Best Smoker Barges - 1 - 5 Large [Vol 3]

[Apache]

GavGav said:

Well, I've sold my diesel and I'm keen to replace it with a Barge. I've been considering E39's for a while, and have found this - 540i Auto with 103k. Auction is ending soon, any thoughts from the collective?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110871335773?ssPageName=...

JFDI, you'll spend that in fuel within 3 months

[GavGav]

Apache said:

JFDI, you'll spend that in fuel within 3 months

I get the train to work now, so it will be weekend use only. Am probably going to cover no more than 500 miles a month, so fuel consumption not a major issue.

[sjc]

Not contributed to this thread for quite some time, but if my thread inspired 75 wasn't serving me so well after 2 years I'd go and but this tomorrow.
5 and a half bloody grand...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3859708.htm

[Strawman]

GavGav said:

Well, I've sold my diesel and I'm keen to replace it with a Barge. I've been considering E39's for a while, and have found this - 540i Auto with 103k. Auction is ending soon, any thoughts from the collective?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110871335773?ssPageName=...

Worth phoning him to find out if the service history is complete and has receipts, so you can find out what work was done in the last few years, he might tell you what the reserve is as well.

[Zwolf]

jonnydm said:

martynr said:

fourpointsixgt said:

Were they based on the Astra or the Vectra? Don't see many of them around. what was the point of them. I'm guessing Vectra floorpan as there's a 3.0 under the bonnet, Vauxhall trying to do sylish shooting brake. And failed.
I bet that cost a bit new, looks like top of the range.

It was sort of executive hatchback? I am not sure what Vauxhall/Opel were thinking of and miserably failed...And is based on Vectra/GM platform

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phm6fREnK-A

Edited by martynr on Sunday 6th May 01:02

Was meant to replace the Omega - which I understand was highly rated for what it was - but essentially failed.

Possibly to do with the transition from RWD to FWD for their flagship saloon, Carltons, Senators and Omegas all sold well, Signum - I can't recall when last I saw one in the wild. Possibly just that it wasn't more conventionally saloon shaped.

[Zwolf]

Zwolf said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3874417.htm

Nurse!

Perhaps pics will help, now I'm not on the mobile:






£5,245.

Pre-facelift, Avus Blue (rather than the more ubiquitous LMB) with Silverstone and aluminium trim, the grey dials and 2000W make it a mechanical later spec car and cosmetically early, so unless my beard has deserted me it should have the revised VANOS oil pressure accumulator and extra O-ring which allays to some degree the greater perception of bork and heavy oil consumption of the earliest ones.

A year's MoT near enough and reasonable mileage for age. No mention of service history or number of former keepers, so I'd suspect the reason for cheapness lies therein.

[Strawman]

Zwolf said:

Perhaps pics will help, now I'm not on the mobile:

......
A year's MoT near enough and reasonable mileage for age. No mention of service history or number of former keepers, so I'd suspect the reason for cheapness lies therein.

Great VFM but the fear is strong, are there tales of people buying these for this sort of money and running them for a couple of years/20k miles and just paying normal servicing costs plus maybe a couple of tyres?

[bmthnick1981]

Very nice Zwolf - worth finding out the mileage.

sjc said:

Not contributed to this thread for quite some time, but if my thread inspired 75 wasn't serving me so well after 2 years I'd go and but this tomorrow.
5 and a half bloody grand...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3859708.htm

Not sure on the wheels on that. Do like a supercharged Jag tho and these 'newer shape' ones are beginning to look great value.

[bmthnick1981]

Strawman said:

Great VFM but the fear is strong, are there tales of people buying these for this sort of money and running them for a couple of years/20k miles and just paying normal servicing costs plus maybe a couple of tyres?

I'll let you know as my pal bought the Oxford Green mit Caramel Heritage Leather example posted a month or so ago for around that price! I'd buy one at this price, I think its just a case of 1) get it inspected; 2) eyes wide open; and 3) expect the worst! If you go in with that mindset rather than 'this is a cheap fast car' you shouldn't be TOO surprised if/when the bork arrives.

[Zwolf]

bmthnick1981 said:

Strawman said:

Great VFM but the fear is strong, are there tales of people buying these for this sort of money and running them for a couple of years/20k miles and just paying normal servicing costs plus maybe a couple of tyres?

I'll let you know as my pal bought the Oxford Green mit Caramel Heritage Leather example posted a month or so ago for around that price! I'd buy one at this price, I think its just a case of 1) get it inspected; 2) eyes wide open; and 3) expect the worst! If you go in with that mindset rather than 'this is a cheap fast car' you shouldn't be TOO surprised if/when the bork arrives.

Ad says mileage is 113k, which isn't too far into the borkzone and alludes to a regularly used example over 12 years at 10k mpa. My only reservation is over the conspicuously unmentioned service history as condition looks better than average at the price level, the wheels still being their original finish helps.

[sjc]

bmthnick1981 said:

Very nice Zwolf - worth finding out the mileage.

sjc said:

Not contributed to this thread for quite some time, but if my thread inspired 75 wasn't serving me so well after 2 years I'd go and but this tomorrow.
5 and a half bloody grand...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3859708.htm

Not sure on the wheels on that. Do like a supercharged Jag tho and these 'newer shape' ones are beginning to look great value.

It's the SuperV8 as opposed to the XJR, hence the wheels.And on a 5 grand car, the wheels would be the last thing I'd worry about!

[bmthnick1981]

Chaps. 7 Series. Are we witnessing the death of the E32? I have been on Autotrader this morning having a browse and there isn't a single one there that I can see, and I can only spot 1 on the bay of fleas. There are now plenty of seemingly reasonable looking E38's at less than £2k in a variety of engine and wheelbase formats. There are 3 x E65's at less than £4k on AT and the £4995 spot is completely dominated by E65's. It's rare to see an E23 for sale and they certainly seem to have cemented their classic status with prices now rising, will this happen for the E32? If so, when? Answers on a post card.

[jonnydm]

bmthnick1981 said:

Chaps. 7 Series. Are we witnessing the death of the E32? I have been on Autotrader this morning having a browse and there isn't a single one there that I can see, and I can only spot 1 on the bay of fleas. There are now plenty of seemingly reasonable looking E38's at less than £2k in a variety of engine and wheelbase formats. There are 3 x E65's at less than £4k on AT and the £4995 spot is completely dominated by E65's. It's rare to see an E23 for sale and they certainly seem to have cemented their classic status with prices now rising, will this happen for the E32? If so, when? Answers on a post card.

So Len should be able to trade in for an F10 M5 with cash his way in about 6 months?

[E38Ross]

yes, they are becoming very rare now and it's slowly happening to the E34 as well....baring in mind the E34 was obviously far more common to start with. I remember looking for an E34 about 2 years ago and there a consistent 60+ E34's in the classifieds, often more....now there are less than 10.

I feel E32 values will just sit where they are for another 2-3 years yet before they may start rising....but with ever rising fuel costs and even the more "economical" ones having an M30 in, none of them are particularly fuel friendly, which may hurt their values further.

a crying shame because in some ways i prefer that era of 5 and 7 to the E39/E38. sure, the latter ones are technically better but feel the E34/E32 are better built and some how have more charm.

it happens to them all.

[Mustard]

Carandclassic is your friend for quality E32/E34/E28/E24 rather than tired tatt

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C267960#


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C283855


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C281989


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C293981

Edited by Mustard on Sunday 6th May 12:15

[Apache]

has anyone seen that Black Circles ad with the white E34 doing donuts in a multi storey car park?

[bmthnick1981]

Apache said:

has anyone seen that Black Circles ad with the white E34 doing donuts in a multi storey car park?

Yes, makes me want another E34!

[bmthnick1981]

E38Ross said:

yes, they are becoming very rare now and it's slowly happening to the E34 as well....baring in mind the E34 was obviously far more common to start with. I remember looking for an E34 about 2 years ago and there a consistent 60+ E34's in the classifieds, often more....now there are less than 10.

I feel E32 values will just sit where they are for another 2-3 years yet before they may start rising....but with ever rising fuel costs and even the more "economical" ones having an M30 in, none of them are particularly fuel friendly, which may hurt their values further.

a crying shame because in some ways i prefer that era of 5 and 7 to the E39/E38. sure, the latter ones are technically better but feel the E34/E32 are better built and some how have more charm.

it happens to them all.

I guess you are right Ross, just not enough like us who want to keep them on the roads. Shame.

Mustard said:

Carandclassic is your friend for quality E32/E34/E28/E24 rather than tired tatt

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C267960#


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C283855


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C281989


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C293981

Edited by Mustard on Sunday 6th May 12:15

Thanks Mustard, I will have to add Car and Classic to my Sunday morning browsing list! The second one you list seems to have been for sale forever.

[Zwolf]

http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...






184k miles with "FBMWSH".

advert said:

LAST SERVICE was £600 including brakes etc.2 PREVIOUS KEEPERS.ALL PREVIOUS MOT,S,ALL ORIGINAL BMW SERVICE INVOICES WITH SOME SPECIALLIST AT THE END.

Two flexible, top-opening containers of silicone dioxide.

NB: Also marketed at £400 more: http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/....

[treetops]

After much thinking and reading this thread daily...its a superb thread btw, I have decided on a Volvo v70 t5 to replace one of the fleet 850 estate we've had for nigh on 10 years. Circa £2k. Do your worst chaps....need a few pointers on some suggestions. Thanks