Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[callahan]

Thoughts on this? http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

Seems pricey, but nicely prepared too....

[pitchfork]

I understand that faulty ignition switches can lead to assorted electronic issues elsewhere.

[Sterillium]

cat220 said:

Its suspension creaks like a galleon but has no obvious play.

That will be these...


I had the same creaking nonsense on my 530 Sport Touring, I actually had the entire rear suspension replaced with good quality Meyle parts, but the chaps said that in actual fact, it was only these little buggers that were causing all the creaking... (lower bushes on the large rear sub-frame).

Should be less than £30 a pair.

[ALawson]

This advert appeared on my radar, brilliant.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332138112629

Honest 99 reg E320

[RenesisEvo]

E24man said:

Since I started writing this others have suggested the hedgehog as the battery drain but forum5 experience suggest a buggered hedgehog will drain a battery overnight. Check the battery condition first, it may also sort the LCM issues

On the hedgehog (heater resistor thingy), I'd suggest avoiding a pattern part. I fitted one to my E39 M5 and regretted it. I still had battery drain issues (albeit over 10 days, not 3). The prongs were soft as butter on the pattern part, and were easily bent to touch each other, it's a swine to fit too (there are good guides out there, but be prepared to lie down with you back along the door sill!) Swapped it for a used part from another car, fewer spines that tapered, and didn't bend. A clue that it's gone is the fan blower control doesn't ramp up or down, it's all, or nothing. Admittedly afterwards I still had issues, but not sure if the battery was knackered by then. Also I assume you have the right spec battery (too many E39s with under-sized ones out there. The M5 certainly needs the biggest you can find, Bosch S5 015 110Ah is what I used).

[Patrick Bateman]

Mine had that Bosch one as well. Oddly enough, of all the common when-not-if faults my M5 had, the hedgehog was still original AFAIK.

[bolide]

Bargista said:

Chaps, I don't want to clutter the thread up but would aporeciate your combined (and individual) wisdom...

Thanks to this thread, I own a 2001 BMW 540i touring auto, non sport model but spec'd with sport suspension.

Despite being a W124 man I've run an E39 for six years so will chip in on this one

BMW do a Value range for lots of bits and prices are fairly reasonable - £320 sounds OK. It wouldn't worry me to run aftermarket discs but I have to admit mine has genuine parts

Front suspension wobble under braking is normally the thrust bushes in the front suspension. IIRC the bushes can be replaced with a press but most people just change the arm. The 540 has some suspension & steering differences to the 4 and 6-cylinder cars so bear that in mind

If the rear of the car creaks when you push it sideways when stationary it may be the bush at the foot of the suspension leg, as previously mentioned

ARB droplinks last 12-24 months on these so replace them with Meyle HD parts. Some high-mileage people replace them annually. Rear ones are fiddly to replace but it's a DIY job

Aftermarket ARB bushes can creak if not lubricated

"Rear axle mounts" - subframe bushes? If they haven't been done they are a good place to start. Meyle HD again. Jimmy on the bmw5 forum rents out the tool to replace them and you can do the job in three hours if you're handy

My expenditure has been 80% suspension parts. I think that's the price you pay for good body control at high speed. They are much nicer to drive with the suspension clonks & rattles eradicated

I dread having to replace mine with something newer

Nick Froome

[Patrick Bateman]

You can get OEM Lemforder from ECP and carparts4less. I use them for the bulk of my suspension refresh.

[mondayo]

Biglips said:

r129sl said:

One of our number bought a w140 from him. I seem to recall it was 95% as described, which is about as much as you can hope for from a car dealer.

I'd have thought he gets his stock from a MB dealer. Most stuff taken in part-ex goes off to auction but occasionally there'll be something that is too good and won't realise its potential at auction; there may also be a bit of a side arrangement with a salesman.

Also as it is an auction I suppose the market sets the price so unless he has a system for shill bidding he cannot be accused of asking outrageous prices. Will be interested to see the description on this when he puts it up.

It's now up to £4,100 and 41 bids and still not a description of any sort. At best that looks like unusual bidding, at worst, rather shady

[CharlesdeGaulle]

bolide said:

Despite being a W124 man I've run an E39 for six years so will chip in on this one

...

Nick Froome

Welcome back Nick. Not seen you in these parts for some time. You should post more!

[harrykul]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Welcome back Nick. Not seen you in these parts for some time. You should post more!

Seconded!

[tobinen]

0a said:

I left my desk in Scotland at 10 to 4 this afternoon and am now enjoying a beer in a bar in Krackow having checked in and had a nice walk about. Not too bad


20:48 datestamp - could have been 45 minutes earlier.

t's a slight advantage when you work at the airport...

Edited by 0a on Wednesday 1st March 00:47

Beautiful city, enjoy!

[E24man]

Seconded, and the Polish are a generous and friendly bunch. If you're there long enough the salt mines and Birkenau are worth the time to visit.

[Zonergem]

Thirded on Krakow. If you have any interest in art then the 20th Century Art section on the upper floors of the Museum Narodowe is brilliant.

Avoid chasing dark beer with bison grass vodka. Ask me how I know.

[E24man]

Just avoid bison grass vodka, I lived in Warsaw for two years.

Chopin and Hetman are vodkas to fall into.

[Lowtimer]

Bargista said:

Chaps, I don't want to clutter the thread up but would aporeciate your combined (and individual) wisdom...


My 'inner womble' likes the idea of making good all the issues but am I silly to sink over £1k into it?

Get it all done. It's less than a month's depreciation on a nearly-new new one.

If you don't, or do it in dribs and drabs, then you will carry on driving the car and some or all of this stuff will be on your mind every time you drive it. So most of the overall experience you ultimately look back on will be "I wish that had been better". If you get it all done at once then most of your subsequent experience when you look back on it will be "That was lovely".

[bmthnick1981]

Chaps, we have had this;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-S600-BITURBO-50...

But I can't remember what the collective wisdom was on it?

83 watchers but no offers yet.... I may be tempted to make an offer just wish it had black leather interior.

[0a]

E24man said:

Seconded, and the Polish are a generous and friendly bunch. If you're there long enough the salt mines and Birkenau are worth the time to visit.

Thanks all. It's a lovely city, and there are plenty of old mercs about.







I'm heading out to auschwitz tomorrow which should be interesting. Something I have wanted to do for a long time.

[olly755]

ALawson said:

This advert appeared on my radar, brilliant.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332138112629

Honest 99 reg E320

I really want to like that car, but fear the seller's over-friendly, comedy tie wearing jolliness is having a go at hiding a bit of a pup that he's at the end of his tether with.

A grand maybe, but there are better buys.

[mccrackenj]

Lowtimer said:

Bargista said:

Chaps, I don't want to clutter the thread up but would aporeciate your combined (and individual) wisdom...


My 'inner womble' likes the idea of making good all the issues but am I silly to sink over £1k into it?

Get it all done. It's less than a month's depreciation on a nearly-new new one.

If you don't, or do it in dribs and drabs, then you will carry on driving the car and some or all of this stuff will be on your mind every time you drive it. So most of the overall experience you ultimately look back on will be "I wish that had been better". If you get it all done at once then most of your subsequent experience when you look back on it will be "That was lovely".

Very good advice.

Either get it all done now and enjoy the car at it's best or do it all when you're about to sell it and the next owner gets the benefit. Why do we so often (myself included) do the latter?