Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[Pickled]

SuperHangOn said:

Cheers, not sure whether to get it checked out - the place that rebuilt it has a good rep (Stephens engineering) so I could take it there for a check, maybe a service... Or just leave it and see what happens. It's not that bad.

Try doing a software reset, its an adaptive box. Disconnect the battery completely (both + & - ) bridge the cables for about 30 minutes then reconnect battery, software will re-learn your driving style and can sometimes smooth out gearshifts.

[Motorrad]

So I made a thread purchase, thanks to cmoose who posted it back in July. I'm now the owner of a very nice early R129 500sl. First impressions are proper 'analogue' motoring and its surprisingly quick. Pics to follow.



image url

Edited by Motorrad on Saturday 29th November 16:57

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Congrats Motorrad - looks great.

[Motorrad]

That's the one, thanks for the tip. Took me a while to get it but it really is very nice for just over thread budget having just been serviced and MOTd.

[r129sl]

Wow, that 500 SL looks great.

How about this barge? Big saloon. Big petrol engine. Big specification. Low miles. Low price.

http://www.7starcarsales.co.uk/used-cars/mercedes-...

[0a]

Now on Skye enjoying a beer in a nice hotel - intending to do select bits of the island followed by Applecross tomorrow. 650 miles and counting. Tank 1 went at an economical 26.8mpg, tank 2 (with me driving!) at 25.2 mpg...

The weather this morning was wonderfully misty and moody (this is the end of the road to the lighthouse on the Mull of Kintyre



Bridge over the Atlantic (mentioned earlier in the thread - thanks!)



Eileen Donan castle



All rubbish quality photos I'm afraid! All in all an enjoyable day of motoring.

Edited by 0a on Saturday 29th November 19:23

[2stis]

Blown2CV said:

do any of the thread massive actually own an XJ V12?

FrankUnderwood said:

2stis said:

Yes, I bought one a few weeks ago! An X300 era one though.

Pics please

First sign of sunshine in what seems like a few weeks today so went for a run in it and took some photos for you when I got home before it went back in the garage:

[0a]

Motorrad said:

So I made a thread purchase, thanks to cmoose who posted it back in July. I'm now the owner of a very nice early R129 500sl. First impressions are proper 'analogue' motoring and its surprisingly quick. Pics to follow.



image url

Edited by Motorrad on Saturday 29th November 16:57

Lovely! I will add one of these to my w124 (as plenty of w124 enthusiasts seem to do) after I finish off the renovations.

[Baryonyx]

r129sl said:

Wow, that 500 SL looks great.

How about this barge? Big saloon. Big petrol engine. Big specification. Low miles. Low price.

http://www.7starcarsales.co.uk/used-cars/mercedes-...

That looks good. Keep it away from the salt, and enjoy!

[cat220]

0a said:

Now on Skye enjoying a beer in a nice hotel - intending to do select bits of the island followed by Applecross tomorrow. 650 miles and counting. Tank 1 went at an economical 26.8mpg, tank 2 (with me driving!) at 25.2 mpg...

The weather this morning was wonderfully misty and moody (this is the end of the road to the lighthouse on the Mull of Kintyre



Bridge over the Atlantic (mentioned earlier in the thread - thanks!)



Eileen Donan castle



All rubbish quality photos I'm afraid! All in all an enjoyable day of motoring.

Edited by 0a on Saturday 29th November 19:23

Magic, sounds like you're enjoying it, hard not to with the roads and scenery. Stop at the Applecross hotel, food is excellent.

[cat220]

Motorrad said:

So I made a thread purchase, thanks to cmoose who posted it back in July. I'm now the owner of a very nice early R129 500sl. First impressions are proper 'analogue' motoring and its surprisingly quick. Pics to follow.



image url

Edited by Motorrad on Saturday 29th November 16:57

Congratulations, that looks lovely!

[harry kular]

0a said:

Motorrad said:

So I made a thread purchase, thanks to cmoose who posted it back in July. I'm now the owner of a very nice early R129 500sl. First impressions are proper 'analogue' motoring and its surprisingly quick. Pics to follow.



image url

Edited by Motorrad on Saturday 29th November 16:57

Lovely! I will add one of these to my w124 (as plenty of w124 enthusiasts seem to do) after I finish off the renovations.

Great purchase Motorrad!

Looks like a good PH day out Oa. Don't leave it too long on the SL front: this time next year they'll be on the up...

[2stis]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Delicious! How does it drove compared to the straight six, V8 and supercharged cars?

I can't say really as I haven't driven any other X300 cars - it was a 'spur of the moment' type of purchase after someone posted a link on PH and I thought that it seemed like a great way to add a V12 to the stable but didn't have time to try other examples first as felt I needed to act quickly to nab it! I did look after a friend's X308 V8 LWB for 6 months some years ago when he was working abroad and drove that a fair bit and would say it is broadly similar - the Double Six definitely feels more nose-heavy than that though, which is to be expected with that giant of a V12 up front. It's not a car that you would really want to hustle but when you are on a dual-carriageway and the car in front moves over and you have a clear stretch in front the way it piles on speed without any discernable effort from the engine room is currently providing much amusement.

[4941cc]

2stis said:

...when you are on a dual-carriageway and the car in front moves over and you have a clear stretch in front the way it piles on speed without any discernable effort from the engine room is currently providing much amusement.

Yep, that's the unremitting charm of a V12, silken delivery - something even the best balance shaft equipped V8s just can't *quite nail*.

[r129sl]

0a said:

Now on Skye enjoying a beer in a nice hotel - intending to do select bits of the island followed by Applecross tomorrow. 650 miles and counting. Tank 1 went at an economical 26.8mpg, tank 2 (with me driving!) at 25.2 mpg...

The weather this morning was wonderfully misty and moody (this is the end of the road to the lighthouse on the Mull of Kintyre



Bridge over the Atlantic (mentioned earlier in the thread - thanks!)



Eileen Donan castle



All rubbish quality photos I'm afraid! All in all an enjoyable day of motoring.

I envy you the epic drive and I envy you the Applecross Inn tomorrow.

If you can be arsed, the coastal route round to Shielding is superb and there is nice coffee at the new Nanny's shop. The distant view over the Torridon mountains that greets you as you crest a brow is immense (below). If you're feeling epic, the pass between Torridon and Diabaig is pretty hairy, I like it more than the Applecross pass. And the fast route back via Torridon-Kinlochewe-Achnasheen-Garve-Inverness will show your 300 at its best, at least as far as Garve. It's empty, smooth, wide, well-sighted highway, good for 100mph cruising. Finally, the A9 is miles faster than the west coast route and the tedium can be relieved by excellent coffee at Ralia Café. I know you know this part of the world well, so I hope this is not teaching granny how to suck eggs.



A few years ago at the Applecross when we were only three:

[idiotgap]

Motorrad said:

So I made a thread purchase, thanks to cmoose who posted it back in July. I'm now the owner of a very nice early R129 500sl. First impressions are proper 'analogue' motoring and its surprisingly quick. Pics to follow.



image url

Edited by Motorrad on Saturday 29th November 16:57

Bravo!

Edited by idiotgap on Saturday 29th November 22:51

[minimoog]

Motorrad said:

So I made a thread purchase, thanks to cmoose who posted it back in July. I'm now the owner of a very nice early R129 500sl. First impressions are proper 'analogue' motoring and its surprisingly quick. Pics to follow.

Brilliant! I'm very jealous

[0a]

r129sl said:

I envy you the epic drive and I envy you the Applecross Inn tomorrow.

If you can be arsed, the coastal route round to Shielding is superb and there is nice coffee at the new Nanny's shop. The distant view over the Torridon mountains that greets you as you crest a brow is immense (below). If you're feeling epic, the pass between Torridon and Diabaig is pretty hairy, I like it more than the Applecross pass. And the fast route back via Torridon-Kinlochewe-Achnasheen-Garve-Inverness will show your 300 at its best, at least as far as Garve. It's empty, smooth, wide, well-sighted highway, good for 100mph cruising. Finally, the A9 is miles faster than the west coast route and the tedium can be relieved by excellent coffee at Ralia Café. I know you know this part of the world well, so I hope this is not teaching granny how to suck eggs.



A few years ago at the Applecross when we were only three:

Hi r129,

As always I can't wait to drive Applecross - in fact this time I've offered the driving to my friend so I can enjoy it.

Lovely photos and I will try and get around to Shielding depending on how the timing goes. One of my rules on these random trips away is that distraction is fine and I drive where I want to go (I do need to be in edinburgh by 10am Monday though!)

[cat220]

0a said:

r129sl said:

I envy you the epic drive and I envy you the Applecross Inn tomorrow.

If you can be arsed, the coastal route round to Shielding is superb and there is nice coffee at the new Nanny's shop. The distant view over the Torridon mountains that greets you as you crest a brow is immense (below). If you're feeling epic, the pass between Torridon and Diabaig is pretty hairy, I like it more than the Applecross pass. And the fast route back via Torridon-Kinlochewe-Achnasheen-Garve-Inverness will show your 300 at its best, at least as far as Garve. It's empty, smooth, wide, well-sighted highway, good for 100mph cruising. Finally, the A9 is miles faster than the west coast route and the tedium can be relieved by excellent coffee at Ralia Café. I know you know this part of the world well, so I hope this is not teaching granny how to suck eggs.



A few years ago at the Applecross when we were only three:

Hi r129,

As always I can't wait to drive Applecross - in fact this time I've offered the driving to my friend so I can enjoy it.

Lovely photos and I will try and get around to Shielding depending on how the timing goes. One of my rules on these random trips away is that distraction is fine and I drive where I want to go (I do need to be in edinburgh by 10am Monday though!)

All great advice from r129, however avoid the a9, few very good alternatives, as mentioned above don't want to be teaching my granny to suck eggs, so let me know if you need any pointers. Enjoy

[Birdster]

FrankUnderwood said:

Motorrad said:

500SL

I don't like the wheels although they do seem to have matching Pirellis on from what I can see and I don't have much confidence in people who state things like 'no messers' however never mind the quality, feel the width for two and half bags. No history but MOT'd until Sept next year.

'Old out yer 'and my son

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-500-SL-SL500-/1...

I wouldn't touch that if it doesn't have a nicely stamped history book. You'll be bleeding £50 notes.

I'm in Romford. Im pretty sure that I've seen that car on the A12.