Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[TheLordJohn]

Can't help with your specific problem, but i can thoroughly recommend a very good BMW indie in Aylesbury, depending where in the South you are.

[tobinen]

Zonergem said:

Back in late January this ex-Japan cloth seat R129 500SL went through eBay for under 3.5k, after we admired it for a while. (see pp.106-7)

The story continues...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C854609

"The vendor states that the car has VOSA MOT history back to 2009 and has recently undergone extensive mechanical work at Mercedes specialist Colin Ferns Limited, including Mercedes parts new coils, distributor arms and caps (an expensive necessity to make these cars run as they should) and replacement of all idle hoses totalling £1400 (invoice available). The car has recently been driven on a round trip to Nottingham and performed well, pulling like a train after the recent work carried out. The car was bought recently for the vendor's wife who mistakenly believed the answer "anything" in response to the question "what would you like for your birthday?" actually meant just that and is now sadly for sale! "

I bet it doesn't break £4,000 at auction. If I bought it I'd have to source a leather interior for it though, cloth doesn't work for me in a 129

[Zonergem]

IIRC the rear plastic screens are split and the roof is probably wheezy. Bunging it in an auction with limited viewing is his best out.

I know "the wife doesn't get on with it" is as old as the hills, but OTOH there's a £1400 bill from an expensive SW London indie.

[Pothole]

How much are the hard tops worth as a standalone sale item?

[Pothole]

There's a few other barges that might end in budget in that auction...

http://www.barons-auctions.com/auction_details.php...

http://www.barons-auctions.com/auction_details.php...

http://www.barons-auctions.com/auction_details.php...

http://www.barons-auctions.com/auction_details.php...

[1stRaven]

0a said:

A quick question regarding the XJ8 if I may. All my cars get used as daily drivers, and one of the key upgrades I have made on them is Bluetooth connectivity. This means I can play The Archers from my podcast app. As I am sure you understand this is vital. Is there a way to get this functionality on the Jag - the radio unit looks very built in indeed.

I have replaced the head unit in my 1999 xjr. Its a bit of a pain but took about 90 minutes. You do lose the steering wheel controls but I believe autoleads make an adapter for those now too if you want them.

[Krikkit]

You might be able to get hold a CD changer interface that can give you bluetooth, although it might be easier to bang in a Parrot/similar bluetooth unit that uses a wiring harness hijack.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

tobinen said:

Zonergem said:

Back in late January this ex-Japan cloth seat R129 500SL went through eBay for under 3.5k, after we admired it for a while. (see pp.106-7)

The story continues...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C854609

"The vendor states that the car has VOSA MOT history back to 2009 and has recently undergone extensive mechanical work at Mercedes specialist Colin Ferns Limited, including Mercedes parts new coils, distributor arms and caps (an expensive necessity to make these cars run as they should) and replacement of all idle hoses totalling £1400 (invoice available). The car has recently been driven on a round trip to Nottingham and performed well, pulling like a train after the recent work carried out. The car was bought recently for the vendor's wife who mistakenly believed the answer "anything" in response to the question "what would you like for your birthday?" actually meant just that and is now sadly for sale! "

I bet it doesn't break £4,000 at auction. If I bought it I'd have to source a leather interior for it though, cloth doesn't work for me in a 129

I like the cloth, but 2 attempts to sell within a couple of months puts me right off.

[dafeller]

Today's French Alternative: this has to be collectible at some point. It says just about all there is to say about 1980s performance engineering in a strange French wrapping: turbocharged, nivomat suspension, all wheel drive, weird stealth-fighter styling. And it appears to have a boatload of work done to bring it up to spec.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C852197

[dafeller]

dafeller said:

Okay, maybe more like Depardieux, but still . . .

Bit of low-hanging fruit there, but I'll give it to you.

[mccrackenj]

0a said:

mccrackenj said:

0a said:

Zonergem said:

Gold with Brazil pre-facelift 300E W124 about to creep into thread budget. Needs a hood pad and some interior tidying but ad reads well enough.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-300e-1988-Retro...

Wow I like that a lot. I'm not sure the new wings are the same colour though.

On my EBay 'watch list' allegedly. A gold pre-Sacco 300e with tobacco cloth or leather is the stuff of my wildest dreams. Please talk me out of it.

Please!

Let's not bid hard against each other old chap...!

Are you bidding on it, honestly Oa?

If so I will graciously withdraw.

[r129sl]

tobinen said:

If I bought it I'd have to source a leather interior for it though, cloth doesn't work for me in a 129

What? You jest, surely?

[tombar]

Re the BX - lovely car but what do you do with it? They are so rare that driving it seems irresponsible!

In other news, you might remember 6 or 7 weeks ago I was wondering whether to buy a Lexus LS400 with a dodgy airbag sensor, that had been off the road for 4 years. Well, you patient readers, I finally did the deed today! Bought for less than half of lower thread budget, I had the car collected (Shiply - recommended!) and it is pretty amazing. The interior is genuinely as new - and the black leather/ dash combo really works well. Exterior is pretty near perfect too - smallest of trolley dings in one rear door. Everything works so far - even tilt and slide steering wheel. 78000 FLSH. Only about 1000 miles in the past 10 years mind.

Of course, it needs work. Airbag sensor potentially, alternator probably, there may be other stuff. So if I sound pleased, I'm only tempting fate.,,,for fun!

Pics soon.

[Prinny]

bmthnick1981 said:

Poor form to quote myself but just to update in case it is of use to anyone else I had a quote from BMW for £235 (incl VAT) to supply the idrive controller and £187 (incl VAT) to fit meaning a total bill of £422.

Apparently the idrive controller can vary from car to car depending on spec and does need to be coded to the car.

Sorry for slow reply - just seen this. I'd say it's definitely broken, there's a very positive 'stop' to each twist on mine (2004 E66), each jump to the next setting/letter in navigation/etc. is met with a resistance to twist, which then frees, before stopping again, prior to the next one. Unlike the later CCC I had in the 3-series, and the CIC in the z4, which are much more freely 'spinnable" - If I may coin a phrase...

As far as the i-drive versions in the E65/66 go, If I remember correctly, there's 3 versions. Early cars (to 2003) had no "menu" button at all, so you had to remember where the compass points refer to. This didn't go down too well, so from 2003, a "menu" button was added to let you get back to the "root" screen with relative ease. 2005/facelift (not sure on any overlap) have an updated software set, similar to the idrive found in the E60/E90 - the CCC type as earlier. I think the controller is the same from 2003 on though, so it might be worth searching for a spare? Coding if you've a laptop & the OBDII cable isn't usually that hard (admittedly not needed to try it yet on my 7, though I've done various bits on the 3 and the z4 in the past with no issue).

HTH.

eta... Do you not have a "spare" in the rear armrest? (All the best versions of the 7 have two controllers per car! ) I have no idea whether it's feasible to swap, and since I'm in Eindhoven until Friday, but the car is not, I can't give you an immediate answer, but it's a logical (?!) workaround - maybe!

Edited by Prinny on Monday 3rd April 20:23

[0a]

Apologies in advance for the multi-quote reply.

mccrackenj said:

Are you bidding on it, honestly Oa?

If so I will graciously withdraw.

You must continue - I stuck in a low bid but will no doubt get outbid, so do crack on. I just remember missing another w124 3.0 with that brown leather interior for a tiny price and have regretted not sticking in a cheeky one!

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I deleted my comment, which might have come across as a bit tttish. Good luck with the bidding war chaps.

Unbelievable, repeating that unsubstantiated nonsense about the mud wrestling. I deny it all!

1stRaven said:

I have replaced the head unit in my 1999 xjr. Its a bit of a pain but took about 90 minutes. You do lose the steering wheel controls but I believe autoleads make an adapter for those now too if you want them.

Interesting - it looks very built in, what did you replace it with?

With regards to the XJ8 - it should land in Edinburgh on Wednesday. Can't wait.

With regards to the 2.6 W126 manual above. What a curio, but that combination would be good on a 190, but must be unimpressive on a car of that size surely?

With regards to my 190 2.6 - it goes in for a service and some other bits and bobs on Wednesday. The throttle feels a bit sticky and it sometimes seems to surge a little when I lift off the accelerator. Any suggestions as to parts that will need replacing (I'd rather just order them in and replace them).

I am bringing the SL back to life tomorrow as it has depleted its battery again. A review of the fleet is in order as I am rubbish at using them all regularly. Yet I appear to be puruchasing more cars...

Edited by 0a on Monday 3rd April 21:02

[0a]

tombar said:

Re the BX - lovely car but what do you do with it? They are so rare that driving it seems irresponsible!

In other news, you might remember 6 or 7 weeks ago I was wondering whether to buy a Lexus LS400 with a dodgy airbag sensor, that had been off the road for 4 years. Well, you patient readers, I finally did the deed today! Bought for less than half of lower thread budget, I had the car collected (Shiply - recommended!) and it is pretty amazing. The interior is genuinely as new - and the black leather/ dash combo really works well. Exterior is pretty near perfect too - smallest of trolley dings in one rear door. Everything works so far - even tilt and slide steering wheel. 78000 FLSH. Only about 1000 miles in the past 10 years mind.

Of course, it needs work. Airbag sensor potentially, alternator probably, there may be other stuff. So if I sound pleased, I'm only tempting fate.,,,for fun!

Pics soon.

Congratulations. Do start a reader ride thread and add everything so us geeks can enjoy it!

[0a]

I am rather fond of these old things... terrible photos though http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C854769

[K12beano]

0a said:

I am rather fond of these old things... terrible photos though http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C854769

Ooh yes. Nearly bought one once. About 20 years ago, and would have been about 10 years old then. I'd forgotten that. Helluva nice drive!

[StonedRollin]

tombar said:

Re the BX - lovely car but what do you do with it? They are so rare that driving it seems irresponsible!

In other news, you might remember 6 or 7 weeks ago I was wondering whether to buy a Lexus LS400 with a dodgy airbag sensor, that had been off the road for 4 years. Well, you patient readers, I finally did the deed today! Bought for less than half of lower thread budget, I had the car collected (Shiply - recommended!) and it is pretty amazing. The interior is genuinely as new - and the black leather/ dash combo really works well. Exterior is pretty near perfect too - smallest of trolley dings in one rear door. Everything works so far - even tilt and slide steering wheel. 78000 FLSH. Only about 1000 miles in the past 10 years mind.

Of course, it needs work. Airbag sensor potentially, alternator probably, there may be other stuff. So if I sound pleased, I'm only tempting fate.,,,for fun!

Pics soon.

I bought a 55 plate 44k mile IS250 for nearer the upper end of thread budget in November last year. Laterally history wasn't perfect but acceptable enough for an 11 year old car, and it had the front wing badly resprayed at some point but silver has always been a bad one to match in my book.

Anyways, short of having to replace warped front discs and having sourced an originally painted wing that will get swapped in soon to replace the badly painted one it has been a joy. Some might say too small to be a barge, and whilst it isn't big inside, it has the minimum number of cylinders under the bonnet and the right box so is a winner in my book. And so far i've done 15k miles and all seems well but the big bonus is that i am genuinely staggered at how economical an engine it is when cruising at 70mph/2k rpm.

Look forward to reading more about your LS.

[cat220]

0a said:

I am rather fond of these old things... terrible photos though http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C854769

I've always liked these, that exhaust is wrong though, should be a twin exit. Seems reasonable price wise though!