Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 9]

[tog]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

tog said:

Obligatory phone pic of new car on the way back:



Might be a double barge week as I want to replace my wife's little Skoda with another Saab, and the one I've in mind is a five hour train ride away so will be unseen if I go for it. I've never bought a car unseen before so a little apprehensive!

Great news - I'm glad the nippers were quickly convinced of its virtues!

Good luck with the hunt for a Saab.

Noting that the budget parameters don't fit, but is there any chance you can post a picture of your Bristol for thread delectation please?

This one?



Not for sale I'm afraid! It was a PH Carpool a few years and 10,000 miles ago.

[phil_cardiff]

Emeye said:

phil_cardiff said:

Emeye said:

Well.....

I finally gave in and have returned to the thread.

After a few barges, some even sourced through this thread, I went cold turkey and have managed to stick with my E92 325i SE for 18 months.

After changing the standard leather for M-sport seat, I pretty much have my ideal mini bargain barge, and I wouldn't even be thinking about getting rid if I didn't need more doors and luggage space thanks to having 3 kids and a project house.

So I'm back, and I'm sure as hell you didn't miss me, but I can't stop thinking I need to scratch that Merc CLS itch - I just wish it had 3 seat in the back and I've not seen many (any?!) in the <£5k bracket so it seems an E-class saloon, or maybe and estate is the way forward.

Off topic but how did you find the upgrade from SE to Sport seats? I'm considering the same move as I am suffering from a lack of thigh support (which is weird considering my diddy legs).

A major improvement - I love being able to pin myself in with the side bolsters on the odd occasion I'm on a fun road.

Pretty straight forward to self install, but you have to be careful depending which options you currently have compared to the seats you buy and whether they are pre-LCI into LCI or visa-versa - e.g. I pre-LCI electric seats without heat and the ones I bought were LCI without heat, so I just had to bridge a couple of wires under the seat to get the electrics working- It's difficult, but not impossible to fit heated seats if you don't already have them.

There is a whole thread on E90post with useful help - http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480...

Thanks, I have poverty spec cloth seats with nothing electric on them. I'd ideally want the same spec but sport seats.

[SpeckledJim]

r129sl said:

SpeckledJim said:

W00DY said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-W116-350-SEL-re...

We should start a new volume. This one has peaked.

That is totally beyond reproach. Utterly, utterly bob-utterly-on.

Chrome arches? Really?

(slightly regrets using the wriggle-room-limiting phrase 'bob-utterly-on')

[djsmith74]

r129sl said:

My mechanic thinks these are simply wonderful. He's obsessed with them.

I think I'll sell my 190: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYaIFvRqv2k&fe... and more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SppxyRIO3qo&fe...

Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 24th November 09:23

Great videos!.....(ahem).......came across this old Top Gear report on the 190, and about 3m:30s into the vid there is an excellent piece on the engineering that went into the testing & development of the car.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlzcnWISHMo

[Emeye]

phil_cardiff said:

Thanks, I have poverty spec cloth seats with nothing electric on them. I'd ideally want the same spec but sport seats.

That's an easy swap once you find a set of non-electric M-Sport seats - they are definitely out there, probably cheaper too - try to get a set with matching door cards, they are not that hard to swap and make a massive difference to the cloth.

Black leather usually sells at a premium - I went for light grey leather - looks great - just make sure you get all the parts of the rear seat including the filler over the centre console - and you may want a matching armrest if it doesn't come with the set - that isn't too bad a swap if a bit fiddly - everything you need to know, including tutorials is on E90post or Youtube - the split on the rear seats can be tricky but it is possible with a bit of wiggling!

[SpeckledJim]

Advice please, Oh Mercedes-Wallahs!

55 plate E280 CDi (so V6 and 7-speed box)

Does £160+vat and £200+vat sound right for a gearbox oil and filter change and gearbox oil and filter change including flush sound about right, respectively?

And is the flush worth doing for the extra £50, or is that just pointlessly profligate allaying of unfounded fears?

[BigBen]

SpeckledJim said:

Advice please, Oh Mercedes-Wallahs!

55 plate E280 CDi (so V6 and 7-speed box)

Does £160+vat and £200+vat sound right for a gearbox oil and filter change and gearbox oil and filter change including flush sound about right, respectively?

And is the flush worth doing for the extra £50, or is that just pointlessly profligate allaying of unfounded fears?

IIRC the flush is worth doing as it is the only way to get the old oil out of the torque converter, you are only doing half a job if you don't go for it.

[E65Ross]

tobinen said:

E65Ross said:

Loving the C140 CL's being posted, the black one looks nice.

I've always wanted to go in a 140 or 215 CL, only ever been in a C216 in the form of a '63 AMG bi-turbo which was rather nice.

Assuming the MB World meet goes ahead you're more than welcome to have ago in mine; 'only' a 420 though.

Sounds great

[bob-lad]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

tog said:

Noting that the budget parameters don't fit, but is there any chance you can post a picture of your Bristol for thread delectation please?

This one?



Not for sale I'm afraid! It was a PH Carpool a few years and 10,000 miles ago.

Ding Dong.

Edited by bob-lad on Tuesday 24th November 19:15

[E65Ross]

BigBen said:

SpeckledJim said:

Advice please, Oh Mercedes-Wallahs!

55 plate E280 CDi (so V6 and 7-speed box)

Does £160+vat and £200+vat sound right for a gearbox oil and filter change and gearbox oil and filter change including flush sound about right, respectively?

And is the flush worth doing for the extra £50, or is that just pointlessly profligate allaying of unfounded fears?

IIRC the flush is worth doing as it is the only way to get the old oil out of the torque converter, you are only doing half a job if you don't go for it.

A flush isn't necessary if it's done properly by a gearbox specialist, as they are able to pump the old oil out without leaving the oil in the torque converter.

[The Don of Croy]

When did you last see one of these on the road?



Swoon at the gopping visage, the lofty sidewalls on the tyres, the magnificent Ford plastic-wood dash, and all yours for less than £1500. 2.3 litres of Henrys finest four-pottery, fewer than 100k under those sober alloys, and bragging rights on the correct rear-wheel-drive.

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

[W00DY]

The Don of Croy said:

When did you last see one of these on the road?



Swoon at the gopping visage, the lofty sidewalls on the tyres, the magnificent Ford plastic-wood dash, and all yours for less than £1500. 2.3 litres of Henrys finest four-pottery, fewer than 100k under those sober alloys, and bragging rights on the correct rear-wheel-drive.

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

16V, RWD and a manual box. Bet that's quite the steer.


Twin frontal blue-ovals really ups the class too.

Edited by W00DY on Tuesday 24th November 11:55

[JZZ30]

The Don of Croy said:

When did you last see one of these on the road?



Swoon at the gopping visage, the lofty sidewalls on the tyres, the magnificent Ford plastic-wood dash, and all yours for less than £1500. 2.3 litres of Henrys finest four-pottery, fewer than 100k under those sober alloys, and bragging rights on the correct rear-wheel-drive.

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

I really like that

I remember them as very comfortable. What's with the double Ford badges at the front though?

[BlueMR2]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

r129sl said:

In the meantime, my eyes are on the look out for a nice 2.6...

Does this help?

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/184467/merc...



Almost too cheap for the thread. Do it.

I guess it would help "The Man" have a nice Christmas with all the money from those rust repairs .

[r129sl]

BlueMR2 said:

I guess it would help "The Man" have a nice Christmas with all the money from those rust repairs .

He's going to St Lucia as it is!!!

[BlueMR2]

JZZ30 said:

The Don of Croy said:

When did you last see one of these on the road?



Swoon at the gopping visage, the lofty sidewalls on the tyres, the magnificent Ford plastic-wood dash, and all yours for less than £1500. 2.3 litres of Henrys finest four-pottery, fewer than 100k under those sober alloys, and bragging rights on the correct rear-wheel-drive.

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

I really like that

I remember them as very comfortable. What's with the double Ford badges at the front though?

I think its like double denim.

[BlueMR2]

r129sl said:

BlueMR2 said:

I guess it would help "The Man" have a nice Christmas with all the money from those rust repairs .

He's going to St Lucia as it is!!!

He'd be on a yacht if you took that in.

[Krikkit]

E65Ross said:

BigBen said:

SpeckledJim said:

Advice please, Oh Mercedes-Wallahs!

55 plate E280 CDi (so V6 and 7-speed box)

Does £160+vat and £200+vat sound right for a gearbox oil and filter change and gearbox oil and filter change including flush sound about right, respectively?

And is the flush worth doing for the extra £50, or is that just pointlessly profligate allaying of unfounded fears?

IIRC the flush is worth doing as it is the only way to get the old oil out of the torque converter, you are only doing half a job if you don't go for it.

A flush isn't necessary if it's done properly by a gearbox specialist, as they are able to pump the old oil out without leaving the oil in the torque converter.

I'd agree with this to be honest - the right way is to get a complete change done by pumping the new oil through the torque converter etc, rather than just doing a drain + fill.

As I understand it a flush uses a detergent to try and break down some of the crap in the box, which is a bit pointless with an oil + filter change.

[tobinen]

As above, if the job is done correctly then no flush necessary

[JF87]

JZZ30 said:

What's with the double Ford badges at the front though?

It's a Venn diagram depicting people with a basic appreciation of aesthetics and people who bought a Scorpio.