Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[cat220]

Stegel said:

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.

From what I've read tonight the switch is only fitted to later cars. Post 97 onwards and as an option I believe.

[0a]

cat220 said:

From what I've read tonight the switch is only fitted to later cars. Post 97 onwards and as an option I believe.

As per the thread i'd quoted, if I had read it any further than the first few posts. D'oh!

[r129sl]

Stegel said:

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.

I have only seen this switch on US cars. I'm not aware of anything fancy with r129 seat belts. Like many cars', they sometimes jam if you park across a slope.

[r129sl]

Interesting 126 here. Bit over-priced if you ask me, but condition looks good. And look at those colours!

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

[CharlesdeGaulle]

We've seen some 'interesting' colour combos on this thread, but rarely have we seen a mismatch quite as odd as that taxi-over-green 300.

Looks a nice car though, if you can forgive 8 years of no use and it being a grand over-priced.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I've had quite a bit of correspondence with the seller of the Athens-based XJS that I posted a while back: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C563591
He sent lots of pictures and a sensible-sounding way of conducting the deal, but my circumstances just don't allow time for frivolities like that at the moment.

This chap, in the UK at least, if not necessarily local, isn't responding to e-mails.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C617765

Anyway, I'm, not sure about silver; as others have said, the XJS is such a daft folly that it deserves a more dramatic pallette.

[r129sl]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I've had quite a bit of correspondence with the seller of the Athens-based XJS that I posted a while back: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C563591
He sent lots of pictures and a sensible-sounding way of conducting the deal, but my circumstances just don't allow time for frivolities like that at the moment.

This chap, in the UK at least, if not necessarily local, isn't responding to e-mails.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C617765

Anyway, I'm, not sure about silver; as others have said, the XJS is such a daft folly that it deserves a more dramatic pallette.

It would be a hell of a trip. Fly out (terror), drive back. How long do you reckon it would take to drive back from Greece? Are the Balkans ok these days?

[Adrian E]

r129sl said:

It would be a hell of a trip. Fly out (terror), drive back. How long do you reckon it would take to drive back from Greece? Are the Balkans ok these days?

I would say perfectly possible to do, assuming suitable roadside assistance acquired before setting off (and watching for any clauses about time between buying and using!)

I've driven from East of Milan and could've easily been back in the UK in a day. If you allowed 3 days to get back at a leisurely pace I reckon you'd not be far off. Athens is about twice the distance from London compared to Milan.

I'd be tempted to look at ferry options to get from Greece to Italy to avoid the worst roads of the Balkan countries, but you'd clear them in less than a day driving and could overnight in Austria or Germany depending on progress. We found it best to just set off without pre-booked accommodation and think about where to stop when you've got a couple more hours driving left in you.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

It would be much more fun to drive, and it's what I would do, but the easiest option would be to ship the car back. Vendor offered to arrange - car ends up in Enfield after a week.

[CampDavid]

There's an insanely low mile XJS at 7k in an ad in Classic Cars this month, it's probably gone but will dig it out later

[0a]

Sounds like an ideal excuse for a holiday with suitable stops!

[4941cc]

sparks_E39 said:

Watching this thread with interest now, I'll be flogging my 530i soon and I'm on the lookout for a nice E38 735/740i! Would love a 750il, don't think I could stomach the running costs.

If you can run a V8 Seven, you can run a V12 one. Fuel use indistinguishable from a 4.4 and the main niggly bits are the same, only substantial additional wallet bash would be the EDC shocks (which a 740i Sport should have too, but not 728/35i Sport unless specified as an option).

There's a marked difference in character and drive between the 40i and 50i and again between a 40i and either 40/50iL. Worth trying a few examples to get a feel for which you prefer. I favour either a 28i or 50i, others here the 40i, the iLs I find just that bit too unecessarily large and smidgen less wieldy, although the ride quality takes another notch up in terms of comfort and refinement, so it depends what you want from a Seven, large "sporty" saloon that's fun to hustle, or the ultimate wafting machine.

[CampDavid]

4941cc said:

sparks_E39 said:

Watching this thread with interest now, I'll be flogging my 530i soon and I'm on the lookout for a nice E38 735/740i! Would love a 750il, don't think I could stomach the running costs.

If you can run a V8 Seven, you can run a V12 one. Fuel use indistinguishable from a 4.4 and the main niggly bits are the same, only substantial additional wallet bash would be the EDC shocks (which a 740i Sport should have too, but not 728/35i Sport unless specified as an option).

There's a marked difference in character and drive between the 40i and 50i and again between a 40i and either 40/50iL. Worth trying a few examples to get a feel for which you prefer. I favour either a 28i or 50i, others here the 40i, the iLs I find just that bit too unecessarily large and smidgen less wieldy, although the ride quality takes another notch up in terms of comfort and refinement, so it depends what you want from a Seven, large "sporty" saloon that's fun to hustle, or the ultimate wafting machine.

740i Sport has the Alpine setup, which is standard shocks and springs. Your beard appears a little lacking in colour today Len, all ok?

[4941cc]

CampDavid said:

740i Sport has the Alpine setup, which is standard shocks and springs. Your beard appears a little lacking in colour today Len, all ok?

750i Sport had S-EDC as standard with the ALPINA set-up as a no-cost option, I thought it was the same for 740i Sport, although being as incosistent as BMW can be, it could well have been the reverse for the V8.

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e38/BMW_E38_Is_My_740i_A_...

Which lists S-EDC as part of the Sport pack for 740i: http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e38/Option_Costs.pdf

There's only one UK model of BMW E38 I've never owned or run, guess which it is?

Edited by 4941cc on Thursday 28th May 11:27

[r129sl]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

It would be much more fun to drive, and it's what I would do, but the easiest option would be to ship the car back. Vendor offered to arrange - car ends up in Enfield after a week.

If you want a co-driver...

[mwggriffiths]

CampDavid said:

740i Sport has the Alpine setup, which is standard shocks and springs. Your beard appears a little lacking in colour today Len, all ok?

RealOEM agrees, listing the 740i Sport option pack as having regular dampers, with S-EDC a further option This is backed up by my povo-spec 740i Sport not having S-EDC - replacements are still ~£1000 for 4 springs and dampers though, even without the fancy electronics

Incidentally I've just priced up replacing every single rubber bush under the car with Lemforder OE-quality replacements - A snip at a mere £1000 for the parts

[4941cc]

mwggriffiths said:

Incidentally I've just priced up replacing every single rubber bush under the car with Lemforder OE-quality replacements - A snip at a mere £1000 for the parts

Worth it though for one you plan to keep and run in good shape - it'll shave an effective 100k miles off of how baggy and tired they generally feel without a decent suspension overhaul at this age.

Average and high milers feel sloppy, low milers can feel overly stiff as the rubber when not used seems to go harder/become less compliant.

It'll drive as close to new as possible for it. It'll also highlight any worn arms or links though...

Previous owner of my M5 thankfully did all of the above on mine 18 months ago, so for drives as well as any 100k example ever could.

Depends if you fall into the "smoke it 'til you broke it" camp or want to run one as a modern classic.

[Leins]

r129sl said:

Interesting 126 here. Bit over-priced if you ask me, but condition looks good. And look at those colours!

Worth it just for that radio and phone!

[CampDavid]

Mine didn't have EDC, though it was on pretty recent dampers. Always felt that the ride wasn't really up to scratch for a car of it's calibre, especially on rutted roads.

Felt absolutely mighty on the ring though. I was driving at 4/10ths in the wet and could feel the chassis crying out for more of a challenge.

[4941cc]

Whereas an iL in Comfort and on 16s would be making you seasick, relatively speaking.

E38 Sport is a surprisingly decent and engaging steer for the type of car it is, whichever engine is in residence.

Drop in an M5 engine, box and LSD and it'd be superb and probably my perfect "do everything" car. Or even if that engine could be made compatible with the autobox, drop straight into a 740i.

I do miss the E38 750i and the sheer ease of an auto quite often. Absolutely no justification or space for both though and one borkfund is quite enough to be "entertaining".