Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[4941cc]

Jimmy Recard said:

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

They're old enough and most problems common enough that I find simply typing the problem into either Google or YouTube pulls up all the related forum posts (which are often cross-posted anyway) and how-to videos. Has solved many issues I've had with old BMWs and Mercedes.

[Jimmy Recard]

4941cc said:

They're old enough and most problems common enough that I find simply typing the problem into either Google or YouTube pulls up all the related forum posts (which are often cross-posted anyway) and how-to videos. Has solved many issues I've had with old BMWs and Mercedes.

I haven’t found an answer for the two very specific questions I have though

[JF87]

Krikkit said:

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.

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

Quite like that. However (incoming old chestnut alert) I just couldn't bring myself to pay £540 VED on something so bland.

Whereas I'd happily cough up for a swoon-worthy C6.

[olly755]

A testimonial for ::these:: guys following delivery of my new plates in the correct font for the year and car. These are probably the best made and most accurate I've had. All my old bangers have them: modern fonts on old cars grate me far more than they should.

[Lowtimer]

Have those got some extremely subtle plate supplier marking etched into them which doesn't show up on the photos?

[4941cc]

Jimmy Recard said:

4941cc said:

They're old enough and most problems common enough that I find simply typing the problem into either Google or YouTube pulls up all the related forum posts (which are often cross-posted anyway) and how-to videos. Has solved many issues I've had with old BMWs and Mercedes.

I haven’t found an answer for the two very specific questions I have though

Which are?

Here is very often as good as anywhere, plenty of experience of older Mercs in this thread - different models of a given age all use similar systems and hardware in most cases.

[Krikkit]

olly755 said:

A testimonial for ::these:: guys following delivery of my new plates in the correct font for the year and car. These are probably the best made and most accurate I've had. All my old bangers have them: modern fonts on old cars grate me far more than they should.

I've used fancyplates in the past and been impressed at the quality. I must admit it's always been standard plates with the GB marker though.

While we're bearding about plates, what font should be on a 97 car?

They have 3 choices - b is slightly wider lettering than a, with c being significantly rounded as looks appropriate for pre-83.

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 11th January 14:50

[Salmonofdoubt]

dme123 said:

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?

I'm stuck at work today but was going to pop and have a look at it tomorrow morning. I'm not looking for a car just the slightly off radar leftfield nature of that had a certain appeal.

It wasn't cheap for a 9 year old rep mobile but it also wasn't a 4 cylinder chugger.

[JF87]

I'm a bit of a fusspot with regards to period-correct reg plates, and have used this place with good results:

https://www.gbshowplates.co.uk/

The site looks a bit Barry but they're a fair bit cheaper than fancyplates (AFAICR) and did a nice job on the plates for my E31.

Pick "Car Plain Pre 2001" from the drop-down menu. I also stuck in the original dealer name as a 'slogan' beneath.

Looked great.

[SpeckledJim]

Salmonofdoubt said:

dme123 said:

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?

I'm stuck at work today but was going to pop and have a look at it tomorrow morning. I'm not looking for a car just the slightly off radar leftfield nature of that had a certain appeal.

It wasn't cheap for a 9 year old rep mobile but it also wasn't a 4 cylinder chugger.

I think that later generation C5 is a nice enough thing. I'm a fan of the new Peugeot 508 as well. Very smart.

Around 25 minutes until they're in thread range.

[Krikkit]

SpeckledJim said:

I think that later generation C5 is a nice enough thing. I'm a fan of the new Peugeot 508 as well. Very smart.

Around 25 minutes until they're in thread range.

I haven't seen one yet, but I think it looks great. Exactly what Peugeot should be aiming for - smart, modern, not too flashy.

[Dr Interceptor]

olly755 said:

A testimonial for ::these:: guys following delivery of my new plates in the correct font for the year and car. These are probably the best made and most accurate I've had. All my old bangers have them: modern fonts on old cars grate me far more than they should.

They are great people - they made the oversized one for the rear of my Mini also.

[LeighW]

Jimmy Recard said:

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

I used THIS forum when I had my CLK, one of the regulars on there at the time was a Merc specialist (Mercland).

[W00DY]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-730i-1996-E38-7-ser...

Quite the looker for sub-£1500.

[W00DY]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-Mercedes-Benz-S-Cl...


Very lovely.

[Jimmy Recard]

4941cc said:

Which are?

Here is very often as good as anywhere, plenty of experience of older Mercs in this thread - different models of a given age all use similar systems and hardware in most cases.

You make a good point there. Here goes!

1. My car (270 CDI) has never had a tow bar and was built in July 2003. If I remove the flap in the middle of the rear bumper, I see the four bolt holes where I believe I should bolt up a tow bar bracket. Being that mine is a car that wasn't factory-specced with a towbar, would I have to splice into the electrics or could there be a connector back there somewhere for the towing electrics? I would like to retrofit a used Mercedes/Westfalia detachable tow bar but don't know if mine is suitable. Should I do anything else? ie rear suspension or any frame strengthening

2. I understand that the W163s had two facelifts, and mine is a late one of the first facelift. It came with 17" alloys. Is there a difference between the brake disc and caliper size on a facelift ML270 CDI vs a pre-facelift? I ask because I've seen that earlier cars came with 16" alloys but it doesn't look like mine has space between the caliper and wheel to go for a smaller wheel. I want the 16" wheels as I prefer the looks and it gives more choice of all terrain tyre

LeighW said:

I used THIS forum when I had my CLK, one of the regulars on there at the time was a Merc specialist (Mercland).

Thanks LeighW. That's one of the ones that I was considering, so I'll have a go there

[tobinen]

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-Mercedes-Benz-S-Cl...


Very lovely.

Nice but I think he's optimistic at that asking price

[olly755]

Lowtimer said:

Have those got some extremely subtle plate supplier marking etched into them which doesn't show up on the photos?

\

No there are no additional markings at all. They are purchased as "show plates" so possibly not required. (Does the plate supplier have to list their markings on "legal" plates?).

[tobinen]

I believe so. I also have a set of pre-2001 font on the CL, also from Fancy Plates

[Jimmy Recard]

olly755 said:

No there are no additional markings at all. They are purchased as "show plates" so possibly not required. (Does the plate supplier have to list their markings on "legal" plates?).

They do for 51 plate upwards, I think?

Earlier than that it's ok, I thought