Ownership expectations of an older, mid 1990s Bentley?

[anonymous-user]

Hello all - I am interested in understanding more about the anticipated running costs for an older Bentley. By which I mean something like an early to mid 90's Turbo R, or thereabouts. Intent would be to use and appreciate the car as a gentle daily runabout so assume mileage would be 3k per annum. Could be garaged.

Not interested in fuel, tax, insurance, or any day to day matters, more interested in aspects such as servicing and what happens when it goes BOOOOOOM!

I have done some basic homework and found various dealers around the south east who provide a fixed price service menu, so I have an idea in that respect.

Having studied the somewhat epic '£22k Bentley Continental GT - running costs?' thread I understand the gamble one might be taking, but its the magnitude and consequences on the older models that are unclear to me.

In the c. 2004 GT world it seems if you so much as scratch the ashtray you have to lift the engine out and weep uncontrollably while they cut up your credit card. Is this experience similar in the older, pre VAG models? I am not a mechanic but under the bonnet looks more like my fathers W124 than the GT does.

Appreciate that every car is different... its all about service history and provenance... find a good indie and they will see you right... and all the other life lessons of buying cars...

...but any pearls that are especially relevant to an oldie would be helpful.

Purchasing budget isn't massively important, given what these things seem to list for anyway, and I'm prepared to take my time to find the right one.

[Crapaud]

I've run a 1990 Turbo R for last ten years. It had about 55k on when I bought it and has just recently turned 77k.
The most important thing is to obviously buy the best you can find. I searched for two years to find mine with low mileage full service history and excellent condition.

I've used Flying Spares for most bits needed. They are very good. Conversely I used a specialist in the South West and had poor service.

I have done some of the work myself as they are so easy to work on. E.g. Changing the brake pads was a simple task. Steering racks seem to be a weak point so find out when it was last replaced.

The suspension spheres are another issue and something I suspect will need attending to soon on mine.

The seat motor ecus have batteries that can leak and damage the circuits. Again, Flying Spares do an excellent reconditioning service..

I'm very happy with my car and love the special feel whenever I drive it.

[HdePelet]

I ran one for 3 years, a 1997 model, taking it from 25k to 55k miles. Great family car and in regular use the only breakdowns were a relay (engine management one with a gold stripe- probably worth carrying a spare in the glove box and the head gasket- £3.5 k to fix via mobile specialist PJ Autos (Gavin Hamilton- based in south east and very cost effective for servicing too). Otherwise I serviced it every 6 months because of the miles I was doing it needed front brake pads and discs quite regularly. Lovely car to drive. Be careful when buying- I would get an independent inspection done before purchase wherever you buy it from. I purchased one turbo r that was very slow to warm up on the engine temp dial...not sure why but not something you would know until driving another one. I swopped it quickly because my wife did not like the colour. Both had been through the same dealer's inspection- personally I think they rely on you spotting the faults once purchased- or not! Oh and I had to replace an air con pipe. Buy carefully and enjoy.
I now have an Arnage- driven 75k miles in it...

[anonymous-user]

Crapaud said:

they are so easy to work on.

This is great news. Not sure I am ready to get oily myself, but if an enthusiast feels they are easy, a specialist or indie must feel the same way. Especially compared to a GT then I would imagine.

Could I please trouble you chaps for a picture? :-)

[anonymous-user]

HdePelet said:

the only breakdowns were a relay (engine management one with a gold stripe- probably worth carrying a spare in the glove box and the head gasket- £3.5 k to fix via mobile specialist PJ Autos

Please excuse my ignorance, but how does having a spare relay with you save the £3.5k? Is the part itself inexpensive, but getting it to the side of the road you happen to be stuck on is the issue? Again apologies I feel I should be googling that but I'm not familiar with the parts nomenclature. Thanks in advance

HdePelet said:

I now have an Arnage- driven 75k miles in it...

Very nice! From the perspective of the original question, do you feel there is a significant step change in terms of service effort and overhead between the Turbo era cars and the Arnage?

To be clear I am not trying to sidestep the issue of servicing, or indeed the responsibilities of ownership of one of these, but I am trying to swerve utterly ludicrous bills that would detract from enjoyment of use. So being whacked £900+ to have the rear brake light changed on the top of the GT, for example, is a bridge too far for me. I can afford it, but I would just look out of the window and resent the bloody thing.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 5th June 18:10

[HocusPocus]

I run a 1990 Silver Spirit 2. Agree with other posters who advise buying best condition one, and then keep it serviced. Done 5k last year and it's servicing cost £2k with only a few minor repairs needed. Make sure you have bottle of correct hydraulic fluid in the boot cubby for top ups.

[InitialDave]

Powerfully Built Company Director said:

Please excuse my ignorance, but how does having a spare relay with you save the £3.5k?

I think you're conflating two separate failures:
- failed relay, easily fixed with plugging in a spare carried in the glove box.
- failed head gasket, cost £3.5k to fix.

[anonymous-user]

InitialDave said:

I think you're conflating two separate failures:
- failed relay, easily fixed with plugging in a spare carried in the glove box.
- failed head gasket, cost £3.5k to fix.

Yep, I most probably was. Thanks for clarifying.

So (pardon my ignorance again), does a failed relay lead to a failed head?

I had a failed head gasket on my 1997 RR P38, and remember it well...

[InitialDave]

Why do you think one caused the other?

He just said he had two breakdowns, and what they were. Nothing about them bring related.

[anonymous-user]

Ahh yes I see that now. Cheers.

[HdePelet]

I think the arnage and turbo r may be similar in costs to run....for me the more miles I do the better value they become and they both like to be used. The Arnage is a great car....post 2007 models are the best and are now very good value for a lot of car! More wind noise on motorways in the turbo r is my only gripe, but you get more room and a lovely thin steering wheel you can drive with 1 finger. Both epic in their own way. Have you considered a continental? Unless you need to use the rear seats.

[steviebabes]

Hi PBCD,

Like you, I am looking for an older Bentley (Arnage).

Do you think you might join the Bentley Drivers Club at all? I'm dithering at the moment. With you being a powerfully built company director, I'm hoping you've already made a non-negotiable assessment of their offering that I can just copy.

[21st Century Man]

In terms of useful practical resources, both at Club HQ and in the regions, the RREC would be a much better club to be in for these cars than the BDC, in my opinion. I was a BDC member for about 20 years, and it was good fun, I only additionally joined the RREC much later on, but immediately realised I'd been in the wrong club really, and wished I'd joined years earlier.

I would say join both, but if it's just one, RREC.