Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 14]

[Integroo]

Is a 156 a barge?

I presume not but it is old, thirsty and unreliable...

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Integroo said:

Yes he has, it was off the road for 2012 to 2019, apparently because the clutch went and the guy just chucked it into storage. No advisories on recent MOT, advisory for oil leak on 2012 MOT. No mention of corrosion in the history at all.

That would seriously put me off. Unused for 7 years, then being moved on. Er, no thanks.

[Integroo]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

That would seriously put me off. Unused for 7 years, then being moved on. Er, no thanks.

Understand it was the last owner, new guy bought it, did some stuff to it, now moving it on, apparently because his GTV6 restoration is coming along nicely.

It may be a fiction, but will wait and see what it is like tomorrow morning. Cannot be too fussy at this price point.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Integroo said:

Understand it was the last owner, new guy bought it, did some stuff to it, now moving it on, apparently because his GTV6 restoration is coming along nicely.

It may be a fiction, but will wait and see what it is like tomorrow morning. Cannot be too fussy at this price point.

Good luck with it anyway. I thought you were hanging out for something sportier and/or bigger-engined?

[Integroo]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Good luck with it anyway. I thought you were hanging out for something sportier and/or bigger-engined?

Just keeping my eye out for something interesting, had been looking at GTVs, this is a cheap and cheerful way into a busso v6 and the tan leather is lovely. It's also local.

Provided it's a decent car my dad said he would take it off me if I decide to move it on, so doesn't need to be a long term commitment!

[RicksAlfas]

Yes, good luck with it. Hope it works out! As soon as you go over 5,000rpm you'll buy it, even if the arse is hanging off it. That engine is wonderful.

If the rear windows are slow, don't worry - they all do that sir!

[Integroo]

I suppose the only thing concerning me is whether it will need new tyres, suspension bushes, hoses etc. given it had been off the road but none of that is too expensive to correct. The guy seems like an Alfa enthusiast (again, could be a fiction!) so hopefully it is a decent motor.

[Stegel]

derin100 said:

This is very true.

Or....an alternative explanation!

Get cheap first-aid kits exactly like that off Ebay. Get some similar material and a sewing machine and run up a pouch like that etc etc. Take some pictures of it draped on an actual M1 car. I'm sure you can see where this is going.

Now, if you can be bothered, you'll see right at the end of all the other written rubbish, it admits that this is NOT the toolkit from that car in the photos but rather that you are to believe it's from another car and that that car's previous owner has given it to them to sell..."To be re-united with the car that it belonged to"

Given the rarity of M1s and how rarely they change hands, I don't think it would be too difficult for that previous owner to trace the current one. Who knows, it might just by chance be the person he sold it to.

And doesn't that material, the leather and the buckles along with all those tools just look a little bit 'too fresh' to be 40 years old, even if they'd been stored in the sideboard in the dining-room for 40 years?

Oh! I've just seen who the seller is.

A website to drool over if you’re that way inclined:

https://heyco-qualitaetswerkzeuge.de/heyco/produkt...

You’ll need to find a way of engraving the W- on the screwdrivers for your repro toolkits but it appears not to be a feature on the spanners (in 1989?).

I’m not familiar with the seller?

[SLog3]

Integroo said:

I suppose the only thing concerning me is whether it will need new tyres, suspension bushes, hoses etc. given it had been off the road but none of that is too expensive to correct. The guy seems like an Alfa enthusiast (again, could be a fiction!) so hopefully it is a decent motor.

I had a 156 for 3 years and 60000 miles. In my mind not a barge because it will encourage you to drive in a spirited fashion. Mine was a 2.0 twinspark, was eager to rev and superb through the corners. I had a hose go on the radiator but not bad enough that I couldn't limp home. Suspension parts were treated as "service items" but were cheap to do. Electrics were OK(ish) but expect to regularly change bulbs. Mine wasn't heavy on tyres, but I would think myself lucky if a 2nd hand car came with decent tyres and would always expect to change asap

Don't know where you are, but can recommend the Alfa Workshop near Baldock. I used to take mine there when I lived in the area, but would often see other owners there who had come long distances for a service; including one chap who had come from Brighton!

[Integroo]

SLog3 said:

I had a 156 for 3 years and 60000 miles. In my mind not a barge because it will encourage you to drive in a spirited fashion. Mine was a 2.0 twinspark, was eager to rev and superb through the corners. I had a hose go on the radiator but not bad enough that I couldn't limp home. Suspension parts were treated as "service items" but were cheap to do. Electrics were OK(ish) but expect to regularly change bulbs. Mine wasn't heavy on tyres, but I would think myself lucky if a 2nd hand car came with decent tyres and would always expect to change asap

Don't know where you are, but can recommend the Alfa Workshop near Baldock. I used to take mine there when I lived in the area, but would often see other owners there who had come long distances for a service; including one chap who had come from Brighton!

Thanks! I'm in SE London, so not too far away - though I had also read that Gonella Brothers in Catford are decent, and that's close.

[carinaman]

Thanks for the 156 knowledge RicksAlfa

[RicksAlfas]

carinaman said:

Thanks for the 156 knowledge RicksAlfa

You’re welcome. I enjoy the thread enormously, but can’t really help on Mercedes/BMW/Lexus, so it was nice to be able to contribute!

[Croutons]

Integroo said:

Yes he has, it was off the road for 2012 to 2019, apparently because the clutch went and the guy just chucked it into storage on his mum's drive and she's got might pissed off with this ratty old thing getting in the way and the neighbours have passed comment so it has to go. No advisories on recent MOT, advisory for oil leak on 2012 MOT. No mention of corrosion in the history at all.

Fixed that for you.

[Integroo]

Croutons said:

Fixed that for you.

Life is a gamble...

Turns out there is competition for it too with some other guy having booked a ticket from up North and now mighty pissed I might swoop in! Guess that means no negotiation on price...

Edit: spoke to the guy, sounds genuine, apparently is currently refurbing a 146 and doing a 3l engine conversion into a gtv6 hence selling this one. Sounds like the sort of person you want to buy an alfa from...

Edited by Integroo on Friday 23 August 19:11

[nobrakes]

There is mileage in an open university PHD in Thread Beardage.

Plenty of scholarships available for extreme beardage.

Sponsored by PH.

[Fresh Prince]

SD_1 said:

I'm not convinced at that, my old e46 saloon was exactly the same for NVH as my mates e46 estate at the time. If there is a difference, it will be imperceptible

I felt there was a definite difference in refinement at motorway speeds, and torsional rigidity when driving my pre-facelift E39 528i saloon back to back against a friend’s post-facelift E39 520i touring. The saloon really was that little bit better.

Almost 6 years since I had that car and have been missing genuine barges ever since. That LHD XJR a few pages back tempted me, but was sold by the time I enquired.

[maxwellwd]

What do we think of this 525 M Sport E39? Looks good, low mileage etc etc. Just this seller seems to be selling a lot of odd cars of late "From hos collection"

Can't be too many at this mileage with a full BMW history

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-525i-M-Sport-Stunni...

[paulguitar]

maxwellwd said:

What do we think of this 525 M Sport E39? Looks good, low mileage etc etc. Just this seller seems to be selling a lot of odd cars of late "From hos collection"

Can't be too many at this mileage with a full BMW history

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-525i-M-Sport-Stunni...

Seller has horrendous feedback.

[bolidemichael]

paulguitar said:

maxwellwd said:

What do we think of this 525 M Sport E39? Looks good, low mileage etc etc. Just this seller seems to be selling a lot of odd cars of late "From hos collection"

Can't be too many at this mileage with a full BMW history

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-525i-M-Sport-Stunni...

Seller has horrendous feedback.

Good spot.

In other barge news, here's a before and after of my headlights subsequent to a £110 restoring. Factory finished was stripped, then re-lacquered and polished. He offers a three year guarantee on work.

[carinaman]

Is the illumination better?