Phantom Drophead Arrival with Photos, Battery Charging Help?
Discussion
Dear All
After much searching, I've finally managed to acquire a lovely Series 2 Phantom Drophead Coupe with the spec that I wanted. I have attached a few photos to share for those who are interested.
I bought the car through Tom Hartley, who to be fair sold it me at what I believe to be a fair price for such a rare example.
The car I bought is a 2014 Series 2 Model, in Diamond Black with Creme Leather and Bamboo Headliner. The Bamboo matches the Creme almost perfectly and brightens up the inside of the cabin when the hood is up - Something that was essential for me.
This car also has the all important Dynamic Package - A £15k option when new which was highly recommended by fellow P/H Forum Member dazzalse who's had a few Phantom VII's. The result is slightly stiffer anti-roll bars and suspension, a sportier gearbox and brake calibrations, although make no mistake, it is by no means a firm ride, simply more controlled while still remaining pillowy soft.
It doesn't have the Teak Decking, although I don't mind that - I did see a couple of cars with the teak and over time, hairline cracks begin to appear, making the car look a little tired. If I do change my mind, I always have the option to add it for about £12k (although it's not a cheap piece of wood!).
Another reason for my post today, is to kindly ask if anyone can help confirm the battery charging process for this car?
The manual is giving me conflicting information on this. In one part it tells me that the batteries are maintenance free, in another it tells me to charge if storing for 3 months or more - Of course, I see the difference, but I would have thought the batteries will go flat sooner than 3 months without use or charge?
Secondly and most importantly, it says if you are charging the batteries (these are situated in the boot area), you must leave the boot lid open to enable access in the event that the batteries go flat (it states that, if this happens, tools will be required as no key access to boot is available).
However, when I tried to charge and leave the boot lid open earlier, the two boot lights remain illuminated, which will no doubt flatten the battery - Am I doing something wrong?
As always, any help would be much appreciated?
After much searching, I've finally managed to acquire a lovely Series 2 Phantom Drophead Coupe with the spec that I wanted. I have attached a few photos to share for those who are interested.
I bought the car through Tom Hartley, who to be fair sold it me at what I believe to be a fair price for such a rare example.
The car I bought is a 2014 Series 2 Model, in Diamond Black with Creme Leather and Bamboo Headliner. The Bamboo matches the Creme almost perfectly and brightens up the inside of the cabin when the hood is up - Something that was essential for me.
This car also has the all important Dynamic Package - A £15k option when new which was highly recommended by fellow P/H Forum Member dazzalse who's had a few Phantom VII's. The result is slightly stiffer anti-roll bars and suspension, a sportier gearbox and brake calibrations, although make no mistake, it is by no means a firm ride, simply more controlled while still remaining pillowy soft.
It doesn't have the Teak Decking, although I don't mind that - I did see a couple of cars with the teak and over time, hairline cracks begin to appear, making the car look a little tired. If I do change my mind, I always have the option to add it for about £12k (although it's not a cheap piece of wood!).
Another reason for my post today, is to kindly ask if anyone can help confirm the battery charging process for this car?
The manual is giving me conflicting information on this. In one part it tells me that the batteries are maintenance free, in another it tells me to charge if storing for 3 months or more - Of course, I see the difference, but I would have thought the batteries will go flat sooner than 3 months without use or charge?
Secondly and most importantly, it says if you are charging the batteries (these are situated in the boot area), you must leave the boot lid open to enable access in the event that the batteries go flat (it states that, if this happens, tools will be required as no key access to boot is available).
However, when I tried to charge and leave the boot lid open earlier, the two boot lights remain illuminated, which will no doubt flatten the battery - Am I doing something wrong?
As always, any help would be much appreciated?
Edited by Mulsanne-Speed on Tuesday 14th July 09:47
nice car.
battery maintenance free means no need to add fluids to the battery etc. however think of the battery as a balloon.... it stores,and if you can keep air in the balloon it wont deflate. like a battery, keep it charged it will be fine.
a cetek charger would keep the battery maintained you need to find a way to connect the charger in a way that facilitates quick connection and your not faffing about with clips to the battery.
I did this for a car (ok not a roller....) and the battery was in the boot. There were jump points in the engine bay. You can get an auto electrican to connect up a plug socket arrangement with an inline fuse on to the battery, or the under bonnet jump point and have that in a way that you just hook the cetek up to it when its sitting. that will keep the battery tip top.
battery maintenance free means no need to add fluids to the battery etc. however think of the battery as a balloon.... it stores,and if you can keep air in the balloon it wont deflate. like a battery, keep it charged it will be fine.
a cetek charger would keep the battery maintained you need to find a way to connect the charger in a way that facilitates quick connection and your not faffing about with clips to the battery.
I did this for a car (ok not a roller....) and the battery was in the boot. There were jump points in the engine bay. You can get an auto electrican to connect up a plug socket arrangement with an inline fuse on to the battery, or the under bonnet jump point and have that in a way that you just hook the cetek up to it when its sitting. that will keep the battery tip top.
Hi ruggedscotty
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Firstly, thank you for clearing up the "maintenance free" term and what that means - I didn't know that but makes sense.
Secondly, yes the charger is a C-TEK (says Rolls Royce on it but also C-TEK).As you suggest, there is already a connection point available in the boot for charging, It has 2 pins, matching that of the charger. I could explore the option of charging from under the bonnet, but I think there must be a simple way to get it right through the boot.
Thank you once agin - If all else fails, I will investigate the boot option
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Firstly, thank you for clearing up the "maintenance free" term and what that means - I didn't know that but makes sense.
Secondly, yes the charger is a C-TEK (says Rolls Royce on it but also C-TEK).As you suggest, there is already a connection point available in the boot for charging, It has 2 pins, matching that of the charger. I could explore the option of charging from under the bonnet, but I think there must be a simple way to get it right through the boot.
Thank you once agin - If all else fails, I will investigate the boot option
Congratulations on your purchase! I have had my Drophead for 11 years now. Interestingly, I had the same questions when I first bought mine as the handbook is not clear.
My Phantom tends to be unused for long periods as I am based out of the UK and she is mainly used for long journeys with long gaps between so I am keen to keep the batteries charged.
If you open the hatch on the right side of the boot compartment where you plug in the trickle charge you will see a 'battery off' switch. If you slide that to 'off' it disengages one battery (but not the second one). That second battery in theory will not be subject to drain and should always be available to start the car. A message on the dash will remind you if you forget to disengage the 'battery off' switch when you want to use the car.
That said, I always leave the car on the trickle when I leave it for an extended period and, as you have noted, if you leave the top boot unlatched the boot lights stay on. What I do is lock the car with the boot open and move the boot latch to the locked position by sticking my finger in it. That then turns the boot lights off (and stops the boot latching) . You can unlock the latch with your fob when you are ready to use the car and close the boot. I cannot imagine that Rolls-Royce expect customers to stick their fingers in the boot lock but I could not think of any other way to turn the boot lights off without closing the boot (which is then a nightmare to open if your batteries do fail). Maybe the typical owner is expected to have a man to do that for him.
What I am uncertain about is if you are trickle charging with the 'battery off' switch engaged whether you are also charging the isolated battery. I have had inconsistent answers to that. My practice in any event is to engage the 'battery off' switch.
I think by maintenance free they simply mean you do not need to top up the batteries periodically with distilled water as you used to have to when Adam was a lad. I think pretty much all car batteries these days fall into that category. It does not mean that they will never go flat.
I must be doing something right as I have never returned to a flat battery. Gratuitous pic of my Drophead below. Similar colour scheme to yours except with the stainless bonnet and A pillars and the teak decking.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/zbb54kHm.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/ZTVvw1cR" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ZTVvw1cR.jpg)
My Phantom tends to be unused for long periods as I am based out of the UK and she is mainly used for long journeys with long gaps between so I am keen to keep the batteries charged.
If you open the hatch on the right side of the boot compartment where you plug in the trickle charge you will see a 'battery off' switch. If you slide that to 'off' it disengages one battery (but not the second one). That second battery in theory will not be subject to drain and should always be available to start the car. A message on the dash will remind you if you forget to disengage the 'battery off' switch when you want to use the car.
That said, I always leave the car on the trickle when I leave it for an extended period and, as you have noted, if you leave the top boot unlatched the boot lights stay on. What I do is lock the car with the boot open and move the boot latch to the locked position by sticking my finger in it. That then turns the boot lights off (and stops the boot latching) . You can unlock the latch with your fob when you are ready to use the car and close the boot. I cannot imagine that Rolls-Royce expect customers to stick their fingers in the boot lock but I could not think of any other way to turn the boot lights off without closing the boot (which is then a nightmare to open if your batteries do fail). Maybe the typical owner is expected to have a man to do that for him.
What I am uncertain about is if you are trickle charging with the 'battery off' switch engaged whether you are also charging the isolated battery. I have had inconsistent answers to that. My practice in any event is to engage the 'battery off' switch.
I think by maintenance free they simply mean you do not need to top up the batteries periodically with distilled water as you used to have to when Adam was a lad. I think pretty much all car batteries these days fall into that category. It does not mean that they will never go flat.
I must be doing something right as I have never returned to a flat battery. Gratuitous pic of my Drophead below. Similar colour scheme to yours except with the stainless bonnet and A pillars and the teak decking.
Edited by OLDBENZ on Sunday 12th July 23:09
Edited by OLDBENZ on Sunday 12th July 23:11
I don't have a Phantom so my comments are generic:
Agree re previous comments about 'maintenance free' batteries, it's a term that's been in use for quite some time now.
Don't the boot lights switch themselves off after a delay (possibly relatively lengthy); many other cars do nowadays, or are there any options to disable them in one of the set-up menus?
Whilst it might be a pain, is removing the bulbs a realistic option for long-term storage?
Personally, I'd always use a trickle-charger if left unused for a while as all cars seem to have varying degrees of battery drain, even if it's only the alarm system.
Lovely looking car by the way.
Agree re previous comments about 'maintenance free' batteries, it's a term that's been in use for quite some time now.
Don't the boot lights switch themselves off after a delay (possibly relatively lengthy); many other cars do nowadays, or are there any options to disable them in one of the set-up menus?
Whilst it might be a pain, is removing the bulbs a realistic option for long-term storage?
Personally, I'd always use a trickle-charger if left unused for a while as all cars seem to have varying degrees of battery drain, even if it's only the alarm system.
Lovely looking car by the way.
Good morning OLDBENZ
I will have to make this short, as I've got to speak to some tradesmen who are about to turn up at the house.
Thank you so much for that invaluable advice - I searched everywhere online and couldn't find anything to explain how to operate this charger correctly. Sounds like what you suggest is the solution, especially as it's been tried and tested by yourself over such an extensive period.
Your car looks stunning by the way, thank you for sharing the photo. If servicing and maintenance wasn't so expensive on these cars, I'd have a series 1 and series 2 in the garage, especially as I think the values are staying pretty stable, in fact likely to go up in my opinion. For me these are a stunning car, the pinnacle of luxury and fine craftsmanship.
On a different note, whereabouts in the UK are you based - Who do you use for servicing / maintenance ?
I'm just looking at extending the Provenance Warranty, part of me thinks I'd be a fool not to have it, but at £8,400 per year, for an occasional use car, it does seem quite a lot - What's your thoughts?
Many thanks also to ruhall for your advice.
I will have to make this short, as I've got to speak to some tradesmen who are about to turn up at the house.
Thank you so much for that invaluable advice - I searched everywhere online and couldn't find anything to explain how to operate this charger correctly. Sounds like what you suggest is the solution, especially as it's been tried and tested by yourself over such an extensive period.
Your car looks stunning by the way, thank you for sharing the photo. If servicing and maintenance wasn't so expensive on these cars, I'd have a series 1 and series 2 in the garage, especially as I think the values are staying pretty stable, in fact likely to go up in my opinion. For me these are a stunning car, the pinnacle of luxury and fine craftsmanship.
On a different note, whereabouts in the UK are you based - Who do you use for servicing / maintenance ?
I'm just looking at extending the Provenance Warranty, part of me thinks I'd be a fool not to have it, but at £8,400 per year, for an occasional use car, it does seem quite a lot - What's your thoughts?
Many thanks also to ruhall for your advice.
Edited by Mulsanne-Speed on Monday 13th July 07:39
The car is kept in Chelsea in an underground carpark for our development. H R Owen (wearing its Rolls Royce London hat) was the supplying dealer and has always serviced it. They have been very good as has the factory when their support was needed.
Mine was one of the very first Dropheads manufactured and was not really used by the first owner. I bought the car at just under 2 years old with 700 miles on the clock and we are up to 34,000 miles now. I live abroad and have a (mostly) old car collection in the UK which competes with the Rolls for seat time so I am quite proud I have managed to put over 30k on her. I take her every other year to the South of France and those journeys count for a good chunk of the mileage. I was actually looking in 2009 for an old Corniche to use in France (having just re-watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and could not find a decent one and had my head turned by this.
She has also been very reliable. The only material issue I had was with the SatNav periodically losing signal for extended periods (except of course when at the dealers) which H R Owen with factory assistance spent over 40 hours tracking down over several visits. The factory covered this although she was well out of warranty. To answer your question, you may be unlucky, but I have not had any big bills in my 11 years (and the car is now 13) - certainly nothing more than £2-4k from memory and those bills probably included tyres. In your position I would save the 8k plus a year and keep my fingers crossed.
What else? She is a lovely wafter and a great antithesis to my other cars (with the honourable exception of my T2). Things that annoy are few: (1) that the steering wheel covers the gear position indicator when not at straight ahead so when you are manoeuvring you are forced to turn the wheel when stationary to check you have got R or D before you move off; (2) that the bonnet release and the fuel flap and cap feel cheap and nasty; (3) that all the chrome stuff at the bottom of the seats is actually chromed plastic - none of that on the T2 ; (4) that despite there being room for a third rear seat passenger there is no third belt. (5) that not only is she wide but you need more space than normal from the car beside you as you have to fully open the suicide doors to get out; (6) One thing that passed health and safety by is that it is impossible for a rear seat passenger to get out of the car without outside assistance when the roof is up. All minor stuff really provided you have another car to go to Tescos in.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.
Mine was one of the very first Dropheads manufactured and was not really used by the first owner. I bought the car at just under 2 years old with 700 miles on the clock and we are up to 34,000 miles now. I live abroad and have a (mostly) old car collection in the UK which competes with the Rolls for seat time so I am quite proud I have managed to put over 30k on her. I take her every other year to the South of France and those journeys count for a good chunk of the mileage. I was actually looking in 2009 for an old Corniche to use in France (having just re-watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and could not find a decent one and had my head turned by this.
She has also been very reliable. The only material issue I had was with the SatNav periodically losing signal for extended periods (except of course when at the dealers) which H R Owen with factory assistance spent over 40 hours tracking down over several visits. The factory covered this although she was well out of warranty. To answer your question, you may be unlucky, but I have not had any big bills in my 11 years (and the car is now 13) - certainly nothing more than £2-4k from memory and those bills probably included tyres. In your position I would save the 8k plus a year and keep my fingers crossed.
What else? She is a lovely wafter and a great antithesis to my other cars (with the honourable exception of my T2). Things that annoy are few: (1) that the steering wheel covers the gear position indicator when not at straight ahead so when you are manoeuvring you are forced to turn the wheel when stationary to check you have got R or D before you move off; (2) that the bonnet release and the fuel flap and cap feel cheap and nasty; (3) that all the chrome stuff at the bottom of the seats is actually chromed plastic - none of that on the T2 ; (4) that despite there being room for a third rear seat passenger there is no third belt. (5) that not only is she wide but you need more space than normal from the car beside you as you have to fully open the suicide doors to get out; (6) One thing that passed health and safety by is that it is impossible for a rear seat passenger to get out of the car without outside assistance when the roof is up. All minor stuff really provided you have another car to go to Tescos in.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.
Edited by OLDBENZ on Monday 13th July 22:47
Thank you for your reply OLDBENZ - 700 miles, wow, that's a great mileage at which to acquire a car. Despite being 2 years old, essentially it was new. Sounds like your ownership experience has been largely trouble free, which is good to hear.
Pretty much like yourself, this car will not be used very much. We've bought it solely for the purpose of travelling across Europe, in my opinion this car is too big for this country and the roads are too small - Plus we don't really get the weather for a convertible.
At some point in the next 4 weeks, we will be making our first trip down to the South of France looking for a second home to purchase. If you have any tips for good ares in which to buy, please share. We're wanting somewhere slightly rural as we have 2 large Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, which will require at least one acre of outside space, so anywhere too built up would not work.
Finally, thank you for the information regarding charging the Phantom, I've switched it on tonight and it's working a treat!
Best
Allister
Pretty much like yourself, this car will not be used very much. We've bought it solely for the purpose of travelling across Europe, in my opinion this car is too big for this country and the roads are too small - Plus we don't really get the weather for a convertible.
At some point in the next 4 weeks, we will be making our first trip down to the South of France looking for a second home to purchase. If you have any tips for good ares in which to buy, please share. We're wanting somewhere slightly rural as we have 2 large Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, which will require at least one acre of outside space, so anywhere too built up would not work.
Finally, thank you for the information regarding charging the Phantom, I've switched it on tonight and it's working a treat!
Best
Allister
That's very kind of you to say Saweep - I have to agree.
Also, this car is not only beautiful but very rare, with only approximately 50 Series 2, RHD cars registered in the UK.
Also, Rolls Royce have officially confirmed that they will not be making another convertible based on their largest flagship model, the Phantom. That makes this car a very solid long term investment, with plenty of good times thrown in.
Rolls Royce will of course continue to make the convertible Dawn model and in relatively large numbers, but the Phantom DHC is a totally different car in every respect and one we're unlikely to see the likes of again.
Also, this car is not only beautiful but very rare, with only approximately 50 Series 2, RHD cars registered in the UK.
Also, Rolls Royce have officially confirmed that they will not be making another convertible based on their largest flagship model, the Phantom. That makes this car a very solid long term investment, with plenty of good times thrown in.
Rolls Royce will of course continue to make the convertible Dawn model and in relatively large numbers, but the Phantom DHC is a totally different car in every respect and one we're unlikely to see the likes of again.
Jeez Louise Pvapour...... It does look like a nice part of the world but just had a quick look at property prices - 2.1m euros for a 2 bed apartment!!
For our home abroad I've got a budget of around 1.5m euros, but I was hoping for 4 beds, a pool and garage space - Is it the same everywhere on Cap Ferrat?
Any parts which are still beautiful / desirable but better value?
For our home abroad I've got a budget of around 1.5m euros, but I was hoping for 4 beds, a pool and garage space - Is it the same everywhere on Cap Ferrat?
Any parts which are still beautiful / desirable but better value?
We’re only holidaying, we Actually live in the SW, we used to live in Antibes but moved away a while ago..
Our first time on Cap Farrat as we steered clear for some reason when we lived up the road..
It is truly stunning, nowhere we have been is as beautiful but that makes it THE most expensive place on the cote d’azur apart from Monaco but thats expensive for another reason (certainly not beauty)
In fact, the 3rd most expensive property in the world is sat right behind where i type this from, buckingham palace is no.1 Villa Leopolda 750m
We walked all round the cap sunday and its the East side (st jean cap farrat) that is truly gorgeous, quieter when everywhere else is busy due to restricted access for residents and hotel guests (only 1 or 2 hotels)
We’re smitten tbh and have looked in a few estate agents windows and you wont get anything below 3m thats got some size to it, but there are flats for 1m.. like you though, we’d want parking and gardens so an expensive decision for a 2nd home!
I wouldnt want to live here full time tbh (and not many do i dont think) as we’d want it to remain special and wouldnt want it becoming ‘normal’ so at that point i think we’re out as theres better things to do with that kind of lump, stuff that’d keep us busy and achieving rather than getting fat and complacent.
Interestingly many of the stunning villas are for rental in high season circa 20-40k mth which might be a sensible option to try, off season you’d be looking at a minimum of 50% off those figures but winter weather can be iffy down here.
I can see us maybe trying the latter at some point instead of Marbella for winter sun but we’ll see.
Definitely worth a visit, the Royal Riviera on the cap has rooms with personal a garden away from main building, breakfast to garden so you never have to step foot in hotel so minimising covid contact, their restaurant is outside, so again, no need for contact within a building, we’ve cleaned our own room the whole time so nobody has step foot inside the room, towels left outside room.
Top down night time Cruising and hooning has been incredible
Our first time on Cap Farrat as we steered clear for some reason when we lived up the road..
It is truly stunning, nowhere we have been is as beautiful but that makes it THE most expensive place on the cote d’azur apart from Monaco but thats expensive for another reason (certainly not beauty)
In fact, the 3rd most expensive property in the world is sat right behind where i type this from, buckingham palace is no.1 Villa Leopolda 750m
We walked all round the cap sunday and its the East side (st jean cap farrat) that is truly gorgeous, quieter when everywhere else is busy due to restricted access for residents and hotel guests (only 1 or 2 hotels)
We’re smitten tbh and have looked in a few estate agents windows and you wont get anything below 3m thats got some size to it, but there are flats for 1m.. like you though, we’d want parking and gardens so an expensive decision for a 2nd home!
I wouldnt want to live here full time tbh (and not many do i dont think) as we’d want it to remain special and wouldnt want it becoming ‘normal’ so at that point i think we’re out as theres better things to do with that kind of lump, stuff that’d keep us busy and achieving rather than getting fat and complacent.
Interestingly many of the stunning villas are for rental in high season circa 20-40k mth which might be a sensible option to try, off season you’d be looking at a minimum of 50% off those figures but winter weather can be iffy down here.
I can see us maybe trying the latter at some point instead of Marbella for winter sun but we’ll see.
Definitely worth a visit, the Royal Riviera on the cap has rooms with personal a garden away from main building, breakfast to garden so you never have to step foot in hotel so minimising covid contact, their restaurant is outside, so again, no need for contact within a building, we’ve cleaned our own room the whole time so nobody has step foot inside the room, towels left outside room.
Top down night time Cruising and hooning has been incredible
We had a villa near guarde freinet for 12 years but eventually got fed up of always having to go to the same place, we would always gravitate to the coast and loved spending all day in beach bars !
So we sold up and bought a boat.........fell in love with Saint Jean Cap Ferrat when we visited to view a boat and bought a berth.
So we sold up and bought a boat.........fell in love with Saint Jean Cap Ferrat when we visited to view a boat and bought a berth.
Gassing Station | Bentley & Rolls Royce | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff