Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 15]

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

jke11y said:

nobrakes said:

Bargain barge:

2003 S350L 150k miles in light metallic blue

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

Full MOT

Private sale, on gravel...

1 bag.

The facelifts always look in decent nick because the lights don’t cloud like the pre-facelift. I could be wrong but don’t think any facelift would have had those wheels but probably swapped at some point. Cheap motoring.

I bet it's comfortable on those wheels!

[Krikkit]

BFleming said:

Slow said:

This is what it says when you try pick a gear despite you being able to see it has revs so is on. Just keeps going back to P. Got a obd2 diagnostic cable on the way to read some codes.

Save yourself some time here; buy a DCAN cable from someone like Cableshack; it comes with the software, you just need a laptop to install it on. Once you get it up & running, use INPA to connect to the car, read & clear error codes etc. Then use Toolset32 (aka Ediabas) to connect to the individual modules & rear remaining error codes in detail. Mine has paid for itself several times over during the last few years.

Shouldn't even need an expensive one - I got one from eBay for less than a tenner, and downloaded the software from the BMW forums, works a treat.

[stevethegreek]

rider73 said:

(attempting pic & link - here we go)



PETROL - V6 C350 - not much interior shots, love the wide grill though. £4250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That looks cheap, what's the catch? or is that the market value for one of these?...

[rider73]

another merc for today - E500, expect rusty arches (spotted on the last pic)


not sure that bonnet is on straight.

interior looks good nick. and hey 3990 for 5.0l of german goodness.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[CAPP0]

Slow said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Slow said:

L322 decided it doesn’t like me having other barges. Day after that e65 arrived I went out and the car had decided to have a leak from the front bag. £70 for a cheap replacement but the time/effort of doing it

Blame the E65. They're cursed I tell you....Cursed! Hope you get it sorted without too much agro (both cars!)

New bag on the way for £60 posted so shouldn’t be too bad

Cheap things if your able to fit yourself.

They are extraordinarily easy to fit. Once you have done one (to know how to do it), it should take about 15 mins tops per side. Most awkward element is poking the new one up and getting it lined up and a nut on to hold it.

[anonymous-user]

stevethegreek said:

rider73 said:

(attempting pic & link - here we go)



PETROL - V6 C350 - not much interior shots, love the wide grill though. £4250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That looks cheap, what's the catch? or is that the market value for one of these?...

They still feel like a new or almost current car to me, but of course they are not really. Objectively it's a decade old, thirsty, expensive to tax car and most buyers of middle aged cars like this will want more sensible running costs. Most people buying a middle aged Mercedes will want a C220cdi for sensible running costs so finding the right buyer will be almost as important as the price itself.

I don't think things like that aren't even appealing for a bargist; they cost too much to throw away if they break, they're complex enough to easily have four figure bills and old enough that they are inevitable, but they aren't interesting and rewarding enough to justify your ongoing "investment" in repairs, fuel, and tax. For example, I don't mind the odd chunky bill to get to smoke around in a big old V8 XJ feeling like Billy Big Balls, but you can be sure I'd resent it to drive around in an X-Type feeling like Red Faced Racist Ralph.

For all that it is probably a nice car for an old boy to do 3000 miles a year in and enjoy the three pointed star at the end of the bonnet.

[rider73]

looks like autotrader just dropped a makeover - ugh more clicks to find spec of a car in a new window. horrible.

[TurboHatchback]

stickleback123 said:

stevethegreek said:

rider73 said:

(attempting pic & link - here we go)



PETROL - V6 C350 - not much interior shots, love the wide grill though. £4250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That looks cheap, what's the catch? or is that the market value for one of these?...

They still feel like a new or almost current car to me, but of course they are not really. Objectively it's a decade old, thirsty, expensive to tax car and most buyers of middle aged cars like this will want more sensible running costs. Most people buying a middle aged Mercedes will want a C220cdi for sensible running costs so finding the right buyer will be almost as important as the price itself.

I don't think things like that aren't even appealing for a bargist; they cost too much to throw away if they break, they're complex enough to easily have four figure bills and old enough that they are inevitable, but they aren't interesting and rewarding enough to justify your ongoing "investment" in repairs, fuel, and tax. For example, I don't mind the odd chunky bill to get to smoke around in a big old V8 XJ feeling like Billy Big Balls, but you can be sure I'd resent it to drive around in an X-Type feeling like Red Faced Racist Ralph.

For all that it is probably a nice car for an old boy to do 3000 miles a year in and enjoy the three pointed star at the end of the bonnet.

I think it looks great, I'd happily motor around in that at the grand old age of 30. The tax is a bit of a stinger but in the grand scheme of things doesn't make much difference and a nice chunky V6 in a minibarge would be lovely for most of the driving I do.

[cornershop]

I think maybe just me, but I can only consider a S Class if it’s a V8. I’m sure the v6 is fine but it doesn’t appeal as much

[Krikkit]

rider73 said:

another merc for today - E500, expect rusty arches (spotted on the last pic)


not sure that bonnet is on straight.

interior looks good nick. and hey 3990 for 5.0l of german goodness.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Looks pretty good - I bet the bonnet just isn't quite shut on the right-hand latch (they have a pair).

[bolidemichael]

Krikkit said:

rider73 said:

another merc for today - E500, expect rusty arches (spotted on the last pic)


not sure that bonnet is on straight.

interior looks good nick. and hey 3990 for 5.0l of german goodness.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Looks pretty good - I bet the bonnet just isn't quite shut on the right-hand latch (they have a pair).

No mileage, no reg - I'm out!

[bolidemichael]

cornershop said:

I think maybe just me, but I can only consider a S Class if it’s a V8. I’m sure the v6 is fine but it doesn’t appeal as much

Not a V12 man, eh?

[cornershop]

bolidemichael said:

cornershop said:

I think maybe just me, but I can only consider a S Class if it’s a V8. I’m sure the v6 is fine but it doesn’t appeal as much

Not a V12 man, eh?

Not had one before, be nice to tick the box, I just don’t think I have the means to run one

[tobinen]

ReaperCushions said:

I hope you don't mind me joining this thread from across the pond. I am about to finish up my current lease, so now on the lookout for a barge to waft around in while I decide what to do next.

Found this glorious piece of classic British Gerald on my local Craigslist for $3500:



https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/huntingt...

Poor quality photos aside, its an XJ8 Vanden-Plas, LWB with seemingly 43k miles.

I know very little about this model of Jag (Especially the oily bits)

Any advice?

Buy it immediately (leaper probably not worth removing but could it be replaced with a cat's head badge to keep costs down?)

[anonymous-user]

cornershop said:

Not had one before, be nice to tick the box, I just don’t think I have the means to run one

It's worth doing. As good as the Jaguar V8 may be I have been surprised to find that it really isn't a patch on the ancient V12. A modern V12 must be sublime, particularly if it does without turbochargers.

[BigBen]

cornershop said:

bolidemichael said:

cornershop said:

I think maybe just me, but I can only consider a S Class if it’s a V8. I’m sure the v6 is fine but it doesn’t appeal as much

Not a V12 man, eh?

Not had one before, be nice to tick the box, I just don’t think I have the means to run one

It won't cost 'that' much more than running a V8. In fact my V12 S600TT used less fuel than my V8 SL55AMG so I was practically being paid to drive it.....

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

stickleback123 said:

cornershop said:

Not had one before, be nice to tick the box, I just don’t think I have the means to run one

It's worth doing. As good as the Jaguar V8 may be I have been surprised to find that it really isn't a patch on the ancient V12. A modern V12 must be sublime, particularly if it does without turbochargers.

I sadly only have experience of 1 V12, and that was a DB9 when they basically first came out. It was nice

[Prinny]

BigBen said:

It won't cost 'that' much more than running a V8. In fact my V12 S600TT used less fuel than my V8 SL55AMG so I was practically being paid to drive it.....

My 6l v12 averages 14
My 5l v10 averages 15
My 5l v8s average 17

Get the v12 while you can.

This advice is not regulated, and the price of petrol may go down as well as up.

[21st Century Man]

stickleback123 said:

A modern V12 must be sublime, particularly if it does without turbochargers.

[LetsTryAgain]

ReaperCushions said:

I hope you don't mind me joining this thread from across the pond. I am about to finish up my current lease, so now on the lookout for a barge to waft around in while I decide what to do next.

Any advice?

Don't spend too long looking at the back doors. The length of them to make it an LWB will soon begin to annoy you if you do.
Not a huge beard on X308's but the V8 can have timing chain tensioners issues, so usually a big positive if there is proof of tensioner replacement.