Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[OldSpeed]

I have convinced myself that it makes sense to swap my ageing but dependable Mercedes S124 TE in for a BMW E39 530i Sport Touring. I have up to £4k to spend and I am willing to hold out for a good example with sensible mileage and service history. I haven't had much joy with Autotrader or Ebay - is there anywhere else I should be looking? Are there any E39 specialists out there?

[Fox-]

There are very few 530i Sport Touring around so you are in for quite the wait unfortunately. I think they only sold a total of just over 400 of them.

[trooperiziz]

Krikkit said:

trooperiziz said:

I'll admit that I knew nothing about them really, but the price was too good to pass up. Looked around online and every single owner review and comment was unfailingly positive, which I've never seen before! the only issue seems to be a bit if a thirst, but i'm coming from an XJR and a 750i, so it's all relative...

The Mrs has a 4-cylinder and it's a pretty magnificent car as a do-everything machine. Only things to watch out for are making sure the tyres are worn evenly across all 4 wheels. If you run them low on the front/rear you wind up the centre diff in the auto box causing premature wear.

Performance on the OE Yokohama Geolander is absolutely fantastic, the perfect combo of ride, off-road ability and handling.

Thanks I'll check the tyre wear when I pick her up. I suspect I'll do my usual of giving her a full service when I get her regardless of previous service history, then at least I know where i'm starting from.
Apparently she has a small "squeal" from the front right, which I suspect mean the brakes need doing at least.

[anonymous-user]

Fox- said:

There are very few 530i Sport Touring around so you are in for quite the wait unfortunately. I think they only sold a total of just over 400 of them.

How best to tell if it's a real sport vs one with badges? My BMW beard would appear to be too whispy in this area

thanks

[Krikkit]

trooperiziz said:

Krikkit said:

trooperiziz said:

I'll admit that I knew nothing about them really, but the price was too good to pass up. Looked around online and every single owner review and comment was unfailingly positive, which I've never seen before! the only issue seems to be a bit if a thirst, but i'm coming from an XJR and a 750i, so it's all relative...

The Mrs has a 4-cylinder and it's a pretty magnificent car as a do-everything machine. Only things to watch out for are making sure the tyres are worn evenly across all 4 wheels. If you run them low on the front/rear you wind up the centre diff in the auto box causing premature wear.

Performance on the OE Yokohama Geolander is absolutely fantastic, the perfect combo of ride, off-road ability and handling.

Thanks I'll check the tyre wear when I pick her up. I suspect I'll do my usual of giving her a full service when I get her regardless of previous service history, then at least I know where i'm starting from.
Apparently she has a small "squeal" from the front right, which I suspect mean the brakes need doing at least.

I've a dim recollection of there being a service bulletin issued regarding the front brake shields causing that kind of issue...
This is a cracking site, it has all the service manuals and handbooks for most Subarus for years. http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Subaru/Legacy%20Outb...

I do quite a bit of home spannering and having the full workshop manual is a godsend! Wiring diags and all...

[phil_cardiff]

wsurfa said:

Fox- said:

There are very few 530i Sport Touring around so you are in for quite the wait unfortunately. I think they only sold a total of just over 400 of them.

How best to tell if it's a real sport vs one with badges? My BMW beard would appear to be too whispy in this area

thanks

With so few sports out there why not buy a nice SE and add some tasteful 17" alloys (style 32s would be lovely) and give the suspension an upgrade. Should be able to do all that for £4k?

[amusingduck]

wsurfa said:

How best to tell if it's a real sport vs one with badges? My BMW beard would appear to be too whispy in this area

thanks

Fox- said:

An E39 Sport will have the following standard equipment over an E39 SE:

Anthracite Headlining
M branded door entry sills
M Sport steering wheel and M branded gearstick
M-Tech Suspension
M-Tech body styling
De-chrome
Half Cloth/Half Alcantara Sports seats (Leather was a cost option, if chosen you got leather sports seats).
17 inch Style 66 alloy wheels with wider 255/40/17 rear wheels (All 4 same size on Touring) with 18 inch Style 37's an option.
Rear lip spoiler
If the car is a prefacelift E39 (1999V-2000X for Sport models) you also got M badged side door strips, much to the annoyance of half the people on Pistonheads it would seem.

You do not get an LSD.

It is amazing how much the character of the car changes between the SE and the Sport model. I drive both back to back on a regular basis and it's rather nice how the SE cossets you and wafts you along yet the Sport is tauter and more enjoyable to throw around.

Do not confuse a Sport model with a 'Sport' pack. BMW also offered a 'Sport pack' for the SE - the car remained an SE but got the dechrome, the M-tech suspension, sports seats and sports wheel/gearstick with a different design of 17 inch wheel. No bodykit etc.

Edited by Fox- on Monday 8th September 14:59

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=581572

[anonymous-user]

phil_cardiff said:

With so few sports out there why not buy a nice SE and add some tasteful 17" alloys (style 32s would be lovely) and give the suspension an upgrade. Should be able to do all that for £4k?

Probably - I have one already, just seeing best way to ID it.

I found a few sites that give details from the VIN, but nothing that gives me SE vs Sport.

Apparently it has Sports suspension, M sport package, M steering wheel, M aero

Makes no difference to me, as I don't plan to sell it, just interested.

Edit: I assume as these were optional then it's an SE with extra bits

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 31st October 09:28

[trooperiziz]

Krikkit said:

I've a dim recollection of there being a service bulletin issued regarding the front brake shields causing that kind of issue...
This is a cracking site, it has all the service manuals and handbooks for most Subarus for years. http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Subaru/Legacy%20Outb...

I do quite a bit of home spannering and having the full workshop manual is a godsend! Wiring diags and all...

What a great site, thanks a lot.

[jonnydm]

This E39 talk reminds me that I still have a set of Style 66 on winters in the garage.

Anyone know if they'll fit an E63 6?

[Lowtimer]

No, they won't. the PCD is the same but the E39 has a different centre bore, 74.1mm versus 72.5mm.

Is your Style 66 set a staggered set (8J front, 9J rear) or square (all 8J, generally off a Touring)?

Edited by Lowtimer on Friday 31st October 10:07

[hornetrider]

A set of spigot rings will sort out the centre bore issue for the princely sum of £6.

[jonnydm]

Lowtimer said:

No, they won't. the PCD is the same but the E39 has a different centre bore, 74.1mm versus 72.5mm.

Is your Style 66 set a staggered set (8J front, 9J rear) or square (all 8J, generally off a Touring)?

Edited by Lowtimer on Friday 31st October 10:07

ETA - Just had a look at the old ebay listing, says they're staggered. Iirc the official winter set isn't.

hornetrider said:

A set of spigot rings will sort out the centre bore issue for the princely sum of £6.

I really like the idea of an 'underwheeled' car so could be tempted by that. The fact that a rear run flat needs replacing at the moment could encourage me to look into this.

Edited by jonnydm on Friday 31st October 10:36

[hornetrider]

What size run flat?

I have one E60 sized one I've been meaning to put on the bay. I think it's a 245/40/18.

[jonnydm]

hornetrider said:

What size run flat?

I have one E60 sized one I've been meaning to put on the bay. I think it's a 245/40/18.

Not far off... 275 35 19.

[barchetta_boy]

Lowtimer said:

No, they won't. the PCD is the same but the E39 has a different centre bore, 74.1mm versus 72.5mm.

Is your Style 66 set a staggered set (8J front, 9J rear) or square (all 8J, generally off a Touring)?

Edited by Lowtimer on Friday 31st October 10:07

superb bearding

[LouD86]

Well, the smoker barge era is coming to an end, im having to sell my Rover 75 Auto Derv. I've bought a smoker brick instead, 3.9V8 Discovery. Much better suited to towing, now I have a company car that is good on fuel! W

Wheres best to sell the Rover you reckon?

[strudel]

So, Jag XJs.

There always seem to be a few lurking around for under a grand, and they don't seem to hang about either. Is there anything that can go seriously wrong with these? This one has caught my eye:

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

Seriously tempted to go view it tomorrow but this would be my first bargain barge and I'm unsure what I'm letting myself in for! This one has a full service history though so I'm feeling relatively at ease with it...good idea?

[E65Ross]

E65 has gone in today for some work and it won't be ready until Monday

Turns out the reason the front tyres were wearing unevenly (more so the OSF) was due to the camber being way off, and the OSF spring was 14-15mm lower than the NSF. The OSR spring was also lower than the NSR spring.....so yes, it's getting 4 new springs!

Mate is getting it sorted, I asked is it worth doing the shocks too and he said it rides fine and they aren't leaking so not to worry, just change them at a later date if needed. I then said about increased labour cost and he simply said "don't you worry about that, you're getting a very good deal on that).

Secondly, I can't recall exactly but something like the rear track adjuster or rod end or something or the other is seized solid do needs a new one which won't arrive until tomorrow.

So, that needs doing, 4 new springs, 4 new tyres, new fuel filter, air filter, microfilter plus the cause of the steering wheel shimmy under braking all at once. Ouch!! Will easily be my biggest ever car bill.

Perhaps a daft question but I genuinely don't know....after getting 4 new springs and tyres (and the other bits) will there be a noticeably difference in how it rides/handles!?

Fortunately, he's lent me his 3.0 tdi A6 again to smoke around in until it's sorted It was absolutely filthy so as a thanks I've just spend 2.5 hours cleaning it up and hoovering it

[hornetrider]

jonnydm said:

Not far off... 275 35 19.

Pffft, it'll be fine.