Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[SpeckledJim]

cornershop said:

Has anyone directed barge search towards this site - just become aware of it via twitter

https://not2grand.co.uk

Like it a lot. Very nice tone, and a good writer. A good antidote to the over-filtered and self-congratulatory Petrolicious.

'So far up my street it's banging on my door', as I read somewhere yesterday.

[Croutons]

IS300 Sportcross [estate]. Apart from thirsty with the 3.0 petrol, are there any good? Not much of an ad but £1650 either way.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/lexus-is-300-sport...

[Patrick Bateman]

Krikkit said:

Almost exclusively the pleasure of owning >1 car imho. Switching between them is a pleasure as their relative merits shine through.

Absolutely.

Could never go back to one car again for long unless the finances dictated it had to be the case.

Would never have 2 barges though but that's just me. Prefer a chalk and cheese approach.

[Krikkit]

Patrick Bateman said:

Krikkit said:

Almost exclusively the pleasure of owning >1 car imho. Switching between them is a pleasure as their relative merits shine through.

Absolutely.

Could never go back to one car again for long unless the finances dictated it had to be the case.

Would never have 2 barges though but that's just me. Prefer a chalk and cheese approach.

I've had 6 months of only owning a single car (although I can use the Mrs' of course), and it's making my skin crawl.

[SpeckledJim]

Aside from liking lots of cars, I can't go back to one because at least two are always broken.

Since the New Years Resolutions of fixing them I've actually gone backwards, with the 190 joining several others in hopefully temporary disgrace.

[Krikkit]

What's the triage look like at the moment SJ?

190 out with gearbox leakage...

[SpeckledJim]

Krikkit said:

What's the triage look like at the moment SJ?

190 out with gearbox leakage...

Triage is crowded, and with current staffing levels (no staff) frankly very unlikely to hit the 4 hour target...

190e - hopefully low / leaking transmission fluid. I should find out this afternoon
Clio 172 - diagnosed as a dead alternator. Shouldn't be too difficult to remove and deliver to Tame Electrical Genius if I can find a few hours.
CLS (dad's) - mystery electrical gremlin. Hasn't actually broken down yet, but persistently sending doom-laden messages through the dash
S-Class - strut fixed, and now roadworthy again, but the KESSY door handle on the drivers is about to stop working altogether
XJS - out of MOT currently, awaiting me to refit the headlining. I'll get it tested in March I think.
E-Class - running ok, but getting lazy to start on the cold mornings.

Other assorted non-thread bangers - all completely dead.

Leaf - nothing up with it. Blessed thing.

[Salmonofdoubt]

It's not the full on luxobarge that is the C6 but does anyone know much about these because it seems a very under the radar way to cover miles for the money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

[SpeckledJim]

Salmonofdoubt said:

It's not the full on luxobarge that is the C6 but does anyone know much about these because it seems a very under the radar way to cover miles for the money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Can't argue against the value. You could get 10 presentable, sensible years out of that.

Also, the 3.0 in that is a decent chunk more powerful than the 2.7 in the C7 cars at similar budget.

Edited by SpeckledJim on Friday 11th January 11:44

[gobuddygo]

Looks like my old Omega has a head gasket gone and wont be economical to fix

Been looking for a Lexus RX and came across this GS300 which looks great value for money any thoughts please? MOT history looks ok but will need rear shocks soon.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/2007-lexus-gs300-3...

[E24man]

SpeckledJim said:

Triage is crowded, and with current staffing levels (no staff) frankly very unlikely to hit the 4 hour target...

190e - hopefully low / leaking transmission fluid. I should find out this afternoon
Clio 172 - diagnosed as a dead alternator. Shouldn't be too difficult to remove and deliver to Tame Electrical Genius if I can find a few hours.
CLS (dad's) - mystery electrical gremlin. Hasn't actually broken down yet, but persistently sending doom-laden messages through the dash
S-Class - strut fixed, and now roadworthy again, but the KESSY door handle on the drivers is about to stop working altogether
XJS - out of MOT currently, awaiting me to refit the headlining. I'll get it tested in March I think.
E-Class - running ok, but getting lazy to start on the cold mornings.

Other assorted non-thread bangers - all completely dead.

Leaf - nothing up with it. Blessed thing.

It will improve, a little while ago my triage list was;

E39, dead engine, welding needed, gear linkage kaput + more
E38, persistent coolant leak and hard to detect.
E34, something increasingly banging again.
E24 M635CSi, working perfectly but scared of inclement weather after restoration
635CSi, working on the whole but a increasing list of dash failures (coolant, speedo, repeaters etc) was making it tricky to get by.

So just a pair of very old E24's to juggle with.

The E39 got fully jobbed and is back at its imperious best (albeit with a big bill); the E38 leak developed enough to find it, new rad, top hose and all is well again; E34, loose bolts located and all quiet and lush again.

The M6 is still scared of the winter (or rather I am for it) and the 635 will have to wait until I'm prepared to spend time fixing the cluster and chasing all the feeds again.

As others have said, an older fleet is just a constant juggle of what works and what's available with the trade off being the rare purple patches when everything works.

[Krikkit]

SpeckledJim said:

Krikkit said:

What's the triage look like at the moment SJ?

190 out with gearbox leakage...

Triage is crowded, and with current staffing levels (no staff) frankly very unlikely to hit the 4 hour target...

190e - hopefully low / leaking transmission fluid. I should find out this afternoon
Clio 172 - diagnosed as a dead alternator. Shouldn't be too difficult to remove and deliver to Tame Electrical Genius if I can find a few hours.
CLS (dad's) - mystery electrical gremlin. Hasn't actually broken down yet, but persistently sending doom-laden messages through the dash
S-Class - strut fixed, and now roadworthy again, but the KESSY door handle on the drivers is about to stop working altogether
XJS - out of MOT currently, awaiting me to refit the headlining. I'll get it tested in March I think.
E-Class - running ok, but getting lazy to start on the cold mornings.

Other assorted non-thread bangers - all completely dead.

Leaf - nothing up with it. Blessed thing.

Sounds like the CLS and the E could perhaps do with new main batteries? My 211 goes very flaky if the battery is a little run down, which could be part of the CLS' foibles. Usually it presents as a white "electrical consumers switched off" message.

I also had the same message quite regularly because the alternator regulator was knackered - I managed to get a replacement from Poland for about £40 then an hour or so to fit (without removing the alternator from the car).

Be prepared for an absolute bugger of a job on the 172 - the front bumper and driver's headlight are probably best to take off for access, I also elected to take off the engine mount on that side to give a bit more room and let me move the engine up and down for access (as it's pretty tight). Get a very large jubilee clip (I've a feeling I used a 150mm one) to put around the tensioner, also essential is a 3/8" breaker bar to fit into the tensioner slot - you compress the spring with the breaker, then hold the spring down with the jubilee to make it easier to fit/route the belt. You'll also need some torx sockets as well from memory.

[SpeckledJim]

Krikkit said:

SpeckledJim said:

Krikkit said:

What's the triage look like at the moment SJ?

190 out with gearbox leakage...

Triage is crowded, and with current staffing levels (no staff) frankly very unlikely to hit the 4 hour target...

190e - hopefully low / leaking transmission fluid. I should find out this afternoon
Clio 172 - diagnosed as a dead alternator. Shouldn't be too difficult to remove and deliver to Tame Electrical Genius if I can find a few hours.
CLS (dad's) - mystery electrical gremlin. Hasn't actually broken down yet, but persistently sending doom-laden messages through the dash
S-Class - strut fixed, and now roadworthy again, but the KESSY door handle on the drivers is about to stop working altogether
XJS - out of MOT currently, awaiting me to refit the headlining. I'll get it tested in March I think.
E-Class - running ok, but getting lazy to start on the cold mornings.

Other assorted non-thread bangers - all completely dead.

Leaf - nothing up with it. Blessed thing.

Sounds like the CLS and the E could perhaps do with new main batteries? My 211 goes very flaky if the battery is a little run down, which could be part of the CLS' foibles. Usually it presents as a white "electrical consumers switched off" message.

I also had the same message quite regularly because the alternator regulator was knackered - I managed to get a replacement from Poland for about £40 then an hour or so to fit (without removing the alternator from the car).

Be prepared for an absolute bugger of a job on the 172 - the front bumper and driver's headlight are probably best to take off for access, I also elected to take off the engine mount on that side to give a bit more room and let me move the engine up and down for access (as it's pretty tight). Get a very large jubilee clip (I've a feeling I used a 150mm one) to put around the tensioner, also essential is a 3/8" breaker bar to fit into the tensioner slot - you compress the spring with the breaker, then hold the spring down with the jubilee to make it easier to fit/route the belt. You'll also need some torx sockets as well from memory.

Cripes, thank you.

From the cursory glance in the dark I gave it, I was ready for taking the slam panel off. Wasn't braced for all the rest. pfffffffffff.....

Removing the alternator on the XJS was a doddle, albeit it had to be from underneath, so some tiring overhead working for this mere penpusher.

[Krikkit]

Ah yes, the slam panel too, I'd forgotten that bit! Once all that's off the access isn't too crazy, it's just very tight from the engine->chassis leg, so anything to help (and considering it takes about 10 mins to do it) is a significant improvement.

I had a bit of a mare with mine - the cambelt tensioner (which I was told and had documentation to show a new one when I bought it) broke up. 16 new valves, head gasket etc I put it back together, only to find it wouldn't start... Annoyingly the cam locking tools let you put the cams back in 180° out. All apart again, reset the timing (with lots of engine raising and lowering etc etc), I chucked it all back together and stupidly put the battery in backwards. Unfortunately it blew the regulator in the alternator, so this was the 3rd disassembly of the aux belts.

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 11th January 12:20

[4941cc]

The ML430 passed its MoT in December with a suspicious, but gratefully received clean sheet, treated it to a service as a result.

• It also decided to put on some Christmas lights for me after that, BAS-ESP, ETC and ABS together. Intermittently at first, now on when running. Googling reveals this is the better combination to have as it *should* indicate simply an ABS sensor needs replacing. Any one of those lights individually is more of a concern for a new electronic control module.

• Remote central locking packed up, research revealed it could be anything from fob batteries to a new AAM. Changed fob batteries, no change. Then learned of how to recode the fob to the car following a fob battery change and problem solved.

Three winters and 17k miles later (78k to 95k), she's been as good as gold generally. Can't complain for a car bought in a hurry for a grand. Was one owner from new with FMBSH, cosmetically tatty as it had fallen down the tree from main family car to dog carrier over the previous family's 15 years with it, serves me just fine as a mucky countryside hack. I live on a farm so it looks suitably fitting.

[Lowtimer]

BigBen said:

Both take design hints from the contemporary S-Classes of the day, W140 in the case of the R129 and W220 in the case of the R230. I utterly loved my R230 and really regret selling it (although it was to fund a new business so was worth it) and can't really have another due to the never go back rule.

Other way round, if anything, The exRternal appearance of the R129 was pretty much done by 1985, by Johann Tomforder under Sacco. It predated the W140.

In 1985, and especially in the context of its long-running predecessor the R107, it was a deeply radical piece of design.

[anonymous-user]

SpeckledJim said:

Salmonofdoubt said:

It's not the full on luxobarge that is the C6 but does anyone know much about these because it seems a very under the radar way to cover miles for the money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Can't argue against the value. You could get 10 presentable, sensible years out of that.

Also, the 3.0 in that is a decent chunk more powerful than the 2.7 in the C7 cars at similar budget.

Edited by SpeckledJim on Friday 11th January 11:44

I think that wants more attention, 240bhp from a torquey and very smooth 3 litre diesel in an extremely anonymous looking car and a bit of a sleeper. Very nice daily commuter, but knocking on for £5k seems a lot for a 9 year old repmobile?

[Krikkit]

The ad's disappeared so it was possibly a good price! I quite like that shape of C5.

This one with a petrol V6 looks tempting - I believe those buttons next to the handbrake/gear selector means it has the hydraulic suspension too. Two bags, 50k miles.





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

ETA: I think I should also confess that, even having had no activity on this thread for ages, I think about owning a C6 once a week - it's that convex rear screen over everything else that does it. It's so fantastically mad.

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 11th January 12:53

[Stegel]

Krikkit said:

Sounds like the CLS and the E could perhaps do with new main batteries? My 211 goes very flaky if the battery is a little run down, which could be part of the CLS' foibles. Usually it presents as a white "electrical consumers switched off" message.

Absolutely. Our CLS was still on its original (13 year old) battery, and never gave issue. It’s been relegated to the spare car for the last year, and did less than 3,000 miles. Pressed into service while I worked on the 211, it threw dire warnings (all red) regarding ESC, ABS and airbags (always when my wife was driving it, of course) and even a couple of long motorway jaunts did not solve it. A new Varta battery from Tanya and all is well.

[Jimmy Recard]

Hi all.

About a month ago I got myself my first Mercedes. A W163 ML. So far I like it.

Can anyone here recommend a Mercedes forum for technical questions and such?

I’ve seen that there are quite a few, and I’d rather not sign up to them all to ask the same couple of questions on each one.

Thanks