Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[Krikkit]

That S6 looks rather good, I'd be tempted to gamble on the tensioners.

0a said:

Z4: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...



Z3 for me, but the Z4 is in a fantastic colour.

I've been looking at that very Z4, it is a fabulous colour, and I've always been a fan of that design. Too many are boring silver/black.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

ElectricPics said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Chaps - winter wheels and tyres question.

I have to have winter tyres (snowflake marked) for the Lexus. What's the best way to do it and from where to buy? Would cheap steelies with winters on be more sensible than having them changed on the current alloys? I'd ideally like to order asap for delivery within a week so I can take them back out to Lux with me.

These are the current wheels and size; should winters be exactly the same?



Any thoughts or advice?

How about a set of Michelin Cross Climates - snowflake marked - at the same size on your alloys, then you wouldn't need to swap them back again for the Summer.

That's not a bad idea, and I may do it. This set of tyres is new though, and I wondered whether new wheels with winters would make sense as a supplementary to these?

Prinny said:

If you can handle a bit of Deutsch, buy a set there while out in Lux? As all* the cars there will swap over for winter running anyway, they’re geared up for it. Tyre places will source you a set (or ebay.de), and store your summer wheels for a nominal fee (or bring them back in the car). Likely to be much better availability of tyres too as the market demands them.

... I would search for a 2nd set of alloys on ebay/gumtree/lexus breaker, and take them over to the continent if it were me, exact same size. With a 55 section tyre, you’re unlikely to bash wheels on a kerb unless things really go wrong, so I wouldn’t try to search for steel rims too hard, and then getting the tyres over there.

That is the rather obvious solution, it's just that everything is so very expensive out there (except fags, booze and fuel funnily enough) that it really is a rather crippling way of doing it.

I thought there might be a cheap way of doing it which saw me buying wheels with winters fitted and then all I have to do is swap the wheels over.

[tobinen]

SimonTheSailor said:

How about a bit of brown with er.........brown.

https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1028595

Edited by SimonTheSailor on Saturday 25th August 18:43

Lovely. Bit of a bargain I think

[Lowtimer]

Prinny said:

• sensible stuff about a second set of wheels and tyres*

Alternatively, if all you need is some reasonable mobility rather than an intention to drive the wrong way up the Cresta Run, and a snowflake marking to keep you legal, put it on a set of Michelin Crossclimates, which are winter-legal, pretty good in the snow, and also fine at 150 mph on a summer motorway in 32 degree heat. Mine have been absolutely excellent on my E39 since I bought them about 18 months ago, in all conditions.

[W00DY]

tobinen said:

SimonTheSailor said:

How about a bit of brown with er.........brown.

https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1028595

Edited by SimonTheSailor on Saturday 25th August 18:43

Lovely. Bit of a bargain I think

Fabulous colours. I remember seeing it on Autoste I think.

[Prinny]

Lowtimer said:

Prinny said:

• sensible stuff about a second set of wheels and tyres*

Alternatively, if all you need is some reasonable mobility rather than an intention to drive the wrong way up the Cresta Run, and a snowflake marking to keep you legal, put it on a set of Michelin Crossclimates, which are winter-legal, pretty good in the snow, and also fine at 150 mph on a summer motorway in 32 degree heat. Mine have been absolutely excellent on my E39 since I bought them about 18 months ago, in all conditions.

A good point too. When I had the v70, I put cross-climates on that, as they’d just come out, and the car was cheap, and has zero sporting pretenions, so I thought they’d be the perfect compromise. They wear well (30k+ on a v70!) and have what feels like 90% of the best summer traction, plus 90% of the best winter traction too. They’re genuinely the best all-rounder tyre I know of. As a one set suits all deal, the buy-in is dear when compared to the thread budget - it’ll be around £800 fitted in 225/55/17 - but it’s quite possibly the easiest overall solution.

[Bonefish Blues]

That's very expensive though, when good quality full winters are available for less than half the cost.

[JamesRR]

As an point of strange interest, was there ever an E39 520d? I don’t ever think I’ve seen one, if there was.
I’m not going to do anything mad like buy one if there is, I just would like to know.

[Easternlight]

olly755 said:

slk 32 said:

My recent knackered wheel bearing experience was a constant drone, braking didn't make it worse

A constant annoying drone from the passenger side usually means the missus is in the car with me.

Have a

[Stegel]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

That is the rather obvious solution, it's just that everything is so very expensive out there (except fags, booze and fuel funnily enough) that it really is a rather crippling way of doing it.

I thought there might be a cheap way of doing it which saw me buying wheels with winters fitted and then all I have to do is swap the wheels over.

My first foray into winter tyres was a set of 17” wheels and winter tyres from German eBay for our S211 - they cost less than a set of new tyres. They lasted 3 years, and it now spends winter on Michelin Alpins - as said, first class tyres that endow it with snow and ice ability around town almost on a par with the GL on winters. The GL alloys and winter tyres, 20” with 6.5mm tread, cost less than I could buy new tyres for, again via German eBay.

It’s probably only cost effective having another set of wheels if you plan on keeping the car for several years, but certainly it makes the autumn and spring swap over pretty easy.

[Krikkit]

Bonefish Blues said:

That's very expensive though, when good quality full winters are available for less than half the cost.

Cross Climates are relatively expensive, but not twice a set of decent winters imho.

They also have the added benefit of being the only tyres needed winter and summer, so save about 80 quid a year in tyre fitter fees swapping them if you only have one set of wheels.

[slk 32]

Easternlight said:

olly755 said:

slk 32 said:

My recent knackered wheel bearing experience was a constant drone, braking didn't make it worse

A constant annoying drone from the passenger side usually means the missus is in the car with me.

Have a

Regrettably the wheel bearing was cheaper (and easier) to replace than the missus

[SpeckledJim]

W00DY said:

tobinen said:

SimonTheSailor said:

How about a bit of brown with er.........brown.

https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1028595

Edited by SimonTheSailor on Saturday 25th August 18:43

Lovely. Bit of a bargain I think

Fabulous colours. I remember seeing it on Autoste I think.

Fantastic. Utterly fantastic. Someone pleeeeeeease buy it.

Today every third Qashqai is brown but speccing that thatly in 1996 was a true hero move.

[ShyTallKnight]

TVR Sagaris said:

0a said:

I have been looking at these recently: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Any thoughts?

No helpful comments but I have also been looking at these a lot lately (and have admired that exact car on AutoTrader).

The thing that always comes up in discussion is the dreaded timing chain rattle which, depending on the severity, usually means the tensioners need replacing. That is a big, expensive job.

Otherwise I have an idealistic view that it is - in comparison to the other S4s, especially the B5 - surely all fairly uncomplicated: just a big, naturally aspirated V8 with proper 4WD and a manual gearbox. I suspect that is a naive view and there are some real horror stories from owners of the S6s from the same period.

Then again, it's a relatively modern super estate for under £6k. What more could you want?

Aren't the manuals meant to be a bit low geared which makes them a bit of a nightmare on the motorway.... Sure I read it somewhere as was looking at getting one back in the day.

[Lowtimer]

JamesRR said:

As an point of strange interest, was there ever an E39 520d? I don’t ever think I’ve seen one, if there was.
I’m not going to do anything mad like buy one if there is, I just would like to know.

answered about five posts above yours

Lowtimer said:

And there was a four-pot 520D, but it was not imported into the UK.

[JamesRR]

Aha! Missed that. Cheers

[bmthnick1981]

Afternoon bargists, long time no post for me, busy with work, house kids etc. Anyway e39 m5 about to go and I’m thinking an e320 cdi Estate to replace it until I have a bit more cash for something quicker in a years time.

I think I’m right in saying the w211 was from 2006 and that sorted most of the problems sbc etc? Anything else to look for? Most have monster mileage but I guess that’s nothing to be put off by if the condition and servicing look good ?

Thanks

[mholt1995]

ShyTallKnight said:

Aren't the manuals meant to be a bit low geared which makes them a bit of a nightmare on the motorway.... Sure I read it somewhere as was looking at getting one back in the day.

Looks alright to me, but on a 6 speed I prefer a value closer to 30mph/1000rpm

Edited by mholt1995 on Sunday 26th August 13:05

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Prinny said:

Lowtimer said:

Prinny said:

• sensible stuff about a second set of wheels and tyres*

Alternatively, if all you need is some reasonable mobility rather than an intention to drive the wrong way up the Cresta Run, and a snowflake marking to keep you legal, put it on a set of Michelin Crossclimates, which are winter-legal, pretty good in the snow, and also fine at 150 mph on a summer motorway in 32 degree heat. Mine have been absolutely excellent on my E39 since I bought them about 18 months ago, in all conditions.

A good point too. When I had the v70, I put cross-climates on that, as they’d just come out, and the car was cheap, and has zero sporting pretenions, so I thought they’d be the perfect compromise. They wear well (30k+ on a v70!) and have what feels like 90% of the best summer traction, plus 90% of the best winter traction too. They’re genuinely the best all-rounder tyre I know of. As a one set suits all deal, the buy-in is dear when compared to the thread budget - it’ll be around £800 fitted in 225/55/17 - but it’s quite possibly the easiest overall solution.

Around £125, inc VAT delivered here (UK), plus Lux fitting. Doesn't seem too bad. Do they definitely have the snowflake marking?

[EarlOfHazard]

bmthnick1981 said:

Afternoon bargists, long time no post for me, busy with work, house kids etc. Anyway e39 m5 about to go and I’m thinking an e320 cdi Estate to replace it until I have a bit more cash for something quicker in a years time.

I think I’m right in saying the w211 was from 2006 and that sorted most of the problems sbc etc? Anything else to look for? Most have monster mileage but I guess that’s nothing to be put off by if the condition and servicing look good ?

Thanks

06 onwards did away with SBC and went to normal servo. There were several thousand updates to the 2nd facelift w211, especially to the electronics. This means that they're pretty damn reliable and the car that they alwsys should have been.
I have an E350 petrol so can't comment on the diesel, but I think the 320cdi unit is pretty hardy (although the early straight 6 is better) and good for moon miles.