Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[SpeckledJim]

They are snug. Less space than an E39.

[2stis]

WOODY said:

Turn up in this and out class everyone anywhere.

Excepting perhaps those of us that have a Double Six?

Looks nice but price seems pretty high - I would have thought you could find similar for half of that outlay?

As for rear room the car is a lot smaller inside than the lengthy exterior suggests - mine is a SWB and adults have never complained and the kids find it pretty spacious (although as posted above the rear of my E39 definitely feels more spacious, but that could just be the feeling caused by the low roofline in the Daimler rear as there can't actually be too much in it in legroom).

[anonymous-user]

YoungRestorer said:

279 said:

Loving the jag talk.

I'd appericate a bit of input, do I stick with my x300 XJ6 manual or twist and get a x308 xjr?

I love the six but I sometimes wish it had (much) more poke, but a manual xj is something so different I also like the idea of getting it into tip top shape.

This is what I'm planning to do with mine, already sorted out the tyres, brakes and new ss exhaust, next sort the interior, then finally the exterior... when funds allow (very few funds available as a 20 year old student!)

Sounds great! Did you go standard with the exhaust or something custom? I was just thinking a touch more noise would be nice.

I'd like to think that there will be some sort of appreciation of manual barges in the future, especially as the changing your own gears is becoming a rarity even in hatchbacks. Manual 7 Series, XJs, S Classes and the like were very niche back in the day, they are going to seem damn right bizarre at some point! But even as someone who enjoys autos, I can see why people specced them, hence my dilemma. I miss the performance of a quicker car, but I'm worried I'll miss the charm the manual gives the XJ.

I know the correct answer is a XJR6 manual but given the rarity and cost I'd be more inclined to try and make my own out of this car and a sheddy auto XJR6.

[cat220]

judas said:

The XJR is such a tempting proposition - so much luxury performance for so little money. My X350 XJ6 has 240bhp and performance is sprightly, but the XJR I had before was on another level. Even my Turbo R doesn't have the sheer oomph of the supercharged Jag. I'm so, so tempted by an X358 XJR, but 2015 has been designated a no-car-buying year

Just had a look at your profile, love the Bentley, always fancied one of them!

In other news the r129 goes for its MOT tomorrow and in true barge fashion the passenger side seat belt has decided it no longer wants to extend! I clipped the drivers side belt into the passenger side and that seemed to free it up. So I've clipped it in place and see how it goes tomorrow. Timing couldn't be worse! Anyone experienced this?

[0a]

cat220 said:

Just had a look at your profile, love the Bentley, always fancied one of them!

In other news the r129 goes for its MOT tomorrow and in true barge fashion the passenger side seat belt has decided it no longer wants to extend! I clipped the drivers side belt into the passenger side and that seemed to free it up. So I've clipped it in place and see how it goes tomorrow. Timing couldn't be worse! Anyone experienced this?

Regarding seat belts, and sorry if this is a strange question, do the R129's have some strange mechanism to hold them in place? The 500sl's belts seem to have no 'give' at all once tightened - very sporty, but occasionally annoying when you want to reach for something. I have not experienced this before.

I think I will go for a good long weekend in the highlands in it this weekend - 1,000 miles or so. The question is - hardtop or no hardtop. The hardtop would make it more bargelike on the way there, and only Saturday is predicted to have nice weather. But I rather like the idea of a good drive with the top down and all that scenery. On balance I think the hardtop can stay at home!

[ess]

judas said:

The XJR is such a tempting proposition - so much luxury performance for so little money. My X350 XJ6 has 240bhp and performance is sprightly, but the XJR I had before was on another level. Even my Turbo R doesn't have the sheer oomph of the supercharged Jag. I'm so, so tempted by an X358 XJR, but 2015 has been designated a no-car-buying year

You have my 'dream' car sir. The Bentley Turbo R.
If there was a local indy to me and the garden had a 'Bentley parts' tree I'd be all over that delightful silver grey £5K posted a few pages back.
Please let me in on your Bentley ownership secrets.

s

[Motorrad]

0a said:

Regarding seat belts, and sorry if this is a strange question, do the R129's have some strange mechanism to hold them in place? The 500sl's belts seem to have no 'give' at all once tightened - very sporty, but occasionally annoying when you want to reach for something. I have not experienced this before.

I think I will go for a good long weekend in the highlands in it this weekend - 1,000 miles or so. The question is - hardtop or no hardtop. The hardtop would make it more bargelike on the way there, and only Saturday is predicted to have nice weather. But I rather like the idea of a good drive with the top down and all that scenery. On balance I think the hardtop can stay at home!

Belts in my 1991 R129 seem to work just like all other belts I've used other than the fact they're a bit closer being integrated.

Screw the hardtop. Get the top down whenever possible.

[Stegel]

cat220 said:

Just had a look at your profile, love the Bentley, always fancied one of them!

In other news the r129 goes for its MOT tomorrow and in true barge fashion the passenger side seat belt has decided it no longer wants to extend! I clipped the drivers side belt into the passenger side and that seemed to free it up. So I've clipped it in place and see how it goes tomorrow. Timing couldn't be worse! Anyone experienced this?

Just been out to my SL to check the belts. I don't think there is any interlock between the belt locking and the catch, they just seem to be standard inertia reel belts - could it be coincidence? Driver's buckle in or out of passenger catch, no matter - the belt locks if pulled violently (as indeed it must if it's going to work).

0a - can't say I've noticed any "pull" on the belt - on new MBs you can turn on or off belt tensioning, which I do feel is a strange sensation, but on 129s they just seem "standard" inertia reel belts.

[0a]

Motorrad said:

0a said:

Regarding seat belts, and sorry if this is a strange question, do the R129's have some strange mechanism to hold them in place? The 500sl's belts seem to have no 'give' at all once tightened - very sporty, but occasionally annoying when you want to reach for something. I have not experienced this before.

I think I will go for a good long weekend in the highlands in it this weekend - 1,000 miles or so. The question is - hardtop or no hardtop. The hardtop would make it more bargelike on the way there, and only Saturday is predicted to have nice weather. But I rather like the idea of a good drive with the top down and all that scenery. On balance I think the hardtop can stay at home!

Belts in my 1991 R129 seem to work just like all other belts I've used other than the fact they're a bit closer being integrated.

Screw the hardtop. Get the top down whenever possible.

Our cars are twins - both 1991 500sl models! You are of course right - why buy a car like this if you don't get the roof off on such a trip?!

[judas]

ess said:

You have my 'dream' car sir. The Bentley Turbo R.
If there was a local indy to me and the garden had a 'Bentley parts' tree I'd be all over that delightful silver grey £5K posted a few pages back.
Please let me in on your Bentley ownership secrets.

s

Thank you.

As for the 'secret', it's quite simple:
1: Buy a Bentley from your best mate who's spent a fortune looking after it for the past 14 years
2: Cross your fingers

[ess]

judas said:

ess said:

You have my 'dream' car sir. The Bentley Turbo R.
If there was a local indy to me and the garden had a 'Bentley parts' tree I'd be all over that delightful silver grey £5K posted a few pages back.
Please let me in on your Bentley ownership secrets.

s

Thank you.

As for the 'secret', it's quite simple:
1: Buy a Bentley from your best mate who's spent a fortune looking after it for the past 14 years
2: Cross your fingers

:-)
I think you nailed the 'Smoker Barge' philosophy right there.
s

[Stegel]

On other matters, someone on the other 1-5 thread suggested changing the ceramic torpedo fuses in 124s - I did it today, including cleaning corrosion off the fuse holders in the supplementary fuse box, and it made quite a difference - the seat butlers now work correctly, rather than refusing to come out to play half the time, and the wiper may move more quickly. BUT, the big lesson, was finding that 3 fuse circuits which are meant to have 8 amp fuses were running on 25 amp - the equivalent of using a nail on a cooker circuit perhaps. Everything works fine with the correct fuses, so it wasn't a case of upping the fuse to prevent something blowing it, but seemingly just laziness and using what was to hand. I've never checked fuse ratings before, but it may be sensible when acquiring a new barge.

[judas]

ess said:

:-)
I think you nailed the 'Smoker Barge' philosophy right there.
s

People are generally too risk averse when it comes to second hand cars, whereas very little frightens me car-wise (except the thought of being stuck with some dreadfully tedious shopping car) so I've been able to own all kinds of vaguely interesting stuff including a Ferrari 348, a couple of BMW 7 series including the Bork-Meister itself: a 750iL, two TVRs, three Jag XJs, four (!!!) Alfa GTVs.

I could have played it safe and had something dull on lease but who the hell wants that. The few times I have played it safe it's not gone well, including the Boxster S with the exploding engine

It's bargain barges all the way for me now. Until I can justify another TVR Tuscan...

Edited by judas on Wednesday 27th May 22:18

[YoungRestorer]

279 said:

YoungRestorer said:

279 said:

Loving the jag talk.

I'd appericate a bit of input, do I stick with my x300 XJ6 manual or twist and get a x308 xjr?

I love the six but I sometimes wish it had (much) more poke, but a manual xj is something so different I also like the idea of getting it into tip top shape.

This is what I'm planning to do with mine, already sorted out the tyres, brakes and new ss exhaust, next sort the interior, then finally the exterior... when funds allow (very few funds available as a 20 year old student!)

Sounds great! Did you go standard with the exhaust or something custom? I was just thinking a touch more noise would be nice.

I'd like to think that there will be some sort of appreciation of manual barges in the future, especially as the changing your own gears is becoming a rarity even in hatchbacks. Manual 7 Series, XJs, S Classes and the like were very niche back in the day, they are going to seem damn right bizarre at some point! But even as someone who enjoys autos, I can see why people specced them, hence my dilemma. I miss the performance of a quicker car, but I'm worried I'll miss the charm the manual gives the XJ.

I know the correct answer is a XJR6 manual but given the rarity and cost I'd be more inclined to try and make my own out of this car and a sheddy auto XJR6.

Sir, that is indeed the right answer. I long for an XJR6 manual at some point, and I would really want an original one for the reasons you specify above: rarity being key. I haven't actually got my exhaust yet (picking it up next week some time) but I will keep you updated.

The sheer number of manuals being broken for the box is unbelievable, so I reckon any XJ6 in original spec with a manual gearbox will become more desirable in a bit: the reason being that as the super advanced gearboxes depreciate, people will not want the old clunky autos, and so will look for that which is unobtainable. The manual.

(This is what I tell myself whenever I spend any money on my Jag, it's an investment really... Probably :P )

[ess]

judas said:

People are generally too risk averse when it comes to second hand cars, whereas very little frightens me car-wise so I've been able to own all kinds of vaguely interesting stuff including a Ferrari 348, a couple of BMW 7 series including the Bork-Meister itself: a 750iL, two TVRs, three Jag XJs, four (!!!) Alfa GTVs.

I could have played it safe and had something dull on lease but who the hell wants that. The few times I have played it safe it's not gone well, including the Boxster S with the exploding engine

It's bargain barges all the way for me now. Until I can justify another TVR Tuscan...

[cat220]

Stegel said:

cat220 said:

Just had a look at your profile, love the Bentley, always fancied one of them!

In other news the r129 goes for its MOT tomorrow and in true barge fashion the passenger side seat belt has decided it no longer wants to extend! I clipped the drivers side belt into the passenger side and that seemed to free it up. So I've clipped it in place and see how it goes tomorrow. Timing couldn't be worse! Anyone experienced this?

Just been out to my SL to check the belts. I don't think there is any interlock between the belt locking and the catch, they just seem to be standard inertia reel belts - could it be coincidence? Driver's buckle in or out of passenger catch, no matter - the belt locks if pulled violently (as indeed it must if it's going to work).

0a - can't say I've noticed any "pull" on the belt - on new MBs you can turn on or off belt tensioning, which I do feel is a strange sensation, but on 129s they just seem "standard" inertia reel belts.

Stegel, thanks for checking. I would expect them to be standard inertia belts however I'm not sure. Been trawling the net this evening and it seems to be quite a common problem.

0a, my seatbelt does the same, fairly restrictive once on.

[0a]

judas said:

People are generally too risk averse when it comes to second hand cars, whereas very little frightens me car-wise (except the thought of being stuck with some dreadfully tedious shopping car) so I've been able to own all kinds of vaguely interesting stuff including a Ferrari 348, a couple of BMW 7 series including the Bork-Meister itself: a 750iL, two TVRs, three Jag XJs, four (!!!) Alfa GTVs.

I could have played it safe and had something dull on lease but who the hell wants that. The few times I have played it safe it's not gone well, including the Boxster S with the exploding engine

It's bargain barges all the way for me now. Until I can justify another TVR Tuscan...

Edited by judas on Wednesday 27th May 22:18

A glorious attitude!

Mine is to buy a car that you can afford, and assume that as it's rather old anything major would have gone wrong by this time. The fallback position is that at the end of the day if it all goes wrong, it's not the end of the world due to the relatively low investment, and next to no depreciation.

Also - drive the bloody thing! Car that get driven work better and generally give you fair warning of any impending issues.

[Stegel]

cat220 said:

Stegel, thanks for checking. I would expect them to be standard inertia belts however I'm not sure. Been trawling the net this evening and it seems to be quite a common problem.

0a, my seatbelt does the same, fairly restrictive once on.

"R129 seat belt stuck" comes up as you type to search, so clearly is an issue. MOT for my SL next Wednesday - I expect it will now throw the fault up next Tuesday!

[0a]

Stegel said:

cat220 said:

Stegel, thanks for checking. I would expect them to be standard inertia belts however I'm not sure. Been trawling the net this evening and it seems to be quite a common problem.

0a, my seatbelt does the same, fairly restrictive once on.

"R129 seat belt stuck" comes up as you type to search, so clearly is an issue. MOT for my SL next Wednesday - I expect it will now throw the fault up next Tuesday!

Thankyou - my R129 is in for fettling and I get it back next Friday and on following your suggestion on Google I got this: http://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-r129/79864-seat...

MB Club post said:

There should be a small black button on the right front side of the passenger seat, mounted on the hard plastic seat skirt, just inside the rocker panel (sill). It has two positions - forward or back. When is it is one position, the belt will lock as you describe; in the other, it will be in the inertia lock mode and retract as usual. Somebody must have accidnetally moved the button. . .

MB Club Response said:

We took the car out for the first time tonight. Flipped the switch you mentioned (very easy to find) to disable the baby seat feature ... and everything is back to normal.

I look forward to seeing if such a switch exists in mine (though I guess this isn't for the driver's side????) - passengers have commented though

[Stegel]

0a said:

I look forward to seeing if such a switch exists in mine (though I guess this isn't for the driver's side????) - passengers have commented though

Just checked on my (facelift) car - thank heavens my wife and daughters are away for a few days! No such switch. Checked the handbook and lo and behold the belts are indeed fitted with tensioners to take up slack - I've never been aware of them working though. No mention of any switch as described in your quote.