Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[derin100]

Richie C said:

harrykul said:

With that mileage, I'd go for an s-class. Probably the last of the w220 or the a8 of the era

Not sure about an S-Class, w220s weren't a Mercedes high point were they? Anything in particular to look out for? A8's a possibility.

SuperHangOn said:

Wow that is some commute. TBH I would get something extremely dull with an autobox and comfy leather seats, an Avensis or something. You'll soon be sick of driving and just want something that's guaranteed to start in the morning and doesn't ping up warning lights.

It's not too bad to be honest. Just over an hour and half each way, the train to central London would be similar. My initial thoughts were the same as you though, something like an S60 D5.

derin100 said:

E38 728i ?

I like the idea of a 7 series. What sort of MPG could I expect from a 728 compared to one of the V8's from the range?

You may not believe it...because I didn't initially think it possible when Ross said his would do this...but with cruise set to about 70mph mine will return 38-39 mpg! *

From a 740i under similar circumstances it is possible to just about squeeze 30mpg.

(* If you go really slowly...like 56mph you'll well up into the 40s mpg...but I can't drive like that.)

[r129sl]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

V12 AMG said:

harrykul said:

A bit random, but when my car came back from it's service today I noticed that the service booklet was now full. What are other bargers doing at this point? Start another book, or just keep the paperwork?

I used a second book sourced from a breaker and ripped out the first page which gave me another 4 or so pages.

My 190 has a new MB service book, but it's stamped duplicate and has holes punched through it. As it's now on 200k, we've long-used-up the old one.

I'm halfway through my third book with the SL, books two and three stamped duplicate. Still on book one on the 190 and an owner long before me ceased using the book on the 124 (but curiously kept the invoices methodically).

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

I'm halfway through my third book with the SL, books two and three stamped duplicate. Still on book one on the 190 and an owner long before me ceased using the book on the 124 (but curiously kept the invoices methodically).

There is real delioght to be had in looking through the old invoices of a car you've just bought; they mean so much more than stamps in a service book. Nice to have both of course.

I had a spooky experience today. I put the 190 into a local specialist for a service and to replace the distributor cap and rotor arm, and to check the wiper motor and window motor (both of which need replacing, so any tips on part sourcing gratefully received - the chap reckons they need to come from Germany and could take up to 2 weeks).
Anyway, I asked him to check the recently-failed aircon. They in turn called someone else to look at it, and it turns out that this chap knows the car and has worked on it before. Sure enough, his paperwork is in my file.

All very normal, except that all this hapened in Gloucester, I moved here 2 weeks ago, and bought the car itself from Somerset around 3 months ago. Small world and all that.

[r129sl]

Wiper and window motors, try rexbo.com. Spooky on the air con. What was wrong with it?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

Wiper and window motors, try rexbo.com. Spooky on the air con. What was wrong with it?

Thanks for the rexbo recommendation - I'll try it.

The aircon worked fine, and then stopped working in the last week. The chap replaced an o-ring and then re-gassed and identified a split pipe. He reckons it's a pretty easy fix. In on Thursday for the repair.

The 190 has found some familial love at last, so all is not lost. I really like it though - it's much nippier than the 124 and the visibility is great. There's a real freedom that comes from driving old cars that aren't worth much. Funny how you still park defensively to avoid dings though! In fact, this one is so nice that I am more protective of its bodywork than I am of the S124!

[r129sl]

It's rexbo.de, sorry!

[W00DY]

On the subject of air-con, I see you can buy gas conversion kits on ebay at £40 or so? Anyone tried one?


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-BMW-735I-AUTO-BLACK...

Poor ad and I don't know what he was thinking including that last pic, but I do like a black E38


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-MERCEDES-S280-AUTO-...

Trims and cloth. Nice.

[W00DY]

derin100 said:

(OT again)

I have now finished my friend's AMG C63 and given it back to him:

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...


http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...

Incredible work. I do so admire such perfectionist work as something I can never quite attain.

[derin100]

Thanks Woody!
Trouble is I did the AMG whilst my 840 was sitting next to it. I detailed that car last summer and haven't really used it since yet it looked st next to the AMG...so I've just started doing re-detailing it again!
I've actually learnt a lot since last summer and pretty much dispensed with using the dual-action machine now. The rotary is just so much more effective.

[derin100]

The other interesting thing was to see how poor the general quality of modern Mercedes paint work is...and I'm sure this is in common with other manufacturers. It was very orange peely. To properly correct this would have required wet sanding the whole car. Whilst I did do quite a bit of wet sanding on the E34 recently to achieve the finish it's not something I fancied doing on someone else's less than a year old £50K car!

[leglessAlex]

I think BMW suffer really badly from orange peel effect, I'm pretty sure I've seen people on detailing world wet sanding brand new M cars because it's so bad.

[derin100]

leglessAlex said:

I think BMW suffer really badly from orange peel effect, I'm pretty sure I've seen people on detailing world wet sanding brand new M cars because it's so bad.

Yes, I think so. But even with new Jag F-Types. Same thing.

[iSore]

V12 AMG said:

That is very true. As a Mercedes Specialist I compare the W211 and the OM642 against other Mercedes products from the past. I'm not as up to speed on the rivals from BMW etc, although I have dabbled with a couple of E39's and E46's. I guess the E60 is the car to compare against the W211.

I had the pleasure* of doing a timing chain on an M271 (C200 Kompressor) as well as that breather hose between the inlet manifold and supercharger. Compared to the old M111 engine, it's a piece of rubbish. Compared to a BMW N42, it's a diamond.

For a big barge, I'd look at a well maintained, sensible mileage E65 7 Series such as a 735i or 745i. They're not worth much now but they're a tremendous thing. The 745i really does get a move on and they drive so well. Avoid nonsense like Active ride (powered hydro anti roll bars) and they're remarkably reliable as long as you keep on top of maintenance and fix niggles when they crop up. Like the E60 5 Series, they've proved more robust that their predecessors that suffer cosmetic rust and sh*t cooling systems/gearboxes/ABS modules for fun.

[harrykul]

A bit o/t (OK, very) but do we have anyone in the Richmond, Wimbledon area that can view a SLK for me?

[iSore]

Richie C said:

I like the idea of a 7 series. What sort of MPG could I expect from a 728 compared to one of the V8's from the range?

Depends on how rusty the fuel tank is.

[MJK 24]

Feeling quite poor today. Just bought a pair of wings and an exhaust downpipe from Mercedes for the W124.

Not sure what discount others have managed to achieve but a brief haggle secured 15%. Wing reduced from £212 to £180. Exhaust down to £112 from £132. Only proviso was they came on a stock order (available for collection next Thursday) as opposed to next day delivery.

Edited by MJK 24 on Saturday 29th August 14:56

[jke11y]

harrykul said:

A bit o/t (OK, very) but do we have anyone in the Richmond, Wimbledon area that can view a SLK for me?

I am in Richmond

[harrykul]

jke11y said:

I am in Richmond

PM Sent!

[RobinBanks]

Stegel said:

if I'm going to get involved in a close encounter with other vehicles on a wintery motorway, I'll take the 211 over a 124, brand new Mondeo etc. as I think that gives me the best chance of walking away unscathed.

You're mistaken. The brand new Mondeo would be considerably better at protecting you.

I'd probably rather drive the Mercedes (I'm not sure which model a 211 is), but I'd rather have an accident in a brand new Mondeo.

[Strawman]

RobinBanks said:

I'd probably rather drive the Mercedes (I'm not sure which model a 211 is), but I'd rather have an accident in a brand new Mondeo.

A Fairly new E class, 2002 through 2009.