Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 9]

[Emeye]

V8. 4x4. American. Expensive?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C665988

[anonymous-user]

Ghost91 said:

Are then pattern parts meant to be any good?

I've fancied one of these since I started looking at mercs in general. I bottled it in the end and went for the CLK500 instead but I do wonder if these are actually as catastrophicly expensive to own as people make out....

I spoke to a local chap with a early CL55 and he swore by pattern/remanufactured parts and claimed that his £300 eBay special had been going strong without issues for 4 years. From another look it seems like there are more remanufactured/refurbished stuff than pattern parts, but given the fact often these components fail due t.

I found this guide very interesting when doing the bulk of my research
http://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully.blogspot.co.uk...

I think the key may be preventive maintenance (Fluid flush and filters right off the bat), keeping on top of issues (regular inspection of hydraulic lines and swift replacement at the first sign of leaking) and not. Mercedes reportedly charge mega £££ for the hydraulics hoses but alternatives can be made by nearly any place that deals with hydraulics for a fraction of the cost, etc.

The thing is that if you want a newer generation barge, it seems like you have to deal with some form of exotic suspension system. Lexus LS430, Jaguar XJ (X350), Audi A8 (D3) and VW Phaeton all have air suspension. The E65 7 series appears to be the only exception?

All have similar costs for compressors and struts, its just something that we as barge lovers are going to have to learn to accept and deal with.

[dbdb]

Emeye said:

JZZ30 said:

This is way over budget (@ £15k) but makes the Gold one look like it could be a bargain!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-SERIES-3-CABRIOLE...


I quite like a 4 door convertible much in the same way a 3 door estate is very appealing

That looks like some misplaced airbag has gone off by accident. Never come across one of these before - what is the structural integrity like?

This and the gold one were almost certainly made by Cabriolets International in Blackpool - and are a well known conversion. Though they are fairly rare, there are a quite a few of them about so they must have sold reasonably well. I have seen a number of them advertised as wedding cars. They also made a cabriolet version of the XJ40 - again these are no so rare as you'd think. I have seen a number offered for sale over the years.

The XJ40 cabriolet has a reputation for being very solid, though I haven't been in it or the Series 3. I imagine Cabriolets International will probably have built some bracing into them and much of the roof is retained. Of course, it helps that the basic structure of the car is very strong indeed. It is entirely possible to cut the roof off an XJ40 and drive it around without any strengthening. They don't fall apart and it has been done a few times in the USA in order to create a cheap a 4 door convertible. Unstrengthened and with no roof, they must be VERY wibbly!

[idiotgap]

SuperHangOn said:

Bummer. Its got to be finished! ( apologies - it being a PH car passed me by!)

I'm guessing you must have come across Martyn Ball? He's made various 560 powered W123's etc.

I was thinking of Martyn Marrocco, I think he's done similar 123 conversions.

[Jimmy Recard]

Emeye said:

V8. 4x4. American. Expensive?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C665988

They're actually good. I've spent a lot of time in them.

I'd want to pay less than that though.

And that W140 600SEL is brilliant. I wish I could justify/afford it.

[BeirutTaxi]

My search for a 190 worth buying is not going well. There is 1 worth viewing in the classifieds. Pretty much all of them out there are under serviced dogs, or 1.8 manuals

[essdaytwelve]

Jimmy Recard said:

Emeye said:

V8. 4x4. American. Expensive?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C665988

They're actually good. I've spent a lot of time in them.

I'd want to pay less than that though.

And that W140 600SEL is brilliant. I wish I could justify/afford it.

Way too much £ for the Jeep

[Lowtimer]

279 said:

The thing is that if you want a newer generation barge, it seems like you have to deal with some form of exotic suspension system. Lexus LS430, Jaguar XJ (X350), Audi A8 (D3) and VW Phaeton all have air suspension. The E65 7 series appears to be the only exception?

Lots of examples of the E65 and E66 have air suspension at the rear, pretty similar to what you get on an E39 Touring.

[Lowtimer]

BeirutTaxi said:

My search for a 190 worth buying is not going well. There is 1 worth viewing in the classifieds. Pretty much all of them out there are under serviced dogs, or 1.8 manuals

What about these?
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C683598
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C585921
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C582746
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C646131


no mention of history on this but it's worth asking...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C683349

[r129sl]

BeirutTaxi said:

My search for a 190 worth buying is not going well. There is 1 worth viewing in the classifieds. Pretty much all of them out there are under serviced dogs, or 1.8 manuals

You're right, there's nowt worth having at the minute. But nobody with a good car would be selling it at this time of year, surely?

This is about the nicest on the market at the moment. Willow green over cream cloth 2.0 carb auto. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C582746



Although this blue over blue pre-facelift 2.0 fuel injection auto looks pretty good, too: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C668866



And its facelift mate:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C648502




The best of the rest?

1.8 auto, looks OK, MOT history not horrendous: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C683349

2.0 auto, nice colours, crap ad, again the MOT history is not the end of the world: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C585921

2.0 auto, ditto: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C680975

[BorniteIdentity]

r129sl said:

You're right, there's nowt worth having at the minute. But nobody with a good car would be selling it at this time of year, surely?

This is about the nicest on the market at the moment. Willow green over cream cloth 2.0 carb auto. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C582746



Although this blue over blue pre-facelift 2.0 fuel injection auto looks pretty good, too: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C668866



And its facelift mate:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C648502




The best of the rest?

1.8 auto, looks OK, MOT history not horrendous: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C683349

2.0 auto, nice colours, crap ad, again the MOT history is not the end of the world: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C585921

2.0 auto, ditto: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C680975

Well, nobody likes mine.

Hard not to take it personally, but there you go. That's life.

Good luck with your hunt Mr Taxi. The good news is when one comes up, not a lot of people will have any cash at Xmas - so you can wade in.

[CoolHands]

cat220 said:

Nice looking mini barge in t4 form for £1,400...



http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=201...

I got it! £1400 quid. 2.0 turbo T4 engine (manual gearbox), drives very nicely, interior lovely, sport lux spec so quite nice bits inc xenon (hid) headlights, leather seats. Quite pokey, just drove 200 miles home in it. Radio's a bit old (oem). I really like it. Not too massive like some of their estates either - to me it's a nice compromise in size.

[cat220]

Frustrating evening, my SL is now garaged so only out in nice days over the winter, checked it tonight to find a flat tyre. The useless metal dust cap seems fused on, so thought I'd change the wheel only to find I'm missing the 'wrench' (sounds very American) to remove the wheel nuts, tools kit seems to have everything else. Can't believe I'm only just noticing it missing now! Thankfully I've never needed it when out on the road. Anyway where's the best place to source these, direct with mercedes?

[CoolHands]

is it a dust cap over the locking wheel nut? (is that what you mean?) if so ford ones used to have a plastic nut shape that was slightly wedge-shaped. You pushed it onto the cap, and the friction of the fact it was wedge shaped meant it gripped the metal dust cap, to pull it off.

If you haven't got one try some long-nosed pliers?

[r129sl]

BorniteIdentity said:

Well, nobody likes mine.

Hard not to take it personally, but there you go. That's life.

Good luck with your hunt Mr Taxi. The good news is when one comes up, not a lot of people will have any cash at Xmas - so you can wade in.

Touchy, touchy! If he hadn't said he was after an auto, yours would have been at the top of the list BI.

[r129sl]

cat220 said:

Frustrating evening, my SL is now garaged so only out in nice days over the winter, checked it tonight to find a flat tyre. The useless metal dust cap seems fused on, so thought I'd change the wheel only to find I'm missing the 'wrench' (sounds very American) to remove the wheel nuts, tools kit seems to have everything else. Can't believe I'm only just noticing it missing now! Thankfully I've never needed it when out on the road. Anyway where's the best place to source these, direct with mercedes?

Part number A2215810001. £9.61 inc VAT at the dealer with 10% discount. Although there's a used one on Ebay for £15.

I keep a 450mm breaker bar with a 17mm socket in the boot. Much less bother getting the bolts loose. And useful in the event of "trouble". Something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B006A7BI3...

Pliers for the valve caps, replace with placka ones.

[cat220]

CoolHands said:

cat220 said:

Nice looking mini barge in t4 form for £1,400...



http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=201...

I got it! £1400 quid. 2.0 turbo T4 engine (manual gearbox), drives very nicely, interior lovely, sport lux spec so quite nice bits inc xenon (hid) headlights, leather seats. Quite pokey, just drove 200 miles home in it. Radio's a bit old (oem). I really like it. Not too massive like some of their estates either - to me it's a nice compromise in size.

Brilliant! Love the pics!

[cat220]

r129sl said:

cat220 said:

Frustrating evening, my SL is now garaged so only out in nice days over the winter, checked it tonight to find a flat tyre. The useless metal dust cap seems fused on, so thought I'd change the wheel only to find I'm missing the 'wrench' (sounds very American) to remove the wheel nuts, tools kit seems to have everything else. Can't believe I'm only just noticing it missing now! Thankfully I've never needed it when out on the road. Anyway where's the best place to source these, direct with mercedes?

Part number A2215810001. £9.61 inc VAT at the dealer with 10% discount. Although there's a used one on Ebay for £15.

I keep a 450mm breaker bar with a 17mm socket in the boot. Much less bother getting the bolts loose. And useful in the event of "trouble". Something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B006A7BI3...

Pliers for the valve caps, replace with placka ones.

Excellent thanks!

Regards the valve caps, even with pliers they wouldn't budge, didn't want to force it too much in case I damaged the valve.

[BeirutTaxi]

r129sl said:

BeirutTaxi said:

My search for a 190 worth buying is not going well. There is 1 worth viewing in the classifieds. Pretty much all of them out there are under serviced dogs, or 1.8 manuals

You're right, there's nowt worth having at the minute. But nobody with a good car would be selling it at this time of year, surely?

And its facelift mate:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C648502

I'm in contact with the seller about this one at the moment, I am trying to get a bit more info on the service history but otherwise it looks like one of the only well cared for examples currently available.

I had a 190 once but bought the wrong example. These cars are great but they need to be loved - even the youngest 190e is over 20 years old now.

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Friday 27th November 21:59

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Friday 27th November 22:06

[anonymous-user]

cat220 said:

Excellent thanks!

Regards the valve caps, even with pliers they wouldn't budge, didn't want to force it too much in case I damaged the valve.

Put a pair on the cap and use another pair to hold the valve on the rubber stem gently to hold it in place as you turn the cap. 95% of the time it'll come off no bother.