Bentley Turbo R total shite! Now, Brooklands 'R' turbo shite....

[xtriple]

I'll just leave this here....

 

Dear David,

 

Further to our conversation earlier, please find below estimated costs etc. Sit down before reading please!!!!

 

Coolant gauge reading to low – fit new coolant temp sender/water temp transmitter & thermostat - £566+VAT

 

Brake accumulator spheres low on pressure – fit new spheres, flush & bleed systems(also then see if this helps the brake imbalance) £468+VAT

 

Steering rack bellows insecure & rack leaking – fit S/X rack & new lock tab £615+VAT (pic attached)  **MOT**

 

Fit new front brake pads (reduced price of pads until end of October) £298+VAT

 

Front & N/S engine mounts split. Bolt missing on O/S mount – fit 3 x new mounts £412+VAT **MOT**

 

Both front compliant mounts split (covered by heat shields so difficult to notice at a glance) £422+VAT (mostly time to get to the mounts with heat shields in the way)

 

O/S boot hinge broken (see pic) supply & fit USED hinge £167+VAT (new are £340+VAT!!)

 

Front dampers very firm, front springs very weak & suspension top mounts worn – Cost to fit new dampers/link looms/damper sleeves/spring supports/mounts/road springs/metal top plates etc. works out to an eye watering £3648+VAT!! Flying spares do not currently have any original s/x dampers in stock and none in the pipeline.  They did suggest we could send your old ones in for them to be reconditioned which all being well would take around 2 weeks and would save around £1280+VAT.

 

N/S/R spring pan corroded and starting to split – strip suspension, cut off spring pan, set up & weld new pan fitting new spring cups/seat & treat £553+VAT

 

As I mentioned the alarm was going off & car locking when boot was opening, have disconnected a switch in the boot for now which has stopped this. CDL now works on O/S/R door (replaced wiring/connectors in that door).  But there is still an issue with the alarm which we will have to look further into.

 

The radio fault with speakers etc. appears to be an internal fault inside the head unit.

With regard to car pulling to left once we have bled the brake system & got all the air out of it can then see if it has improved braking performance.  Failing that may then need to look at renewing caliper seals.

 

Other items to note:-

 

High pitch horn not working.

N/S/F seat controls not working correctly.

Rear fog lamp button adrift, but working.

Transmission fluid smelling a little burnt.

All jacking brackets bent.

N/S/F bumper corner loose.

Rear pads 50% worn.

Recommend clean & treat fuel/cooler pipes.

Signs of mineral fluid leak on N/S – requires wash down & further investigation.

Washer bottle loose.

Spare tyre flat – have inflated will check for puncture.

Rear tyre treads cracked.

Sign of engine oil leak front of engine.

PAS cooler pipe weeping.

 

 

Hope this all makes sense.  We can always prioritise the work above to spread the cost.

[panhard65]

That isn't too bad. The price for the rear suspension arm looks good to me I might ask them if they can do mine if I take the arm off. They probably have a jig for welding them in as it isn't the easiest of things to do correctly. The front pad price is very good as well. The rest although a lot more than I would charge isn't too out of the way. The compliance bushes were a piece of piss on the Spirit but as they say on the Turbos it is a whole different ball game. I take back what I said about them taking you for a ride that all sounds very fair. I do think that they are correct in wanting to do it a bit at a time as you never know leaving the front dampers for a month or two there might be a chance of finding good servicable used ones. I would certainly be getting on to the dealer who sold it to you to get him to ay least pay for the parts that it should of failed the mot on.

[TagoraSX]

Just like an invoice for a normal car with the decimal point in the wrong place.....

[xtriple]

You on commission?

 

It adds up to just over EIGHT GRAND!!!! Including VAT.

 

Granted, four and a half of that is the front suspension which I'd never noticed feel bad. The brake pads are ridiculous... but that is the price so gotta be done.

This is why I always get cars looking 'right' before I get too involved: if it still looked a bit 'tatty' I'd be inclined to sack it off, but having spent on hetting it looking right it makes me want the car more.

 

Decisions, decision.

 

I shall try and get some cash out of the seller for definite, but I am inclined to just sell the Honda and get the lot done in one hit! If I know there are faults, it'll drive me crazy and I'll be taking it back and forward getting bits done here and there. I can't be arsed.... I'd rather just bite the bullet and get it fixed.

[STUNO]

Get the MOT fail items done first, seller should at least cough up a good part of that. Then spread the load out for the rest at 1 visit a month or so. That would make it just like having finance on it to be paid, but better because you see something for your money !

[dollywobbler]

There is no sense in getting EVERYTHING done. That's just not how it works with Autoshite. We do what's immediately necessary, then continue with improvements through the life of the car. Certainly how I do it anyway. So, my XM had a bit of welded done, because you can't just leave that sort of thing and hope it improves. Through the winter. Then a few months later, had the cambelt done. Few months later, did some sphere replacement. Over a year later and I still haven't got the clutch replaced, but it isn't impacting too heavily on my enjoyment of the car. 

 

I don't really believe there's such thing as getting a car perfect, just as you can't ever get a house entirely finished. There's always something new to do, so you might as well get bits done as and when. It'll still be magnificent. 

 

But hey, your money so do what pleases you.

[steve_earwig]

Jesus H Christ :shock: In the Uk you could buy a fleet of cars for that!

 

I know it's going against the wotsit and I'm sorry and all that but I'm really concerned this car could turn into a money pit.

 

Transmission fluid smelling a little burnt.

Run away screaming, waiving your hands in the air!

[panhard65]

Jesus H Christ :shock: In the Uk you could buy a fleet of cars for that!

 

I know it's going against the wotsit and I'm sorry and all that but I'm really concerned this car could turn into a money pit.

 

Run away screaming, waiving your hands in the air!

These gearboxes are great so nothing much to worry about a fluid change and it will be fine. You can spend a lot of money getting it perfect but as you hadn't noticed a problem with the suspension I would leave that for now. The brakes do want sorting though as they are pretty important to get right.

[Richard]

These Barried Clios and Corsas you used to see had £10k-20k sunk into them, and there wasn't the slightest hope of recouping much more than £100 of that.

[The Moog]

If you have it and you think it is worth it then crack on

 

We can all live vicariously through you

[stripped fred]

I like dollywobbler's advice, to do what is essential for the mot and then the other bits as and when.

[richardmorris]

It's always taken me about two years to sort out everything I want/need to on a car. But if you've got the money and want to do it all at once and could get it all back by selling it the day after then it's your car to enjoy. I'd sell the Honda too and use the Bentley regularly- probably good for it.

[xtriple]

I have done nothing yet. It helps that they are shut over the weekends so I don't have to make a snap decision.

 

Brakes, rack and the various mounts are for definite getting done straight away. The big one is the suspension. That's 4.5 grand on its own! I can convert to non active for a lot less, but I don't want to. I can have my struts re-furbed for £500 but... I don't know, not sure about them at all.

 

The Honda was always going to get the order of the boot after all this, want a nice cheap MGF or MX5 for a spare car and trundling around sans roof when (if) the sun shines. But, got to find an auto one...

 

If I pay out £8 grand on the bloody car that makes it £22K all in, which is about right on the value, so no profit for David!

 

Yes, I have got the cash. Lucky position to be in I guess but this will seriously dent the available funds considerably! If I don't sell the Honda then I'm skint....

It was never going to be a cheap exercise buying/running an old Bentley but I still think I did alright! I could well have paid £20 k for a 'nice' one and then still had several thousand pounds to find for a few bits and bobs! They ain't for the weak hearted!

 

The gearbox is nothing to worry about, just needs a service which is relatively cheap ('cheap' in this context just means I could buy a pug 405 or something for the same rather than a Jaguar XJ-R!) and the various leaks need looking at, but none of them are particularly bad or worrying.

 

Decisions, decisions.

[eddyramrod]

 want a nice cheap MGF or MX5 for a spare car and trundling around sans roof when (if) the sun shines. But, got to find an auto one...

 

Or an MR2.  If only you knew someone with an automatic, with removable glass roof panels, who might be persuaded to sell it...   Can you think of anyone?  Perhaps with a red one that's about 23 years old, up in the far north west maybe?

[fordperv]

I say go for it, i am a firm believer of things being right and know where your coming from, you could have bought one for much more cash that needs similar work, the only downside I can see if you get rid of the Honda is you won't have the fantastic service from the Honda dealer that you like, unless they fancy servicing the Bentley that is

[Skizzer]

This thread is so terrifying, I have to watch it from behind the sofa with my fingers in my ears.

 

Lovely car though, good luck.  I'm with Dollywobbler - do it in stages starting with the MOT stuff.

[richardmorris]

What I have learnt so far from this thread is that cheap bentleys are cheap for a reason.

My favourite ever top gear episode is the one where they buy a cheap Italian super car. I don't agree with most of what mr clarkson says, but his summing up of this debacle will echo forever in my head whenever I have an impulsive thought - yes you can buy an Italian super car for less than £10k, but for the love of God don't.

 

This is not meant to denigrate mr triple x in the slightest. I have palpitations when the low fuel light comes on- I couldn't cope with the imminent thoughts of wallet surgery necessary for Bentley ownership. Chapeau sir.

[Junkman]

I learned my lesson. From now on the newest Royces/Bentleys I ensnare will be Silver Shadows/T1s.

Still lots of DIY possible on these and I might finally meet Steve The Manic Swapper.

Not too sure whether the latter would be more pleasant than paying through nose and ears, though.

[cort16]

If you're trying to bring it up to the next level then it'll be expensive (but fair play for doing it) but you have to go all in to do it. For me I'd smoke around in it and only fix the bits that would cause it to 1: explode, 2: kill me and just enjoy it.

If you'd bought a 20k one who's to say it wouldn't have issues? Old cars etc.,

[Hertz]

Is it a box tick this or a long term keeper? I would be just living with it for a few months before shelling out 8 bags. What if in a few months Bentley ownership wears thin and you want to get rid? 

[fordperv]

If he gets bored he can sell it for 20k maybe more, as the bits are done and the body is now 100%

[barefoot]

Pm me you address and I'll post you a high pitched horn.

That'll be one less thing to worry about.

[Junkman]

For me I'd smoke around in it and only fix the bits that would cause it to 1: not switch on the interior light when I open a door, 2: not make the cigarette lighter glow bright orange on demand.

 

 

FTFY

[panhard65]

What I have learnt so far from this thread is that cheap bentleys are cheap for a reason.

My favourite ever top gear episode is the one where they buy a cheap Italian super car. I don't agree with most of what mr clarkson says, but his summing up of this debacle will echo forever in my head whenever I have an impulsive thought - yes you can buy an Italian super car for less than £10k, but for the love of God don't.

 

This is not meant to denigrate mr triple x in the slightest. I have palpitations when the low fuel light comes on- I couldn't cope with the imminent thoughts of wallet surgery necessary for Bentley ownership. Chapeau sir.

Cheap is relative my spirit was 2.25k so cheap. The thing to remember is I have spent a grand on it doing all the usual things. You are better off a lot of the time paying the bottom price for one and doing the work as that way you will know it is right. Anyone can make up a load of history but it can all be worthless. Get it done yourself and know it is done right. my advice is get it sorted but don't get it done all at once even though I know you can afford it and want to do it. These cars do need a lot of looking after so best to spread the repairs around. I know mine needs a lot of work to get right but I do so few miles it will be about 5 years before I really need to do the pads and discs. This won't stop me wanting to do them but cash flow will. Try to ignore your inner voice and just do the basics. You don't do a lot of miles and you really should enjoy it rather than worry about the costs and what wants doing within the next 10k miles.. I don't even want to think about how much mine costs per mile but whatever it was it was worth it.

[Junkman]

It all reminds me of Imperial ownership. I had 11 of them, all restored by myself. I realise, that there are still many people out there, who think they are Chryslers. Well, they are not.

Pretty much along the RR/Bentley doctrine, they are hand-made semi-customs.

In every case, it was the same old story. If I did it, it was done right, if someone else did it, it was either done as if they were indeed Chryslers, or, if he knew what an Imperial is, a healthy premium was levied on his rates. It pissed me off.

After the third one or so, I did no longer allow anybody to as much as touch my Imperials, or only let them work on them under my close supervision. Believe you me, I felt like a snob shit, but I saw no alternative. But from the moment I took things in my own hands, I saved a shitload of money and things turned for the better. Another benefit was, that I became regarded as some kind of an Imperial Guru, and subsequently a lot of those fine motors were restored with my guidance, that otherwise would inevitably have been lost forever. This includes three of the ultra-rare Crown Imperial Ghia limousines.

 

I will not leave this world, without ever having owned a Royce, or Bentley.

One thing is for sure. I will sort it out myself. Or entrust someone who has my uninhibited trust. And the way things are looking right now, I think panhard65 is one of them.

 

Having said this, how about my 30+ year long hunt for a Facel Vega?

[BavarianRetro]

I tell people the same sort of thing with the E24 six series.

 

So many £5000 - £10000 E24s need the same done to them and the same amount spent on them as the £1000 project that you are better buying the £1000 project.

 

I've just bought one that had had fortunes spent on wheels and tyres and lowered on coilovers front and reat, but is too rusty to be worth repairing!

[captain_70s]

This thread is so terrifying, I have to watch it from behind the sofa with my fingers in my ears.

Whenever I see this thread has new posts I curl up in the fetal position and sob for a while before building up the courage to actually read it.

 

I could buy my entire fleet of four cars for less money than fixing the Bentley's suspension while still having enough spare change to buy a kebab (or another Dolomite) and that makes my head hurt.

[xtriple]

Pm me you address and I'll post you a high pitched horn.

That'll be one less thing to worry about.

That is very nice of you - did you steal mine?   I shall pm you in a moment!

[Felly Magic]

Why not fit a 2 tone from a train? Just a thought...

[chaseracer]

...the RR/Bentley doctrine, they are hand-made semi-customs ...I will not leave this island, without ever having owned a Royce, or Bentley...

 

I have ticked the W124 box, though V116, R129 and C126 remain thus far unachieved.  What I have not yet informed Domestic Management about is the large space on the drive marked RESERVED FOR CONTINENTAL R...