Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[0a]

JZZ30 said:

Looks good with a comprehensive history

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-H-Mercedes-Benz-260...

I must admit I don't really like that colour on the W124 4 door myself!

[Lowtimer]

I kind of do, though I admit it is not for everyone.
I love the simplicity of the interior of these. So straightforward, properly classy.

[Janluke]

Baryonyx said:

I could seriously see myself the X350 XJ as my next car. I really like my X308, but I know it's end is drawing near (as is the 170,000 mile mark). The X350 would be an ideal place to stop next. Not sure if I'd go for the 2.7TDVi, whilst they are a fine engine I'm not sure I do the miles to justify it (I'd still rather commute on a motorbike) and you'd get a lot of miles out of a petrol engined model before you were ready to make a saving on the more expensive diesels. I've even come to appreciate the less slinky look of the things, because the interior looks magnificent.

Anyone who has sat in one, are the seats as good as the X308 seats? And the steering wheels, are they are thick as they look?

I see you're in Scotland if you're anywhere near Lanark/Biggar feel free to come for a lookie round my X350 3.5 SE for a back to back with the X308. My X350 has been great , a few quid spent here and there but nothing terrible, can't compare it to the X300/308 as I've never been in one

[BlueMR2]

Lowtimer said:

I kind of do, though I admit it is not for everyone.
I love the simplicity of the interior of these. So straightforward, properly classy.

http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?car...

.

[Motorrad]

longblackcoat said:

Maybe I got the only good one?

Mine cost me £1500 a year or so back, and other than some brake lines needing replacing, a wheel bearing and some suspension bushes (hardly a crime at 13 years old) and some pixellation issues (OK, a specific issue, but easily sortable for under £200), it's been brilliant. Everything works (admittedly it has broken cupholders, but who cares?), there's no rust, and it's basically a solid old beast. I've put almost 30k on it in that time, so it's not like it's sat in a garage doing nothing.

Has now passed 2 MOTs witn no advisories, does high 20s as a long run average, and has yet to let me down. Bargain motoring, frankly; I'd imagine I could sell it for around what I paid for it.

I did 20K in mine (525D touring manual) in just over a year and a half. In that time the only thing I had to change was the 'hedgehog'. The suspension had all been refreshed before I got it but other than that routine maintenance only.

The bloke I sold it to is covering 700 miles a week in it and in 6 months of his ownership the only thing that's failed is the ignition switch. The gremlins on a diesel manual seem to be limited to electrics (till the turbo blows up ).

[0a]

BlueMR2 said:

Lowtimer said:

I kind of do, though I admit it is not for everyone.
I love the simplicity of the interior of these. So straightforward, properly classy.

http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?car...

.

I like the metallic green not the flat one on the one above! I think.

[Lowtimer]

derin100 said:

Agree. A manual may be very difficult to find. We have an E39 525i Touring that we keep in France which is a manual...and to be honest I wish it wasn't a manual. It's just what happened to come up as a good car at the time that we were buying. But having had several auto versions they are IMHO the much preferred option. It doesn't matter so much where we are in France because there's no traffic but I wouldn't entertain a manual over here.

I appreciate both, but having had two diesel auto E39s in the past, I am still very much enjoying my 530i Touring manual after 15 months of ownership. It is a very 'mechanical' feel to the gear change and it is a fairly slow change too. But it makes a great combination with the silky engine's ability to pull smoothly and strongly from a bee-like hum at 1000 rpm all the way up to the turbine melody in every gear. I know this sounds completely ridiculous but when I get out of the 944T or the 500SL to drive it, it always feels regal and aristocratic, like a pound-shop '60s Ferrari V12 or pre-war Rolls.

Like I said, daft, but that's somehow what it says in the way that the automatics were somehow just transport for me.

[tobinen]

Cheap mini-convertible barge for summer? Bottom end of thread budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-MERCEDES-SLK-230-KO...

[markh1]

derin100 said:

hman said:

markh1 said:

derin100 said:

Over budget but gravel, BMW Warranty, mileage and S124 in the background do offset that to an extent?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C590628

Edited by derin100 on Sunday 10th May 21:31

Looks smart but from the looks of it it's an auto

I think you'll be hard pressed to find one in manual??

Anyway - I presume you have done your homework on tailgate wiring, corrosion around the jacking points/fuel filler/arches, CCV hoses and valve, cam cover warpage and cracking, rads exploding, fans disintegrating, pdc sensors failing.

What I am saying is dont presume that paying top whack for a clean looking example is going to net you a good one, you have to look deeper into the history to see what remedial work has been completed to date and also carry out a thorough inspection (eg. pulling the jacking pads off and getting a light into the holes to see the inside of the sill for corrosion).

To be honest If I was looking to buy again (I already have one) then I would be knocking money off left right and centre if the above list hadn't already been dealt with as from experience EVERY e39 is subject to those faults unless they are dealt with through preventative maintenance.

Agree. A manual may be very difficult to find. We have an E39 525i Touring that we keep in France which is a manual...and to be honest I wish it wasn't a manual. It's just what happened to come up as a good car at the time that we were buying. But having had several auto versions they are IMHO the much preferred option. It doesn't matter so much where we are in France because there's no traffic but I wouldn't entertain a manual over here.

To be frank I have not looked into all those issues, I am surprised there are so many problems with them. Think I will have to find a BMW owners forum and do some reading!

The wife and I prefer manuals over auto - more economical and more fun to drive, also hopefully less to go wrong.

[BlueMR2]

0a said:

BlueMR2 said:

Lowtimer said:

I kind of do, though I admit it is not for everyone.
I love the simplicity of the interior of these. So straightforward, properly classy.

http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?car...

.

I like the metallic green not the flat one on the one above! I think.

Look pretty similar in tiny photos .

Nice starter barge for someone? £545

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C602716

[Oak Green]

0a said:

mccrackenj said:

W00DY said:

mccrackenj said:

I see WOODY is selling his lovely Barolo 230E already

What's the story Mr WOODY sir?

I''m glad it's so far away from me as to be completely unrealistic, otherwise 2 pre-Sacco w124 saloons would be gracing McCracken Towers sharpish.

Unfortunately I'm moving to where I'll only have on street parking and won't be able to borrow a shed for bike transporting duties both of which would rather ruin the Merc. I'm half tempted to lock it away, but I don't think thta'd do me or the car much good.

What a shame, I'm gutted for you. But you're right, all cars need to be used, old ones especially, which is why I have to sell either my R129 or C126.

Is there a link to the ad? No harm in looking. I don't have a red car after all

320 miles in the SL today - no particular petrol smell, just lots of petrol used, though I have a fuel filter on order. I've put in 6 tanks so far since collecting it on Monday - I will return to using the w124 for main duties this week! I'm really enjoying it though.

That w140 S class looks fantastic, good to hear it is going well.

Here's the link for you Oa. Is another road trip on the cards?

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

[hman]

longblackcoat said:

Maybe I got the only good one?

Mine cost me £1500 a year or so back, and other than some brake lines needing replacing, a wheel bearing and some suspension bushes (hardly a crime at 13 years old) and some pixellation issues (OK, a specific issue, but easily sortable for under £200), it's been brilliant. Everything works (admittedly it has broken cupholders, but who cares?), there's no rust, and it's basically a solid old beast. I've put almost 30k on it in that time, so it's not like it's sat in a garage doing nothing.

Has now passed 2 MOTs witn no advisories, does high 20s as a long run average, and has yet to let me down. Bargain motoring, frankly; I'd imagine I could sell it for around what I paid for it.

UNLESS all the other work was done before you owned it, yours will need all of the above - total fact.

The rad will split down the sides, they do this catastrophically and without warning - so if you havent had them replaced then I would 100% do them right now.

The rust is not visible without going underneath the car and removing the jacking pads - you may think yours is sound because it looks ok - but the reality is that there is more than likely corrosion, and because it rots from the inside out - when it appears externally its toooo late to remedy.

The CCV failure doesnt come up with a code, the dipstick return oil channel clogs (because its too small basically) and then the tube fills with oil - the first you will know about this is when the CCV fills up with oil and you get bluey black smoke under hard acceleration - which you cant see because you are in the front of the car - Also the CCV diaphragm tears and so it wont work properly - this can lead to slightly wobbly idle and a loss of MPG - it also leads to overpressurisation of the cam cover and then...

The cam cover cracks over time - mine was a 2001 and it had multiple cracks - these cracks weep oil onto the exhaust and down the side of the engine, people think its the gasket 9/10 its not - its the cam cover itself. First sign is a burning oil smell when sat stationary for a long period, so if you are doing mainly motorway you might not notice..

The rear looms break up - normally this means the boot release stops working and/ or the rear number plate lights stop working.

The tailgates and rear valances go rusty, as does the fuel filler flap.

OOOPs nearly forgot - the ABS module overheats and fails because its sited too close to exhaust manifold, again without warning until TC, ABS, and Brake warning light come up.

Aaand also seat occupancy sensors too.

The point I am making is that the cars being sold that havent had these faults fixed are GOING to fail - so buy with your eyes open and if they havent been fixed then allow some money to sort it in the future.

Mine is all fixed, rads done, ABS done, CCV done, Oil return done, jack pads removed - all clear, rear loom repaired, etc etc. Returns 32mpg on a run or 27 mpg around town.

The new owner is going to get a nicely sorted car when I release it for sale.

[W00DY]

S3_Graham said:

Sounds like you need an S124?

I considered it, but trading into a rougher version would just feel wrong I think, so went for the Saab as something entirely different.

BlueMR2 said:

Look pretty similar in tiny photos .

Nice starter barge for someone? £545

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C602716

Just add boost.

[derin100]

0a said:

Over budget but look how lovely this is. Close to my perfect e28 daily driver. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C612331#

528 with leather and 65k miles

I think I know the owner of that car.

I'll have to do some research and scroll through my email address book.

[Max M4X WW]

A fair amount of Jag chat on here, so if anyone interested in my mates let me know.. (or ring him!) Located in Woking

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[KrisP]

With all the love for w124's, there isn't much chat on the convertibles - I'm trying to figure out a decent price for one needing work, hood and electrics therein without the car breaking through any price ceiling. I can see there are traders asking for circa 15k, but surely a private sale is going to be closer to 10 ish?
Any advice?

[0a]

Oak Green said:

Here's the link for you Oa. Is another road trip on the cards?

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

That's a great ad and with those photos it will surely go soon. But with both my cars having bits and bobs done over the next week or so I definitely don't need another one...

[CharlesdeGaulle]

KrisP. There are lots out there, and some are complete money pits. You need to do due diligence on any car of this age that you buy of course, but the cabrios have a complexity that needs extra care.

I think you're pessimistic on values overall though. The dealers are all over the place, with some crazy prices. Mine is nigh-on perfect, and I'm after a little over 11 for mine.

Good luck with your search though; they're achingly cool, and just about the sexiest car built in the last 30 years*.

• Maybe.

[Stegel]

KrisP said:

With all the love for w124's, there isn't much chat on the convertibles - I'm trying to figure out a decent price for one needing work, hood and electrics therein without the car breaking through any price ceiling. I can see there are traders asking for circa 15k, but surely a private sale is going to be closer to 10 ish?
Any advice?

There are few around at the moment, and much as I'd like to think they're on the up price-wise, I think the few in the teen £000s are skewing the market. I paid max thread budget + 33% for mine in Nov 13 - 160k miles, most things (inc. the hood, recovered 3 years ago in my case) working fine, and two new wings in the last few years. It has been through Barons auction twice in the last 6 or 7 years for virtually the same money. It started on eBay at £10k and after two re-listings I viewed and made an offer. I have spent £1,800 on engine loom, tyres and bits and bobs and will spend at least that again in the next 18 months on suspension, interior and a couple of minor engine leaks. Probably not cost effective in the short term, but I love it and it's a keeper.

Beware non-working hood - it could be a simple limit switch or hydraulic leak, but tracing it could be expensive and if it is an ECU (going by my SL's history file and another threadists's recent SL experience) get quite expensive. I'd have thought one with U/S hood, unless mint in every other area, would be within thread budget.

[Stegel]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

they're achingly cool, and just about the sexiest car built in the last 30 years*.

• Maybe.

Almost certainly!