Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 21]

[dscam]

Appreciate the positive comments on the S80. These are very underrated barges and great VFM compared to many of the usual suspects.

Agree on the colour, it’s relatively rare - Crystal Green Pearl (456).

[bolidemichael]

Very nice. I had a V70 in Mistral Green and I was very surprised to have found myself looking back at it.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Ian's absence reminds of the periodic MIA of some previously regular posters. NNW hasn't been seen for a while, and there are plenty of others.

I think people like Bob Lad are long gone and I suppose some lurk and rarely post, but it's funny how some folk drop off the radar. Seems inconceivable that anyone could find anything more useful to do with their time than post ste with a bunch of losers here!

[biggbn]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Ian's absence reminds of the periodic MIA of some previously regular posters. NNW hasn't been seen for a while, and there are plenty of others.

I think people like Bob Lad are long gone and I suppose some lurk and rarely post, but it's funny how some folk drop off the radar. Seems inconceivable that anyone could find anything more useful to do with their time than post ste with a bunch of losers here!

This post reminds me of the Dirty Harry quote, a man's gotta know his limitations. Wonderful self awareness CdG, only matched by my own awareness of my existential insignificance. I know my level

[W201_190e]

W201_190e said:

0a said:

W201_190e said:

Going to look at a £2k W124 260e tomorrow 15 minutes away. Seller seems honest. Will report!

Blimey! If it drives it's probably good value at the moment...

Yes, it does seem cheap but then are the pricey examples selling? It’s also very rural, I’m on the outskirts of a rural town and this is another ten miles past me..

That being said I don’t know too much about the 6 cylinders. I know they suffer from head gaskets.. anything to specifically look out for?

Edited by W201_190e on Sunday 15th May 07:51

Well I’ve seen and driven it. It drove very well and mechanically seemed nicely up together, and everything worked. The paint was tired and original, faded in places, and questionable touch ups over rust that would need some attention, although there wasn’t a huge amount. One arch, a wing, and one of the rear pillars. For the money though it seemed ok, but something that would probably need the same again spent on it to bring it up to standard, or leave it and enjoy as it is… I’’be left it as I’m going to think about it, the seller was a nice chap and agreed if I were to take it, it’d be a few hundred quid cheaper than advertised.

[Jim the Sunderer]

W201_190e said:

Well I’ve seen and driven it. It drove very well and mechanically seemed nicely up together, and everything worked. The paint was tired and original, faded in places, and questionable touch ups over rust that would need some attention, although there wasn’t a huge amount. One arch, a wing, and one of the rear pillars. For the money though it seemed ok, but something that would probably need the same again spent on it to bring it up to standard, or leave it and enjoy as it is… I’’be left it as I’m going to think about it, the seller was a nice chap and agreed if I were to take it, it’d be a few hundred quid cheaper than advertised.

I believe the done thing is to buy it, do all that work then sell it to somebody within the thread for a loss.

[martynr]

Hi and sorry to bother anyone with unrelated question. Is there a way to find out the previous owner? There are no details on the v5 unfortunately.

[martynr]

W201_190e said:

Well I’ve seen and driven it. It drove very well and mechanically seemed nicely up together, and everything worked. The paint was tired and original, faded in places, and questionable touch ups over rust that would need some attention, although there wasn’t a huge amount. One arch, a wing, and one of the rear pillars. For the money though it seemed ok, but something that would probably need the same again spent on it to bring it up to standard, or leave it and enjoy as it is… I’’be left it as I’m going to think about it, the seller was a nice chap and agreed if I were to take it, it’d be a few hundred quid cheaper than advertised.

It is entirely on you. They are on crazy prices imho. At the end of the day it is an old car and if it wasn't looked after it will look old. I think you could treat as a shed at shed money. As long as there is nothing terminal with it.

[Northbrook]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Seems inconceivable that anyone could find anything more useful to do with their time than post ste with a bunch of losers here!

I think my last two hours would be the proof of that!

My 124 has been reluctant to start for a couple of weeks - turning over very slowly indeed, but somehow catching and then running fine.

It's been parked a couple of mins walk away for a week, so I brought it back to the house to change the battery - I haven't changed it in my ownership, so the battery was doubtless getting tired.

90 mins of finding the right tools (relatively recently moved house), shearing one of the battery tray bolts, and a few mins of actual removing & replacing. Time to check.

First try: car turns over a little slowly but starts and runs fine.

Second try: not e'en a sausage. Doesn't even bother trying.

bks.

Does that sound like a knackered starter motor?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

martynr said:

It is entirely on you. They are on crazy prices imho. At the end of the day it is an old car and if it wasn't looked after it will look old. I think you could treat as a shed at shed money. As long as there is nothing terminal with it.

Steady on old fruit, that isn't the thread way *at all*. Thread MO is to buy, fleetingly regret, then titivate. All whilst trying to convince yourself that you're pursuing the most environmentally sound option whilst celebrating the pinnacle of 90s design, avoiding the needless fripperies of modern cars, and secretly hoping that everyone else admires your contrary individualism.

Until, that is, The Man chucks you a 4 figure bill after the fking thing wouldn't start, or wouldn't stop, or wouldn't steer or something, and your wife gets pissy because all she wants is a nice little modern lease car that means she gets to see her husband at weekends and there are no new oil leaks on the expensive driveway. It's only then that your commitment to the cause can waver; to fail to even be persuaded to buy the old thing before all that starts shows a distinct lack of character.

[W201_190e]

martynr said:

It is entirely on you. They are on crazy prices imho. At the end of the day it is an old car and if it wasn't looked after it will look old. I think you could treat as a shed at shed money. As long as there is nothing terminal with it.

My only worry is the fabled head gasket issues with the 6 cylinders- after the 10 mile test drive it idled for 5 minutes and the gauge didn’t go over 90, and the viscous fan seemed to be keeping it all cool. Owner reports it’s used no oil or water in his time (two years)

It’s only £1700 so definitely into shed territory, but I’d like to get a couple of years use ideally without massive bills! Especially because I’d probably daily it (25 miles 5 days a week)

Edited by W201_190e on Sunday 15th May 16:11

[biggbn]

W201_190e said:

martynr said:

It is entirely on you. They are on crazy prices imho. At the end of the day it is an old car and if it wasn't looked after it will look old. I think you could treat as a shed at shed money. As long as there is nothing terminal with it.

My only worry is the fabled head gasket issues with the 6 cylinders- after the 10 mile test drive it idled for 5 minutes and the gauge didn’t go over 90, and the viscous fan seemed to be keeping it all cool. Owner reports it’s used no oil or water in his time (two years)

It’s only £1700 so definitely into shed territory, but I’d like to get a couple of years use ideally without massive bills! Especially because I’d probably daily it (25 miles 5 days a week)

Edited by W201_190e on Sunday 15th May 16:11

For me, my golden rule is, if you are not sure, or don't want it the day you see it, you will regret buying it later and the first thing that goes wrong you will remember your doubt. And you will remember it every time thereafter, including the day someone buys it from you at a loss and any future time you speak about the car. I know this as I am thinking of the many times I have broken this rule right now, and the many things I could have bought with the money I've wasted...

[sprouting]

How hard should it be to change an interior light bulb ffks. Couldn't remove the bulb holder ( thought it was going to break) eventually got it out and the non working bulb started working. Changed it anyway just in case. Put bulb holder back in and flopping about all round.

Messed with the spring clips without success and stropped off for 5 mins. Tried again and resorted to blue tak. You'd never know I've been there. All works for now till somebody without destructive powers has a look.

[Mildlyinterestd]

Timberwolf said:

The P2 interior architecture is (IMO) one of those weird ones that was kind of OK in a chunky and durable way when new, felt dated earlier than you'd normally expect an interior to, but now you look at it and it just looks like such a nice place to sit in. Everything there is either functional or comfortable and there's absolutely no pointless bling, you can operate all of it while wearing ski gloves and it doesn't take 10 minutes of reading the owner's manual to find out how to adjust the temperature.

In other words, it's aged really well. And those seats still look as comfortable as I remember them.

Cleaned my V70 interior up today. It really is a lovely place to be.

[Mildlyinterestd]

dscam said:

Appreciate the positive comments on the S80. These are very underrated barges and great VFM compared to many of the usual suspects.

Agree on the colour, it’s relatively rare - Crystal Green Pearl (456).

It looks great in the pictures. I do want to scratch the itch for an S80 at some point.

[W00DY]

biggbn said:

W201_190e said:

martynr said:

It is entirely on you. They are on crazy prices imho. At the end of the day it is an old car and if it wasn't looked after it will look old. I think you could treat as a shed at shed money. As long as there is nothing terminal with it.

My only worry is the fabled head gasket issues with the 6 cylinders- after the 10 mile test drive it idled for 5 minutes and the gauge didn’t go over 90, and the viscous fan seemed to be keeping it all cool. Owner reports it’s used no oil or water in his time (two years)

It’s only £1700 so definitely into shed territory, but I’d like to get a couple of years use ideally without massive bills! Especially because I’d probably daily it (25 miles 5 days a week)

Edited by W201_190e on Sunday 15th May 16:11

For me, my golden rule is, if you are not sure, or don't want it the day you see it, you will regret buying it later and the first thing that goes wrong you will remember your doubt. And you will remember it every time thereafter, including the day someone buys it from you at a loss and any future time you speak about the car. I know this as I am thinking of the many times I have broken this rule right now, and the many things I could have bought with the money I've wasted...

I'd agree. If you have to talk yourself into it, then it probably isn't the one.

[W201_190e]

Thanks for the advice all, think I’m going to leave it BUT… it’s a good car and the seller is a nice chap, and in the right hands it could turn out to be a great car, here’s the ad:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-b...

[21st Century Man]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Seems inconceivable that anyone could find anything more useful to do with their time than post ste with a bunch of losers here!

There's nowt on telly and I've read the internet, what else am I supposed to do?

[Emeye]

Apologies to those who have been emailing me about the *world infamous Lexus. My email has recently become problematic thanks to an issue with my domain provider. Slightly embarrassing that it is not yet sorted, as I do IT for a living.

If you have been expecting a reply and have not received one, please PM me again, as they seem to be getting through.

* = In the same way the American World Baseball series isn’t.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

W201_190e said:

Thanks for the advice all, think I’m going to leave it BUT… it’s a good car and the seller is a nice chap, and in the right hands it could turn out to be a great car, here’s the ad:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-b...

He explains the new odo in the ad, but it's slightly cheeky to list it as having 25k miles.