Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[harry kular]

I've a question that fellow bargers might be able to advise on: my uncle's a8 4.0tdi has snapped it's timing chain and the engine is subsequently FUBAR. Given that it's got a fair few miles under it, I'm thinking that it might be a better option to break it for parts instead of his intention of fitting a replacement engine and flogging it.

Thoughts?

Edited by harry kular on Saturday 1st November 13:10

[0a]

harry kular said:

0a said:

I had a fantastic 300+ mile drive in it this evening though - the wobblyness at high speed has gone and it feels so tight and fresh! The wobble at, er, slightly enthusiastic speeds has gone.

Oa, could you please elaborate on what has removed this wobble? I haven't got to the bottom of it in my car (s124)- happens around 80ish with me.

Harry, £4,000 on changing every single thing under the car and new tyres cured it! I can't be more specific as I did most of it in one go I'm afraid.

[harry kular]

I've done something similar on my s124, but haven't completely finished. The rear axle hasn't been out and diff mounts haven't been renewed yet, I'm hoping that these bits will sort the problem.

[E65Ross]

0a said:

harry kular said:

0a said:

I had a fantastic 300+ mile drive in it this evening though - the wobblyness at high speed has gone and it feels so tight and fresh! The wobble at, er, slightly enthusiastic speeds has gone.

Oa, could you please elaborate on what has removed this wobble? I haven't got to the bottom of it in my car (s124)- happens around 80ish with me.

Harry, £4,000 on changing every single thing under the car and new tyres cured it! I can't be more specific as I did most of it in one go I'm afraid.

Jesus that's a hefty sum of money.

Odd that I'll be spending around £600 tops plus new tyres and get called nuts, yet I bet loads here would say it's fantastic (myself included) that you spend £4k plus new tyres...

If I spent £4k on the E65 it'd be mint!

[E65Ross]

E65Ross said:

0a said:

harry kular said:

0a said:

I had a fantastic 300+ mile drive in it this evening though - the wobblyness at high speed has gone and it feels so tight and fresh! The wobble at, er, slightly enthusiastic speeds has gone.

Oa, could you please elaborate on what has removed this wobble? I haven't got to the bottom of it in my car (s124)- happens around 80ish with me.

Harry, £4,000 on changing every single thing under the car and new tyres cured it! I can't be more specific as I did most of it in one go I'm afraid.

Jesus that's a hefty sum of money.

Odd that I'll be spending around £600 tops plus new tyres and get called nuts, yet I bet loads here would say it's fantastic (myself included) that you spend £4k plus new tyres on a w124...

If I spent £4k on the E65 it'd be mint!

[iantek]

0a said:

Harry, £4,000 on changing every single thing under the car and new tyres cured it! I can't be more specific as I did most of it in one go I'm afraid.

Blimey! 4k is quite a commitment on any car of any age (bar something exotic or rare perhaps). Its pretty clear you love your car and i applaud this approach. I'd love to treat a car to this kind of attention but I think a Rover 75 just falls short of being worthy!

[anonymous-user]

If my barge threw up a £4k bill then it could fk right off.

[0a]

E65Ross said:

0a said:

harry kular said:

0a said:

I had a fantastic 300+ mile drive in it this evening though - the wobblyness at high speed has gone and it feels so tight and fresh! The wobble at, er, slightly enthusiastic speeds has gone.

Oa, could you please elaborate on what has removed this wobble? I haven't got to the bottom of it in my car (s124)- happens around 80ish with me.

Harry, £4,000 on changing every single thing under the car and new tyres cured it! I can't be more specific as I did most of it in one go I'm afraid.

Jesus that's a hefty sum of money.

Odd that I'll be spending around £600 tops plus new tyres and get called nuts, yet I bet loads here would say it's fantastic (myself included) that you spend £4k plus new tyres...

If I spent £4k on the E65 it'd be mint!

Yes, it just kind of happened and I only added up all the various bills today! I am clearly nuts to spend such a sum on a not particularly desirable model. It does ride well though.

[SpeckledJim]

0a said:

E65Ross said:

0a said:

harry kular said:

0a said:

I had a fantastic 300+ mile drive in it this evening though - the wobblyness at high speed has gone and it feels so tight and fresh! The wobble at, er, slightly enthusiastic speeds has gone.

Oa, could you please elaborate on what has removed this wobble? I haven't got to the bottom of it in my car (s124)- happens around 80ish with me.

Harry, £4,000 on changing every single thing under the car and new tyres cured it! I can't be more specific as I did most of it in one go I'm afraid.

Jesus that's a hefty sum of money.

Odd that I'll be spending around £600 tops plus new tyres and get called nuts, yet I bet loads here would say it's fantastic (myself included) that you spend £4k plus new tyres...

If I spent £4k on the E65 it'd be mint!

Yes, it just kind of happened and I only added up all the various bills today! I am clearly nuts to spend such a sum on a not particularly desirable model. It does ride well though.

I take it back. Ross isn't King of Changing Stuff. You are.

[harry kular]

When I sell a customer an expensive item of clothing, I explain to them that it's an investment in themselves, not just the item. It makes them feel good and will last them a considerable time if looked after, long after the impact of the price has gone. eg. my grandad has a pair of handmade Grenson shoes that he still has after 30 years, and a coat for the same amount of time.

I think the same applies here with the Benz refurbishment.

[Lowtimer]

I did pretty much the same with my E39 530i Touring manual earlier this year. And have just bunged almost another couple of grand into the 944 Turbo, as well. Still cheaper than buying new ones though.

[mickyveloce]

harry kular said:

When I sell a customer an expensive item of clothing, I explain to them that it's an investment in themselves, not just the item. It makes them feel good and will last them a considerable time if looked after, long after the impact of the price has gone. eg. my grandad has a pair of handmade Grenson shoes that he still has after 30 years, and a coat for the same amount of time.

I think the same applies here with the Benz refurbishment.

My philosophy too. I have always a list of thing-to-do on my C36 and 300-24SL.
Much is non essential, but it's for my own personal satisfaction.
As you've alluded to, the quality is remembered long after the price has been forgotten.
That's why I drive a classic Mercedes I suppose......

[PowerslideSWE]

E65Ross said:

Jesus that's a hefty sum of money.

Odd that I'll be spending around £600 tops plus new tyres and get called nuts, yet I bet loads here would say it's fantastic (myself included) that you spend £4k plus new tyres...

If I spent £4k on the E65 it'd be mint!

@ Ross, I could easily spend 4 grand on my e38 750 and it still wouldn't be mint, and it's in nice condition now mind

[E24man]

I've recently thrown a similar sum, perhaps a little more, at my M635, and whilst not a barge the investment in an existing car is obviously far safer than trying to start again with an unknown car of unknown quality.

[AdamGP]

Would this c32 AMG be completely ruinous, having sold my GP I'm currently on the look out for something within thread budget and this been on my doorstep only the poor advert is stopping me from picking up the phone.



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

[CharlesdeGaulle]

0a said:

Far too expensive - it can't be worth half of the asking price of £2.5k, but I do like it. I'm a 4 door man.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C555538

JZZ30 said:

That 960 is lovely, but agreed, far too much money.

I was about to post to say that I disagreed with both of you, and that that car will find a buyer at that price all day long. Before doing so, I checked the advert, which has been removed, presumably due to it being sold.

As many of us here love our MB 124s, there are a lot of folk that will pay good money for old Volvos and that looked a cracker. I reckon half max thread budget for that would have been a steal.

If I buy another car before selling one I'm a dead man, but even I would have been tempted simply by the seller's use of the line 'Euroblob spamcam'. I suspect you don't often see those letters arranged in that sequence in many car ads.

[bigunit00]

Just switched my e46 316 compact for this e39 530i sport individual champagne. Enjoying it so far

http://www.gmscars.co.uk/bmw_530i_champagne_editio...

[r129sl]

mickyveloce said:

harry kular said:

When I sell a customer an expensive item of clothing, I explain to them that it's an investment in themselves, not just the item. It makes them feel good and will last them a considerable time if looked after, long after the impact of the price has gone. eg. my grandad has a pair of handmade Grenson shoes that he still has after 30 years, and a coat for the same amount of time.

I think the same applies here with the Benz refurbishment.

My philosophy too. I have always a list of thing-to-do on my C36 and 300-24SL.
Much is non essential, but it's for my own personal satisfaction.
As you've alluded to, the quality is remembered long after the price has been forgotten.
That's why I drive a classic Mercedes I suppose......

Another subscriber to this way of life here. I bought a new sports coat last month. Nothing much wrong with the old one, but after 12 years I fancied a change. I am sure both will still be brushing against the driver's seat bolster of the 124 in 12 years time.

We've just returned from another Scottish touring holiday in the 124. It really is the best car of all time, for me, at least. It feels so permanent and it functions so well. It is just shy of 300,000miles. I don't care that it has no value to anyone else: to me it is irreplaceable. I've done 20,000miles since the completion of my refurbishment this April and it has cost me nothing but oil and filters and tyres in that time. Every mile that passes under its wheels makes that insane refurbishment cheaper and cheaper and cheaper.

[r129sl]

bigunit00 said:

Just switched my e46 316 compact for this e39 530i sport individual champagne. Enjoying it so far

http://www.gmscars.co.uk/bmw_530i_champagne_editio...

Straight in at number one with that beauty. Very nice indeed.

[r129sl]

AdamGP said:

Would this c32 AMG be completely ruinous, having sold my GP I'm currently on the look out for something within thread budget and this been on my doorstep only the poor advert is stopping me from picking up the phone.



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

Got to be worth a look if it's local. I don't know of any horror stories with these and I understand them to be animals to drive. The address looks OK and the ad doesn't scream "run": it's just the lack of photos that is off-putting.