Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 20]

[McGee_22]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Totally off topic but I've just discovered that you can no longer buy a V12 BMW. Mercedes have dropped theirs (Maybach, aside) too.

I feel sad

I had heard when it was introduced that the M760Li was the V12 swansong - and that's reason enough to want one to sit alongside the E38 V12 I will probably keep a while yet...

[0a]

I so love a good e38 like that. Fantastic. I should really buy one soon.

[McGee_22]

Although many will enthuse about finding a short wheelbase E38 V12 I think it entirely misses the point of a large limousine - the extra wheelbase barely affects the weight or the handling whilst giving you all the space and toys you will ever want. I specifically held out for the LWB Alpina once I knew it 'might' be available and I couldn't be more happy with it. Rear heated and reclining seats, vhs (now dvd) player and screen, tables, mood lights, rear armrest of joy, '90's corded phone, extra leg room and now also a fridge/coolbox I fitted make it the perfect long distance family car.

The low point in E38 prices was about 5 years ago so now you'll pay 10 to 20 for a really, really good V12 which is getting close to where the 760Li twin-turbo V12 cars are now getting so it's 6 and two threes... ...literally

[Macron]

McGee_22 said:

I had heard when it was introduced that the M760Li was the V12 swansong - and that's reason enough to want one to sit alongside the E38 V12 I will probably keep a while yet...

Spectacular. An incredibly high point for BMW. I'd keep that forever

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

McGee_22 said:

Although many will enthuse about finding a short wheelbase E38 V12 I think it entirely misses the point of a large limousine - the extra wheelbase barely affects the weight or the handling whilst giving you all the space and toys you will ever want. I specifically held out for the LWB Alpina once I knew it 'might' be available and I couldn't be more happy with it. Rear heated and reclining seats, vhs (now dvd) player and screen, tables, mood lights, rear armrest of joy, '90's corded phone, extra leg room and now also a fridge/coolbox I fitted make it the perfect long distance family car.

The low point in E38 prices was about 5 years ago so now you'll pay 10 to 20 for a really, really good V12 which is getting close to where the 760Li twin-turbo V12 cars are now getting so it's 6 and two threes... ...literally

They are really pricey now. I get what you mean RE LWB cars, but I guess it comes down to how often you use the car, how often you take rear passengers, and how you find parking it where you drive. Despite being the same length as my SWB E65, the LS460 has a fair bit more rear leg room, but less boot space.

I'd love a V12 but I don't think it'll ever happen sadly, it is a shame. I'm clueless as to what I'd replace my current car with though, when the time eventually comes.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Macron said:

McGee_22 said:

I had heard when it was introduced that the M760Li was the V12 swansong - and that's reason enough to want one to sit alongside the E38 V12 I will probably keep a while yet...

Spectacular. An incredibly high point for BMW. I'd keep that forever

I'm going to go on a limb here and say I prefer the later facelifted cars which have the "curved" lights instead of the rectangular ones. That aside, yep.

[Emeye]

I ain’t got a V12, it isn’t on the bucket list for reasons unknown, but I agree with the length thing. Even with a very limited centre console of dreams and a lack of reclining rear seat, the length and comfort of my LS430 is great if a little disconcerting when parking in your average supermarket spot. It is always easy to spot where I parked thanks to the boot sticking out, though I am surprised no one has driven into it.

Only my Caravelle has more leg space for the kids, but they always get excited when they get to go out in the old man mobile. It’s an event. Your average modern car is a minimal attempt to get you around without a headache. A gullible public that no longer has to do a proper hard day’s work believe the brand marketing that makes an Audi A3 five grand more than a Golf or £8k over a Skoda- marketing is the new religion. Real traditional luxury is understated, modern luxury is sold.

What is modern real luxury? The latest Range Rover advert, all 17 mins of it, gave me a headache. Superlative bingo and pretentious wkiness overkill.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Poetry Emeye. Amen.

[McGee_22]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

I'm going to go on a limb here and say I prefer the later facelifted cars which have the "curved" lights instead of the rectangular ones. That aside, yep.

Horses for courses - I actually prefer the straight cut pre-facelift lights, and the lenses are proper glass instead of plastic. The facelift cars do have a price for the lights you like though - the sills have colour coded sill covers instead of the matt black of the pre-facelift cars - on lighter or bolder coloured cars this unfortunately gives the impression of a heavy, fatter car through its midriff.

Whichever anyone choses though -always check the E38 achilles heel - the fuel tank; they are steel top and bottom split and saddle-bagged tanks that were coated with a kind of plasticote covering. This gets chipped but stays intact and allows moisture to wick along underneath it rusting merrily away as it goes - and it also rusts at the filler neck, the top and bottom seam, and the various breather and balance pipes - even at todays high prices I would always offer to fill a prospective tank before purchase as if it leaks you can negotiate a substantial discount, or the owner will ask you not to as they already know it leaks.

Edit to address the parking thing: The lwb car is no great problem to park - an L7 would be as that is another 25cm again - the 'larger' issue with E38's compared to the E32 before it and other cars of that period is the width of them - they are big.

Edited by McGee_22 on Thursday 28th October 21:51

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Emeye said:

I ain’t got a V12, it isn’t on the bucket list for reasons unknown, but I agree with the length thing. Even with a very limited centre console of dreams and a lack of reclining rear seat, the length and comfort of my LS430 is great if a little disconcerting when parking in your average supermarket spot. It is always easy to spot where I parked thanks to the boot sticking out, though I am surprised no one has driven into it.

Only my Caravelle has more leg space for the kids, but they always get excited when they get to go out in the old man mobile. It’s an event. Your average modern car is a minimal attempt to get you around without a headache. A gullible public that no longer has to do a proper hard day’s work believe the brand marketing that makes an Audi A3 five grand more than a Golf or £8k over a Skoda- marketing is the new religion. Real traditional luxury is understated, modern luxury is sold.

What is modern real luxury? The latest Range Rover advert, all 17 mins of it, gave me a headache. Superlative bingo and pretentious wkiness overkill.

I think the company that still make a truly luxury car is Rolls Royce. Having said that, and whilst I agree with the above, one can still have a car that has all the tech etc like the new Range Rover, but still be luxurious (spacious, quiet/refined, ample performance, comfortable). I suspect a new S Class is a wonderful way to travel, but I do think the interior is a bit chintzy. New Rolls Royce Ghost interior is absolutely divine though. Bit out of my price range, mind!

[dscam]

Chaps, some great and thought provoking posts at the start of this new volume. I can only add to the positive comments about how satisfying it is to be part of a ‘community’ where people are comfortable to wear their heart on their sleeve and help break down some of the usual male denial/taboo about mental health. We are all relatively accepting of fragility of the physical aspects of our bodies and so it should be with our mind.

Yes, even if you are a typical PH powerfully-built director…

Thank you to those that have shared so candidly.

Looking forward to incoming pics and details from alec.e.

Always great to see your E38 McGee. I think the M760 is a suitable bookend to the BMW V12 era but I’ve got my eye on an M550i a few years down the line…

It’s Friday-eve so let’s see what eclectic nonsense we can Wade through this weekend!

[Scooobydont]

Nice looking 4.2 v8 S4, only a few owners, low mileage(ish) with the belts done

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...





ETA: Just checked the MOT history, maybe not.

Edited by Scooobydont on Thursday 28th October 22:17

[r129sl]

Macron said:

McGee_22 said:

I had heard when it was introduced that the M760Li was the V12 swansong - and that's reason enough to want one to sit alongside the E38 V12 I will probably keep a while yet...

Spectacular. An incredibly high point for BMW. I'd keep that forever

I concur.

My debut in this thread was a rather poncey peroration about the E32 Alpina B12. I cannot help but regard that E38 as the epitome of my kind of car. I hope you get to drive it properly, by which I mean over distances of many hundreds of miles at three-figure speeds.

For me, luxury in a car is supreme fitness for purpose. No modern car is fit for purpose in the way that the Germans found on the high-water mark surely were, 201, 124, 126, 129; E38, E39; A6, A8.

[r129sl]

0a said:

plasticpig said:

0a said:

Thanks! Gives me hope!

The Man suggested that the diffs are the same between 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder autos, but different for manual. Can anyone confirm?

Also if you get a breakers one, how do you know if it’s any good?!

You could always get the existing differential rebuilt.

I have just put some enquiries on just this topic to some transmission specialists!

Surely must be possible for the right £££.

It's a lovely car apart from this and the distributer.

Here's the video the New Man sent me (great service so far): https://streamable.com/z3d5md (yet to work out how to embed videos here!).

Diffs are not the same as between 4- and 6-cyl cars so far as I can see. They have different ratios. So far as I can tell, a 190 E 2.6 auto has a 1:3.07 rear end. Beware also that manual transmission cars have different ratios.

It will be cheaper to get a diff from a scrapper than to have it rebuilt. I would try Mercman.

[0a]

r129sl said:

Diffs are not the same as between 4- and 6-cyl cars so far as I can see. They have different ratios. So far as I can tell, a 190 E 2.6 auto has a 1:3.07 rear end. Beware also that manual transmission cars have different ratios.

It will be cheaper to get a diff from a scrapper than to have it rebuilt. I would try Mercman.

Damn!

Great tip thanks, I have dropped them an email.

[bolidemichael]

r129sl said:

Macron said:

McGee_22 said:

I had heard when it was introduced that the M760Li was the V12 swansong - and that's reason enough to want one to sit alongside the E38 V12 I will probably keep a while yet...

Spectacular. An incredibly high point for BMW. I'd keep that forever

I concur.

My debut in this thread was a rather poncey peroration about the E32 Alpina B12. I cannot help but regard that E38 as the epitome of my kind of car. I hope you get to drive it properly, by which I mean over distances of many hundreds of miles at three-figure speeds.

For me, luxury in a car is supreme fitness for purpose. No modern car is fit for purpose in the way that the Germans found on the high-water mark surely were, 201, 124, 126, 129; E38, E39; A6, A8.

I really like McGee's V12. Those photos are so inviting and I think to myself, using my best 'Wayne's World' voice -- "You will be mine, oh yes, you will be mine".

[ian316]

So someone in Italy restyled an e-type and came up with this!!!

[ian316]

[ian316]

They've basically done this

[steve_naive]

Scooobydont said:

Nice looking 4.2 v8 S4, only a few owners, low mileage(ish) with the belts done

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...





ETA: Just checked the MOT history, maybe not.

Edited by Scooobydont on Thursday 28th October 22:17

I put the details into the GOV site and the plate wasn't recognised. Weird.

One near me too. Looks nice, non standard alloys though.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/audi/audi-s4-quattro-con...