Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[Stegel]

tobinen said:

Zonergem said:

They don't make them like this any more (nor do they make the wiring looms, M120 radiator fans or throttle bodies)...

Edited by Zonergem on Thursday 14th September 07:30

That's poor form from MB. OK, not their highest production unit but these should still be serviced IMO.

I replaced the loom on my cabrio's M104 with a genuine MB loom which, depending on spec and rumour, may no longer be available. I had the same engine's throttle body rewired by Tony Leach, and if I had to do the loom again I'd probably have it rebuilt by him or one of the others offering this service such as Silek. I agree it's not great from MB, but generally their parts availability is far superior to other manufacturers - the parts available for 126s for example astonish me 25 years after the last one rolled off the line.

[tobinen]

Doesn't their MB Classic department claim to service most things for the oldies? At a price, natürlich

[Krikkit]

There comes a point where buying NOS is so eye-wateringly expensive as the manufacturers push up the prices (as noted, to reserve parts for the classiche-type service), you're better off getting a decent part made from new where possible.

Wiring looms are a great case in point - remove the old loom and ask a decent loom-runner to copy it, job jobbed for a significant amount less than the OEM will want for a NOS loom which won't necessarily be in perfect order having been stored for 10+ years.

[mccrackenj]

Krikkit said:

There comes a point where buying NOS is so eye-wateringly expensive as the manufacturers push up the prices (as noted, to reserve parts for the classiche-type service), you're better off getting a decent part made from new where possible.

Wiring looms are a great case in point - remove the old loom and ask a decent loom-runner to copy it, job jobbed for a significant amount less than the OEM will want for a NOS loom which won't necessarily be in perfect order having been stored for 10+ years.

Fair point.

Looms or repair sections for the M104s used to be quoted as £500ish. I was quoted £1800+ for mine by MB. Part only.

Got a new one built and fitted locally for 1/2 that (still expensive mind). It only took him 15 months!

[Zonergem]

Best example is probably when MB declared the 500E as a classic a few years back and passed responsibility for parts to the Classic Centre. Wings (which are flared at the wheel arch much more than standard) immediately doubled in price, to circa 900.

The real way to invest in a classic Mercedes would be to buy a job lot of OEM wings while they're still on the shelves. I don't think MB have ever dropped the price on older parts over time.

[MorganP104]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

skwdenyer said:

SpeckledJim said:

bristolracer said:

Right who around here has some Cojones?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C864302

I mean what could possibly go wrong?

Wouldn't be scared at all at that price.

It'll break for a half the asking, I expect. Certainly the miles wouldn't put me off.

That does seem a lot of car for the money. If the private plate is worth anything at all, that just adds a little extra value.

I do miss my XJ40. Whilst the XK8s are a little portly-looking, I suspect they're still a nice way to get around?

Cheap and likeable, except for the awful colour.

I quite like a Jag in green... Just me, then?

An XK8 for less than two bags (in fact, haggling distance from one and a half bags) is a tempting prospect indeed! As has been mentioned, the big miles aren't particularly off-putting, as long as the service book is as full of stamps as the seller claims, and it drives as it should.

If only I needed a big V8 coupe in my life *sighs*.

[r129sl]

Out of budget but we haven't looked at the Maison de Palmier's offerings for a while. Not only does he have a completely spifferoo 124 coupé, but the house across the street is nearly finished:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-E320-COUPE...

[JZZ30]

MorganP104 said:

If only I needed a big V8 coupe in my life *sighs*.

Are you trying to say you don't need a big V8 coupe in your life?

[MorganP104]

"Ambassador, with this lack of B-pillar, you are really spoiling us."

Always liked these, though I've never been able to justify a large coupe (wife, 2 kids, lots of UK holidays where I drive).

Maybe in my retirement, when the kids have cleared off, and I only have to worry about two weekend bags.

[MorganP104]

JZZ30 said:

MorganP104 said:

If only I needed a big V8 coupe in my life *sighs*.

Are you trying to say you don't need a big V8 coupe in your life?

Difference between want and need, old chap.

Do I need a big V8 coupe in my life? No.

Do I want a big V8 coupe in my life? Of course I do!

Family circumstances dictate that I tool around in large 4/5 door cars (as a committed bargista, that's fine with me!), and my V8 itch is currently being scratched by a 4.4 V8 Rangie.

As per my post above about La Maison du Palme's latest E-Class coupe, maybe I'll go for a big coupe when I'm retired. There's a certain "rightness" in seeing a gentleman in his sixties tooling about in an old XK8.

[Krikkit]

Unfortunately too many XK8s have fallen into undesirable hands - I was behind one yesterday with a horrid plate (M12TMS I think) which was deliberately mis-spaced to look like "MR TMS", driven erratically at 45-65 mph on a perfectly good A-road, and deliberately racing anyone who dared to overtake.

r129sl said:

Out of budget but we haven't looked at the Maison de Palmier's offerings for a while. Not only does he have a completely spifferoo 124 coupé, but the house across the street is nearly finished:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-E320-COUPE...

That is absolutely smashing, although shouldn't it have a bonnet-star?


On unrelated chatter, the 211 continues to worm its way into my affections. I know it's not as well engineered as a 124, but it is a remarkably refined and cleverly-built car. As a Merc-novice I'm quite enjoying the Mr Burns effect whenever a pedestrian wanders into the road in front of you.

The interior is rather lovely, and aside from a rattly rear passenger ashtray everything is totally silent and rattle-free, making it a very quiet and comfortable way to while away the miles. Last tank of mixed use was 39mpg, so very respectable, and having a 600+ mile range is very useful indeed.

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 14th September 10:59

[Mark-C]

MorganP104 said:

There's a certain "rightness" in seeing a gentleman in his sixties fifties tooling about in an old XK8 XJS.

Fixed that to match my use case but then I had my kids young

[JZZ30]

MorganP104 said:

JZZ30 said:

MorganP104 said:

If only I needed a big V8 coupe in my life *sighs*.

Are you trying to say you don't need a big V8 coupe in your life?

Difference between want and need, old chap.

Do I need a big V8 coupe in my life? No.

Do I want a big V8 coupe in my life? Of course I do!

Family circumstances dictate that I tool around in large 4/5 door cars (as a committed bargista, that's fine with me!), and my V8 itch is currently being scratched by a 4.4 V8 Rangie.

As per my post above about La Maison du Palme's latest E-Class coupe, maybe I'll go for a big coupe when I'm retired. There's a certain "rightness" in seeing a gentleman in his sixties tooling about in an old XK8.

We'll need to agree to differ then. Everybody needs a V8 coupe

Practicality? That's what fleets are for, no?

[SpeckledJim]

Mark-C said:

MorganP104 said:

There's a certain "rightness" in seeing a gentleman in his sixties fifties tooling about in an old XK8 XJS.

Fixed that to match my use case but then I had my kids young

There's a certain "rightness" in seeing a gentleman in his sixties fifties thirties tooling about in an old XK8 XJS.

The salt and pepper is deceiving, and entirely the fault of the children.

[bristolracer]

MorganP104 said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

skwdenyer said:

SpeckledJim said:

bristolracer said:

Right who around here has some Cojones?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C864302

I mean what could possibly go wrong?

Wouldn't be scared at all at that price.

It'll break for a half the asking, I expect. Certainly the miles wouldn't put me off.

That does seem a lot of car for the money. If the private plate is worth anything at all, that just adds a little extra value.

I do miss my XJ40. Whilst the XK8s are a little portly-looking, I suspect they're still a nice way to get around?

Cheap and likeable, except for the awful colour.

I quite like a Jag in green... Just me, then?

An XK8 for less than two bags (in fact, haggling distance from one and a half bags) is a tempting prospect indeed! As has been mentioned, the big miles aren't particularly off-putting, as long as the service book is as full of stamps as the seller claims, and it drives as it should.

If only I needed a big V8 coupe in my life *sighs*.

Im thinking i will run my S type for another year or two and then start looking for one of these. That will do me then,it will be a keeper, modern stuff has no interest for me

[r129sl]

MorganP104 said:

Always liked these, though I've never been able to justify a large coupe (wife, 2 kids, lots of UK holidays where I drive).

What better car for the purpose?

[tobinen]

r129sl said:

Out of budget but we haven't looked at the Maison de Palmier's offerings for a while. Not only does he have a completely spifferoo 124 coupé, but the house across the street is nearly finished:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-E320-COUPE...

That does indeed look very good

[Mark-C]

SpeckledJim said:

There's a certain "rightness" in seeing a gentleman in his sixties fifties thirties tooling about in an old XK8 XJS.

The salt and pepper is deceiving, and entirely the fault of the children.

Good Work

[Zonergem]

r129sl said:

the house across the street is nearly finished

What a job they've made of removing the decorative features which tied it in the street scene and replacing it with bland and charmless modernity. Powder-coated aluminium window frames = 20" low-profile run-flat tyres on an Audi.

What cars will the new occupants park out front? His 'n' hers Range Rovers?

[Bonefish Blues]

Zonergem said:

What cars will the new occupants park out front? His 'n' hers Range Rover Sports?

EFA