Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 14]

[Mr Micawber]

TurboHatchback said:

Sterillium said:

Needs to lose a few hundred pounds in the haggle, as ever, but otherwise this appears to be a large, comfortable cruiser with plenty of boot space. I still miss my E39 version... Very tempting to get one of these as a light duty dog taxi.



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

I like the look of that.

I currently run an 06 one of these as my daily. It is also the 530i auto and I am happy report it has been a great barge. It is up to 126,000 miles now and in 6 months of ownership has provided smooth, quickish and very reliable service. Comfy on a long run, capable of swallowing tons of family junk in the boot and still feels pretty tight to drive. To my eyes, these are also ageing pretty well in M-sport spec.
I would defo recommend one, although this particular silver one looks a bit toppy for price.

[The Don of Croy]

ATM said:

The Don of Croy said:

Mini barge that has oddly increased in price over the weekend to over thread max;



- any reason (other than ambitious pricing) to not be interested in a pillarless V6 coupe with lots of buttons, and very low mileage/MOT horror stories?

Given it has boring colours - and therefore anonymous - would it be a satisfying barge? Size isn't everything...

Size IS everything and no pun intended. If you want a smaller barge then it could be perfect, well nothing is perfect so it could be ok. For me the definition of a barge starts with its size. You just dont feel the same level of self indulgence, smugness and aristocratness - see what I did there - in a smaller car. Sure the smaller car will still 'carry' you from a to b but will it 'move' you (as in emotionally) like a car which previously cost twice the price when new? Typically the extra levels of luxury and opulence come on the bigger more expensive cars. Its only a mid level product from Merc so it will be good but it wont be great.

Well that's me told. But, still - would a really low mileage bargette like this provide adequate waft-o-matic use but on a painfully small budget?

My neighbour hereabouts bought the 320Cdi estate version, also low miles (but not low price). Has put >15k miles on it and has had to replace the turbo and some other stuff at >£3k...but his warranty coughed up 80%. Nasty surprise though.

Are the petrol versions better (balancer shaft issues notwithstanding)?

[TeamBigfoot]

I bought one of these last month, mines an 03 CLK270CDI and it cost me around £1k. Since then, i've had all the glow plugs changes, injectors re seated, rear brakes done and a service.

All in, it owes me less than £1500 and its about as waft-o-matic as I could hope for, for £1.5k.

[ATM]

The Don of Croy said:

ATM said:

The Don of Croy said:

Mini barge that has oddly increased in price over the weekend to over thread max;



- any reason (other than ambitious pricing) to not be interested in a pillarless V6 coupe with lots of buttons, and very low mileage/MOT horror stories?

Given it has boring colours - and therefore anonymous - would it be a satisfying barge? Size isn't everything...

Size IS everything and no pun intended. If you want a smaller barge then it could be perfect, well nothing is perfect so it could be ok. For me the definition of a barge starts with its size. You just dont feel the same level of self indulgence, smugness and aristocratness - see what I did there - in a smaller car. Sure the smaller car will still 'carry' you from a to b but will it 'move' you (as in emotionally) like a car which previously cost twice the price when new? Typically the extra levels of luxury and opulence come on the bigger more expensive cars. Its only a mid level product from Merc so it will be good but it wont be great.

Well that's me told. But, still - would a really low mileage bargette like this provide adequate waft-o-matic use but on a painfully small budget?

My neighbour hereabouts bought the 320Cdi estate version, also low miles (but not low price). Has put >15k miles on it and has had to replace the turbo and some other stuff at >£3k...but his warranty coughed up 80%. Nasty surprise though.

Are the petrol versions better (balancer shaft issues notwithstanding)?

And that's why modern diesels scare me and this one isn't even that modern. The more modern diesels are even more complicated but then patrols are getting complicated now too.

My mate bought an f10 535d 18 months ago I'd guess maybe more. His OCD detected a very minor misfire at low revs when cold. He sent the car to Munich Legends who had the car for over 4 months and took 5 grand off him to basically check all manner of electronics and then give the engine a top end rebuild. He had the head refurbed in the end as the valves were not seating properly due to all the gunk in the top of the engine from all the modern trickery which just pumps anything other than perfectly fresh air coming out of the engine back into the engine so it is constantly eating it's own exhaust smoke. Now I understand this is good for the environment but it cant be good for any engine - clearly. His car was low ish mileage at 75k and 2010 reg. Once he got the car back he sold it. I was tempted to buy it because of the rebuild but decided against it because even though they use less fuel than petrol engines they clearly break or just don't last. Any friends who ask my advice now about car buying I tell them they need a main dealer warranty always for any car worth reasonable money. They can decide what's reasonable to them. Same guy went and bought a nearly new x5 from a main dealer with full warranty.

[Slow]

On the other hand I have a 520d on 170k miles with no issues. Mum has a 200k 3.6tdv8 diesel without issues, her boyfriend has my old 3l td6 on 197k with a issue of a fuel pressure sensor failing (£60).

Alot of diesels dont actually fail constantly. I seem to have worse luck with petrols.

[callahan]

Mr Micawber said:

TurboHatchback said:

Sterillium said:

Needs to lose a few hundred pounds in the haggle, as ever, but otherwise this appears to be a large, comfortable cruiser with plenty of boot space. I still miss my E39 version... Very tempting to get one of these as a light duty dog taxi.



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

I like the look of that.

I currently run an 06 one of these as my daily. It is also the 530i auto and I am happy report it has been a great barge. It is up to 126,000 miles now and in 6 months of ownership has provided smooth, quickish and very reliable service. Comfy on a long run, capable of swallowing tons of family junk in the boot and still feels pretty tight to drive. To my eyes, these are also ageing pretty well in M-sport spec.
I would defo recommend one, although this particular silver one looks a bit toppy for price.

That’s basically the twin of mine, but mine has the fully electric seats (that are lovely), 10k less miles, but not so nice bodywork (so i can worry less about it). Mine was also within thread budget.

I really like it so far, it did a great job throughout Europe this summer with four plus dog, four bikes and a lot of luggage on board.

Is this the n52 engine or the previous one?

[E65Ross]

callahan said:

Mr Micawber said:

TurboHatchback said:

Sterillium said:

Needs to lose a few hundred pounds in the haggle, as ever, but otherwise this appears to be a large, comfortable cruiser with plenty of boot space. I still miss my E39 version... Very tempting to get one of these as a light duty dog taxi.



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

I like the look of that.

I currently run an 06 one of these as my daily. It is also the 530i auto and I am happy report it has been a great barge. It is up to 126,000 miles now and in 6 months of ownership has provided smooth, quickish and very reliable service. Comfy on a long run, capable of swallowing tons of family junk in the boot and still feels pretty tight to drive. To my eyes, these are also ageing pretty well in M-sport spec.
I would defo recommend one, although this particular silver one looks a bit toppy for price.

That’s basically the twin of mine, but mine has the fully electric seats (that are lovely), 10k less miles, but not so nice bodywork (so i can worry less about it). Mine was also within thread budget.

I really like it so far, it did a great job throughout Europe this summer with four plus dog, four bikes and a lot of luggage on board.

Is this the n52 engine or the previous one?

Don't quote me but I'm pretty sure that's the N52 and not the M52. The M52B30 had 231bhp I think. Autotrader is saying that 530i is 258bhp.

[Mr Micawber]

I think the M52 engine was used in the E39 and was the engine used in the E46 330i that I had previously.
The E61 530i is definitely a different unit and I think the pre-facelift (as per the silver 55 plate one) does have around 258bhp, although I have no idea of the engine name. No doubt someone clevererer than me will be along shortly to enlighten us!

[E65Ross]

Mr Micawber said:

I think the M52 engine was used in the E39 and was the engine used in the E46 330i that I had previously.
The E61 530i is definitely a different unit and I think the pre-facelift (as per the silver 55 plate one) does have around 258bhp, although I have no idea of the engine name. No doubt someone clevererer than me will be along shortly to enlighten us!

I am getting confused between the M52 and M54.....the M52 replaced the M54, which was replaced by the N52. This 530i has the N52.

[728 days later]

I always thought the M54 was a 3.0L brought about during the E39 facelift and the M52 was the 2.8

[CharlesdeGaulle]

It's very quiet in here. Is everyone saving their posts for the imminent new volume or something?

[king arthur]

Are you saying this thread is failing to proceed?

[Macron]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

It's very quiet in here. Is everyone saving their posts for the imminent new volume or something?

I am surprised at the lack of response to the repainted LS400. I was hoping it hadn't resulted in health issues from increased blood pressure in a few threadists...

[Etypephil]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

It's very quiet in here. Is everyone saving their posts for the imminent new volume or something?

Perhaps most of the barges are running well so there is little repair or replacement to report.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Macron said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

It's very quiet in here. Is everyone saving their posts for the imminent new volume or something?

I am surprised at the lack of response to the repainted LS400. I was hoping it hadn't resulted in health issues from increased blood pressure in a few threadists...

Welcome to my world; we post into the abyss! Perhaps it was shock.

king arthur said:

Are you saying this thread is failing to proceed?

Does that ever happen ...

Etypephil said:

Perhaps most of the barges are running well so there is little repair or replacement to report.

There is always the acquisitive hunger, or the obsessive beardy curiosity to satisfy. No excuses!

[tobinen]

Certainly seems quieter as we meander towards volume 15.

Nothing much to report from me other than I have given up on the bodyshop with my CL so I will be collecting it sometime this week. It will have a flat battery so I am trying to rope in a mate to give me a lift with some jump leads

Can anyone recommend a bodyshop that will a) do the job, and b) to a good standard and c) at a fair price (too too cheap, not too dear)?

I may use the one who did the bumpers three years ago as I know his work was pretty good.

Sigh

Edited by tobinen on Tuesday 22 October 07:50

[Northbrook]

Tobinen - where are you based? Near Reading somewhere, ish, no? I'm based near Wokingham, so may be available to help with collecting the CL, if it'd help. My Man has a body shop next to him that (from memory) he says is good. I can get their details if you'd like.

As for the rest of us, I think we're combing our beards (or nurturing our stubble).

Personally, I've just spent 17% of my car's purchase price on door seals.

[tobinen]

Yes, Newbury. Please send me the bodyshop details. Thanks chap (stand by to be taken up on your offer!)

[r129sl]

Getting back into cars, I am presently having a bit of a pants wet about these two:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-320TE-W12...


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Spec-1991-W124-Mer...


Both have very fulsome specifications. I would be all over the saloon were it not for the fact that the empty slot in my driveway is about to be permanently filled with a 2013 G350 Bluetec...

There is also this rather smart thing in NI:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-Mercedes-E320-Esta...

[olly755]

Northbrook said:

Personally, I've just spent 17% of my car's purchase price on door seals.

That's the spirit. Cheap car or expensive seals?

Some news: I may be teeing up some procurement for Volume 15. After resigning myself to long term LS400 ownership after recently emptying all of our accounts on an unnecessary four wheeled toy, my OH unbelievably sanctioned, nay encoraged an LS460 purchase after tentatively showing her an Auto Trader ad through bit knuckles. Once the paramedics had revived me, a visit to the usual classifieds revealed that the prices are becoming very sensible, and not just for worn out or daft mileage examples. Even the LS600h is hovering around the crosshairs.

Following on from Ross's choices of Merc v Lexus, I'd definitely go Japanese, although mainly because I have a degree of loyalty to the brand: my four previous LS's have looked after me extremely well. Folklore suggests the LS460 would be less painful to own, but it may be just that: folklore.