Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 10]

[JF87]

Battle of the silver E55 Designo-seated estates on the Bay:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-MERCEDES-E55-AMG-AU...



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-E55-AMG-Estate-...

First is £4200 BIN, second at £3600 with three days to go. Both look in pretty good nick, first has a few scabs on a wing. I simply MUST have one of these quite soon.

[SimonConnell]

There's also this one with plain black cow:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131795433584?_trksid=p20...

[tobinen]

BigBen said:

0a said:

Allegedly a business addition http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-W140-MERCEDES-S320-...

87k miles and £2,495. Do these have soft close?

I think all W140s have soft close. Not sure it is a business edition, didn't they all have the electric tables in the back?

I don't think it is a Business Edition - no tables or phone in the centre console.

[nullogik]

0a said:

Allegedly a business addition http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-W140-MERCEDES-S320-...

87k miles and £2,495. Do these have soft close?

Definitely not a Business Edition.

[0a]

One titled owner, apparently http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C737855

[R8Steve]

0a said:

One titled owner, apparently http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C737855

I know they say it's full MBSH but the last service was 7 years ago.

[K12beano]

R8Steve said:

0a said:

One titled owner, apparently http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C737855

I know they say it's full MBSH but the last service was 7 years ago.

And how does the "title" help exactly?

Whenever I fill out an online form I'm asked for my title. I'm not sure that qualifies me as a better, or more desirable, MB owner....

I generally go by the title "Mister", but frequently "Oi! you!"

[SuperHangOn]

k-ink said:

Lexus LS430 are getting stupidly cheap now. Seems daft not to get one for a daily motorway slugger. Will likely save thousands in not requiring repairs compared to German equivalents.

Would it really though?

I'm not convinced they are LS400 quality, quite a few I see for sale seem to have air suspension woes and other niggles. Plus they will surely they go through wear and tear parts as fast as any other old barge but those parts might be a bit trickier to find cheaply. My last repair was a noisy alternator - £140 for a delco reman from Euro, DIY'ed in less than a hour. The cost on an LS430?

[R8Steve]

K12beano said:

R8Steve said:

0a said:

One titled owner, apparently http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C737855

I know they say it's full MBSH but the last service was 7 years ago.

And how does the "title" help exactly?

Whenever I fill out an online form I'm asked for my title. I'm not sure that qualifies me as a better, or more desirable, MB owner....

I generally go by the title "Mister", but frequently "Oi! you!"

I just assumed it meant one owner, i guess they mean he was a Lord or something. I've seen some Lords houses and if they maintain their cars like their houses it's definitely not a good thing!

[0a]

This looks nice. Expensive for a 380 though: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C739803

[bob-lad]

0a said:

This looks nice. Expensive for a 380 though: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C739803

It might need a new steering rack. It's taken lumps out of the lawn

[Jodyone]

Introducing- erm- Hodor. Or maybe Blue Nun. We'll see what sticks...





1991 W126 300SE, nautic blue (I think), cloth/velour interior, and a plausibly genuine 76K miles. Interestingly, it's fairly pov-spec (for an S Class): there's air-con and sunroof, but no cruise control, heated seats, electric seats, rear blinds etc. And steelies! Everything works, so far.. After the fun drive home last night I've washed and waxed it and sorted some small problems- slightly sticking sunroof, unblocking washer jets, etc.

The M103 engine- my first of this generation- is fab. This might be the baby S Class and no doubt feels slow next to the V8's, but I've always loved a revvy straight 6 and this one is great fun and very smooth- it sounds like a turbine at higher revs, but pulls the big old car around happily enough at more appropriate rpm.

Otherwise, it feels like a bigger, quieter, grander W123. I'm so used to those cars that driving this felt immediately familiar, and a total pleasure. I'll miss the cruise control, but otherwise I quite like the simplicity: just the amusing pleasure of a key that is literally that- a bit of metal with a plastic handle, no buttons, chips, computers... it's a key. It's great.

This one's had a little paint, new wings, but the work looks well done to me. The history is not traditional (!)- but I have a good, nearly full record of the last twenty years, yearly services at the same specialist garage, and some big bills. It seems honest and drives tight. Hopefully, it's where I'll be spending the next 100K miles or so..!

Ahem, I know, Asda car park pics- sometimes we all have to mix with the hoi-polloi occasionally doncha know

[SpeckledJim]

Very bonny. Like it a lot.

[0a]

That's really lovely. I know what you mean about that 3 litre straight 6, it's a nice unit for everyday driving.

[Riley Blue]

BigBen said:

0a said:

The next barge 1-5 meeting should be more accessible for southerners - the British Motor museum at Gaydon.

The first meet saw the Mercedes r129 dominate, the second special V12 jaguar XJSs. What will we see on the third meet!?

I have added some dates in September on this sign up page (the one after can be a post Christmas pre new year one like last year!): https://doodle.com/poll/tt3kd5ky44zdgwgr

Unless there are any major objections I'll get an indication on this poll then decide the date.

Excellent choice of venue. I have signed up for all 3 dates. Hopefully a W140 dominated meet!

I can manage two of the three so hopefully you'll see one car with four rings

[olly755]

SuperHangOn said:

k-ink said:

Lexus LS430 are getting stupidly cheap now. Seems daft not to get one for a daily motorway slugger. Will likely save thousands in not requiring repairs compared to German equivalents.

Would it really though?

I'm not convinced they are LS400 quality, quite a few I see for sale seem to have air suspension woes and other niggles. Plus they will surely they go through wear and tear parts as fast as any other old barge but those parts might be a bit trickier to find cheaply. My last repair was a noisy alternator - £140 for a delco reman from Euro, DIY'ed in less than a hour. The cost on an LS430?

I'd concur. Mine was not trouble free at all. Air spring collapse, rusted holed fuel tank (a la E38), air con maladies, steering column, broken speakers. Common faults according to the beards.

In fairness, my car had probably hit that troublesome 10 year old/90000 mile period where much was original and little had been done outside regular servicing, but even so.

LS400 is certainly more robust, but they hide the abuse better and cocoon the driver a bit too well: you never hear the knocks and bangs so they never get sorted

[bob-lad]

Jodyone said:

Introducing- erm- Hodor. Or maybe Blue Nun. We'll see what sticks...



1991 W126 300SE, nautic blue
[snip]
Otherwise, it feels like a bigger, quieter, grander W123. I'm so used to those cars that driving this felt immediately familiar, and a total pleasure. I'll miss the cruise control, but otherwise I quite like the simplicity: just the amusing pleasure of a key that is literally that- a bit of metal with a plastic handle, no buttons, chips, computers... it's a key. It's great.

Ahem, I know, Asda car park pics- sometimes we all have to mix with the hoi-polloi occasionally doncha know

You know, you could have kept quiet about the ADSA bit

I like a blue car and this one looks great.

I know what you mean about the key. My XJS is the same. We tried the radio for a bit on the way up to the Northern Losers Conference and after waiting for aerial to erect itself, Mission Control and myself just howled like loons and looked at each other.

STE...................REO

Sounds properly comical after years of full-on surround surround to have the sound coming from our respective foot wells.

[Jodyone]

bob-lad said:

You know, you could have kept quiet about the ADSA bit

I like a blue car and this one looks great.

I know what you mean about the key. My XJS is the same. We tried the radio for a bit on the way up to the Northern Losers Conference and after waiting for aerial to erect itself, Mission Control and myself just howled like loons and looked at each other.

STE...................REO

Sounds properly comical after years of full-on surround surround to have the sound coming from our respective foot wells.

I thought the recycling bins gave it away..!! On the other hand, it does just look like two robots having a chat.

Yep modern sound systems are pretty good aren't they?! I'll be swapping the head units in my two Mercs, to get the more recent one with phone connection etc in this. It looks fairly discreet, as I chose it to blend in with a W123 interior. If it sounds ok I'll leave the speakers be and get used to them..

[layercake]

I like it mate lovely colour, always had a thing about the old w126's

Been watching a few 124's lately and may ended up with two of them, should be picking up a nice clean 260e in a few days time
all going well

Jodyone said:

Introducing- erm- Hodor. Or maybe Blue Nun. We'll see what sticks...





1991 W126 300SE, nautic blue (I think), cloth/velour interior, and a plausibly genuine 76K miles. Interestingly, it's fairly pov-spec (for an S Class): there's air-con and sunroof, but no cruise control, heated seats, electric seats, rear blinds etc. And steelies! Everything works, so far.. After the fun drive home last night I've washed and waxed it and sorted some small problems- slightly sticking sunroof, unblocking washer jets, etc.

The M103 engine- my first of this generation- is fab. This might be the baby S Class and no doubt feels slow next to the V8's, but I've always loved a revvy straight 6 and this one is great fun and very smooth- it sounds like a turbine at higher revs, but pulls the big old car around happily enough at more appropriate rpm.

Otherwise, it feels like a bigger, quieter, grander W123. I'm so used to those cars that driving this felt immediately familiar, and a total pleasure. I'll miss the cruise control, but otherwise I quite like the simplicity: just the amusing pleasure of a key that is literally that- a bit of metal with a plastic handle, no buttons, chips, computers... it's a key. It's great.

This one's had a little paint, new wings, but the work looks well done to me. The history is not traditional (!)- but I have a good, nearly full record of the last twenty years, yearly services at the same specialist garage, and some big bills. It seems honest and drives tight. Hopefully, it's where I'll be spending the next 100K miles or so..!

Ahem, I know, Asda car park pics- sometimes we all have to mix with the hoi-polloi occasionally doncha know

[Jodyone]

layercake said:

I like it mate lovely colour, always had a thing about the old w126's

Been watching a few 124's lately and may ended up with two of them, should be picking up a nice clean 260e in a few days time
all going well

Love it! Same hubcaps. Standard on both W126 and W124, or is one an imposter..?