Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[ALawson]

Low 76k mileage E320 at £6250, above thread budget, looks like he likes cars judging by the photos. Unfortunately private plate precludes mot check.

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

[Jim the Sunderer]

I'm off work for two weeks, I've got a wing to sand & paint some brakes to bleed.

Anybody else planning overdue barge works?

[ian316]

Jim the Sunderer said:

I'm off work for two weeks, I've got a wing to sand & paint some brakes to bleed.

Anybody else planning overdue barge works?

[SpeckledJim]

Jim the Sunderer said:

I'm off work for two weeks, I've got a wing to sand & paint some brakes to bleed.

Anybody else planning overdue barge works?

I’ve retrimmed my headlining on the XJS (for the second time. Don’t leave a broken leaky jag outdoors for 9 months, things will go mouldy).

Can I screw the visors through the headlining back into the same holes in the roof they came out of? I cannot.

‘Kinnell..

[phil_cardiff]

dbdb said:

phil_cardiff said:

rufus357 said:

SpeckledJim said:

E92 330i?

E63 6 Series now looking good value.

E92 330i is a possibility - i like all the bodies which opens up the options - will the ride be suitably bargish though or all BMW jiggly?

E63s are tempting but i cant work out if they are hideous or not

Both are possibilities

My E91 had a jiggly ride. Swapping to non-runflats helped a lot. If I'd kept it I'd have looked at upgraded shocks, probably Koni FSDs or whatever they're called these days.

Strongly recommend the straight 6 pre-2007, very little goes wrong.

We have an E91 325iSE with the standard 17" wheels. I found the ride on runflats was just plain crashy with very little compliance at all. Switching to non-runflats has improved it to just very jiggly.

Potholes which just produce a mild 'plop-plop' noise in my XJ40 crash through the E91 with enough ferocity to make me wince sometimes. You have to be really careful of the curb in it too. Mounting the curb in the old Jag produces nothing more dramatic than a mild squidgy feeling. The same manoeuvrer taken in the BMW sounds like it has been hit with a sledge hammer - and you just know you've skimmed a milimetre of metal off the damn rim.

The E91 has proved to be robust though, with very few faults over the years (bought new in 2007) .The interior has worn exceptionally well. It still feels almost new. The paint has kept its lustre though it seems to be rather prone to chips, certainly far more than the Jag. Overall, chosen well, I think they can make a good buy.

What the E91 lacks though is that it is almost entirely without any form of visceral appeal - it is a soulless thing and I never feel a moment of enthusiasm for it. It is totally different from the Jag in that respect. That is a flawed car for sure, but a brilliant one too. One filled with sensual pleasures : there is a satisfaction to be had simply from the feel of the car, from its design and the quality of the materials in it which is completely lacking in the BMW. It is constructed from organic things and feels it. For all its flaws I think it is wonderful and unique. The BMW is just a means of transport.

I think perhaps the E91 suffers from being to competent at pretty much everything. That's why I like them so much though. You can drive 500 miles in refinement but it can also entertain you on the A4069. If you're going against the thread grain and only want one car then there's lots to be said for these mini barges.

[Prinny]

Jim the Sunderer said:

I'm off work for two weeks, I've got a wing to sand & paint some brakes to bleed.

Anybody else planning overdue barge works?

Tomorrow will be a busy day. Swap the 7 over to winter wheels. Put the hardtop on the SL (it’s taken all week to dry). Pull the dash to bits to do the missing bulbs & fit new stereo & speakers, fit the DAB aerial somewhere. If time allows, figure out why the existing electric aerial isn’t working (it’ll be gunged up inside).

If the threatened snow doesn’t appear, wash all the cars.

On Sunday, I want to redo all the fuses/clean contacts & maybe wire in an amplifier (years of logic7 has spoilt me for sound, not expecting wonders from the components in the SL).

I also need to fit the new parking brake release lever.

I might even remember to take some pictures, at which point I’ll then update the rr-threads that have been left languishing, lo these past 6 months.

[ian316]

Prinny said:

Jim the Sunderer said:

I'm off work for two weeks, I've got a wing to sand & paint some brakes to bleed.

Anybody else planning overdue barge works?

Tomorrow will be a busy day. Swap the 7 over to winter wheels. Put the hardtop on the SL (it’s taken all week to dry). Pull the dash to bits to do the missing bulbs & fit new stereo & speakers, fit the DAB aerial somewhere. If time allows, figure out why the existing electric aerial isn’t working (it’ll be gunged up inside).

If the threatened snow doesn’t appear, wash all the cars.

On Sunday, I want to redo all the fuses/clean contacts & maybe wire in an amplifier (years of logic7 has spoilt me for sound, not expecting wonders from the components in the SL).

I also need to fit the new parking brake release lever.

I might even remember to take some pictures, at which point I’ll then update the rr-threads that have been left languishing, lo these past 6 months.

I'm just parking up at the airport sod this lark

[Krikkit]

ian316 said:

I'm just parking up at the airport sod this lark

Alright showoff! Have a good holiday, barge spying reports required.

[Zonergem]

Planning to remove and reseal the power steering reservoir and low pressure hose to pump on both SL1 and SL2, and clean/reseal the camshaft adjuster magnets whilst I have access.

Parts and new tools have been arriving for the last couple of weeks. It will take a few hours graft plus time for the flange sealant to cure. The front wheels ought to be raised to allow me to bleed the steering afterwards.

[junglie]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Superb-3-6-V6-DSG...

This is back.

Was down to top end of thread budget last time it was advertised but the seller (the same one?) decided to keep it.

Still tempted to get it.

Edited by junglie on Saturday 15th December 08:12

[sprouting]

Tomorrow will be a busy day. Swap the 7 over to winter wheels. Put the hardtop on the SL (it’s taken all week to dry). Pull the dash to bits to do the missing bulbs & fit new stereo & speakers, fit the DAB aerial somewhere. If time allows, figure out why the existing electric aerial isn’t working (it’ll be gunged up inside).






FM/AM DAB + Car Radio Active Antenna Aerial Splitter Adapter Cable SMB Converter

I can't share the eBay item for some reason ( mainly because I'm old and not tech savvy )

But these plug into the existing Ariel then into the dab and FM Ariel on the back of the headunit.

[ian316]

Krikkit said:

ian316 said:

I'm just parking up at the airport sod this lark

Alright showoff! Have a good holiday, barge spying reports required.

You're tech savvy, why can't I sign in on my phone?

[Bonefish Blues]

junglie said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Superb-3-6-V6-DSG...

This is back.

Was down to top end of thread budget last time it was advertised but the seller (the same one?) decided to keep it.

Still tempted to get it.

Edited by junglie on Saturday 15th December 08:12

That would do very nicely to replace the XC70 as the family barge - only reservation is the tyre profile, given Mrs BFB's propensity to smash rims (3 before the XC70 on 65-profile) on potholes.

[callahan]

junglie said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Superb-3-6-V6-DSG...

This is back.

Was down to top end of thread budget last time it was advertised but the seller (the same one?) decided to keep it.

Still tempted to get it.

Edited by junglie on Saturday 15th December 08:12

We have a much lower spec hatchback version as our family bus and it is fantastic at what it does. Huge, and I mean huge interior, very comfortable drive and has all the gadgets you need.

Not a sporty drive in any way (although mine is the 150 diesel so I'd hope this would be a lot better) but an excellent barge.

[Jamescrs]

junglie said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Superb-3-6-V6-DSG...

This is back.

Was down to top end of thread budget last time it was advertised but the seller (the same one?) decided to keep it.

Still tempted to get it.

Edited by junglie on Saturday 15th December 08:12

These cars look amazing value for money, i'll shortly be in the market for a big estate car with some decent poke having had my A4 stolen and waiting for insurance to process it.
These Superbs look like a great Q car with the big engines

[ATM]

Massaging armchairs option

£4995

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183574604703

[W00DY]

Jim the Sunderer said:

I'm off work for two weeks, I've got a wing to sand & paint some brakes to bleed.

Anybody else planning overdue barge works?

The barge will take up Christmas duties and the Probe will be getting a serious overhaul to try to make it run right and perhaps a bit quicker (20 years in storage has made it somewhat temperamental)

Then the V70 will be getting some love in the new year since I've already fallen for its charms and I figure if it ends up great for less than grand then that's fine by me.

[0a]

Cheap barges! I always think there are some bargains about at this time of year.

This 75 looks nice at £950 with 71k. Pleasant enough colours to my eyes. https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1059043

[0a]

SAAB 95 also under £1k. Claims to be clean. https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1008164



Or this one with slightly lower miles and a manual gearbox: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1057993

[Shifty Bloke]

I always liked the slightly smoked rear lights on the first gen of the 95