I hope that you also have the correct shift lever, as I've been led to believe they're not interchangeable with the non-ovd 3-sync ones. I'm in the process of restoring a '67 MGB GT; a UK delivery car to a US Serviceman stationed in Germany (where the car remained until 1988). I "acquired" it in 2020, but before I took anything apart__it had sat dormant, outside in Massachusetts since '95, sinking into the earth__I wanted to get it running/driving (and stopping...) etc., and also took a 3-year ordeal to get it properly licensed/registered. Anyway, I DID get it running/driving and was pleasantly surprised that the overdrive not only worked, SO DID THE VACUUM SWITCH! I've had a couple other 3-sync MGB ('66 & '67 rdstrs) that had overdrive, so I recognize the value in the fact that my current GT is VERY COMPLETE, VERY ORIGINAL, and very rusty! I'm retired (from working on BMW M Coupes/M Rdstrs) so what else am I going to do with my time ;)

Worth restoring it for the plate, " Fly ".

I thought my '14 E350 was nice... These are gorgeous.

Great job, looks lovely. I might of tried a silver grill on it

The best car out of Abingdon post war. Hugely misunderstood by so many and those in that camp missed the boat big time! A baby Aston Martin is definitely a worthy comment. I have owned C´s for more than 40years and have loved them from day 1. Very well built and - in the best possible way - a bit over engineered and massively strong. The engine is also very robust, very tuneable with the second version of the BMC C series 6 so much smoother than the series 1 that powered the Austin Healey. Great video, thank you.

We did what the car was designed for back in 1985 and took our V12 from Essex to South of France and what a memorable trip, fast, agile and quite. we were also at Le Mans for the Jaguar 1-2 win and all the locals sticking two fingers up at us. chuckle...what salad days.

If I had an invention with which I could save humanity, I would ask for the restart of the production of the Jaguar XJ 2 and 3 series in return.

Discovery 1 😍

What a wonderful story.

Morgan's are the ultimate Brit sports car and still in business too.

Triumph made so many beautiful, gorgeous looking cars, but tr6 is not one of them. This car looks bad. It has all the right proportions and the classic british recipe but everything is just slightly wrong.

what engine do you have?

Arnage.. looks like a word from those 1970s Pr®n films, Yaa BaaBy lay down on the bed because im going to give you the Arnage 🍌!!! Hahaha

The only unfortunate defect is the steering wheel color should have not been burgundy.. should be white or whatever the seat color is

Just brought a 2 95 sl 500 Benz on Easter 🐣 needs work but I love it

In Australia the petrols are surprisingly common. Maybe we were behind the times. That being said, I have the diesel model and it's great! I cant see how a petrol model would be more economical, and we have no tax on emissions here so thats not a problem. Add to that the 500nm of torque the diesel provides for towing, which is more than a lot of modern cars, and you have a great vehicle!

How is the front bumper when going over speed bumps and steep driveway entrances? Any trouble with the car being so low?

1969 TR6 North American model. Recent complete resto mod. New white / tan interior, poly bushings throughout, SUH6 Carbs, J-type OD, Bob Tullius Group 44 livery, Panasports (mini lite) wheels, level 2 street cam, electric fuel pump, oil cooler, Lumenition Magnetronic ignition upgrade, FALKEN 205 / 15 radial tires, and leather upholstery with wool carpet replacement.

great video, I have a 2001 e53 3.0 gas with 270k miles in Arizona, had issues with oil leaks at about 140k, window regulators, coils at 220, control arms front every 80k as well as water pumps, learned to do my own repairs. Just replaced fan clutch, hoses, pulleys, thermostat. burns 1 quart every 700-1000 miles. Change oil every 8k. wax with P21 Carnuba wax every 4 months. akebono euro ceramic pads have lasted 165k miles and still 25% left. Check your transfer case and front drive shaft splines, replaced mine at 240k as they were halfway worn.

I love that the numberplate on the photos of your old MGF spells SORN!

My dad had a TR8 back in the day. That was a lovely car to drive!

'72 TR6 hopped up by Jay Leno's head mechanic Bernard Juchli (before he worked for Jay) custom camshaft, 3-dual throat Webers, High compression cylinders, electronic ignition, custom headers and exhaust, rear sway bar, competition springs and shocks, balanced, lightened flywheel, steel wheels painted body color (Saffron) with trim rings and 2 painted St.Andrew's Crosses on both sides in lieu of the Union Jack badges :-)

Every time I sell one of my BMWs it starts rising in value and I was just exploring selling my 3.0 e53 so I’m certain you’re right that soon I’ll be spending twice as much to buy one back. Ask me how much I got for my e28 535i (wait don’t ask me)

I was recently looking for a cheap car which i could use for tip runs and was offered one identical to yours including being a 3.0 petrol for £750. I was expecting it to be a heap of junk riddled with faults but it was by far the opposite. I cant believe how refined and well built it is. The plan was to run it around for a couple of months then get rid as i couldn’t see myself loosing any money on it but now i think i might just do a few maintenance bits on it and keep hold of it. Even if it was to break and i decided to break it for parts its a win win

What can i expect for maintence on these cars and yearly costs? Does it need constant repairs and replacement parts? Im thinking of buying one but I dont want to have to have it in the shop after each use as someone told me. Id just be using it to go a couple miles (10 max) a couple times a week maybe longer on occassion.

They've never bettered the original X5. It defied the laws of physics and drove like a sporty saloon car... which the follow ups never did.

Very good video. I have a 2000 clk320 with 59K miles and it's in excellent condition. I'm the second owner. Everything is original and everything works including the CD changer. Question; when you say wings what do you mean? Also, you suggested a set of AMG wheels. My car came with 16 inch 7 spoke bright chrome wheels with ET37. What size rims would you recommend with an ET that would be compatible. Would you recommend all 4 be the same size or the rear being a different size. The ET is my biggest concern. Thxs. Tom

I’m just about to buy a 150,000 mile X350 XJ6. Bargain price, this is a great place to start ! 👍👍

Okay, longest running... but not without significant improvements. How about the Hindustan Ambassador? I think that one was the longest running production without any significant improvements. Or not? Maybe some Russian (ex-Soviet) UAZ? I really don't know, sorry. But Morgan 4/4 still one of my favorite cars.

nice review ---- friend just bought one for a wedding car and chaffeur /// lets see etc .... /// think audio output on video fraction low maybe ... could be my computer ... tick vid ..

Perth registered

Great presentation

i've been driving a 2006 3.0d e53 for 4 years right now and this car is nothing but a piece of perfection for its time. it still is more handsome than 90% of the SU(A)V's out there. when you press on the pedal the power and feeling is still there compared to the cars which were produced in the same era. i've had one small issue leading to a bigger one happen to me and it was a faulty injector causing the whole fucking piston to meltdown. because of that i had to get the whole engine renewed and overhauled. i've put 20k kms on it and it was worth every penny.

imo its hard to say, because its so modern, and its still seen on the street occasionally, it started the unibody luxury super suv category, the new x5m, urus, cayenne, all the high ends you can think of have the exact recipe the e53 started, unibody, air suspension, and at least 315mm thick tires (315mm) in the back, V8, you even had a nav and tvs in the back from factory, it was also the fastest suv at the time, and before the e53 no suv had this combination, making it so difficult for age to hurt the e53, at least the ones in good condition.

A distant, mostly unknown relative is the TVR M Series which offers the same lovely straight 6 engine as well as the gearbox and some other components from Triumph. Other than the TR6 its a fiberglass bodyshell which makes it much lighter and less prone to rust. Improved suspension and better weight distribution but less comfort males it a more sporty coupe alternative to the TR6 if you can get one. Compared to the nearly 100.000 TR& only about 950 TVR 2500M where built. I own one of them but sometimes indeed miss the ability of putting the roof down...

I believe X5 is a modern classic because it revolutionized the concept of the SUV. I'm really looking forward to your future videos. Thank you🙏

Greetings from Germany, having had the opportunity last year to acquire a low KM and 1 owner Rapide from 2011 (built at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria), I must say that this VH platform with a Touchtronic 2 automatic by ZF is definitely better and more robust than the Sportshift automated manual in the Vantage. Furthermore, in automatic mode it rev-matches perfectly, to the point where I rarely use the paddle shifters. As you mentioned, these Ford derived V12 engines (DB9 & Rapide) are quite bulletproof, if you regularly check the oil level (cold & hot states) and also keep up on the health of spark plugs & coils at least once per year. This latter point is of great importance, as misfires can have a catastrophic effect on the engine. Due to the close proximity of the first catalytic converters to the inlet manifold, a repeated misfire can destroy the ceramic internals of said catalic converters. These bits of ceramic will then be ingested by the inlet manifolds, resulting in engine failure. Bamford Rose, which you mentioned, made some excellent videos about this, even offering a solution which hollows out / deletes these first catalytic converters, while modifying the other catalatic converters so as to pass emissions MOT test (or TÜV HU/AU for us in Germany). In any case, if you find a good 1 owner DB9 or Rapide (if you need more space as myself), it is a great investment. The purchase price is comparable to a mid-range Mercedes/Audi/BMW, but with a clear chance of retaining the purchase price, since DB9s & Rapides have already attained their lowest point of depreciation. Yes, the service costs can be on the higher side, depending on the specific maintenance requirement, yet preventitive maintenance is the key. Fuel bills will also be higher, yet I found that when driving constantly at 130 KM/H (ca. 83 MP/H) over long distances, the consumption is extremely low. That consumption is extremely high around town or when pushing it, well, that's a given. In conclusion: when comparing a DB9 / Rapide to mid-range cars as previously mentioned, these VH-Platform vehicles are more luxurious & better built, will not depreciate as much and most importantly will give you an unsurpassed driving pleasure. Thank you for the great videos you create for us! With kind regards, TH

"proper" tractor-based English sports car

I have the 3.0d, 4.4 and 4.6. it's a love hate relationship. As time goes on I see less and less on the road and more people give them a second glance. A modern classic? Most definitely.

As ever, an interesting and thoughtful video. ...however, is the E53 worthy of the epithet 'future classic' anymore than say a 1st gen ML or Touareg - who can say ? What you do here, I think, is to obliquely raise the spectre of the age old conundrum: whether to buy an up-to-date but ultimately soulless eurohatchbox or consider something less mainstream but an infinitely more characterful (and hopefully more rewarding) vehicle. This is where such machinery like old mercs, audi's, bmw's and jags come in (I'm steering clear but not entirely dismissive of old range rovers as in my practical experience of the marque, particularly the P38, the phrase 'can be too troublesome to consider' springs readily to mind !). I'm sure an in-depth exploration of this question would be of interest to viewers - perhaps (subject to getting hold of suitable vehicles) this is something the channel could look over the coming months ?

Thanks for a great video, I would agree. I've had my 2002 (pre face-lift) 3.0d Sport for 8 years now. The Sport has a nicer interior (steering wheel and seats), don't see many around. It does everything I need it to; tows my rib with ease, including launching and recovering off the beach, can carry boards & gear on the roof (you don't get those side steps on the newer cars!) carries the family around in comfort, and is very refined and comfortable on a run, as you say, a nice place to be. 25mpg around town, nearer 35 on a long run, and everything still working as it should. I really prefer the understated and more purposeful styling of these cars, they have just gone way too bling with the new ones, and they aren't SUV at all any more. I wouldn't be able to think of one reason to change it ! Paul.

Have always had a soft spot for the facelift e53

I saw one of these recently and was struck by how restrained and stylish it looked, indeed, the epitome of what BMW used to mean as a brand. While the current, hideously ugly mobile iPhones the company produces now will be forgotten in the blink of an eye, the model in the video, I believe, will indeed become a classic.

No to classic status imo but great video as always 😎😎

im about to buy a 4.4 i £5000 one owner 80,000 miles .

I've flirted with the idea of finding and buying a Disco 1. But I just don't know that I could, they are absolute rot-boxes and would need 1000s in proper restoration. And so many have been modified into some kind of monster truck looking things by the "one life, live it" crew... I don't have anything against green laning, or off road driving, I enjoy it myself, but a lot of the one lifers really abuse their motors.

Good video. Owned a serious 1 XJ6 and had a similar experience. Great classic cars😁👍

I love your jaguar. I have a jaguar xj6 1988. I love it. I know how you feel. About it... me too

I have a 1980 Cabriolet. Probably the funnest car I've ever driven. You got some room too, unlike the cramped Miata.

It's a forgotten one for sure