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I had the misfortune of travelling to the airport this morning, but decided to use the SL - sub zero temps, frost on the car - ideal for a roof free refreshment.
There was a rather loud bang when putting the roof down shortly before this photo was taken - it was the plastic rear windscreen deciding to fragment. Such is life!
Any recommendations for SL soft-top screens that don't explode in sub zero temperatures?
It was a lovely drive, and I intend to keep driving the car in such conditions.
W00DY said:
I want to like these, but they have all of the bad bits of the XJS (terrible rust, atrocious packaging, general shonkyness, astonishing thirst, engine woes) but with almost none of the charm to drive, inhabit, or behold. Apart from the rather beautiful frontal aspect the styling is pure 90s flabby bloat, with really very crap detailing that wouldn't look out of place on a 90s Ford.
What really spoils them for me is that you could really see the traditional quality of the leather and wood go out of the window with these, as with the X308, and it makes them feel a great deal less special. I went to try out a new one in 2004 with my wife at the time, and she observed that with the scruffy old X300s I kept buying you could tell that it was once an expensive car, while the XK8 felt very ordinary indeed.
They are not a bad steer though, like an X308 but with rubbish visibility. I suspect the 5 odd seconds to 60 time would be bettered now on modern rubber, and that colour really flatters it.
Edited by dme123 on Monday 20th November 01:17
Patrick Bateman said:
Run one for a few years then add up the costs.
I've ran V12 Jaguars, V8's, V6's, F6's, I6's, 4/5/6+ cars and motorbikes at any one time. I can't imagine many people have spent more maintaining an E39 M5 than I have over the last decade of regularly running a fleet.
0a said:
Any recommendations for SL soft-top screens that don't explode in sub zero temperatures?
It was a lovely drive, and I intend to keep driving the car in such conditions.
Afraid I think it's just a fact of the materials used and the stress they are under during operation. 7C is the limit I've heard elsewhere for soft-top operation, so a frosty Scottish morning is way past that. It was a lovely drive, and I intend to keep driving the car in such conditions.
Rather than replacing the screens at 250 quid a pop every time maybe it's better to get a beater R170 SLK with a folding tin-top and stick some winters on it. Don't think I'd be pushing on in an R129 on summer tyres and more Mercs are always the right answer.
TheLordJohn said:
Krikkit said:
Oof indeed.
I love Oxford, it'd be second only to Imola (I think) as a BMW colour.
Imola is equal to Estoril, but Oxford on an E38 or E39 is mega. I love Oxford, it'd be second only to Imola (I think) as a BMW colour.
I've had an E38 and an E39, both in Oxford Green. Lovely colour, which really suits the larger Bimmers.
Zonergem said:
0a said:
Any recommendations for SL soft-top screens that don't explode in sub zero temperatures?
It was a lovely drive, and I intend to keep driving the car in such conditions.
Afraid I think it's just a fact of the materials used and the stress they are under during operation. 7C is the limit I've heard elsewhere for soft-top operation, so a frosty Scottish morning is way past that. It was a lovely drive, and I intend to keep driving the car in such conditions.
Rather than replacing the screens at 250 quid a pop every time maybe it's better to get a beater R170 SLK with a folding tin-top and stick some winters on it. Don't think I'd be pushing on in an R129 on summer tyres and more Mercs are always the right answer.
I've not had an R129 (yet? please?) but on the MX-5, keeping the fold straight was very important, so tempting as it is to unlatch it at 50mph and introduce the leading edge to the wind, it was always necessary to get out and do a gentle judo chop (not racist) in the right place to get it fold properly and avoid a nasty point load that either breaks or goes milky.
SpeckledJim said:
I think there's some (snake oil?) stuff that claims to keep an old rear screen supple, but it's certainly a good idea to get the interior nice and warm before trying to drop the top.
It does fold mid-screen. People use rolled up towels to help that stay in shape. The worst parts are the side windows, which get really stressed folding from concave to flat. Some replacement hoods from the States do away with the side windows altogether. Hindsight is the product, used it earlier this year. Not cheap but you get enough for several years of application.
I have the original stamped MB Wopavin windows in my good car and they're in decent nick. The 'plasticizer' part of Hindsight didn't hurt, for sure. The 'polish' part didn't work wonders but others seem to like it. There are other similar products that are a bit cheaper.
In general, keeping the windows clean and dry helps.
The hood is poor by modern standards. Like a lot of R129 features it was great for 1989 but dated now.
I'm tempted to create a fourth roof option by cutting the top panel out of an old cheap hardtop but leaving the rails and rear windscreen in place. Webasto sunroof styleee.
cornershop said:
Nice looking lex
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Jag? Perhaps.https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Bimmer? Please no.
Merc? Definitly not.
Benz? Just maybe.
But "Lex"???????? Unforgivable!
Krikkit said:
Oof indeed.
I love Oxford, it'd be second only to Imola (I think) as a BMW colour.
It's the other way around for me, I'd much rather have an Oxford M5 than Imola (which mine is..) I love Oxford, it'd be second only to Imola (I think) as a BMW colour.
While on the subject, my departed (and missed) 530i in Oxford/sand beige, not nearly as shiny as Edo's M5 tho.
Quite possibly the best all-rounder ever, very handsome, spacious, fast enough and very good on fuel being a manual, sold to make way for the M5.
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Monday 20th November 19:56
Not a frequent visitor to the thread - please excuse me if this doesn't give someone unholy ideas like buying the thing. It turned up on a local search, but I have had permission denied from the OH ( to be fair she was looking for a Cooper S, so fair enough) so happy to put on here for ridicule or a rush to the phone, whichever it causes.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/jaguar/jaguar-xj6-v8/127...
under a bag, and some recent work done by the description.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/jaguar/jaguar-xj6-v8/127...
under a bag, and some recent work done by the description.
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