Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[Fun Bus]

Because 95% of the population see it as "just an old Mercedes."

[jke11y]

Fun Bus said:

Because 95% of the population see it as "just an old Mercedes."

Only 95% ? Its way higher than that!

On a side note, I was alongside a blue 07 plate R63 yesterday in traffic in west London. Gave the guy a nod of amazement, and whilst it sounded great I couldn't get past the fact it is an utterly, incredibly and totally awful looking thing. Almost so bad that its good. Even with 4 exhausts and massive brakes.

[harrykul]

Is anyone on here near to that 124?

[olly755]

Fun Bus said:

Because 95% of the population see it as "just an old Mercedes."

I thought one of the 5% (us lot) would have jumped straight on it!

[Lowtimer]

pitchfork said:

Re. classic insurance.

I had my E39 3.0d - which is probably about as white goods as you can get, relatively-speaking - on a classic policy, so I'd say that yes, you can get an E36 on a classic. 15-years old seems to be the minimum age for Beemers.

My 2000-build 530i is now on the same classic policy as my other two.

[Lowtimer]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

If that was in the 0-5 Retro thread it might be vaguely interesting. Here, it's a shocker.

A bit harsh I think. It's as bargey as a barge can be, and has never been anything else but a barge, a proper mobile sofa of a thing. I have moderately fond memories of them when they were new (but preferred the Rover 827, CX and XM, Alfa 164 and Saab 9000, I must admit. A bunch of front-drive cars preferred over a rear-drive one, which is not my normal instinctive position, so must prove something, though I'm not sure what).

Edited by Lowtimer on Monday 27th February 13:32

[Lowtimer]

Fun Bus said:

Because 95% of the population see it as "just an old Mercedes."

... and because even among the remaining 5%, in the UK anything approaching 200,000 miles is broadly seen as untouchable. Whereas in other markets it's seen as comfortable middle-age for a decent car.

[r129sl]

S3_Graham said:

If looking around a plane and having flying explained to you would help at all, I'd gladly show you round some aircraft at Farnborough.

That is a kind offer and if you're not careful I may take you up on it. Curiously, I love aeroplanes; and they were my first childhood love before even cars, my most treasured possession being a big book about the history of flight. I would love to learn to fly properly; and to own a proper aeroplane. The hideousness of modern commercial air travel is not for me, though. It is not a quality experience. And there certainly is no romance, definitely not now the Concorde is no more. I have tried the (ridiculously expensive) posh end of a 747 or 777 a few times, and it is no better. My fear of flying is something of a pretence: I just love driving so much.

I think this was the most terrifying moment of my life. My dear brother at the controls.



Back to cars...

[JF87]

Big-spec early E500 for £3,250 on the mbclub site. This is the kind of chap you want to buy a car off:

Vendor said:

There are 3 mat buttons missing but they are only available from the USA but I am going there at the end of April so I will buy some and forward on to the buyer.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/classifieds-cars-sa...

[Krikkit]

harrykul said:

Is anyone on here near to that 124?

No, but it's a good part of the world to buy a car from. I get good vibes.

[anonymous-user]

Genuine question.
Why is MB-Tex/ cloth/ velour favoured over leather? Other than wear?

[W00DY]

Krikkit said:

harrykul said:

Is anyone on here near to that 124?

No, but it's a good part of the world to buy a car from. I get good vibes.

Skipton is where I went to get my 300TE from PHer benjj. I don't think he's posted in a while, but might be worth an email as he'd know his way around this one I'm sure.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...

[callahan]

Oh dear. I made the mistake of finally getting the 'Barge Swap Shop' C32 serviced and coolant issue looked at and just got some scary figures back from the Mercedes specialist.

According to internet lore the C32 has an almost unburstable cylinder head, but my specialist thinks therein lies the problem, so a re-skim is needed. £1400 labour. Plus VAT.

Plus the cost of the service, so about £2k all in.

I'm sure that a newish car would have depreciated by more than that in the year I've had it. I am trying very hard to convince myself of that.

[golfer19]

callahan said:

Oh dear. I made the mistake of finally getting the 'Barge Swap Shop' C32 serviced and coolant issue looked at and just got some scary figures back from the Mercedes specialist.

According to internet lore the C32 has an almost unburstable cylinder head, but my specialist thinks therein lies the problem, so a re-skim is needed. £1400 labour. Plus VAT.

Plus the cost of the service, so about £2k all in.

I'm sure that a newish car would have depreciated by more than that in the year I've had it. I am trying very hard to convince myself of that.

Some man maths required.

[Lowtimer]

sleepera6 said:

Genuine question.
Why is MB-Tex/ cloth/ velour favoured over leather? Other than wear?

Three very different materials there, with different appeals

MB-Tex because it is practically indestructible and comes up smiling and looking good decade after decade, still looking good. Most people who aren't old Merc buffs assume it's leather.

Cloth because it is often remarkably pretty. There are some lovely green and blue checks which in something like a W201 Cosworth or R107 can look superb. Like this R107 for example, though the pic is not taken from the most advantageous angle but you probably get the idea:


And in a convertible, with cloth you don't get your bum singed when you get into the car in your shorts in the summer.

Velour because (barring excessive exposure to bright sunlight leading to UV damage) it is not only incrediby durable but exceptionally comfortable. It was also very expensive when new.

If you go back to the pre-war limo era, cloth and velour were for the toffs in the covered section of the car at the back, whereas leather was the working-class seating for the chauffeur in the weather up front.

Leather gained a cachet really in the late 1980s when it became part of the system by which people's corporate seniority was ranked by the accessories on their company cars, and kept that appeal through the 1990s, but I think it's pretty much played out now, with the vast swathes of pretty cheap and nasty leather draped around most of today's cars. MB-tex is frankly nicer than the leather in most of today's cars, e.g. BMW Dakota leather and its equivalents from the other main makers.

Edited by Lowtimer on Monday 27th February 17:56

[harrykul]

W00DY said:

Krikkit said:

harrykul said:

Is anyone on here near to that 124?

No, but it's a good part of the world to buy a car from. I get good vibes.

Skipton is where I went to get my 300TE from PHer benjj. I don't think he's posted in a while, but might be worth an email as he'd know his way around this one I'm sure.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...

Thank you for that. My reasoning is that I've bought three sets of boot carpet for the s124 to replace mine- it's the only weak point left on my car- and I've given up. Best to buy a whole car!

Before I contact Benjj, this is the correct thing to do, yes?

Edited by harrykul on Monday 27th February 18:51

[0a]

callahan said:

Oh dear. I made the mistake of finally getting the 'Barge Swap Shop' C32 serviced and coolant issue looked at and just got some scary figures back from the Mercedes specialist.

According to internet lore the C32 has an almost unburstable cylinder head, but my specialist thinks therein lies the problem, so a re-skim is needed. £1400 labour. Plus VAT.

Plus the cost of the service, so about £2k all in.

I'm sure that a newish car would have depreciated by more than that in the year I've had it. I am trying very hard to convince myself of that.

Just paid the bill for the w124 - MOT, 2 new tyres, a bulb, proper tracking to get rid of the annoying vibration at 70 - £143.

[Jimmy Recard]

JF87 said:

Big-spec early E500 for £3,250 on the mbclub site. This is the kind of chap you want to buy a car off:

Vendor said:

There are 3 mat buttons missing but they are only available from the USA but I am going there at the end of April so I will buy some and forward on to the buyer.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/classifieds-cars-sa...

Yep, I like the look of this car and the sound of the seller

[0a]

I also have to confirm that I have gone with the flying approach to the holiday. All booked... Edinburgh - Krakow - Rome - Berlin - Edinburgh for less than the fuel to mid way through France. The economics and time approach didn't work for me this time.

At some point in the future I will have an epic European driving trip but not this time. I will do it when I own a v12

[0a]

Jimmy Recard said:

JF87 said:

Big-spec early E500 for £3,250 on the mbclub site. This is the kind of chap you want to buy a car off:

Vendor said:

There are 3 mat buttons missing but they are only available from the USA but I am going there at the end of April so I will buy some and forward on to the buyer.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/classifieds-cars-sa...

Yep, I like the look of this car and the sound of the seller

Wow this looks like solid 1-5 thread material: big engine, loads of work done and a great ad, good miles so the car will be sufficiently tested by now.