Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[W00DY]

EarlOfHazard said:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

A W124 320e. Looks decent, but sunroof needs looking at, and headliner replacing.

Nice looking car in those colours. A little love and it would be fabulous.

[longblackcoat]

Stegel said:

r129sl said:

I am looking at this, pretty seriously. Any views? It feels like giving up the faith considering a modern (albeit a ten year old one). It is not the grey-grey it looks in the picture but rather 963 Indium Grey, a kind of brown-grey. Chassis number wdb2112222b368896. Anyone know the garage?

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

Great colour, looks well cared for.

- the headrests for the rearmost seats aren’t shown; they will be difficult / expensive to replace if awol.
- the toneau cover can be parked in that position, but should rise up the D pillars when the boot is opened.
- your press on driving style will suit it, they hate pootling and coke up if that’s all they do.
- they can rust around the rear arches, tales of late models bring immune are wrong.
- in the not too distant future/miles, it will benefit from replacement of the rear suspension struts (they get tired); our 135k mile 09 S211 will be having new engine and gearbox mounts over Christmas.
- change the gearbox fluid every 35k miles, not just after the first 35k.

Lovely cars, great engine in this case.

My 220 version is now very close to 200k miles, and the only real issues I've had have been front springs (one snapped at about 160k miles, replaced both), rear hatch struts (they get tired and need replacing), and several heated mirror glass failures. Other than that, tough as old boots. Oh, and the COMAND unit failed - at ££££ for a new one I got a replacement from Latvia via eBay for £200 and fitted it myself.

I've had not a speck of rust showing (2006 facelift model) but I could have been lucky.

Overall, a decent car and the price isn't offputting.

[W00DY]

Great photos and it looks a nice car.






https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-CLK55-AMG/2736...

[r129sl]

Thanks for the pointers on the s211, chaps. Let's see. Mrs r129sl is thinking about it. I'd just like some cheap 'n' easy motoring for a change.

[SpeckledJim]

r129sl said:

Thanks for the pointers on the s211, chaps. Let's see. Mrs r129sl is thinking about it. I'd just like some cheap 'n' easy motoring for a change.

It'll be cheap and easy until the EGR Stupidtronic fills the engine with evil gunge...

[Biglips]

longblackcoat said:

Stegel said:

r129sl said:

I am looking at this, pretty seriously. Any views? It feels like giving up the faith considering a modern (albeit a ten year old one). It is not the grey-grey it looks in the picture but rather 963 Indium Grey, a kind of brown-grey. Chassis number wdb2112222b368896. Anyone know the garage?

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

Great colour, looks well cared for.

- the headrests for the rearmost seats aren’t shown; they will be difficult / expensive to replace if awol.
- the toneau cover can be parked in that position, but should rise up the D pillars when the boot is opened.
- your press on driving style will suit it, they hate pootling and coke up if that’s all they do.
- they can rust around the rear arches, tales of late models bring immune are wrong.
- in the not too distant future/miles, it will benefit from replacement of the rear suspension struts (they get tired); our 135k mile 09 S211 will be having new engine and gearbox mounts over Christmas.
- change the gearbox fluid every 35k miles, not just after the first 35k.

Lovely cars, great engine in this case.

My 220 version is now very close to 200k miles, and the only real issues I've had have been front springs (one snapped at about 160k miles, replaced both), rear hatch struts (they get tired and need replacing), and several heated mirror glass failures. Other than that, tough as old boots. Oh, and the COMAND unit failed - at ££££ for a new one I got a replacement from Latvia via eBay for £200 and fitted it myself.

I've had not a speck of rust showing (2006 facelift model) but I could have been lucky.

Overall, a decent car and the price isn't offputting.

Agree with all of this. Looks v nice and that colour in the flesh is lovely. Wish mine was not boring standard silver. I am a big fan of airmatic which this doesn’t have but ££ if goes wrong (don’t ask me how I know..).

Check the alloys are ok as v easy to buckle them as they seem to be made of cheese. Agree with the headrest comments as lots get sold off and are difficult and expensive to replace( maybe a haggling point as not a dealbreaker.....). As also stated check load cover retracts automatically. My loadcover works fine but seems to be noisy during operation. Common issue according to my Indy and not of concern. Other extras that are nice that I cannot work out whether this has are integrated boosters as you have youngsters. No need to carry boosters with you any more! telephone pre-wire, dynamic seats, cooled seats, upgraded stereo also nice

Let us know how you get on

[BigBen]

longblackcoat said:

rear hatch struts (they get tired and need replacing),

Was that a difficult job? I can't see an obvious easy way of doing it.

[Biglips]

PS did they fix the sunglasses draw on the facelift? Don’t ever, ever put anything you want to see again in there.

[JF87]

Don't want to rain on the S211 parade, but my 2004 E55 has just broken its a/c compressor (whole pulley snapped off, cooking some internals before doing so). Also the ever heavier steering, which my The Man hoped might be resolved by replacing a solenoid, will require either a pump or a new rack. In the summer I had to replace an SRS module, with a load of suspension work done and a couple of parking sensors replaced at the same time (I miserably failed attempting to perform this apparently straightforward last task myself).

The car will end up costing me over £2K in repairs this year, and I've only done about 4,000 miles.

They have been fun miles tbf.

[longblackcoat]

BigBen said:

Was that a difficult job? I can't see an obvious easy way of doing it.

Parts are about £120, about the same in labour at a decent indy. Not sure how they did it, mind you.........

[Mr Micawber]

maxwellwd said:

This seems bloody good value, and to my untrained eyes looks good bodywise

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Mercedes-E55-AMG-S...f:0

This steering wheel looks like it has seen an awful lot more than 90,000 miles, unless the driver was in the habit of wearing sandpaper gloves? Car still looks like good value though.

[T0M]

This looks rather nice for £3,950. Brave pills needed though!

BMW 760i V12

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

[nobrakes]

Biglips said:

longblackcoat said:

Stegel said:

r129sl said:

I am looking at this, pretty seriously. Any views? It feels like giving up the faith considering a modern (albeit a ten year old one). It is not the grey-grey it looks in the picture but rather 963 Indium Grey, a kind of brown-grey. Chassis number wdb2112222b368896. Anyone know the garage?

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

Great colour, looks well cared for.

- the headrests for the rearmost seats aren’t shown; they will be difficult / expensive to replace if awol.
- the toneau cover can be parked in that position, but should rise up the D pillars when the boot is opened.
- your press on driving style will suit it, they hate pootling and coke up if that’s all they do.
- they can rust around the rear arches, tales of late models bring immune are wrong.
- in the not too distant future/miles, it will benefit from replacement of the rear suspension struts (they get tired); our 135k mile 09 S211 will be having new engine and gearbox mounts over Christmas.
- change the gearbox fluid every 35k miles, not just after the first 35k.

Lovely cars, great engine in this case.

My 220 version is now very close to 200k miles, and the only real issues I've had have been front springs (one snapped at about 160k miles, replaced both), rear hatch struts (they get tired and need replacing), and several heated mirror glass failures. Other than that, tough as old boots. Oh, and the COMAND unit failed - at ££££ for a new one I got a replacement from Latvia via eBay for £200 and fitted it myself.

I've had not a speck of rust showing (2006 facelift model) but I could have been lucky.

Overall, a decent car and the price isn't offputting.

Agree with all of this. Looks v nice and that colour in the flesh is lovely. Wish mine was not boring standard silver. I am a big fan of airmatic which this doesn’t have but ££ if goes wrong (don’t ask me how I know..).

Check the alloys are ok as v easy to buckle them as they seem to be made of cheese. Agree with the headrest comments as lots get sold off and are difficult and expensive to replace( maybe a haggling point as not a dealbreaker.....). As also stated check load cover retracts automatically. My loadcover works fine but seems to be noisy during operation. Common issue according to my Indy and not of concern. Other extras that are nice that I cannot work out whether this has are integrated boosters as you have youngsters. No need to carry boosters with you any more! telephone pre-wire, dynamic seats, cooled seats, upgraded stereo also nice

Let us know how you get on

I’ve same year and miles. Wish I’d bought one years ago. They really shift for their size.

18 gallon tank means they are extra fast as you save fuel stops. 600miles on a tank quite realistic without holding up traffic

It’s brilliant on trips to the south of France. If you find yourself not in the fast lane (cough) there’s plenty there to mean accerating to join it again can be done quickly and safety, even if carrying the kitchen sink.

I’ve put mine on a merc dealer service plan. Circa £35 a month. That will include a scheduled gearbox oil change if due. You can always go Indy if they diagnose something big, but I’ve been lucky.

That’s a really nice colour. I don’t use any bells and whistles, but wish it had memory seats/mirrors. It’s difficult to find a non 280 sport around that era. I’d go for it.

[Biglips]

JF87 said:

Don't want to rain on the S211 parade, but my 2004 E55 has just broken its a/c compressor (whole pulley snapped off, cooking some internals before doing so). Also the ever heavier steering, which my The Man hoped might be resolved by replacing a solenoid, will require either a pump or a new rack. In the summer I had to replace an SRS module, with a load of suspension work done and a couple of parking sensors replaced at the same time (I miserably failed attempting to perform this apparently straightforward last task myself).

The car will end up costing me over £2K in repairs this year, and I've only done about 4,000 miles.

They have been fun miles tbf.

I am way over 2k spend this year but I think it is a measure of the car that I don’t resent it (well not that much )

[SpeckledJim]

Biglips said:

JF87 said:

Don't want to rain on the S211 parade, but my 2004 E55 has just broken its a/c compressor (whole pulley snapped off, cooking some internals before doing so). Also the ever heavier steering, which my The Man hoped might be resolved by replacing a solenoid, will require either a pump or a new rack. In the summer I had to replace an SRS module, with a load of suspension work done and a couple of parking sensors replaced at the same time (I miserably failed attempting to perform this apparently straightforward last task myself).

The car will end up costing me over £2K in repairs this year, and I've only done about 4,000 miles.

They have been fun miles tbf.

I am way over 2k spend this year but I think it is a measure of the car that I don’t resent it (well not that much )

I'm at £1500 ish, and this is not a car that gets pampered.

[idiotgap]

My 211 got expensive and wasn't a car I ultimately fell in love with like I did the 124 so I got rid of it after 3 years (I had the 124 for 5 and would have kept it longer if there was more love for it in the rest of the household and it had 3point centre rear belt). The need to renew some suspension and the SBC pump warning played a big part in precipitating the need to take a decision. Obviously this post-facelift car doesn't have an SBC pump which is a plus.

My load cover was noisy but functional. The rear boot springs/assistance weren't an issue, but it had an electric tailgate which might have mitigated against that. HK audio and full airmatic were nice. I passed on another that was for sale at the same time having no 3rd row head restraints as they weren't at all easily replaced - breakers said they never came up as they'd go with a more complete set.

[rufus357]

My W208 CLK320 'vert has just be written off by reversing white van man's towbar. It was a car that I disliked to start with but I had settled in to, especially when I changed the 18" wheels to 16".

So what sporty-ish mini-barge do I replace it with? I need something with a supple ride, a great engine, moderately good handling, good stereo, quality interior. If not a convertible then would need to be a good looker.

Basically I end up describing a CLK (preferably a w209's dynamics in a w208 body)

As with the rest of you I love everything from a Suzuki Swift Sport to a 760Li so please help me confuse myself further....

[ATM]

T0M said:

This looks rather nice for £3,950. Brave pills needed though!

BMW 760i V12

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

SWB too - nice.

I had a SWB 730d about 10 years ago and they're too big for supermarket spaces and multi story car parks. So I can't see the point of a LWB personally.

[olly755]

T0M said:

This looks rather nice for £3,950. Brave pills needed though!

BMW 760i V12

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

I’ve re-clicked on this a couple of times today too. I don’t think I’ll ever overcome the looks, but I’m sensing a much higher degree of desirability towards this over the thread bike E65, in a hung for as sheep as a lamb kind of way.

Did I read on here that the V12’s are supposed to be a fair bit more reliable?

[Prinny]

olly755 said:

T0M said:

This looks rather nice for £3,950. Brave pills needed though!

BMW 760i V12

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

I’ve re-clicked on this a couple of times today too. I don’t think I’ll ever overcome the looks, but I’m sensing a much higher degree of desirability towards this over the thread bike E65, in a hung for as sheep as a lamb kind of way.

Did I read on here that the V12’s are supposed to be a fair bit more reliable?

Mmm they can be, but that doesn’t mean they will be. The internet would have you believe the v8 issues will happen to all v8’s sooner or later, which is probably true. All of them seem to be possible on the v12 as well, but with only a couple of hundred (at best, I think more like 120) in the UK, there’s not a lot of hard facts to back this up, nor specialist experience should you take the plunge.
The one special v12 issue is the hpfp, (x2) & at this age, they’re greater than the cost of the car - this is what’s going to ‘kill’ the n73 engined E65/6, you’d have to be mad to replace them at main dealer prices.

Obviously I’m not trying to put you off, and you’re quite close to me, so you’re welcome to come & have a go if you want to try it - just let me know. (I’ll either be in it or the SL for the barge meet as well).