Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 10]

[pitchfork]

I've seen those wheels on a few 540's so they are an option (or, more likely, standard).

If that was closer to me, I'd definitely be having a look.

[BigBen]

E65Ross said:

BigBen said:

I am really looking forward to a W221 when they approach thread budget. The W220 feels like a step back in terms of build quality, size and looks from the W140 the W221 feels like a return to form, not quite as solid as the W140 but when inflation is removed it is effectively a cheaper car.

Note: experience of 220 and 221 is from being driven to airports, have driven neither or possibly a 220 at a Mercedes track event but can't recall

Ben

Have never been in a 220 but have been in a 221....was a very nice car indeed. Quiet, comfortable....what you'd like from a car like that. In terms of refinement, to be honest, wouldn't say it's much different to the E65, perhaps marginally better ride quality, but not that much in it from what I remember.

E65 wise I have only been in yours when stationary and driven in one as a rear seat passenger, very veery nice surroundings but ride was too 'sporty' for a barge so less comfortable than even the usual e-classes we use. Undoubtedly a better car to drive but not so good as a limo' IMO.

[0a]

I wonder what "work" this needs "to make it absolutely pristine and fully roadworthy again"? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[Lowtimer]

Krikkit said:

That looks great, not sure if they're standard wheels on the 540, but I see them a lot on the lesser-engined models which is a bonus for this one.

Imagine a V8 having only a single exhaust these days, unthinkable!

Those are standard wheels for a 540i SE, which is what that is. Very good they are too.

I'm quite pleased when I roll out my three cars and count 18 cylinders, 850 hp, 10.5 litres and only three exhaust outlets between them.

[dbdb]

BigBen said:

E65Ross said:

BigBen said:

I am really looking forward to a W221 when they approach thread budget. The W220 feels like a step back in terms of build quality, size and looks from the W140 the W221 feels like a return to form, not quite as solid as the W140 but when inflation is removed it is effectively a cheaper car.

Note: experience of 220 and 221 is from being driven to airports, have driven neither or possibly a 220 at a Mercedes track event but can't recall

Ben

Have never been in a 220 but have been in a 221....was a very nice car indeed. Quiet, comfortable....what you'd like from a car like that. In terms of refinement, to be honest, wouldn't say it's much different to the E65, perhaps marginally better ride quality, but not that much in it from what I remember.

E65 wise I have only been in yours when stationary and driven in one as a rear seat passenger, very veery nice surroundings but ride was too 'sporty' for a barge so less comfortable than even the usual e-classes we use. Undoubtedly a better car to drive but not so good as a limo' IMO.

The E65 is much firmer riding than the W220 in my experience. The E65's suspension setup is really quite sporting.

[r129sl]

0a said:

540 touring 85k miles and £1,695: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C749324#



Owner claims good condition and new tyres.

I really, really like this. The MOT history could be better but at £1,700, who cares? Spend the same again on running gear and you have the potential for a very nice car. Super practical, super discreet, super fast. If I wasn't so attached to my s124, I'd be thinking very seriously about it.

[S3_Graham]

If I hadn't just bought my E34 id be all over that.

Edited by S3_Graham on Sunday 29th May 18:10

[E65Ross]

dbdb said:

BigBen said:

E65Ross said:

BigBen said:

I am really looking forward to a W221 when they approach thread budget. The W220 feels like a step back in terms of build quality, size and looks from the W140 the W221 feels like a return to form, not quite as solid as the W140 but when inflation is removed it is effectively a cheaper car.

Note: experience of 220 and 221 is from being driven to airports, have driven neither or possibly a 220 at a Mercedes track event but can't recall

Ben

Have never been in a 220 but have been in a 221....was a very nice car indeed. Quiet, comfortable....what you'd like from a car like that. In terms of refinement, to be honest, wouldn't say it's much different to the E65, perhaps marginally better ride quality, but not that much in it from what I remember.

E65 wise I have only been in yours when stationary and driven in one as a rear seat passenger, very veery nice surroundings but ride was too 'sporty' for a barge so less comfortable than even the usual e-classes we use. Undoubtedly a better car to drive but not so good as a limo' IMO.

The E65 is much firmer riding than the W220 in my experience. The E65's suspension setup is really quite sporting.

Was that a standard car or a "sport"? I find the ride on mine really quite good. Perhaps it's firm for a barge, but I can't remember the last time I went in another car that rode better....

[dbdb]

E65Ross said:

dbdb said:

BigBen said:

E65Ross said:

BigBen said:

I am really looking forward to a W221 when they approach thread budget. The W220 feels like a step back in terms of build quality, size and looks from the W140 the W221 feels like a return to form, not quite as solid as the W140 but when inflation is removed it is effectively a cheaper car.

Note: experience of 220 and 221 is from being driven to airports, have driven neither or possibly a 220 at a Mercedes track event but can't recall

Ben

Have never been in a 220 but have been in a 221....was a very nice car indeed. Quiet, comfortable....what you'd like from a car like that. In terms of refinement, to be honest, wouldn't say it's much different to the E65, perhaps marginally better ride quality, but not that much in it from what I remember.

E65 wise I have only been in yours when stationary and driven in one as a rear seat passenger, very veery nice surroundings but ride was too 'sporty' for a barge so less comfortable than even the usual e-classes we use. Undoubtedly a better car to drive but not so good as a limo' IMO.

The E65 is much firmer riding than the W220 in my experience. The E65's suspension setup is really quite sporting.

Was that a standard car or a "sport"? I find the ride on mine really quite good. Perhaps it's firm for a barge, but I can't remember the last time I went in another car that rode better....

E66 740iL with a standard suspension and without big wheels. My brother used to have one. These things are relative, but the W220 definitely has a more compliant and smoother ride than the 7 series - but at the expense of being less nimble. My Jaguar XJ40 is also significantly more compliant/smoother than the BMW E66, though it is slower and has a much more old fashioned transmission of course. The Jag has lower road noise than either of them, but MUCH more wind noise.

The E66 my brother had was significantly better made than the W220 S500 he owned before it. The Mercedes was dreadful (though I believe later cars are better) but the BMW was a very reliable car indeed - important as they get older!!

[keo]

Not sure if this is the right thread to post this in.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-BMW-745-AUTO-ONLY-750...

Latley I have had a hankering for a 7 series, I just can't get the man maths to add up though I am currently doing 500+ miles a week. What would it do? 20mpg if I was lucky? For the money I think that is a hell of alot of car.

[wack]

if you got a year out of it without it exploding it'd be £300 a month , about the same as a lease on a cheap nissan , but yes 20mpg,just imagine the 500 mile drive in it though MMMMM

[Croutons]

r129sl said:

0a said:

540 touring 85k miles and £1,695: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C749324#



Owner claims good condition and new tyres.

I really, really like this. The MOT history could be better but at £1,700, who cares? Spend the same again on running gear and you have the potential for a very nice car. Super practical, super discreet, super fast. If I wasn't so attached to my s124, I'd be thinking very seriously about it.

Just out of interest what is the additional £1700 needed for on running gear? Do you mean "attend to all the usual E39 bits"?

[E65Ross]

I tend to average around 25mpg. Doing that many miles I reckon you'd easily match my figures.

[SuperHangOn]

r129sl said:

0a said:

540 touring 85k miles and £1,695: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C749324#



Owner claims good condition and new tyres.

I really, really like this. The MOT history could be better but at £1,700, who cares? Spend the same again on running gear and you have the potential for a very nice car. Super practical, super discreet, super fast. If I wasn't so attached to my s124, I'd be thinking very seriously about it.

Tis a lovely beastie.

MPG is the only downside. My 535i saloon could not better early 20's even on long runs and averaged about 16-18. And that was according to the trip doodah. I expect this is a tad worse. Bit of a bummer on a car so ideal for road trips - *against the spirit of bargain barging my apologies!*

[SuperHangOn]

Croutons said:

Just out of interest what is the additional £1700 needed for on running gear? Do you mean "attend to all the usual E39 bits"?

I spent roughly that tidying up mine, about spot on I would say. Usual cooling refurb, suspension niggles and general maintenance.

[E65Ross]

keo said:

Not sure if this is the right thread to post this in.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-BMW-745-AUTO-ONLY-750...

Latley I have had a hankering for a 7 series, I just can't get the man maths to add up though I am currently doing 500+ miles a week. What would it do? 20mpg if I was lucky? For the money I think that is a hell of alot of car.

There's a very tidy silver one for sale in the classifieds..... It's more expensive, has a lot more miles, but trust me.... It's had enough spent on it and is in good enough conditions warrant the extra cost

[E65Ross]

cat220 said:

E65Ross said:

Perhaps not as powerful as one might like, but the current S class with a 6 pot petrol would surely be in with a shout here? Or are we talking in the 5k range? If so....E65 740i with the straight 6?

The 740i in the e65 remained a v8.

Typo, meant 730i!

[r129sl]

Croutons said:

r129sl said:

0a said:

540 touring 85k miles and £1,695: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C749324#



Owner claims good condition and new tyres.

I really, really like this. The MOT history could be better but at £1,700, who cares? Spend the same again on running gear and you have the potential for a very nice car. Super practical, super discreet, super fast. If I wasn't so attached to my s124, I'd be thinking very seriously about it.

Just out of interest what is the additional £1700 needed for on running gear? Do you mean "attend to all the usual E39 bits"?

Oh, you know, the usual neglected maintenance. Tyres, shocks, brakes, comprehensive service, various suspension arms, links and bushes.

SuperHangOn said:

Tis a lovely beastie.

MPG is the only downside. My 535i saloon could not better early 20's even on long runs and averaged about 16-18. And that was according to the trip doodah. I expect this is a tad worse. Bit of a bummer on a car so ideal for road trips - *against the spirit of bargain barging my apologies!*

Derin suggests 26mpg. There's a classic Pistonheads thread argument about it here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Anyway, I took the 124 out for a run tonight and it remains wonderful. The trouble for me is my fleet is perfect for my needs and I haven't really any room/money for fourth and fifth cars.

[0a]

My observation on v8s is that they are as economical as a 6 when pootling down the motorway, but have the capability to consume large amounts of fuel around town and when pressing on. My first journey in the SL from CDG towers to Edinburgh was done at 26.5mpg. Around town this dips to well under 20. I have not measured it when the car is driven hard as I suspect it would be somewhat depressing.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

0a said:

I have not measured it when the car is driven hard as I suspect it would be somewhat depressing.

The only point of those OBCs that offer 'Instant MPG' figures is to amuse oneself with the tiny figures obtainable when pressing-on; it becomes a challenge to see how low you can go.

I've seen 4 mpg in the Jaguar which is amusing, until you remember that it's your own wallet you're hurting. Still, fun while it lasts.