Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[cat220]

Agent Orange said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Congrats Agent Orange. You know we'll all want to see pics don't you?

Thanks. Couple from Autotrader.

Congratulations! Looks great! Bring on some good weather!

[cat220]

r129sl said:

Who was looking for a pre-facelift grille for a 129? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SL-129-320-1994...

Nothing to do with me, just came across it on my morning Ebay scan.

Excellent thanks!!

[phil_cardiff]

NickM450 said:

I did it



Pick it up on Wednesday, since starting my search I've missed out on 4 decent looking cars up and down the country, then this one turns up 25mins from my house, well chuffed

Good cars, very little goes wrong on them and the stuff that does is a fairly cheap fix.

What stereo package has yours got? I had the Harman Kardon 9-speaker upgrade and it was fabulous.

I did find the 9-5 to be a little numb in terms of steering and brake pedal feel but what pace! Show it a sweeping a-road and it becomes a great grand tourer.

[cat220]

cat220 said:

r129sl said:

Who was looking for a pre-facelift grille for a 129? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SL-129-320-1994...

Nothing to do with me, just came across it on my morning Ebay scan.

Excellent thanks!!

Just bought it! (well under the buy it now price)

[cornershop]

0a said:

How did the collection go?!

Apart from pretty much paying the entry price for the first service, pretty well!

Some of the work was very labour intensive, eg getting to the rubber pipe to solve the oil cooler coolant leak, replacing the alternator was nearly just over 500 inc labour. Cam belt, water pump, thermostat, pulley, tensioners, tensioner damper came in at close to a grand, gearbox drain/fill 250 - it all adds up.

My plan is to keep this for at least 3 years - probably longer if I get the front suspension components changed as recommended. A 30 mile roadtest this evening confirmed what a good car this - whoever described it as iron fist, velvet glove got it spot on

[PlayersNo6]

W00DY said:

Touch up paint for the grey bumpers, where from?

The touch up paint from MB is specifically for plastic parts. If you give the dealer your reg or VIN they should find the correct colour code for you.

[PlayersNo6]

Agent Orange said:

This is the pre face lift blue 500 I was also tempted by but much as I like the pale blue I don't like two tone nor the sombre grey interior. Looks good though.
http://www.autoleisure.net/SL.htm

That looks very nice (as does the one you have bought) - not keen on the wheels though. I love the two tone but would prefer a navy or black interior.

[Rincewind209]

I was reading the topic "Are Rovers any good" , and followed this link by williamp. Autocar road tests. Absolutely brilliant with all sorts of old and not so old cars. Hours and hours worth of reading though by the look of it.

[derin100]

Agent Orange said:

r129sl said:

Ouch, that looks really stunning. The leather looks particularly rich. Very nice.

The antenna mast will just need cleaning.

Edit: cripes, I have found the ad and that is a steal.

Yep pretty pleased.

This is the pre face lift blue 500 I was also tempted by but much as I like the pale blue I don't like two tone nor the sombre grey interior. Looks good though.
http://www.autoleisure.net/SL.htm

That's very nice but I prefer yours. I also don't like the wheels on that one. He does have some great cars on his website though. A very nice mix. I was previously tempted by a green Z3M Roadster that he had. Great looking car. Probably just as well I didn't go for it though as I don't think I'd fit in a Z3 too well.

Now that I've also found the ad on Autotrader I like yours even more!!! That mileage with a Pano roof...awesome buy!

[BigBen]

W00DY said:

0a said:

We've had a couple of these R129s here recently with horrendous steering wheels fitted - does anyone have any idea why old mercs seem to get such treatment?!

The standard wheels are too big. The replacements look awful, but I do understand them. I'm finding it my least favourite part of the W124 driving experience.

Edited by W00DY on Friday 27th March 21:02

Certainly on my R107 the leather on the wheel has been an Achilles heal of the trim, I think being thinner than the seat leather and coupled with the potential for damp that comes with a soft top it does not last well, so that is another reason.

[mickyveloce]

I've got an early, pre-airbag 129 fitted with an original blue leather covered wheel.

I can understand why someone may want to have changed it for something slightly smaller, but I would have hoped a classy Nardi three-spoke wheel would fit the bill.

Some of the horrors on here beggar belief!

[derin100]

BigBen said:

W00DY said:

0a said:

We've had a couple of these R129s here recently with horrendous steering wheels fitted - does anyone have any idea why old mercs seem to get such treatment?!

The standard wheels are too big. The replacements look awful, but I do understand them. I'm finding it my least favourite part of the W124 driving experience.

Edited by W00DY on Friday 27th March 21:02

Certainly on my R107 the leather on the wheel has been an Achilles heal of the trim, I think being thinner than the seat leather and coupled with the potential for damp that comes with a soft top it does not last well, so that is another reason.

The genuine W124 ones do come in different sizes. Maybe one is a "Sports" wheel? I swapped the one on my 300CE for a slightly smaller one...the difference is very slight though.

[derin100]

mickyveloce said:

I've got an early, pre-airbag 129 fitted with an original blue leather covered wheel.

I can understand why someone may want to have changed it for something slightly smaller, but I would have hoped a classy Nardi three-spoke wheel would fit the bill.

Some of the horrors on here beggar belief!

Slight off on a tangent from the thread but on the subject of steering wheels...

Does anyone know of a classic-type looking steering wheel (Nardi or Motolita look) that can actually accommodate an airbag? I have in mind (and it only exists in my mind at the moment) a project for the future and such a steering wheel features in it. There's the BMW Z8 steering wheel but they are horrendously expensive.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Agent Orange said:

Yep pretty pleased.

This is the pre face lift blue 500 I was also tempted by but much as I like the pale blue I don't like two tone nor the sombre grey interior. Looks good though.
http://www.autoleisure.net/SL.htm

That's very similar to mine. Wheels aside, it looks great.

£7k though; have we seen the end of the cheapies I wonder?

[W00DY]

PlayersNo6 said:

W00DY said:

Touch up paint for the grey bumpers, where from?

The touch up paint from MB is specifically for plastic parts. If you give the dealer your reg or VIN they should find the correct colour code for you.

Not according to my man at MB who has yet again managed to extract a sum of several pounds from me, but if anyone has a colour code/part no. I would be most grateful.

[W00DY]

A 520 manual may not be at top of anyone's wishlist, but this looks box fresh:




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-BMW-520i-SE-Warrant...

[bmthnick1981]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

E65Ross said:

0a said:

One for R129's collection?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C597845#

Looks very tidy but surely that must feel very weedy and a bit down on power for such a big car, no?

That looks nice. I suspect it has enough power not to feel sluggish, especially as it's the type of car one would wish to drive sedately anyway. Wearing a hat.

I've seen that car in the metal, from a cursory glance it did appear very tidy. The trader selling does seem to uncover some tidy 70s-90s mercs from somewhere. Slippery bought his CL 600 from the same chap IIRC.

[bmthnick1981]

W00DY said:

What did you think? Nice ones seem pretty good value at the moment and I like the idea (not so much the aesthetic, but I could warm to one I think.

The 325ti is a very enjoyable car to drive. Quite a big N/A straight 6 in a small car with RWD. They have a quicker steering rack from a Z3/Z4 i believe and makes them feel very 'chuckable'. Later cars came with 6 speed box. I've had a lot of E46s and i'd say they 325ti is more fund than a 330i saloon (of which i've had 2). As you say good value now, and BMW won't be making any more N/A straight 6 hatchbacks. I think the new 2 series 'active tourer' is FWD?

[4941cc]

325tis are great fun.

330ti is a plug n' play conversion...

[mickyveloce]

derin100 said:

Slight off on a tangent from the thread but on the subject of steering wheels...

Does anyone know of a classic-type looking steering wheel (Nardi or Motolita look) that can actually accommodate an airbag? I have in mind (and it only exists in my mind at the moment) a project for the future and such a steering wheel features in it. There's the BMW Z8 steering wheel but they are horrendously expensive.

Don't think so Derin. My C36 has a standard Merc airbag wheel in black, but with the lower third of the wheel trimmed in light grey leather- I'm not that keen on it, despite it being original. I've toyed with fitting a non- airbag Momo Prototipo. Bit of a risk, though.