Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[Lowtimer]

harrykul said:

Seconded: condition is everything now, spec becoming less of a concern imho...

I think spec does still matter to a lot of buyers but it depends what you mean by spec. Some buyers want sports seats and the bodykit, some like me prefer a car on 16" wheels, some want bigger wheels. People can be quite divided in their loyalties towards either auto or manual, a lot of people won't have fabric seats., and diesel is dying in the market.

People are probably less fussed about sunroofs, CD multi-stackers, factory sat-nav and and the now useless TVs on a few cars, so yes, that sort of spec doesn't seem important any more.

[SpeckledJim]

Lowtimer said:

harrykul said:

Seconded: condition is everything now, spec becoming less of a concern imho...

I think spec does still matter to a lot of buyers but it depends what you mean by spec. Some buyers want sports seats and the bodykit, some like me prefer a car on 16" wheels, some want bigger wheels. People can be quite divided in their loyalties towards either auto or manual, a lot of people won't have fabric seats., and diesel is dying in the market.

People are probably less fussed about sunroofs, CD multi-stackers, factory sat-nav and and the now useless TVs on a few cars, so yes, that sort of spec doesn't seem important any more.

Most important for me now would be colour specs.

My E39 estate was (correct me if this is wrong) Fern Green with bright-ish brown leather under black top roll, including brown in the door panels, and looked effing superb, IMO.

But try to find another as a 2.8 or 3.0 saloon. Doh.

[blackscooby]

Krikkit said:

harrykul said:

A good friend has a c32 saloon. The drivetrain is great, and the seats are very comfortable, trimmed in Nappa leather. That's about all that I can positively comment on, and he'd probably agree. They all will have rust somewhere or other: his does in all the usual places. Think he's going to sell it if you're interested in a 'project'....

Thanks, very useful.

I'm not ready for a swap yet - but my mileage is going from 35k a year down to less than 10 shortly, so it means petrol is back on the table. I'm hoping to persuade my other half to get out of her tired Subaru Outback before it needs big work and into something less massive, which means a semi-practical estate might be on the cards.

Ideally I'd love an S204 C63 of course, but that's way out of budget yet.

On the other hand I might save myself a headache and let her keep her car, and just buy a Jag X308R instead.

I had a W203 C32 estate a few years ago. Absolutely fantastic motor. Nice and refined when you want, and an utter bonkers machine if you changed your mind.

Watch the coolant level. Thankfully mine was under warranty when the charge cooler failed... and a charge cooler pump.
The charge cooler lives in the middle of the V6 lump.
Apart from that it was fantastic,

and with the correct tyres it will even do snow ! Albit much to the despair of my other half who wasn't keen on it's sideways antics...

Edited by blackscooby on Tuesday 21st August 16:35

[will730i]

bolide said:

will730i said:

Does anyone know if these should even have been body colour?

The kit can be the same colour (as on Midnight Blue & Azurite Blue) or a different colour (Blue Black). It can even have two options: I have had Malachite estates with matching bumpers and without




The one common factor is that they are semi-matt - a matting agent should be added to the lacquer to reduce shine. This is frequently done incorrectly by bodyshops

Nick Froome

Nick, that’s very helpful - thanks. Thanks also for the tip re the matting agent, good to know.

[tobinen]

The two-tone looks very good I think.

C126



C140

[Zonergem]

Someone's going to get a bargain... maybe it should be me.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-w...

[harrykul]

GLWTS Oa!

[0a]

You lot are quick! I thought I’d better at least get it up...

[tobinen]

A fair price, perhaps a tad too low? Should sell easily I'd've thought. Good luck!

I've dopped the Touring off at the garage for a general check-over/safety inspection. The bike fits in easily with the seats down and I don't have to take the wheels off as I do with the CL.

I found a loose sidelight connection so that has fixed the front indicator illuminating on its own. Turns out it has silly LED bulbs in the front fog lamps so the check control is complaining. I'll probably replace them with OE spec. Now to await the garage's findings.

Edited by tobinen on Wednesday 22 August 07:30

[2stis]

Lowtimer said:

That is probably the shiniest E39 we've ever had on thread.

One doesn't really belong here due to budget but the chance of taking that crown seems like a good reason to post a few of my contenders:

Le Mans blue polished up and final stage of waxing:


Buffed and shiny:


In the daylight:



My 540 Touring in Canyon Rot metallic:

[tobinen]

Lovely. A 540 Touring must be a super thing to smoke about in. As SJ alluded to some while earlier, E39 M5 values are only heading one way, and who knows how high?

E39 question: do they all have heavy steering around the straight ahead? I really dislike it. It seems under assisted for the driving 'experience' but I think it sucks donkeys.

[2stis]

I've not really noticed that, apart from when we went on holiday and rented a new A3 and I saw how assisted and lifeless some helms are these days - some of my cars are completely unassisted so I don't find the E39's particularly heavy.

There is a very noticeable difference in the assistance in the two modes of the M5's but I drive in the less assisted mode all the time. Both cars being V8's they are 'afflicted' by the recirculating ball setup, which internet research would suggest is far inferior to the rack and pinion you get in the 6-cylinder models but I have not had much time behind the wheel of those. As you may notice from the pics I have taken the M5 on a few tracks and even there didn't ever find the steering a handicap.

[SpeckledJim]

Zonergem said:

Someone's going to get a bargain... maybe it should be me.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-w...

Want. Really really want.

Terrible timing. bugger.

[olly755]

tobinen said:

E39 question: do they all have heavy steering around the straight ahead? I really dislike it. It seems under assisted for the driving 'experience' but I think it sucks donkeys.

They do. I’d imagine that it would feel very meaty compared to the CL. It’s certainly a step change to the LS400’s I’ve recently become so accustomed to, and a lot heavier than the bread knife’s reletavely modern “sports car” (Audi TTS).

The trade off is terrific high speed stability. Like the LS400, they must run a fair bit of castor but with a fair bit less assistance. All three of my E39’s tracked beautifully straight on the motorway and seemed less inclined to follow the camber or drift towards the verge without constant pressure on the wheel, something that both of my Mercs (‘124 and 129) did naturally and (to me) in such an irritating way.

[SpeckledJim]

olly755 said:

tobinen said:

E39 question: do they all have heavy steering around the straight ahead? I really dislike it. It seems under assisted for the driving 'experience' but I think it sucks donkeys.

They do. I’d imagine that it would feel very meaty compared to the CL. It’s certainly a step change to the LS400’s I’ve recently become so accustomed to, and a lot heavier than the bread knife’s reletavely modern “sports car” (Audi TTS).

The trade off is terrific high speed stability. Like the LS400, they must run a fair bit of castor but with a fair bit less assistance. All three of my E39’s tracked beautifully straight on the motorway and seemed less inclined to follow the camber or drift towards the verge without constant pressure on the wheel, something that both of my Mercs (‘124 and 129) did naturally and (to me) in such an irritating way.

Mine too. Despite being relative bangers, none of mine had any shimmy or shake or left/right pull, and felt surprisingly long-legged on the motorway.

Got to be the best all-things-considered car ever built? I know there's an argument for W124. And it's a strong one. But...

[Croutons]

0a said:

You lot are quick! I thought I’d better at least get it up...

Typo @6 on Mot date. We know it's 19, mouthbreathers won't.

[tobinen]

SpeckledJim said:

olly755 said:

tobinen said:

E39 question: do they all have heavy steering around the straight ahead? I really dislike it. It seems under assisted for the driving 'experience' but I think it sucks donkeys.

They do. I’d imagine that it would feel very meaty compared to the CL. It’s certainly a step change to the LS400’s I’ve recently become so accustomed to, and a lot heavier than the bread knife’s reletavely modern “sports car” (Audi TTS).

The trade off is terrific high speed stability. Like the LS400, they must run a fair bit of castor but with a fair bit less assistance. All three of my E39’s tracked beautifully straight on the motorway and seemed less inclined to follow the camber or drift towards the verge without constant pressure on the wheel, something that both of my Mercs (‘124 and 129) did naturally and (to me) in such an irritating way.

Mine too. Despite being relative bangers, none of mine had any shimmy or shake or left/right pull, and felt surprisingly long-legged on the motorway.

Got to be the best all-things-considered car ever built? I know there's an argument for W124. And it's a strong one. But...

Righto, it is what it is then, thanks. No question that on the motorway it is fine, and it doesn't pull one way or another but I suppose having a 140 for three years has left me slightly detached, in a good way.

[Krikkit]

Before EPAS became common (and therefore easy variable assistance) making it reasonably weighty with stable geo around the straight-ahead was a good way to imbue it with stability for autobahn cruising at 120+ mph.

Nowadays you can just control the assistance through software, so the 140i, for example, can be darty at low speeds and stable when whipping along.

[MJK 24]

Zonergem said:

Someone's going to get a bargain... maybe it should be me.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-w...

I think that car could fetch quite a bit more. Mine raised £3,500. It was a 4 cylinder without leather and would have benefitted from a suspension and steering overhaul. The bodywork was perfect though.

[Lowtimer]

tobinen said:

Lovely. A 540 Touring must be a super thing to smoke about in. As SJ alluded to some while earlier, E39 M5 values are only heading one way, and who knows how high?

E39 question: do they all have heavy steering around the straight ahead? I really dislike it. It seems under assisted for the driving 'experience' but I think it sucks donkeys.

Mine doesn't. When was the PAS fluid last changed? Possibly never.