Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[r129sl]

Hi Ross, glad to hear from you. It's a 2.0 litre carb. Something like 105bhp. It's about the most basic Merc you could order in 1990. The very bottom of the range, no extras except automatic transmission and ABS. A real Spartan.

[N Dentressangle]

r129sl said:

Does anyone have any advice about seat covers? MB did fitted covers in matching cloth (called "Schonbezug" auf Deutsch) but I suppose they have been NLA forever. Lucy was thinking about some sheepskin covers for the front seats (for winter comfort) and nylon for the rear bench (to protect against our boys). Any leads gratefully received.

When I had a W115 in Germany years ago, I fitted a set of fleecy seat covers. They came from the local hypermarket in Donaueschingen, and were a pretty common fitment on the rather hard and cold MB seats.

I have seen similar in the UK, but you might have to go sausageside for some these days:

http://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksi...

They're none of them exactly stylish, these days...

Happy to help with German translation if Google is useless.

[radiodanno]

r129sl said:

So we have finally bought it. Thanks to Oa for finding it in the first place. I'm more excited about driving this car than any before, including my r129, including the 996 my dad bought brand new on an ill-advised whim when I was a very young man. It's also going to replace a 2008 Golf TDI!

Does anyone have any advice about seat covers? MB did fitted covers in matching cloth (called "Schonbezug" auf Deutsch) but I suppose they have been NLA forever. Lucy was thinking about some sheepskin covers for the front seats (for winter comfort) and nylon for the rear bench (to protect against our boys). Any leads gratefully received.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C569882#

• ROUND OF APPLAUSE*

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

So we have finally bought it. Thanks to Oa for finding it in the first place. I'm more excited about driving this car than any before, including my r129, including the 996 my dad bought brand new on an ill-advised whim when I was a very young man. It's also going to replace a 2008 Golf TDI!

Brilliant! Congratulations. I can see why you're excited about it, there's something delightfully and charmingly old-school about basic old cars. Your wife has excellent taste (in cars at least!)

Is this the final thread-buy of the year, or might someone sneak in another over the next few days?

As for seat covers, won't the generic halfords/car factor places be able to offer something that fits?

The beaded wooden ones might offer the full Taxi experience!

[derin100]

r129sl said:

So we have finally bought it. Thanks to Oa for finding it in the first place. I'm more excited about driving this car than any before, including my r129, including the 996 my dad bought brand new on an ill-advised whim when I was a very young man. It's also going to replace a 2008 Golf TDI!

Does anyone have any advice about seat covers? MB did fitted covers in matching cloth (called "Schonbezug" auf Deutsch) but I suppose they have been NLA forever. Lucy was thinking about some sheepskin covers for the front seats (for winter comfort) and nylon for the rear bench (to protect against our boys). Any leads gratefully received.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C569882#

EXCELLENT !!!

I am....

[derin100]

And now a whole new forum for you to frequent:

http://mercedes-190.co.uk/index/

[harry kular]

[idiotgap]

Nicely bought, and moving the wife from a euro-box into a barge - top thread points I think. I difficult move to pull off!

[brickwall]

Well done!

How does it drive? IIRC the 190s had decent handling, but I'm not sure what engine is in yours?

[RobinBanks]

brickwall said:

Well done!

How does it drive? IIRC the 190s had decent handling, but I'm not sure what engine is in yours?

2.0 carburettor, 105bhp he said earlier. So it won't be the quickest around, but hopefully it will still feel tight!

[4941cc]

Lowtimer said:

Still, "189k which for this V8 engine is only just run in" is an automatic turn-off for me *sigh*

But "189k which for this engine should mean it's nicely due for a bottom end rebuild/rod bearing replacement, hence the price isn't really cheap enough, but hopefully you'll think it will be..." might not work so well at getting it shifted.

Lowtimer said:

Then you might have to prepare to be disappointed. They are a lot slower than your S6. Though I'm not sure what you expect from a 295 hp car with a three speed slushbox that is really very similar to how it came out in 1975.

That and the nominal Jag V12 power outputs are wildly optimistic. In reality no gruntier than the 4.0 six, albeit the smoothness is in a different league. As is the thirst. Horrific, even for a V12.

BMW and Merc did a much better job of it really, until the fairly shortlived 6.0 version with the four speed auto came along in the X300.

[0a]

Congratulations R129 - you really are living the old merc dream with everything from a basic 190 to and SL500 in the fleet. Your wife has excellent taste!

[dbdb]

Lowtimer said:

Atmospheric said:

V12 delivery is not an issue, obviously, but how do they perform? I wouldn't want to go any less than I currently do with regards to hp.

Then you might have to prepare to be disappointed. They are a lot slower than your S6. Though I'm not sure what you expect from a 295 hp car with a three speed slushbox that is really very similar to how it came out in 1975.

There are far more knowledgable Jaggists on here so I would welcome comment, but I find it a bit odd that that car is on an H plate and described as 1991, as the facelift (which that isn't) was 1990, wasn't it? Presumably a fair number of the older cars hung around dealerships unsold for a long time. That was certainly true of Porsche in the 1990/1991 recession.

Edited by Lowtimer on Monday 29th December 09:28

IIRC the facelifted cars were introduced well into 1991.

4941cc said:

That and the nominal Jag V12 power outputs are wildly optimistic. In reality no gruntier than the 4.0 six, albeit the smoothness is in a different league. As is the thirst. Horrific, even for a V12.

BMW and Merc did a much better job of it really, until the fairly shortlived 6.0 version with the four speed auto came along in the X300.

The six litre V12 was introduced in the XJ40, not the X300. I don’t think it is fully fair to compare the 5.3 litre V12 with BMW and particularly the Mercedes V12 engines, which are much later engines. The fairer comparison is the six litre Jaguar V12.

The six litre V12, at least in the XJ40 series (the car I know most about) seems to be a reasonably robust thing - though nothing like as strong as the AJ6 6 cylinder which is one of the most reliable and long lived engines made anywhere.
The V12 has two vulnerabilities - overheating can damage it and the Marelli ignition system needs to be in good condition.

The central problem with the XJ-S is rust. They can get really rusty!

[dbdb]

r129sl said:

So we have finally bought it.

Looks lovely!

[r129sl]

Thanks everyone, we're looking forward to getting it, hopefully Friday.

In the meantime,this estate car looks special. Lowish miles, super high spec, velours upholstery, good condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-200-SALOON...

[BigBen]

Just watching the Muppets film which has got me wanting a 1980s Rolls Royce. The man maths behind my recent Renault Zoe purchase can easily justify it.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

In the meantime,this estate car looks special. Lowish miles, super high spec, velours upholstery, good condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-200-SALOON...

Now, I'm a Merc fan, but at best that looks optimistically priced.

Basic spec, no radio, keep fit windows; maybe the 'servive history' carries a premium?

[RobinBanks]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

r129sl said:

In the meantime,this estate car looks special. Lowish miles, super high spec, velours upholstery, good condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-200-SALOON...

Now, I'm a Merc fan, but at best that looks optimistically priced.

Basic spec, no radio, keep fit windows; maybe the 'servive history' carries a premium?

Only 3 switches above the heater controls? Manual gearbox?
And presumably if it's a 200 rather than 200E it's carburettor-fed?

Someone really didn't want a Ford Granada or Vauxhall Carlton....

[E30M3SE]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

r129sl said:

In the meantime,this estate car looks special. Lowish miles, super high spec, velours upholstery, good condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-200-SALOON...

Now, I'm a Merc fan, but at best that looks optimistically priced.

Basic spec, no radio, keep fit windows; maybe the 'servive history' carries a premium?

Espanol too.

Does look 'box fresh', though.

[0a]

I like it that such a thing exists, but that price is crazy! Look at the interior!