Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[mwggriffiths]

4941cc said:

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.

Don't worry that includes all the links, subframe bushes etc - I really mean't everything! Add another ~£200 and you can do all the powertrain and final drive mounts too

I did the same on my E30 a few years ago. Then I applied a similar logic to the rest of the car. It's probably the worlds only 2012MY E30

4941cc said:

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

Agreed! It really shrinks around you a surprising amount, and certainly surprises other road users! I've switched the direction steptronic works too so manual shifts are more rally car sequential (Now it's push away to go down, pull back to go up) - best mod I've made to the car I reckon!

[4941cc]

mwggriffiths said:

I did the same on my E30 a few years ago. Then I applied a similar logic to the rest of the car. It's probably the worlds only 2012MY E30

Love E30s, that sounds great!

mwggriffiths said:

I've switched the direction steptronic works too so manual shifts are more rally car sequential (Now it's push away to go down, pull back to go up) - best mod I've made to the car I reckon!

BMW did themselves too across the range in 2001 for the 2002MY, by which time E38s had all been built.

[W00DY]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-JAGUAR-XK8-COUPE-AU...

[PowerslideSWE]

4941cc said:

mwggriffiths said:

I've switched the direction steptronic works too so manual shifts are more rally car sequential (Now it's push away to go down, pull back to go up) - best mod I've made to the car I reckon!

BMW did themselves too across the range in 2001 for the 2002MY, by which time E38s had all been built.

How did you do that? I want to make that change aswell, it's very counter intuitive to push the stick forward to change up I think.

And a question regarding sport suspension on the E38. My 2000 750i swb has factory fitted M-sport fahrwerk, is that the same as the 740 Sport or Alpina? Mine is also non-EDC.

Also has flat black window trim and antrazite headliner but nowhere does it say its a 750 sport.

[sofaking]

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?

Most of the Greeks I know avoid the Balkans if making this trip. It is an easy ferry ride from Patra (2 hours from Athens) to a bunch of cities in Italy (Bari, Venice etc ). 16 hours and around 200 euros for 2 adults and a small car with no cabin.

[SpeckledJim]

sofaking said:

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?

Most of the Greeks I know avoid the Balkans if making this trip. It is an easy ferry ride from Patra (2 hours from Athens) to a bunch of cities in Italy (Bari, Venice etc ). 16 hours and around 200 euros for 2 adults and a small car with no cabin.

That's sofaking true.

[MJK 24]

Chaps,

What's the consensus on early examples of the W211?

I've been given first refusal on a 53 reg (2003 or 2004 I think?) E220 CDI Automatic. Two owners from new, full non Mercedes history, 175,000 miles.

I've got it in my head that these are unreliable money pits? If so, I'll avoid like the plague! All advice and opinions very welcome!

Thank you in advance

[SpeckledJim]

I have an 04 plate E320 estate (169,000 miles) and a 55 plate E280 CDi estate (145,000 miles).

Other than a snapped spring on the diesel and a noisy AC pulley on the petrol one, I've not heard a peep out of either of them.

I'll now consider fate duly tempted and adopt the brace position.

[harrykul]

r129sl said:

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...

Speaking of which, I could do with a co-pilot this sunday/monday from Hamburg-London with some v12 lovliness.....

[MJK 24]

Thanks for taking the time to reply!

Are your cars recent purchases or have you had them a while and put the mileage on yourself?

I am taking this car for MOT tomorrow so I'll get to have a drive and see it independantly inspected.

[0a]

harrykul said:

Speaking of which, I could do with a co-pilot this sunday/monday from Hamburg-London with some v12 lovliness.....

Do tell us more!

I can't do it myself but what's the V12?!

[V12 AMG]

A potential bargain barge XJR.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=2...

[em177]

W00DY said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-JAGUAR-XK8-COUPE-AU...

These are getting very close to LeMans shed money.

[Agent Orange]

Just outside thread budget but the most bhp for your £ or $?

2002 Cadillac Escalade 6.0 Turbo - 520bhp

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

[harrykul]

0a said:

harrykul said:

Speaking of which, I could do with a co-pilot this sunday/monday from Hamburg-London with some v12 lovliness.....

Do tell us more!

I can't do it myself but what's the V12?!

It's very O/T, so I didn't elaborate. I realised my dream- 1999 550 Maranello, Grigio Titanio, Bordeaux Leather, Black carpets.

ETA: the trip might fall through as my passport was sent to Germany for the transit documentation and hasn't arrived back yet!

[CampDavid]

MJK 24 said:

Chaps,

What's the consensus on early examples of the W211?

I've been given first refusal on a 53 reg (2003 or 2004 I think?) E220 CDI Automatic. Two owners from new, full non Mercedes history, 175,000 miles.

I've got it in my head that these are unreliable money pits? If so, I'll avoid like the plague! All advice and opinions very welcome!

Thank you in advance

I've heard that from 2006 they're angelic but prior to that they will molest your wallet with savagery unfit to be witnessed in modern society. Probably internet bks though.

I've been looking into them. I drove a then new E320 back in 2003 and it was actually a great steer, what ahead of other Mercs I'd driven and the steering felt like it was connected to the front wheels, which was handy. An estate appeals as a catch all ISOFIX equipped truck that'll sort out my first years of parenting well, leaving me to pop my money into property which features a garage

My Dad took a 1999 C220 CDI to 120k before popping it in for a new one. Apparently you could tell that the gear change was a little smoother between 2nd and 3rd on the newer one when pulling away from a roundabout near Rushden, which my dad did every day. Other than that no difference. In short, I doubt the rive train has much to worry about at 175k

[CampDavid]

harrykul said:

0a said:

harrykul said:

Speaking of which, I could do with a co-pilot this sunday/monday from Hamburg-London with some v12 lovliness.....

Do tell us more!

I can't do it myself but what's the V12?!

It's very O/T, so I didn't elaborate. I realised my dream- 1999 550 Maranello, Grigio Titanio, Bordeaux Leather, Black carpets.

ETA: the trip might fall through as my passport was sent to Germany for the transit documentation and hasn't arrived back yet!

There's a car that matches that exact description parked just of Harley street in London, I walk past it a fair bit. It's usually parked between a Range rover and an S class (the two most common cars around the area by miles) so it looks slim, with a low waistline and generally looks superb. I remember when a similar car popped through auction in front of me for 28k. FFS

[r129sl]

harrykul said:

0a said:

harrykul said:

Speaking of which, I could do with a co-pilot this sunday/monday from Hamburg-London with some v12 lovliness.....

Do tell us more!

I can't do it myself but what's the V12?!

It's very O/T, so I didn't elaborate. I realised my dream- 1999 550 Maranello, Grigio Titanio, Bordeaux Leather, Black carpets.

ETA: the trip might fall through as my passport was sent to Germany for the transit documentation and hasn't arrived back yet!

Surely the finest GT of all? And oh so subtle. Well done.

What's the return route? Amsterdam-Newcastle-Stranrear-Belfast? Got to be the winner, surely? Duh, I see the destination is London.

Do you really want a co-driver? I have possibly my biggest job ever on at the moment (which is why I am less often here). And I promised so, so, solemnly that I would look after the sprogs while wife played tennis on Sunday. Not a chance for me.

[Krikkit]

harrykul said:

0a said:

harrykul said:

Speaking of which, I could do with a co-pilot this sunday/monday from Hamburg-London with some v12 lovliness.....

Do tell us more!

I can't do it myself but what's the V12?!

It's very O/T, so I didn't elaborate. I realised my dream- 1999 550 Maranello, Grigio Titanio, Bordeaux Leather, Black carpets.

ETA: the trip might fall through as my passport was sent to Germany for the transit documentation and hasn't arrived back yet!

Gorgeous. What a fantastic trip to have as well!

[velocefica]

Agent Orange said:

Just outside thread budget but the most bhp for your £ or $?

2002 Cadillac Escalade 6.0 Turbo - 520bhp

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

An essential part of the drug dealer starter kit I believe