Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[mark seeker]

A rather nice R129 with the right engine...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[0a]

mark seeker said:

A rather nice R129 with the right engine...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

That's astounding value, and I like the colour combination. In 10 years time we will look back on £4k 80k mile SL500s with disgust!

[0a]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I really like that...!

[r129sl]

derin100 said:

So, after all these years...what Smoker Barge, in the 1-5 large band, is actually "best"?

What gets your vote?

Throwing all reason and rational 'Real World' thinking to the wind, I'd say within this budget, it's probably the BMW E38 750 for me.

I know I couldn't live with the fuel bill...but if someone else was paying?

How about you? What's your fav?

E32 750i
Series III XJ12
6 cylinder S124

[V8forweekends]

mark seeker said:

A rather nice R129 with the right engine...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Why is it RHD with a KMH only speedo? Jap import?SA?

[BigBen]

r129sl said:

derin100 said:

So, after all these years...what Smoker Barge, in the 1-5 large band, is actually "best"?

What gets your vote?

Throwing all reason and rational 'Real World' thinking to the wind, I'd say within this budget, it's probably the BMW E38 750 for me.

I know I couldn't live with the fuel bill...but if someone else was paying?

How about you? What's your fav?

E32 750i
Series III XJ12
6 cylinder S124

It is hard to see past a W140 S500 or even S600. For less than £2000 you could be driving round in what, in the case of the 600, Autocar speculated was the best car in the world. No real known bork beyond the aircon and a level of build quality that will not be seen again outside of seriously high end cars.

Then again R129s keep featuring on this thread and many of the same things apply and they have strong potential for financial appreciation.

[olly755]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Here's a quick update on this 540i/6 Touring that first featured in volume 2, way back in December 2011. I bought it from olly755 in early 2012, when it looked like this:



Two years and almost 20,000 miles later, it now looks like this:

Wow. Lovely to see it again, and obviously in such fine fettle.

As the consummate all-rounder, I don't think I've owned or driven better.

[dscam]

BigBen said:

r129sl said:

derin100 said:

So, after all these years...what Smoker Barge, in the 1-5 large band, is actually "best"?

What gets your vote?

Throwing all reason and rational 'Real World' thinking to the wind, I'd say within this budget, it's probably the BMW E38 750 for me.

I know I couldn't live with the fuel bill...but if someone else was paying?

How about you? What's your fav?

E32 750i
Series III XJ12
6 cylinder S124

It is hard to see past a W140 S500 or even S600. For less than £2000 you could be driving round in what, in the case of the 600, Autocar speculated was the best car in the world. No real known bork beyond the aircon and a level of build quality that will not be seen again outside of seriously high end cars.

Then again R129s keep featuring on this thread and many of the same things apply and they have strong potential for financial appreciation.

I'd be hard pressed to overlook an S500 W140 to be honest; they are surely the epitome of what a luxury barge should be - and most now comfortably fall within our criteria of sub £5k.

Having had more BMW's than Merc's I would also put a vote in for an E38 7-series, probably the 740i, as being a great blend of handsome looks, adequate performance and manageable running costs.

[Tonberry]

Fuel costs are often bandied about here.

What is the general consensus on LPG?

[bmthnick1981]

0a said:

derin100 said:

0a said:

Blimey: "Very low mileage: 19006 - £3,495 BMW 7 SERIES 750i L V12 4dr Auto 5.4"

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

I'd like to say I don't believe it...but I'm struggling to find concrete evidence from the ad to refute the claim!

Should a 19k mile 7 seat look like this though, or is that what they all look like?!

That's the upgraded leather (buffalo or nappa I cant remember what its called) and it is very soft. It looks more dirty than worn to me, and I would have expected it to pick up some dirt in the last 16 years. I'd wager it would respond very well to some cleaning with gliptone products.

I also spy picnic tables and rear vanity mirrors on that car so quite a high spec.

The ride must be excellent on those 16" wheels, but I still think i'd want 18" Style 32's on it if it was mine.

Looks good value to me, anyone going to go and see it?

[confused_buyer]

dscam said:

I'd be hard pressed to overlook an S500 W140 to be honest; they are surely the epitome of what a luxury barge should be - and most now comfortably fall within our criteria of sub £5k.

Can't think of a single reason to buy one over a late LS400 (or an E38) unless you have a particular addiction to rust or like long hunts for parking spaces. Most fall outside this thread, but not in the £5k direction.

Edited by confused_buyer on Sunday 20th April 11:58

[Caruso]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Here's a quick update on this 540i/6 Touring that first featured in volume 2, way back in December 2011. I bought it from olly755 in early 2012, when it looked like this:



Two years and almost 20,000 miles later, it now looks like this:






I've decided not to add up how much I've spent so far - that way madness lies. I do know that I've worked my way through almost all the common e39 and 540i issues, and that hopefully I'll now get a few years without any four-figure bills - fingers crossed.

It's a great car - the freshened suspension, lighter flywheel and 'simplified' exhaust make it very entertaining on roads like those pictured.

They just do so many things so well.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Emeye said:

Why did you change the alloys. I really like the original set!

I've always thought that Style 5's look OK on an E34, but really dated on an E39 - the amount they sold for on eBay suggests you're not alone though.

I'm much happier with the current ones, at least until I find an affordable set of M5 Style 65's.

olly755 said:

Wow. Lovely to see it again, and obviously in such fine fettle.

Ta - barring unforseen mega-bork, I'll be keeping it for a while and will check in occasionally with future volumes of the thread.

One more pic - at Bruntingthorpe last year, before the new bumper went on:

[mark seeker]

V8forweekends said:

Why is it RHD with a KMH only speedo? Jap import?SA?

I was wondering that - I could be interested at that sort of money but I'm curious as to the 'part service' history and the KMH reference.

That said, my mind changes daily.........this thread must bear some of the responsibility.

[slippery]

confused_buyer said:

Can't think of a single reason to buy one over a late LS400 (or an E38)

The W140 interior is superior to that of an LS400 by quite some margin. The S Class has some of the finest seats you'll ever experience and the Lexus feels like a class below in comparison. The E38 is a fine car in every way. It doesn't have the gravitas of the big Merc, but the drive is superior. To me, the LS is barge on a budget, with a sensible hat on.

[BigBen]

slippery said:

confused_buyer said:

Can't think of a single reason to buy one over a late LS400 (or an E38)

The W140 interior is superior to that of an LS400 by quite some margin. The S Class has some of the finest seats you'll ever experience and the Lexus feels like a class below in comparison. The E38 is a fine car in every way. It doesn't have the gravitas of the big Merc, but the drive is superior. To me, the LS is barge on a budget, with a sensible hat on.

The interior of the Lexus shared too many bits with the contemporary Toytoa Carina and is not nearly as nice, they also look terrible all round, the latter just being in my opinion.

The E38 is another good shout but is a good bit smaller and in particular lacks the headroom of the Merc which is important to me.

Ben

[confused_buyer]

slippery said:

The W140 interior is superior to that of an LS400 by quite some margin. The S Class has some of the finest seats you'll ever experience and the Lexus feels like a class below in comparison. The E38 is a fine car in every way. It doesn't have the gravitas of the big Merc, but the drive is superior. To me, the LS is barge on a budget, with a sensible hat on.

I was just never very impressed with my S500. It had its good points but I never warmed to it. It could hustle OK but wasn't that refined and although the seats were comfy I didn't find overall comfort exceptional. Build is OK but the materials, for good or bad, are very 1980's.

[slippery]

confused_buyer said:

I was just never very impressed with my S500. It had its good points but I never warmed to it. It could hustle OK but wasn't that refined and although the seats were comfy I didn't find overall comfort exceptional. Build is OK but the materials, for good or bad, are very 1980's.

Horses for courses I guess. My S500 was double glazed which may have helped and I preferred its slightly more robust and mechanical feel to the synthetic Lexus.

[W124]

LS400 gets my vote. In Streetfighter 11 Spec. Despite being a serial German Exec driver, deep down I know the Lexus is a better car. Part of barging is always the joy of running one of these old cars relatively cheaply. Hence the W140 is out, the W124 has reached silly values and I'd feel guilty ruining another one. The E38 gets an honourable second.

[BigBen]

confused_buyer said:

slippery said:

The W140 interior is superior to that of an LS400 by quite some margin. The S Class has some of the finest seats you'll ever experience and the Lexus feels like a class below in comparison. The E38 is a fine car in every way. It doesn't have the gravitas of the big Merc, but the drive is superior. To me, the LS is barge on a budget, with a sensible hat on.

I was just never very impressed with my S500. It had its good points but I never warmed to it. It could hustle OK but wasn't that refined and although the seats were comfy I didn't find overall comfort exceptional. Build is OK but the materials, for good or bad, are very 1980's.

Did you have a pre or post facelift car. Mine was quite a late W140 so had fully digital climate control and proper parking sensors as opposed to the plethora of buttons and pop up antennae on the earlier cars. My only experience of the earlier cars was going in them when new but can imagine they feel a bit more dated now.