 1988 Mercedes 300 SE, w126, finished in beautiful Gold metallic, with plush brown velour interior.

It has had only ONE careful owner from new, with only 58,000 genuine miles, with service history and every MOT from new to support."





http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C543991

[MJK 24]

0a said:

"Here for sale is an immaculate 1988 Mercedes 300 SE, w126, finished in beautiful Gold metallic, with plush brown velour interior.

It has had only ONE careful owner from new, with only 58,000 genuine miles, with service history and every MOT from new to support."





http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C543991

Conditions looks exemplary but advert states 'Private' yet reads to me like trade.

Colour. Hmmm.... If it was black, blue, grey, silver, dark red etc I'd be borderline euphoric. Not sure I can see past the JRG. It's far from subtle.

[dbdb]

VERY few cars can carry off gold - the W126 is one of them. I think it looks great.

[bmthnick1981]

E65Ross said:

Can't remember, have we had this?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

E32 730i, low miles for year, full service history it would seem

Dont think its been posted here before but I think someone on the other thread (Output_Flange perhaps?) went and had a look and wasn't impressed.

Coincidentally though I was in Amersham today and went to that dealer to look at this SEC which I was high bidder on; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-J-reg-Mercedes-500-...

The e32 looked tired but I didn't inspect it closely.

[MJK 24]

dbdb said:

VERY few cars can carry off gold - the W126 is one of them. I think it looks great.

A chap in Germany on the Retro Rides forum is running a W124 300CE in that shade of Gold. I think it carries it off a little better than the W126.

[hornetrider]

That interior is like a 70s porn set. Awesome.

[MJK 24]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

100% Gold! It's a German market car. I've never seen one in that colour on these shores! His has a full brown leather interior which really suits it.

[village idiot]

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

Seems like a lot of relatively low mileage, fairly economical, low(ish) tax, not too old uber-barge metal for the money.

What am I missing?

[mccrackenj]

r129sl said:

What are you going to do with that 500 SEC? And why isn't it finished?

PS: well done on the 129. Obviously a sensible purchase on which your Mrs should be congratulating you.

Edited by r129sl on Sunday 28th September 21:32

effing starter motor - it's ben in out, in out, shake it all about, do the hokey cokey . . . Back to mechanic on Friday to get the brand new starter (after rebuilding the original 3 times) out again. In the 4 months since I have had it back after the engine swap I've done 3 trips to work (6 miles return) and 1 Sunday afternoon outing (35 miles return). Takes 10+ turns of the key for the starter to engage properly, very annoying and very embarrassing at Tesco's filling station with people watching! And there's now a rumbling/knocking from rear end.

Would have been cheaper and much less stressful just to pay the purchase price and not bother ever turning up to collect the b*stard thing. I really, honestly wish I'd never set eyes on it.

[jonah35]

E65Ross said:

Krikkit said:

jonah35 said:

Lol, golf r wins then!

To the other poster, my idea of bargain barging is buy a big v8 and run it for peanuts.

But, a golf r is far quicker, reliable, better on fuel, more technology etc. plus, its not embarrasing to the majority of the population who just see a 20 year old smoker whereas we see a lovely xjr or 750 etc.

£169.99 plus vat is cheapest ive seen a golf r for.

What's the initial sum down for these though? 204 PCM is a great deal, but only if you don't have to sacrifice your first-born at an altar in the VW showroom when you pick it up.

typical price seems to be nearer the £300+ mark for doing normal mileage of 10k/year with initial payment a bit under £3k.

35 months of £300/month = £10500 plus £3k deposit is £13500 over 3 years. Doubt over 3 years there'd be a big amount of difference in overall costs to be honest.

Could sell mine for £5k, put down deposit and that's a few months leasing already,

£1500 plus vat down plus £170pm plus vat on 10k per year.

http://www.freedomcontracts.com/Volkswagen-Golf-2....

Some of the monthly cost reduced by no mot, full warranty and fuel will be cheaper.

[mccrackenj]

harry kular said:

mccrackenj said:

just idly browsing this evening, after too many beers, and I appear to have bought this - completely spur of the moment and obviously unseen.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-SL320-R129-Conv...

What have I done? What will I do with the C126 - which STILL isn't on the road after 13 months? What will I do with the 190e? What will the wife do to my 'man parts'?

F_CK.

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 28th September 21:11

The E-bay link seems to be shown a catalytic converter, so here's a different link:

http://www.usedcarsni.com/1996-Mercedes-SL-AUTO-13...

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 28th September 21:13

Nice one John! It was only a matter of time before you rehomed another Benz. Seen this one around a few times, the owner seems to be an enthusiast, judging by his driveway.

Hi Harry

If it had been a planned purchase I'd have asked if you had any 'local knowledge' - but it was completely spur of the moment, the result of 1 too many sherbets this evening and an "ah f_ck it" attitude. Maybe that's partly due to the latest round of frustration with the SEC, maybe subconsciously I just wanted to see if another roll of the dice would bring me some pleasure for a change.

Maybe when I go to collect it we could meet up.

Need to sell the 190e now though, which will be a bit of a wrench, as it's such a solid, solid car.

[mccrackenj]

dbdb said:

VERY few cars can carry off gold - the W126 is one of them. I think it looks great.

Correct; it's lovely

[PlayersNo6]

bmthnick1981 said:

I think the lack of MOT on the E34 may hurt its value, suspect £1k tops? I will be there so will report back.

I bought a manual E34 525i SE manual on an N plate with long MOT and good history probably 12 months ago for £600, it was lovely and another I probably shouldn't have sold. Can't keep them all is the problem.

Speaking of which - currently high bidder on this; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-J-reg-Mercedes-500-...



Seller is Auto Direct of Amersham - Usman Azam.

Did you win it?

[PlayersNo6]

0a said:

"Here for sale is an immaculate 1988 Mercedes 300 SE, w126, finished in beautiful Gold metallic, with plush brown velour interior.

It has had only ONE careful owner from new, with only 58,000 genuine miles, with service history and every MOT from new to support."





http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C543991

Very nice - just needs A/C and possibly leather/MBTex