Arnage 4.4 or 6.75?

Author
Discussion

Huntsman

Original Poster:

8,214 posts

257 months

Sunday 3rd July 2016
quotequote all
Anyone driven both?

How do they compare?

On the face of it the 4.4 might be the better car?

Penguinracer

1,705 posts

213 months

Monday 4th July 2016
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Given where BMW have taken the twin-turbo V8 for the M5 & M6, you've got to wonder if the unloved Green Label can be tuned to provide Red Label bashing performance - albeit without the latter's titanic response from off-idle.

Surely some ECU tweakery, perhaps slightly larger turbos & improved intercooling would seen a 500-550 bhp Arnage with the refinement of quad cam motor.

The economics probably deter this enhancement given the additional cost would probably see you into a Red Label, but for those who have an interest in the engineering & technology - it would be great to see an M5/M6 spec Green Label.
Tim

Huntsman

Original Poster:

8,214 posts

257 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
Penguinracer said:
Given where BMW have taken the twin-turbo V8 for the M5 & M6, you've got to wonder if the unloved Green Label can be tuned to provide Red Label bashing performance - albeit without the latter's titanic response from off-idle.

Surely some ECU tweakery, perhaps slightly larger turbos & improved intercooling would seen a 500-550 bhp Arnage with the refinement of quad cam motor.

The economics probably deter this enhancement given the additional cost would probably see you into a Red Label, but for those who have an interest in the engineering & technology - it would be great to see an M5/M6 spec Green Label.
Tim
I understand the transmission is the limiting factor.

I also wonder, is the best Arnage in fact the V12 Seraph?

How is the ride over broken up roads in an Arnage, is it old school Rolls absorbing everything, or more sporting?


jeyjey

220 posts

104 months

Monday 4th July 2016
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Huntsman said:
How is the ride over broken up roads in an Arnage, is it old school Rolls absorbing everything, or more sporting?
My '07 Arnage has a slightly smoother ride than my (old school) '79 T2. Body roll on the Arnage in sport mode is slightly more controlled than the Harvey Bailey T2; in non-sport mode it's probably closer to a standard T2/Silver Shadow (although I've never driven one of those).

Cheers,
Jeff.

Huntsman

Original Poster:

8,214 posts

257 months

Wednesday 6th July 2016
quotequote all
jeyjey said:
My '07 Arnage has a slightly smoother ride than my (old school) '79 T2. Body roll on the Arnage in sport mode is slightly more controlled than the Harvey Bailey T2; in non-sport mode it's probably closer to a standard T2/Silver Shadow (although I've never driven one of those).

Cheers,
Jeff.
So an Arnage is a very absorbing and comfortable ride?

Modificata

531 posts

253 months

Wednesday 6th July 2016
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I have an 04/05 Arnage T and love the ride. I have not driven the 4.4L version but from all the research I have done, I decided it had to be the 6.75L version to give the full Crewe experience. The engine just pulls and pulls, almost like a train.

Im used to much firmer suspension (Ferrari, Porsche etc), so to drive the Arnage at some points feels a bit soft. Saying that it suits the car and you dont want to push these cars like a supercar.

HdePelet

19 posts

219 months

Thursday 7th July 2016
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Great choice- I have had an 07 model for 50,000 miles and love it! Not many people actually seem to use these cars which means there are a several good low mileage ones out there. The main challenge with ownership now is that bentley do not stockpile spares for the hand made elements- so these can be challenging to find- I have needed 2 new doors during my ownership (don't ask) and it seemed to come down to the last one on the shelf! It can be worthwhile to find a good independent at low labour rates for non-routine servicing. Nothing has gone wrong, but warning lights do flash up and need resetting, or the odd sensor replaced. I replaced the sat nav with a touch screen one, and use a parrot for phone/ bluetooth, to keep everything looking original. I don't think I could change it for anything else- the new Mulsanne is longer but has a smaller boot, however, it, too, will slip into value territory fairly soon. Enjoy!

WelshBentleyBoy

339 posts

206 months

Thursday 7th July 2016
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I have a 2002 Arnage T. The ride is excellent although I have had trouble with the automatic ride control, now fixed after replacing the ECU unit and wiring to the affected wheel. Not cheap!!
The throttle control is quite fierce but can be adapted to by driving techniques.
Has anybody driven an Arnage R which seems to be a less aggressive version?

dazzalse

565 posts

186 months

Thursday 7th July 2016
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WelshBentleyBoy said:
I have a 2002 Arnage T. The ride is excellent although I have had trouble with the automatic ride control, now fixed after replacing the ECU unit and wiring to the affected wheel. Not cheap!!
The throttle control is quite fierce but can be adapted to by driving techniques.
Has anybody driven an Arnage R which seems to be a less aggressive version?
Yes, the Arnage R is rally a nicer all-round blend of performance and comfort, we've had R, R 450, T and final series and the nicest allrounder is the R, not as fierce as the T, better ride and in my opinion very under rated

jeyjey

220 posts

104 months

Friday 8th July 2016
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My 07 is an R, but I've never driven a T so I can't compare them.

Cheers,
Jeff.

Huntsman

Original Poster:

8,214 posts

257 months

Thursday 14th July 2016
quotequote all
jeyjey said:
My 07 is an R, but I've never driven a T so I can't compare them.

Cheers,
Jeff.
Thanks all. Its very tempting.

Jim AK

4,029 posts

131 months

Saturday 16th July 2016
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The Senior Partner at work has had both 4.4 & 6.75 T, now in a Conti GTC V12 Speed, & I drove both Arnage's extensively, well I am his driver!

The 4.4 was a nice drive less crashy , but suspension set ups are different between the two & considerably better on fuel than the T on long runs, annual London to Monaco & back in summer. ( This year on hold after Thursday's events in Nice)

The T was to me a totally different car, you sort of felt the car stood still & reeled in its surroundings! But IMO it was the better car.

I believe that when Bentley/BMW dropped the 6.75 into the car (2000iirc) they changed the entire floor pan to give some extra rear legroom & introduced a LWB variant too.

T also had option of things like Turned Alloy Dash & Door Caps. It had a more bucket style seats & I seem to remember it was only a designated 4 seater too

R did seem to be more the 'Old Man' version & although I never got to drive one I was a passenger a few times as I knew a Chauffeur who did & he always said his boss thought ours was the 'Yobs Edition'

Give me Yob any day!!

On a totally unconnected note we recently had a V8 S Conti GTC & that really is the Yob of Yobs!

I do remember us having the Loan of a Seraph once but I found it more wallowy to drive & The then Mrs Senior Partner said it made her feel sick (Now you know how I felt having to drive you love)

EdwardC

77 posts

138 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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I've had two 4.4s and found the ride a little on the firm side; no where near as cosseting as any of the Rolls Royces I've owned. In fact I found it so firm that I asked the garage about converting to Silver Seraph suspension setup but the cost didn't seem worth it. You can stop the dampers going into the firmer mode by tricking the ECU (much like you can in a late Turbo R) but not a great deal more without extensive modification. It has always been a disappointment to me that it hasn't been possible to buy a Bentley with Rolls Royce ride since late 80s but my views may well be in the minority.

Huntsman

Original Poster:

8,214 posts

257 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
quotequote all
EdwardC said:
I've had two 4.4s and found the ride a little on the firm side; no where near as cosseting as any of the Rolls Royces I've owned. In fact I found it so firm that I asked the garage about converting to Silver Seraph suspension setup but the cost didn't seem worth it. You can stop the dampers going into the firmer mode by tricking the ECU (much like you can in a late Turbo R) but not a great deal more without extensive modification. It has always been a disappointment to me that it hasn't been possible to buy a Bentley with Rolls Royce ride since late 80s but my views may well be in the minority.
Thank you. That is very insightful. I suspect, not having been in an Arnage, that you have summed exactly what I would think.

Modificata

531 posts

253 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Huntsman said:
Thank you. That is very insightful. I suspect, not having been in an Arnage, that you have summed exactly what I would think.
Everyone has preferences. Sometimes I find my Arnage T too soft and wish it was a bit firmer.

WelshBentleyBoy

339 posts

206 months

Monday 1st August 2016
quotequote all
Modificata said:
Everyone has preferences. Sometimes I find my Arnage T too soft and wish it was a bit firmer.
Can you not put it into "Sport" and firm it up?

RR&B do a mod which will apparently give you complete control.

http://www.rrbgarages.com/innovation-bentley-arnag...



Modificata

531 posts

253 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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WelshBentleyBoy said:
Can you not put it into "Sport" and firm it up?

RR&B do a mod which will apparently give you complete control.

http://www.rrbgarages.com/innovation-bentley-arnag...
Yes that's true. In fact I only realised recently that it adjusts the suspension too. For a long time I thought it only adjust the gearbox so never used it. I was pleasently surprised when I did though.

Kit sounds interesting. Cheers for sharing.

mr_oversteer

800 posts

225 months

Friday 14th October 2016
quotequote all
Penguinracer said:
Given where BMW have taken the twin-turbo V8 for the M5 & M6, you've got to wonder if the unloved Green Label can be tuned to provide Red Label bashing performance - albeit without the latter's titanic response from off-idle.

Surely some ECU tweakery, perhaps slightly larger turbos & improved intercooling would seen a 500-550 bhp Arnage with the refinement of quad cam motor.

The economics probably deter this enhancement given the additional cost would probably see you into a Red Label, but for those who have an interest in the engineering & technology - it would be great to see an M5/M6 spec Green Label.
Tim
The 4.4 Green Lable used the BMW M62b44 as the base, which is 20 year old tech. Dont mistake that engine for the for the very modern BMW S63b44 enging found in the F10 M5. Completly different beast!

buyer&seller

802 posts

185 months

Friday 14th October 2016
quotequote all
mr_oversteer said:
Penguinracer said:
Given where BMW have taken the twin-turbo V8 for the M5 & M6, you've got to wonder if the unloved Green Label can be tuned to provide Red Label bashing performance - albeit without the latter's titanic response from off-idle.

Surely some ECU tweakery, perhaps slightly larger turbos & improved intercooling would seen a 500-550 bhp Arnage with the refinement of quad cam motor.

The economics probably deter this enhancement given the additional cost would probably see you into a Red Label, but for those who have an interest in the engineering & technology - it would be great to see an M5/M6 spec Green Label.
Tim
The 4.4 Green Lable used the BMW M62b44 as the base, which is 20 year old tech. Dont mistake that engine for the for the very modern BMW S63b44 enging found in the F10 M5. Completly different beast!
Not surprising really as the Arnage was introduced in 1998, nearly 20 years ago.