Arnage Green label engine vs 6.75 old faithful ?

[hartley]

Excuse my ignorance - more of an Aston man - but I am attracted to the Arnage by the looks and the interior which seems very similar with the smaller engine car and as I would only use the car for cruising I wonder whether those of you who have driven both versions consider the green label engine experience pleasant enough or should I forget that version ? Relative running costs ?

[Balmoral Green]

I was fortunate enough to have spent a few hours in each, back to back, several years ago. The Green Label is a bit of a curiosity, it's a fine engine, very smooth, but it took an awful long time to respond to demands and was pretty ordinary in the way in which it went about its business. Whereas the old lump gives instant thump and is very bullish in the way it powers around effortlessly. The sales figures tell it all, as soon as they put the old engine into the new car, sales quadrupled, whilst the Green Label quietly faded away, there was absolutely no reason to buy one, and I would imagine the same is true today. I also spent a day in a RR Seraph around the same time, that had the BMW 6.0 V12 in, I loved that, so different to the BMW 4.4 V8 in the Bentley. That engine stayed in the car until the end, they didn't put the old engine in the Seraph, there was no need to, the V12 probably suited the RR's character better.

Edited by Balmoral Green on Thursday 8th January 19:08

[hartley]

Thanks very helpful. I was aware the bmw engine was not favoured but I assume this now reflcts in second hand prices which might make the green label more attractive given I would only be cruising around with a speed limiter installed ( the wife ! ).I note that the 0-60 time for the green label is quoted as 6.5 seconds which is still reasonably brisk for a big car . Do you know if the running costs - mpg and servicing costs differ ?

[Balmoral Green]

hartley said:

I would only be cruising around with a speed limiter installed ( the wife ! )

Yes, I have one of those too

Running costs? well chassis, suspension, brakes etc are all going to be pretty much the same. As for engine/drivetrain woes, the old V8 is a very well known quantity, as for the BMW, I really don't know how they are holding up malady wise. Try giving Simon or Stuart a call at Phantom Motors for a chat, they will be sure to know.

[hsv123]

hi

i had a arnage green label with 4.4 bmw engine. i also had the 6.75 in the red label. to be honest i really could not tell the difference. dont get me wrong you can feel roar of the 6.75 when on the odd occasion you dont mind loosing 10 quid in petrol and you put your foot down but besides that there pretty much the same. these days you can get the green label with a full red label upgrade in the and you can enjoy the economay of a 4.4. servicing wise your still looking at 1500 for the lubrication and 3 grand for the full serviving etc. its a bentley still even tho it has a bmw engine.

[Balmoral Green]

Hello Harry, welcome to Pistonheads.

[hsv123]

hi thanks for welcoming me.

[hartley]

Thanks for the info - I swallow hard at having to pay 1k for my db9 service so 3k for a standard service is a bit depressing - is it any cheaper with specialist non franchise dealers ? Do you prefer
either to the drive in a continental GT which are now around the same price ?

[hsv123]

i have driven the gt and to some up if i had to choose the arnage or the gt. i would go with the g.t the car you get for tyhat type of money is excellent. you can pikc one up for abt 40k now and they still look new and fresh.

[derestrictor]

Nothing compares to Sopwith power.

Have a Camel time, all the time, Marty.

[mrobin33]

hsv123 said:

hi

i had a arnage green label with 4.4 bmw engine. i also had the 6.75 in the red label. to be honest i really could not tell the difference. dont get me wrong you can feel roar of the 6.75 when on the odd occasion you dont mind loosing 10 quid in petrol and you put your foot down but besides that there pretty much the same. these days you can get the green label with a full red label upgrade in the and you can enjoy the economay of a 4.4. servicing wise your still looking at 1500 for the lubrication and 3 grand for the full serviving etc. its a bentley still even tho it has a bmw engine.

With respect to servicing then don't skimp on it (have it done regularly) but I have found it a lot cheaper that this - I use a Manhattan NY bentley dealer and the main lubrication service is about 8 hours and the two year major one is about 16 hours - so shouldn't get to your numbers unless you're paying silly rates. While parts are pricey I have a very few issues.

As for engines then if you want a Bentley get one with a real Bentley engine. It really upsets me that the underside of the rear door ashtray inserts have a BMW symbol on them - as you can tell I went over the car with a fine tooth comb looking for german bits. I have to reluctantly accept the Heating/AC controls and I am sure some of the underlying electronics are BMW, but why the ashtrays! I'd throw them out but have to admit the plastic is almost bakerlite quality.

[Trooper]

I was going to ask a very similar question.
Arnage Green Lable: Unloved orphan or Serious alternative?

The prices for the Green are tantalising but there's a nagging doubt in my mind that it's not a Real Bentley. I'm sure it's fantastic however, even though it's heart beats to a different tune.

I want (need?) one of these but I think I'll wait till I can afford the Red Lable.

[Badboy930]

I think you'd be mad to buy a green label, a sale proof motor. That 4.4 lump is not bad but when you drive the 6.75 single or twin turbo it's a no brainer. Likewise one is pure nuts going to your faithful bentley dealer for a service. These cars are not rocket science and many an independant can keep these cars in top condt.

That 6.7 lump lasts frever if looked after....had a T2 and it was like new at 144k, just needed a de-coke.

Edited by Badboy930 on Wednesday 21st January 12:26

[justin-banks]

Well, I have had both and I really liked the 4.4, cheaper all round I found although I am not a record keeper, I kept telling myself it was no more expensive than the 7 series I had before so maybe I just hypnotised myself! I have no problems with it not being a proper Bentley and really enjoyed it, so I would say, dont dismiss them at all, great cars.
Justin

[Trooper]

I noticed that a bunch of Green Labels have come up for sale on the classifieds from Hanwell Car Centre. Seem very expensive to me as they are more than many newer Red Label cars.
Sort of bucks the trend as, although the BMW engined car is good, the 6.75 is surely more desirable.

[Balmoral Green]

Perhaps they will become a collectable rarity, like a 4 litre compared to an 8 litre?

[Bluebottle911]

Balmoral Green said:

Perhaps they will become a collectable rarity, like a 4 litre compared to an 8 litre?

I'll take the 8, thankyou (wishful thinking!) - 4's a dog.

[Trooper]

There's a Green Label for sale here which looks nice. Black with black leather (yummy). On for about 26K and it's been on for a while. Has anyone been to see this car? If so what was your opinion of it.

[Rushmore]

Great thread!

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Does the 4.4 respond well to a remap?