Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[ATM]

nickod said:

User33678888 said:

nickod said:

Patrick Bateman said:

nickod said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'm going to see this tomorrow morning - slightly out of thread budget ( at the moment) - it's strong money but I'm assuming( expecting) it to be rust free. I don't like the privacy glass but love everything else.

Still mind and have a good luck on the underside around the jacking points to be on the safe side.

Thanks - will do. The Schnitzer badge will have to go. However it is the most subtle kit I've seen from them I think. They are not known for understatement.

What's with the silver rims around the tachometer and speedometer? Are they Japanese market specific, or an AC Schnitzer addition, or am i just a terrible E39 nerd? They just look wrong - not unsightly - it's just not quite like the usual E39 dashboard or M5 version.

I'm no BMW expert. I've not owned one before but Japanese cars seem to have all sorts of differences. I don't mind the silver trims. It's supposed to be a Japanese 20 year anniversary car so it could possibly be to do with that.

I bought a jap import e39 a few years ago. Link below to the blog. They are absolutely rust free from Japan so I wouldn't worry about anything rust related. The engine on mine looked brand new as did all the fixings and screws and clips. The bad news is the sun damage. Mine had laquer peel. What you won't see in the pics was all the rubber seals looked perished from Sun damage. Mine had faded leather which had been re-dyed. The rear parcel tray was badly faded. It was a very high spec car with working electric steering column, zenons, electric rear blind and folding mirrors. I really liked the car and might get it back at some point as I gave it my cousin but he isn't using it any more.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Lowtimer]

E24man said:

Caruso said:

Gents, I have a slight crack in the plastic on the side part of the radiator in my E39 540. It leaks steam when the engine is warm. Any ideas how to fix it without replacing the radiator which is itself fine. I have an idea to melt the plastic to seal it.

Fix it by replacing the radiator; you don't to mess around with the integrity of an already compromised and fragile E39 cooling system - it will bite you hard if cheap it along.

Right answer

[nickod]

ATM said:

nickod said:

User33678888 said:

nickod said:

Patrick Bateman said:

nickod said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'm going to see this tomorrow morning - slightly out of thread budget ( at the moment) - it's strong money but I'm assuming( expecting) it to be rust free. I don't like the privacy glass but love everything else.

Still mind and have a good luck on the underside around the jacking points to be on the safe side.

Thanks - will do. The Schnitzer badge will have to go. However it is the most subtle kit I've seen from them I think. They are not known for understatement.

What's with the silver rims around the tachometer and speedometer? Are they Japanese market specific, or an AC Schnitzer addition, or am i just a terrible E39 nerd? They just look wrong - not unsightly - it's just not quite like the usual E39 dashboard or M5 version.

I'm no BMW expert. I've not owned one before but Japanese cars seem to have all sorts of differences. I don't mind the silver trims. It's supposed to be a Japanese 20 year anniversary car so it could possibly be to do with that.

I bought a jap import e39 a few years ago. Link below to the blog. They are absolutely rust free from Japan so I wouldn't worry about anything rust related. The engine on mine looked brand new as did all the fixings and screws and clips. The bad news is the sun damage. Mine had laquer peel. What you won't see in the pics was all the rubber seals looked perished from Sun damage. Mine had faded leather which had been re-dyed. The rear parcel tray was badly faded. It was a very high spec car with working electric steering column, zenons, electric rear blind and folding mirrors. I really liked the car and might get it back at some point as I gave it my cousin but he isn't using it any more.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks - that is a good read. I saw it today and the bodywork is outstanding and it is very clean underneath. I'm very close to buying it.

I'd put 4 fresh tyres on it ( any recommendations? I was thinking Continental) and also the chrome window surrounds have a sort of water spot damage on them so I'd replace them. They will de-tint for me as I hate the rear tinted windows. Only thing I'm not sure about is the headlamps had condensation which the seller said was temporary from it being washed.

[Croutons]

Really low mile E500. STILL has milky headlights! 52 plate saloon, a tickle over thread.

Car For Sale on Auto Trader
I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

[callahan]

Croutons said:

Really low mile E500. STILL has milky headlights! 52 plate saloon, a tickle over thread.

Car For Sale on Auto Trader
I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

That's rather lovely, if slightly boring colour scheme, but I like Mercs in silver. Is the rear suspension a bit low?

[trooperiziz]

nickod said:

Thanks - that is a good read. I saw it today and the bodywork is outstanding and it is very clean underneath. I'm very close to buying it.

I'd put 4 fresh tyres on it ( any recommendations? I was thinking Continental) and also the chrome window surrounds have a sort of water spot damage on them so I'd replace them. They will de-tint for me as I hate the rear tinted windows. Only thing I'm not sure about is the headlamps had condensation which the seller said was temporary from it being washed.

No such thing as temporary condensation, budget for a new set if that sort of thing bothers you.

[BeirutTaxi]

I may ruffle a few feathers saying this.. Is the current shape Skoda Octavia the modern day 190E? It is built very solidly, handles well (in TSI form with the light engine), is very quiet and comfortable.. All the objective traits of the 190E.

On the other hand you're all just about to banish me to the wilderness for heresy.

[JOB2.5-16]

BeirutTaxi said:

I may ruffle a few feathers saying this.. Is the current shape Skoda Octavia the modern day 190E? It is built very solidly, handles well (in TSI form with the light engine), is very quiet and comfortable.. All the objective traits of the 190E.

On the other hand you're all just about to banish me to the wilderness for heresy.

Quite right, and the Superb estate is the modern day S124. A pal of mine has one as his company car and by the time it goes back in March it’ll have done comfortably over 100k in three years. It’s required nothing other than servicing and tyres. It supposedly hasn’t even blown a bulb! They also do a Sport Line model, sound familiar?

[BeirutTaxi]

JOB2.5-16 said:

BeirutTaxi said:

I may ruffle a few feathers saying this.. Is the current shape Skoda Octavia the modern day 190E? It is built very solidly, handles well (in TSI form with the light engine), is very quiet and comfortable.. All the objective traits of the 190E.

On the other hand you're all just about to banish me to the wilderness for heresy.

Quite right, and the Superb estate is the modern day S124. A pal of mine has one as his company car and by the time it goes back in March it’ll have done comfortably over 100k in three years. It’s required nothing other than servicing and tyres. It supposedly hasn’t even blown a bulb! They also do a Sport Line model, sound familiar?

The Superb is a fantastic car.

I am traveling often on business these days and have the luxury of being chauffeured in various saloons/estates. I have been surprised at how firm a modern E Class is. Skoda and Volvo on the other hand have it nailed.

[Croutons]

Didn't a thread regular have a neighbour/ acquaintance with a new Skoda needing an infotainment thing at £3k?

Obvs you could live with a big black panel obscuring your vision, and appreciate its likely to affect a lot of modern cars, but still, painful either way

[SpeckledJim]

BeirutTaxi said:

JOB2.5-16 said:

BeirutTaxi said:

I may ruffle a few feathers saying this.. Is the current shape Skoda Octavia the modern day 190E? It is built very solidly, handles well (in TSI form with the light engine), is very quiet and comfortable.. All the objective traits of the 190E.

On the other hand you're all just about to banish me to the wilderness for heresy.

Quite right, and the Superb estate is the modern day S124. A pal of mine has one as his company car and by the time it goes back in March it’ll have done comfortably over 100k in three years. It’s required nothing other than servicing and tyres. It supposedly hasn’t even blown a bulb! They also do a Sport Line model, sound familiar?

The Superb is a fantastic car.

I am traveling often on business these days and have the luxury of being chauffeured in various saloons/estates. I have been surprised at how firm a modern E Class is. Skoda and Volvo on the other hand have it nailed.

What spoils the Superb for me is the amount of road noise in the back. The cabin is huge and very comfortable, but god it's noisy back there (this was a 'sporty' one with big wheels).

[ATM]

trooperiziz said:

nickod said:

Thanks - that is a good read. I saw it today and the bodywork is outstanding and it is very clean underneath. I'm very close to buying it.

I'd put 4 fresh tyres on it ( any recommendations? I was thinking Continental) and also the chrome window surrounds have a sort of water spot damage on them so I'd replace them. They will de-tint for me as I hate the rear tinted windows. Only thing I'm not sure about is the headlamps had condensation which the seller said was temporary from it being washed.

No such thing as temporary condensation, budget for a new set if that sort of thing bothers you.

Yes mine looked brand new underneath too.

The chrome window surrounds were destroyed on mine as well. This is probably Sun damage or dry heat damage too.

My e39 headlamps were milky from Sun damage but I agree with trooper they shouldn't have condensation. A decent set of zenons will not be cheap. You may be able to split them apart as people do nowadays and then reseal everything with gunk. If the lights are projectors then the external cover is just that. But the other gubbins inside may be fine.

Also the radio will need changing as they use a different frequency range in Japan unless they have done this already. And the Speedo should be in kph from Japan again that needs changing.

The tyres on mine were strange Dunlop - can't remember. I suspect specific to the hotter climates and designed to work in the hotter heat range. Useless here in cold damp weather.

I'd be thinking about a 4 season type tyre or treat her to specific winter and summer. I guess it depends where you are but BMW autos are useless on icy or snow covered roads and love to spin a wheel and go nowhere.

I know the subject of winter tyres in this country is something which can really divide car guys so I'll just say I've been using them religiously on my cars since the bad winter of 2008/9 (can't remember) where my 330d was rendered useless for 6 weeks and stranded outside the house.

[SpeckledJim]

Might be worth taking the headlamps off, drying them with a hairdryer through the lamp hole (this is normally £25 in Phuket) and smashing everything that looks like a join with mastic.

[Rubins4]

Any recommendations for new tyres on a non-sporty variant of a 190E?

I want exceptional ride-comfort (obviously), quietness and longevity, decent all-year grip, but 'handling' characteristics can take a back seat. Naturally, I want to pay next to nothing. Tyre size, from memory - 185 / 65 / 15. I'll be going for all 5.

I've had various 'budget tyres' (as Kwik-Sh*t insist on calling them), such as Falken & Toyo and been perfectly happy so the premium brands are not a requirement. What they classify Ling-Longs, I don't know.

Thanks in advance.

Edited by Rubins4 on Friday 7th December 11:24

[Bonefish Blues]

Uniroyals or Contis - it's a cheap size, so the difference between best and worst is less than most other sizes.

[SpeckledJim]

Pleased with the Pirelli P6 on my XJS. Not expensive and available in little sizes.

Also like the Dunlop Sport Bluresponse at good prices.

[Rubins4]

SpeckledJim said:

Pleased with the Pirelli P6 on my XJS. Not expensive and available in little sizes.

Also like the Dunlop Sport Bluresponse at good prices.

P6 - Nothing to do with the P6000? I had a set on my last barge (Volvo V70 Classic estate) which were very poor in the wet, although in fairness they were perhaps a bit old and worn.

Bonefish Blues said:

Uniroyals or Contis - it's a cheap size, so the difference between best and worst is less than most other sizes.

Any more detail as to which Uniroyals or Contis? I just know that I'll go to look at some reviews and still be in the same position I am now without a bit more guidance.

Thank you chaps.

[anonymous-user]

If you can get them in your size the Pirelli P7 Cinturato Blue is quiet, grips well for a touring tyre, and for me last literally twice as long as any other premium tyre.

[SpeckledJim]

dme123 said:

If you can get them in your size the Pirelli P7 Cinturato Blue is quiet, grips well for a touring tyre, and for me last literally twice as long as any other premium tyre.

Sorry, P7 Cinturato is the one I meant when I said P6. I'm a dolt.

[SpeckledJim]

Rubins4 said:

SpeckledJim said:

Pleased with the Pirelli P6 on my XJS. Not expensive and available in little sizes.

Also like the Dunlop Sport Bluresponse at good prices.

P6 - Nothing to do with the P6000? I had a set on my last barge (Volvo V70 Classic estate) which were very poor in the wet, although in fairness they were perhaps a bit old and worn.

Bonefish Blues said:

Uniroyals or Contis - it's a cheap size, so the difference between best and worst is less than most other sizes.

Any more detail as to which Uniroyals or Contis? I just know that I'll go to look at some reviews and still be in the same position I am now without a bit more guidance.

Thank you chaps.

Sorry, I meant P7. Does anyone else's Early-Onset Dementia get worse on Friday afternoons?

P6 did replace the venerable P6000 as I understand it.

What I don't understand is why P6000 was fitted to sooooo many good cars as standard when seemingly everyone hates it.