Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]
Discussion
andy ted said:
So my e39 528i touring has just received another years ticket... the advisory list is stacking up a bit but what a car it is. Picked it up at about 150k miles for £1500 about 8 years ago with a years ticket. Bought in a panic as we were driving down through France with some friends and had to finally admit we would never get everything in our current car! Thought if it lasted that first year it would have paid its way.... since then it has done about 10 house moves for various different people, never ending tip runs during a house refurbishment and many motorway miles in ice cold air conditioned granite-like waftyness (once you power through the 'they all do that sir' shimmy!)
Aside from standard consumables it has had a bit of welding, a water pump, an ignition switch and a gearbox oil cooler in my ownership (the previous owner had spent a fair chunk on bringing it up to standard) and must have paid for itself so many times over now.
It is getting a bit rough around the edges now unfortunately, but as is often said, they don't make them like they used to. I have driven many more modern cars but the value of this car is so much in excess of what it has cost me! Wish you could buy them brand new still!
What are peoples views as to potential more modern equivalents of E39s? Are there any cars out there that are heading bargain barge way in the coming years?
Same here. We've still got the 525i Touring out in SW France that we took there nearly 8 years ago. It's been stood outside for all of that time, has made various trips back to the U.K, down to Spain etc. etc. It too is a rough bit around the edges (looks ok from 10 paces). It's had a few repairs to things over the years (which is pricier in France than it would be here) but it refuses to die properly. Aside from standard consumables it has had a bit of welding, a water pump, an ignition switch and a gearbox oil cooler in my ownership (the previous owner had spent a fair chunk on bringing it up to standard) and must have paid for itself so many times over now.
It is getting a bit rough around the edges now unfortunately, but as is often said, they don't make them like they used to. I have driven many more modern cars but the value of this car is so much in excess of what it has cost me! Wish you could buy them brand new still!
What are peoples views as to potential more modern equivalents of E39s? Are there any cars out there that are heading bargain barge way in the coming years?
In money terms it's pretty worthless but it still does the job supremely well...it actually doesn't even have the almost ubiquitous shimmy. Even the air-con still works after I 'repaired' it with one of those seemingly hopeless and cheap repair kits that can be found on EBay that you just squirt into the system and then recharge yourself. I sometimes wish I could justify getting rid of it (especially as I hate it having a manual gearbox) but I can't and so I'm loathed to get rid of it.
E39s are such good cars that we've now even taken my wife's 525i Saloon over to France and left it there (we'll have to French register that too soon) because of space constraints here and it's just too good to sell.
Edited by derin100 on Sunday 20th January 13:18
mak250300 said:
Also looked at E320cdi Sport estates as they just look so good. I hear horror stories about them but then watching YouTube videos under the title Hoovies Garage and he shows you maintenance on them and what to look for.
Are you sure it's Hoovies Garage and not Mercedessource or something?Went to look at a '05 legacy estate today. 1 owner since march '05 so presumably a pre-reg. all the toys sat-nav, heated 'leccy seats big sunroof. Plus almost new winter tyres. And full service history.
Still didn't buy it! I'm crap at buying cars!
It did need discs and pads all round as well as a proper service, all stuff I can do myself. The seal around the drivers door was knackered so I want to check they are still available and how much they are tomorrow before deciding what to do. Oh, and it was a auto box which seemed ok but I would prefer a manual I think.
Still didn't buy it! I'm crap at buying cars!
It did need discs and pads all round as well as a proper service, all stuff I can do myself. The seal around the drivers door was knackered so I want to check they are still available and how much they are tomorrow before deciding what to do. Oh, and it was a auto box which seemed ok but I would prefer a manual I think.
ian316 said:
No it isn't, it really isn't. Not even the magical allure of blue leather can save that aberration. A busy first week for the G, pressed in to action today going to collect this superb 190E.
fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr
fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on FlickrSalmonofdoubt said:
A pal of mine has a Fleetwood, the only thing I like about it is the red velour seats. Otherwise it's rubbish, so rubbish it's amazing they sold any.
I was thinking it might be a laugh for £1k....then I saw it was £5k 
I may be wrong, but suspect parts may be a bit tricky to get hold of over here? £5k.....many other barges I'd rather spend my money on, I think. Each to their own though
JOB2.5-16 said:
A busy first week for the G, pressed in to action today going to collect this superb 190E.
fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr
If the barge thread had a calendar then that pic would definitely feature!fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on FlickrW00DY said:
JOB2.5-16 said:
A busy first week for the G, pressed in to action today going to collect this superb 190E.
fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr
If the barge thread had a calendar then that pic would definitely feature!fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr* You know, the sexiest one which meant that it was January all year. Maybe just me?
JOB2.5-16 said:
A busy first week for the G, pressed in to action today going to collect this superb 190E.
fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr
Smashing picture!fullsizeoutput_1bc0 by Jack O'Brien, on FlickrGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff