Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 10]

[mccrackenj]

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

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

I've been keeping an eye on that 260e, looks a belter for the paltry coin, especially with all the spares. I really wish I could have several, but it just isn't on.

Enjoy, and let us all know what it's like.

[mccrackenj]

Jodyone said:

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..?

They're the same as my 1989 260E. Perfect for winter, with 15hole alloys for the rest of the year, natch.

[0a]

Jodyone said:

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..?

4 door w124s are the best! I like it

[defblade]

LayZ said:

Very clean looking 75k mile V6 Alfa 166 at bottom end of thread budget:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-166-/16205736...

People posting this sort of temptation is why I keep the conrod that came out of my last Alfa in front of the computer as a reminder/warning

[mccrackenj]

defblade said:

LayZ said:

Very clean looking 75k mile V6 Alfa 166 at bottom end of thread budget:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-166-/16205736...

People posting this sort of temptation is why I keep the conrod that came out of my last Alfa in front of the computer as a reminder/warning

How do they manage to forge them in such sensous, curvy shapes? Alfa, even their con-rods are beautiful!

[layercake]

Thanks guys the wheel trims were standard on that model all original. I think they look good and suit that model. I had my eye on another 300e further afield but this seemed to good to miss and was local.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

0a said:

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

I rather like that. If I was barge-hunting I'd view.

But I'm really not. Oh no. Definitely not, Madame deG, no sirree.

(The saving grace is that it has too few cylinders.)

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Jodyone said:

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

Fantastic. Congratulations - what a lovely old thing.

[Jimmy Recard]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Give the Kienzle (VDO) a look, Bluetooth music and phone interface with supplied mic, mechless, USB, SD card etc. And does not look out of place in the dash. A final nice touch is some of the menu items are in German. An easy radio to install and live with. Using the phone GPS through the radio means you get the directions coming through the car speakers, with your music. Quite neat.

Had mine for a while, and can recommend it for the sub £100 price.

Review of the radio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9oW6b_tRTU

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kienzle-MCR-1016BT-Autor...

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Monday 2nd May 22:27

"Head Unit Funktionalität: CD-Player"

Hmm. Not the best listing.

Shame it doesn't have a CD player. I like it otherwise.

[bob-lad]

defblade said:

LayZ said:

Very clean looking 75k mile V6 Alfa 166 at bottom end of thread budget:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-166-/16205736...

People posting this sort of temptation is why I keep the conrod that came out of my last Alfa in front of the computer as a reminder/warning

Looks like it was designed by Chris Bangle.

[Jimmy Recard]

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!?

Probably an Astra if I get organised enough to turn up

[BigBen]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

0a said:

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

I rather like that. If I was barge-hunting I'd view.

But I'm really not. Oh no. Definitely not, Madame deG, no sirree.

(The saving grace is that it has too few cylinders.)

You know the 380 is an 8 right?

[r129sl]

BigBen said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

0a said:

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

I rather like that. If I was barge-hunting I'd view.

But I'm really not. Oh no. Definitely not, Madame deG, no sirree.

(The saving grace is that it has too few cylinders.)

You know the 380 is an 8 right?

I suspect CdeG doesn't settle for less than a dozen in these XJR-S days.

[dbdb]

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

Beautiful car.

[k-ink]

SuperHangOn said:

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 did wonder if the older 400 might be simpler and therefore cheaper to keep running. I'd be interested to find a mint facelift example. I saw one years ago with only 50k which I probably should have gone for.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

BigBen said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

0a said:

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

I rather like that. If I was barge-hunting I'd view.

But I'm really not. Oh no. Definitely not, Madame deG, no sirree.

(The saving grace is that it has too few cylinders.)

You know the 380 is an 8 right?

I suspect CdeG doesn't settle for less than a dozen in these XJR-S days.

Exactement. 8 is merely 2/3 of a proper engine!

[Caruso]

May have just done a deal on a sight unseen Daimler XJ40 via an intermediary.

[cornershop]

So I picked up this E320 Coupe on Monday.

163k miles, blue-black, sportline chassis, originally a Hughes of Beaconsfield car, stamped history to 120k and engine loom replaced a few years ago.

Bodywork needs attention though as have all 3 facelift cars I've viewed; at least one front wing, and both rear arches needing attention. Trailing roof edge too, most likely due to over exuberant rear screen fitters.

Diavia aircon which could be a negative in the future due to poorer parts availability?

Otherwise, pretty solid and really enjoying the drive - the 320 engine has much more thrust than the 300CEs I've tested recently and usurps the 300CE24 too in my experience ; you can really feel the additional torque of the 3.2. Nice howl too towards the red-line. The firm throttle pedal is polar opposite to the Audis super sensitive offering, so something I need to get used to. Nice firm brake pedal however is much better than the S8, at least on my example.

Plans for now are just get it through the MOT due in June ( potential rear brake line remediation needed there based on last few advisories ) and change oil and coolant.

Then decide if it will provide a suitable replacement for the S8......

[SpeckledJim]

It's MILES nicer than an S8, IMO. Lovely.

[layercake]

Thats a very nice thing indeed, once you sort the body work out it will be mint