Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[MorganP104]

Jimmy Recard said:

MorganP104 said:

Love those interior pics. They scream "We had the bloody thing to bits looking for the problem, couldn't find it, and gave up."

The only person I would recommend that car to would be a fully qualified Porsche Master Technician (with an easygoing boss, and full access to all the fancy Porsche diagnostic kit), and even then, would advise him to hand over no more than £2k for it!

That sounds generous! I'd call it a scrap car now. Bringing that back to being nice would be far too expensive and take far too much time to make it worth more than that

Fair comment.

If it could be had for (revised) PH shed money, that would be a bit of a coup.

[0a]

MorganP104 said:

Jimmy Recard said:

MorganP104 said:

Love those interior pics. They scream "We had the bloody thing to bits looking for the problem, couldn't find it, and gave up."

The only person I would recommend that car to would be a fully qualified Porsche Master Technician (with an easygoing boss, and full access to all the fancy Porsche diagnostic kit), and even then, would advise him to hand over no more than £2k for it!

That sounds generous! I'd call it a scrap car now. Bringing that back to being nice would be far too expensive and take far too much time to make it worth more than that

Fair comment.

If it could be had for (revised) PH shed money, that would be a bit of a coup.

Seems far too much money... have to pay someone to take it away!

[Krikkit]

Someone'll buy that to break it for spares, I suspect the horrendous electrickery issue is going to be an impossibly complex fix.

[Captaincheese]

Gentlemen,

What is the conventional wisdom on the reliability of the E34 BMW? I am being increasing drawn to these and their values seem to be creeping up for good ones. What is the best model to seek out? They are good looking things (to my eye) and wondered how viable one would be for a 15,000 mile per annum daily smoker?

Found this and thought it might fit the bill:



https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/classic-bmw-525-i-se...

What thoughts from the brains trust?

[Parisien]

Looks the part, looks well looked after, but suspect top dollar price, definition of "outstanding?"

Plus a wee bit far away!

P

[AmosMoses]

My friend has a 520, they are getting on now so rust is the main killer. Fuel lines can also be an issue but not that costly to fix.

Look after it and I don't think it would cost you that much to run!

[keeling54]

Not sure if this has been posted before but its well wthin budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332380754828

I found it in the MB forum classifieds.

[Parisien]

keeling54 said:

Not sure if this has been posted before but its well wthin budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332380754828

I found it in the MB forum classifieds.

Loved this bit.........."Low Tax £21"..........

......but thats per month and probably the least of your worries considering this prestige model!


P

[iSore]

keeling54 said:

Not sure if this has been posted before but its well wthin budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332380754828

I found it in the MB forum classifieds.

JESUS, NO!!!

Rarely have so many electrical and mechanical problems been crammed into one car. They were so lovely when new, now they're junk waiting to bury some poor sod in a paper mache coffin made from invoices. I think they even make an E65 BMW look like a really good idea.

[iSore]

Captaincheese said:

Gentlemen,

What is the conventional wisdom on the reliability of the E34 BMW? I am being increasing drawn to these and their values seem to be creeping up for good ones. What is the best model to seek out? They are good looking things (to my eye) and wondered how viable one would be for a 15,000 mile per annum daily smoker?

Found this and thought it might fit the bill:



https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/classic-bmw-525-i-se...

What thoughts from the brains trust?

They were great, but the amazing build quality won't prevent it from rusting and going wrong after 25 years although with 79'000 miles it should still be fighting fit. Plenty of Waxoyl and regular servicing (DIY - sod paying someone else) would probably keep it good and don't worry about doubling the mileage in 5 years. They're on the cusp of classicdom but will never be a 300SL.

A good one does drive remarkably well and they have a superb ride. £2500 is a bit salty but if you can get 5 years and 75'000 miles from it, it's cheap.

[TobyLerone]

So, not content with one, potentially ruinous car, I'm looking at a Range Rover Classic to bolster my fleet.

What could possibly go wrong?!

I can't imagine manual conversations are difficult, if the autobox is too much of a dhead?

Currently £620, but probably go for 5x that. What you think?

Also, for the avoidance of doubt and maximum UN-reliabilty (think character) I'm shooting for sub £1k...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/322750370780

[Captaincheese]

iSore said:

Captaincheese said:

Gentlemen,

What is the conventional wisdom on the reliability of the E34 BMW? I am being increasing drawn to these and their values seem to be creeping up for good ones. What is the best model to seek out? They are good looking things (to my eye) and wondered how viable one would be for a 15,000 mile per annum daily smoker?

Found this and thought it might fit the bill:



https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/classic-bmw-525-i-se...

What thoughts from the brains trust?

They were great, but the amazing build quality won't prevent it from rusting and going wrong after 25 years although with 79'000 miles it should still be fighting fit. Plenty of Waxoyl and regular servicing (DIY - sod paying someone else) would probably keep it good and don't worry about doubling the mileage in 5 years. They're on the cusp of classicdom but will never be a 300SL.

A good one does drive remarkably well and they have a superb ride. £2500 is a bit salty but if you can get 5 years and 75'000 miles from it, it's cheap.

Thank you - now giving it some serious thought.

[Happy Jim]

iSore said:

keeling54 said:

Not sure if this has been posted before but its well wthin budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332380754828

I found it in the MB forum classifieds.

JESUS, NO!!!

Rarely have so many electrical and mechanical problems been crammed into one car. They were so lovely when new, now they're junk waiting to bury some poor sod in a paper mache coffin made from invoices. I think they even make an E65 BMW look like a really good idea.

If you can turn a spanner yourself they're easy to work on. I've run an S350 W220 for the past 2 years, superb wafty car in every way!

Jim

[0a]

After watching some old BMW videos on Youtube (e28 and e23), I think I need some old BMW straight 6 in the collection.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

0a said:

After watching some old BMW videos on Youtube (e28 and e23), I think I need some old BMW Mercedes straight 6 in the collection.

You could be in luck old chap, I've just dropped the price of my 320 CE.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Still out of thread budget but it will make you look cooler than anyone could ever imagine possible. Apparently.

[0a]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

0a said:

After watching some old BMW videos on Youtube (e28 and e23), I think I need some old BMW Mercedes straight 6 in the collection.

You could be in luck old chap, I've just dropped the price of my 320 CE.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Still out of thread budget but it will make you look cooler than anyone could ever imagine possible. Apparently.

I already have 3 straight 6 mercs!

How about this: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C895544

The added benefit of a proper roadtrip!

[Jimmy Recard]

R129 SL people - do you know if you can still get amber indicator lenses from Mercedes? If not, can you recommend another supplier?

My pal has clear lenses on his K-reg car and wants amber ones

[0a]

Jimmy Recard said:

R129 SL people - do you know if you can still get amber indicator lenses from Mercedes? If not, can you recommend another supplier?

My pal has clear lenses on his K-reg car and wants amber ones

Mine were OEM ones found on eBay (possibly German eBay). If I remember correctly they were about £180, and well worth it!

[Jimmy Recard]

Thanks 0a, his car is very similar to yours and those indicators are the only thing letting it down.

I mean it looks similar, but it's a 300SL 24 valve with the five speed auto. He has given me first refusal

[0a]

Under minimum thread budget for the 2.6, these Audis are really cheap. Could make a nice cheap convertible smoker. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...