Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 9]

[K12beano]

SpeckledJim said:

"stuff"!

Cheers, done similar before. I think it will assist me bonding with my new-found "Barge-o-philia" (is that the right word?) too!

[Lowtimer]

There are some notably leggy, well cared for and long-lasting W124 diesels here. However, from my point of view, if you can get a pre 2004 big petrol at cheapo VED rates, that's the way I'd rather go by far.

Apart from the aesthetic considerations, it does seem if you want to keep an old executive car in the 200 to 350 hp category running indefinitely, then a normally aspirated petrol engine from the pre DI era is more likely to keep going with nothing more alarming than routine maintenance, than anything with greater complexity.

[Patrick Bateman]

SpeckledJim said:

Various grades of wet-and-dry paper and a spinning pad attachment for the drill is the way I did it. Lots of water, T-Cut, Toothpaste, polish, CIF, you name it really.

As long as it's got some abrasion, but not too much, and you don't get it too hot or run it dry I'm sure you'll have a good result. Lots of videos on youtube about it.

Don't worry after 5 minutes when it looks like you've totally and utterly ruined it - keep going! Might take an hour or more to get them sparkling, but it will transform the front of the car.

For extra satisfaction do them one at a time so that you can have a real comparison photo!

A 3M kit comes with everything you need minus a drill and only costs 15 quid. Might be safer to stick with tried and tested.

[Krikkit]

Patrick Bateman said:

SpeckledJim said:

Various grades of wet-and-dry paper and a spinning pad attachment for the drill is the way I did it. Lots of water, T-Cut, Toothpaste, polish, CIF, you name it really.

As long as it's got some abrasion, but not too much, and you don't get it too hot or run it dry I'm sure you'll have a good result. Lots of videos on youtube about it.

Don't worry after 5 minutes when it looks like you've totally and utterly ruined it - keep going! Might take an hour or more to get them sparkling, but it will transform the front of the car.

For extra satisfaction do them one at a time so that you can have a real comparison photo!

A 3M kit comes with everything you need minus a drill and only costs 15 quid. Might be safer to stick with tried and tested.

Both work, the 3M kit is easier to do.

Watch out for doing plastic headlights, as the UV-protective coating will be stripped off.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Krikkit said:

Watch out for doing plastic headlights, as the UV-protective coating will be stripped off.

Apart from proper old classics, they're all plastic aren't they?

[Krikkit]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Krikkit said:

Watch out for doing plastic headlights, as the UV-protective coating will be stripped off.

Apart from proper old classics, they're all plastic aren't they?

Not sure - I did a mid-90s Peugeot last year which had glass lights (S1 106), I've never tried a luxo-barge like a W220, I assumed they're glass.

[tobinen]

I tried to do my 210 and failed miserably. Not sure if they're too far gone but one side is an MoT advisory now and I'm pretty sure it won't pass again.

I was lucky and found a NOS from eBay for £150 - perfect. MB still want over £500 for one xenon unit. bds.

[SpeckledJim]

Krikkit said:

Patrick Bateman said:

SpeckledJim said:

Various grades of wet-and-dry paper and a spinning pad attachment for the drill is the way I did it. Lots of water, T-Cut, Toothpaste, polish, CIF, you name it really.

As long as it's got some abrasion, but not too much, and you don't get it too hot or run it dry I'm sure you'll have a good result. Lots of videos on youtube about it.

Don't worry after 5 minutes when it looks like you've totally and utterly ruined it - keep going! Might take an hour or more to get them sparkling, but it will transform the front of the car.

For extra satisfaction do them one at a time so that you can have a real comparison photo!

A 3M kit comes with everything you need minus a drill and only costs 15 quid. Might be safer to stick with tried and tested.

Both work, the 3M kit is easier to do.

Watch out for doing plastic headlights, as the UV-protective coating will be stripped off.

Fair enough, that's a better idea. Get the kit.

Save the toothpaste.

[georgezippy]

derin100 said:

Capris too....?

I mean they were ok-ish...but £8500 for a 1.6 Laser with 112K miles on the clock? Really? Are they that sought after now?




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1986-ford-capri-1-6-lase...

Blimey, mine must be worth 5 figures then.... Same sort of thing but nicer colour combo, mint, original looking, and 2.1 big valve EFi engine.

Stegel said:

I think a Capri is probably the most disappointing car I have ever driven when the degree of anticipation is contrasted with reality - there are far worse cars, but nothing had been as lusted over as a Capri by my then 21 year old self. I recall just wanting the test drive to be over.

I agree hence the mods to mine, still crude and noisy but goes like stabbed rat, yet reliable and 35mpg, therefore useable.
May have to adjust the agreed value and chain another rottweiler to it.

[0a]

With regards to the lack of diesels, part of the appeal of a barge is to escape modern diesels with their dull sound and frequent reliability problems. Quite often the diesel versions of barges are more expensive and have galactic mileage on them in any case.

Something simple like this V12 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016... with a mere 90k miles would be a good bet.

[Jim the Sunderer]

0a said:

With regards to the lack of diesels, part of the appeal of a barge is to escape modern diesels with their dull sound and frequent reliability problems. Quite often the diesel versions of barges are more expensive and have galactic mileage on them in any case.

Something simple like this V12 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016... with a mere 90k miles would be a good bet.

6 litre V12? That's just obscene, I'll take two.

[derin100]

bks! Just when you don't need it!

Went to pull away in the E38 today and immediately thought something doesn't feel and sound right. Only went 10-20 yards and turned it around back on to the drive.

Snapped FRONT coil spring! And in such a fashion right through the middle of it that a) I can't get out the two broken halves and b)the car has dropped so that the suspension leg cup rubs against the inner aspect of the tyre tread.

Whizzed over to my Indie in the A140 who is thankfully only a couple of miles away. He gave me a space-saver wheel and tyre which seemed like a good idea in order for me to at least limp the E38 over to him. I get back now and try to put it on before the light fades completely and...bks...the 728i SPORT has great big Brembo calipers on the front that the space-saver can't accommodate!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I'm very much in a Jaguar/Daimler sort of mood today. How about this for a period colour?

http://www.taskerandlacy.co.uk/used-cars/jaguar-xj...

[deadslow]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I'm very much in a Jaguar/Daimler sort of mood today. How about this for a period colour?

http://www.taskerandlacy.co.uk/used-cars/jaguar-xj...

That colour is outstanding on the old girl. Jury is out on the 5 spokes.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

deadslow said:

That colour is outstanding on the old girl. Jury is out on the 5 spokes.

Yep, wrong wheels but a bottle of red, a debit card and eBay, and that's easily remedied.

[Lowtimer]

And someone somewhere with an XJS will want the wheels.

[cat220]

tobinen said:

I tried to do my 210 and failed miserably. Not sure if they're too far gone but one side is an MoT advisory now and I'm pretty sure it won't pass again.

I was lucky and found a NOS from eBay for £150 - perfect. MB still want over £500 for one xenon unit. bds.

Perhaps I was lucky, I used toothpaste on my s210, spent about 30mins on each and they came up well.

[Croutons]

Lungwun said:

Re: Definition of a Barge,

From thread direction, I take it Diesels are frowned upon?

Surprising lack of 730D's and S320CDI's

I don't think there's a specific prejudice here, indeed there are several cars that turn up because they are diesel and interesting, eg a V10 Toureg. I can't imagine anyone posting a boggo petrol one.

I dare also suggest those who can tolerate barge characteristics like "the odd surprise" are not those inclined strictly to economy or reliability, for whatever reasons, so if faced with a leggy 730d or a 745i, the [perhaps ironically] green pump wins. Certainly if a well-specc'd 730 or 320CDI arrived it would curry favour.

[Blown2CV]

Lowtimer said:

And someone somewhere with an XJS will want the wheels.

exactly, in classic barge flipping style might even make a small bit of pocket change in the wheel trading.

[E65Ross]

Lungwun said:

Re: Definition of a Barge,

From thread direction, I take it Diesels are frowned upon?

Surprising lack of 730D's and S320CDI's

You often find the diesel models cost more, have higher mileage and tend to have a lower spec (company car etc)..... And given the choice between a diesel with circa 250bhp vs a petrol with anywhere from 300-500bhp for similar price..... Well.....