Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 18]

[Macron]

DrEMa said:

Might not be to everyone's taste (modification wise), but this is the sort of thing I be looking for when my lease is up next year:

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/217295/2000-l...

Hideous. ETA, and I post Vauxhalls, so that really is saying something!

I like your planning 10+ months ahead though.

Edited by Macron on Sunday 7th February 21:55

[Phil Dicky]

si_xsi said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-Peugeot-605-2-0-Pe...

My grandfather had one of these but a 3.0 SLI? Comfort and decent turn of speed back in the day. He was lead account manager for Peugeot and Citroen advertising in the late 70s and 80s and was responsible for giving the go ahead on the Grace Jones Citroen BX advert which caused a bit of a stir at the time.

Bit of a beard twitch on this, it was the Citroën CX.

Edited by Phil Dicky on Sunday 7th February 22:10

[olly755]

Talking of Vauxhalls, has anyone seen the Lotus Carlton estate on EBay?

[W201_190e]

cat220 said:

W201_190e said:

Erm so, I've done a thing since my last post. Somewhat unbecoming of me, a little impulsive. This afternoon was interesting, I got wind of a leggy mileage but otherwise solid non rusty E46 330ci Manual (5 speed) 20 minutes away.

Erm, you can guess the rest. Collecting Saturday.





So in true thread fashion I've purchased something that's not on my list, not really a barge and over my budget (although two thirds of thread or thereabouts, probably more expensive than I could have gotten one especially with the miles, but it's condition warrants the outlay)

The details:

330ci Sport Manual
Electric seats (non heated)
Xenons
Everything works
Manual (5 speed)
Recent new vanos seals, brake lines, tyres are good and matching, service history was presented to me on a forklift, so we'll looked after. From Harrogate for ten years so I guess being miles away from salty air explains why it's not rusty.

So yeah, I've had one before. Exactly the same really. Loved it. But mine was cheap and nasty and I hadn't given much thought to them again. Did I mention this is a non rusty example? How long that will last I don't know. Seller was a lovely genuine chap, same age as me and just had too many cars. MOT history is good, wear and tear stuff really. 163k, not really worried about that. Ultimately probably cheaper to run than an E38 or another old Mercedes over 150 miles a week.

So yeah, erm... please can I stay in the thread

Congrats, looks good! Always liked these, I remember getting my ep3 type r new in 2003 and my boss at the time had a new one of these. Little civic just edged it performance wise but not much in it. The 330i always felt very well put together and a much more premium product.

Thank you A mate of mine still has his EP3, love everything about it apart from the turning circle! In my experience the E46 is a very well made car, less fragile than an E39.

[d_a_n1979]

sdh2903 said:

LetsTryAgain said:

Previous generation, admittedly, but my only experience of BMW auto's have been E39 and E46.
Having owned manual and auto sixes in both variants (with the same engine), the manuals were a million times better/nicer to drive.

Owned an E38 that was auto (V8, natch) and that suited auto.
Owned an E66 (that may not be correct model designation; 2006) 750i, auto was great in that, too.

So my first line was a lie, haha. I have more BMW auto gearbox experience than I initially realised.
But I still preferred manual versions of my BMW sixes.

Is the auto fitted to an e46 330ci the same box as the one fitted to the e63 630i?

I had an auto e46 and found it a wee bit dim witted. Am now looking at 630i's and as 99% are autos I'd accepted it was going to need to be auto (although Ive had the previously posted manual in my watch list for a while). Am Hoping the zf 6 speed isn't the same unit.

IIRC no; it's the ZF6, same box I had in my 730D

[The Don of Croy]

DrEMa said:

Might not be to everyone's taste (modification wise), but this is the sort of thing I be looking for when my lease is up next year:

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/217295/2000-l...

How does a photo like this help to sell the car?

[d_a_n1979]

InYaMooey said:

d_a_n1979 said:

An E46 330i I can see why a manual would suit it, more so something like the Clubsport or 2 door coupe; but for me, the E39s suit the autobox very well and I'd never look at one with a manual. They're not a B road hoonigan IMO; they're a luxo-saloon or touring, for long distance journeys to be covered in comfort.

Apart from the M5 E39s just don't suit a manual box IMO. But then again that is my personal preference and I'm an old fart before my time at 41

Sorry, I beg to differ (being an even older fart !!)

540i 6 can be driven (almost as an auto) or pushed slightly as and when required

And I couldn’t buy a Touring M5

That's why I've said IMO; but how can a manual 'almost' be driven like an auto?!

You either have a 3rd pedal or you don't.

[cornershop]

Congrats on the e46, 190-man

The 330 has a great engine - I recall travelling in a friends new 330 convertible back in 2002, it sounded superb.

I’ve been researching e36 M3 - there is something special about the straight-6 burble

[Phil Dicky]

olly755 said:

Talking of Vauxhalls, has anyone seen the Lotus Carlton estate on EBay?

Was mentioned on the previous volume, looks good. All depends on the quality of fhe conversion I would have thought.

[deeen]

cornershop said:

Congrats on the e46, 190-man

The 330 has a great engine - I recall travelling in a friends new 330 convertible back in 2002, it sounded superb.

I’ve been researching e36 M3 - there is something special about the straight-6 burble

I think the e36 6 cylinder might be quite the sweet spot for small BMWs. Defiantly not a barge, however!

[W201_190e]

cornershop said:

Congrats on the e46, 190-man

The 330 has a great engine - I recall travelling in a friends new 330 convertible back in 2002, it sounded superb.

I’ve been researching e36 M3 - there is something special about the straight-6 burble

Thank you, this one sounds very nice indeed, a nice burble.

[slk 32]

Phil Dicky said:

olly755 said:

Talking of Vauxhalls, has anyone seen the Lotus Carlton estate on EBay?

Was mentioned on the previous volume, looks good. All depends on the quality of fhe conversion I would have thought.

There was a video on it last week on youtube..I thought I recognised the plate!

The owner has owned quite a few LCs so seems to know his stuff:

https://youtu.be/CwNNO_PgbTQ

[0a]

W201_190e said:

Erm so, I've done a thing since my last post. Somewhat unbecoming of me, a little impulsive. This afternoon was interesting, I got wind of a leggy mileage but otherwise solid non rusty E46 330ci Manual (5 speed) 20 minutes away.

Erm, you can guess the rest. Collecting Saturday.

Just make sure it's non rusty!

There's nothing wrong with buying rusty metal at rusty prices: that's buying tarted up rusty metal at non-rusty prices!

The E46 is so bad at rust, I unfortunately don't trust them any more. Like mid 2000s mercs.

[W201_190e]

0a said:

W201_190e said:

Erm so, I've done a thing since my last post. Somewhat unbecoming of me, a little impulsive. This afternoon was interesting, I got wind of a leggy mileage but otherwise solid non rusty E46 330ci Manual (5 speed) 20 minutes away.

Erm, you can guess the rest. Collecting Saturday.

Just make sure it's non rusty!

There's nothing wrong with buying rusty metal at rusty prices: that's buying tarted up rusty metal at non-rusty prices!

The E46 is so bad at rust, I unfortunately don't trust them any more. Like mid 2000s mercs.

I hear you. I checked all the arches and sills as much as possible. Looked very clean compared to my old 330ci, and never mentioned on MOT's. Up until 2019 this one lived mid country so hasn't seen much salty air. I intend to keep a close eye on it though.

[0a]

W201_190e said:

I hear you. I checked all the arches and sills as much as possible. Looked very clean compared to my old 330ci, and never mentioned on MOT's. Up until 2019 this one lived mid country so hasn't seen much salty air. I intend to keep a close eye on it though.

That 3.0 straight 6 is, in my opinion, BMW's very best engine.

I am looking to trade my Z4 2.5 for a mintier 3.0.

[cwoodsie2]

Another long time lurker checking in.

Congrats on the E46 purchase… there’s a lovely 325ci parked around the corner in mint condition and think they look great still, and so small compared to the current 3 series.

[Dapster]

728 days later said:

That W124 is lovely and must have cost an absolute fortune from new.

All prices incl VAT:

Sportline suspension with 8 hole alloys £1,076
MB Sound system: £756
Speakers front and electric arial: £225
Speakers rear: £206
Leather seating: £1,863
Metallic paint: £740
Electric seats front (each): £358
Electric seats front (each): £358
Heated front seats: £358
Multi contour backrest (each): £246
Acceleration skid control (ASR): £2,234
Automatic locking differential (ASD): £1,022
Air conditioning: £1,947
Anti theft system: £628

Sub total: £12,017

E320 - £35,100

Total: £47,117

Inflation adjusted: £92,632

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Delicious. Find me one of those in LHD and it'll be on my drive.

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...

[Easternlight]

slk 32 said:

Phil Dicky said:

olly755 said:

Talking of Vauxhalls, has anyone seen the Lotus Carlton estate on EBay?

Was mentioned on the previous volume, looks good. All depends on the quality of fhe conversion I would have thought.

There was a video on it last week on youtube..I thought I recognised the plate!

The owner has owned quite a few LCs so seems to know his stuff:

https://youtu.be/CwNNO_PgbTQ

I'm sure that's been quite well done and you obviously won't find another, but that's a hell of a lot of money for a car that ultimately is just a bitsa.
I should imagine trying to insure it would be fun?

[Easternlight]

The Don of Croy said:

How does a photo like this help to sell the car?

Trying to appeal to those that like to visit certain lay-by's late at night?

[Rubins4]

cornershop said:

I’ve been researching e36 M3 - there is something special about the straight-6 burble

My pal had an E36 M3 Evolution; 3.2 rather than 3.0, twin rather than single vanos, increased redline and 6-spd rather than 5. 321bhp rather than the standard M3’s 280odd (from memory); no traction control. The engine absolutely sings from a low, gruff burble to through a sort of metallic stirring in the mid range to a full on yowl, the Revs come faster and faster as you head up the range.

Although not precisely the same, the McLaren F1 engine is effectively two straight six-cylinder banks of single vanos M3 engine, if you find the rights videos, an F1 sounds remarkably like a pair of M3’s in unison. Wonderful.