| Author | Message | ||
     Lluís Gimeno-Fabra Experienced User Username: lluís Post Number: 11 Registered: 8-2007 |
Dear all, A few minutes ago I tried posting but I think something went wrong. Some may recall that a few months ago I started looking at Bentley Turbos and Continentals as our new old car. To make my story short, I have been looking carefully at continental-R Bentleys ( 1992-1996) for about a half a year now and I would like to buy one before summer. I am planning to buy from a specialist and there is a choice of models: - 1996 120000 Miles - 1996 24000 Miles - 1993 45000 Miles (2 options) All have a wonderfully stamped service book and prices varying from 55000 to 64000 Euros (Tax Free). My questions are the following. I am afraid that the 24000-miles example has had "too-little" use. Is this a cause of concern? I believe it has not driven for over a year, but has been started regularly. On the other hand, do you consider that the 120000 Miles example which is regularly maintained and used has a mileage which may cause problems (routine replacement of turbo, dampers, bearings, etc...)? I know I asked this before, but maybe there are new readers in the Forum: Which engine would you recommend the pre 1995 or the traditional looking 1992-1994? I read that they are almost identical anyway. Do you have any particular points on this model that I should be specially cautious of? Thank you for your answers in advance. Lluis | ||
| Paul Yorke Prolific User Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 158 Registered: 6-2006 |
Lluis, I would have a look at and a drive of the cars, and have an inspection done on any you are seriously considering. Buy the one that is in the best condition today, not the one with the most stamps  Low mileage cars can be a minefield is so far as main agents have been known to 'just stamp the book' if a car hasn't covered many miles. Especially at busy times ( pre Christrmas etc. )MAke sure all grease points, oil changes etc have been done, regardless of mileage. Get a printout of the work carried out ;) At 120 000 miles, I'd expect the front suspension bushes ball joints etc. to have all been changed. So make sure that has all been done. The mileage is a bit on the high side unless thoroughly maintained. If you plan to do much mileage in it, I'd go for one of the others. The later cars with individual coils and the engine covers are much harder to maintain. The engine itself is almost identical as you point out, it's just getting to the bits & the electronics that's harder! | ||
| Lluís Gimeno-Fabra Experienced User Username: lluís Post Number: 12 Registered: 8-2007 |
As before thank you very much for the answers, this is a most useful list. I will check: - Real services really carried out (not sure I can) - Mileage structure (for how many years has the car stood almost still) - Suspension bushes and ball joints changed every 60000 Miles (???) More questions: Are wheel bearings sensitive in this cars? At what mileage should they be changed. As a general rule, how about brake disks? Suspension Spheres? Coolant? Is the engine made of aluminum or steel? Is it sensible to ask for a full service changing all the above mentioned items? How over-engineered as these cars? I found 120000 Miles quite a low mileage for any well mantained V12 Jaguar or V8 Mercedes, so I am surprised to see its high in a Bentley. Best regards Lluís | ||
| Paul Yorke Prolific User Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 161 Registered: 6-2006 |
Lluis, Hopefully service invoices have been kept, or if buying from a main dealer it will be on Crewe's computer. ( Data protection act may interfere here? ) Suspension bushes and ball joints are changes as necessary - but by 120k I'd expect them to have been done. Brake discs will be looked at when you have it inspected. Coolant should have been changed every few years. Aluminium Engine. 120k miles is not too much for these cars , but if you intend on using it and start adding 24k a year, it will soon be worrying to any perspective purchaser. ( Thinking ahead to selling it ) "Is it sensible to ask for a full service changing all the above mentioned items? " . . . . Yes, if it needs them - but make sure it does before asking I would probably prefer a 150000 mile car that had run up and down the French Autoroute than a 24 000 that had spent it's life in Hong Kong or the Highlands of Scotland - But you really need to look at each car and ignore what it's supposed to be and find out what it is today. Good hunting! | ||
| Lluís Gimeno-Fabra Experienced User Username: lluís Post Number: 13 Registered: 8-2007 |
Thank you again. I hope to haggle the asking price two fold, with the price and with a full service carried out at reduced/fixed cost before delivery. I have followed the low mileage car and it stands for about a year. I very probably will buy from a specialist, but one of the cars comes from a private person (with 45000 Miles). Nice cars. Best regards, Lluís | ||
| Stephe Boddice Frequent User Username: stephe_boddice Post Number: 62 Registered: 2-2005 |
LLuis, Just to add to your problems the engine was uprated in June 1995. The changes gave 8% more power, 7% better economy plus numerous other minor changes around the car. I would listen to Paul's advice regarding condition and history. My preference would be for a good, properly maintained car with 120,000 miles on the clock. I bought a 1996 Con R last year that had 33,000 miles on the clock and full service history with my local agent. I bought the car because the body and interior were immaculate and to the exact specification that I would have specified. Due to the low mileage I have spent a frustrating year dealing with minor problems that take an age to locate. These include: - 1) Misfire at 80+ mph. This turned out to be corrosion on one of the phonic rings that are built in to each wheel hub. The incorrect signal was causing the engine management system to momentarily shut down and the traction control to cut in. Easy to fix but adevil to find. 2) When I had a new Tracker system fitted the technician also reconnected an old system. The old system had been disconnected because it had a fault that drained the battery in a matter of days. This unit has now been removed. 3) The battery still kept going flat. We eventually found that the small battery in the alarm siren was causing a periodic drain. 4) The battery is still going flat if the car is not used for about 2 weeks. Current investigations are taking place on a circuit by circuit basis. The problem is that there is no abnormal drain most of the time, which means that there is an intermittent fault that needs to caught as it happens. There are no errors logged on the computer system. My point being that a high mileage car either will not experience these faults or will have had them rectified. Because this is my daily use car the electrical faults only became apparent when I went on holiday. Having discovered that there is a fault(s) I am now determined to sort it all out. Regardless of the above the Continental R is a fantastic machine. Good luck with your search. SB www.boddice.co.uk | ||
| Lluís Gimeno-Fabra Experienced User Username: lluís Post Number: 14 Registered: 8-2007 |
Thank you very much, the bits of advice here amount to a lot of valuable information. I will try to get a limited warranty and use the car regularly in summer to get the faults to surface. Did the dealer rectify your problems free of charge? I am curious Stephe, you point out at improved mileage: what mileage do you get on a highway trip? Kind regards | ||
| Richard Treacy Grand Master Username: richard_treacy Post Number: 1389 Registered: 4-2003 |
Stephe writes ___________________________________ Regardless of the above the Continental R is a fantastic machine. ___________________________________ Let me just comment that Stephe's Conti R is the most superb vehicle I have ever seen or driven. Yes, driven, and not just around the block. Looks, taste, refinement and performance are put together in an unbeatable package, and that applies by 2008 standards. All this comes without a weekly visit to the dentist for tooth repairs and a white van to follow you with the picknic hamper if you choose a Zonda instead. Stephe's colour choice is just a stunning combination on his Conti R. Stephe picked me up at Birmingham Airport last year in it, and the next day we headed for Kelmarsh Hall, again in the Conti R. I'm sure his blokes will sort out the silly, minor, spurious but debilitating battery drain soon, but the newer the version the more complicated they become. These days it seems that if all else fails you reboot the system PC style, and download a version www.clz.com/CGT1005.fxl to fix it. Take pity on those who inherit Conti GTs in years to come as they will need to have the motor removed to change the spark plugs. If you must ask about fuel mileage, a minor cost even with oil at $130/barrel, perhaps a Renault Clio is the go. RT. | ||
| Lluís Gimeno-Fabra Experienced User Username: lluís Post Number: 15 Registered: 8-2007 |
Dear Richard, I must not, I am curious. Best regards | ||
| Lluís Gimeno-Fabra Experienced User Username: lluís Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2007 |
I expected that comment . |
