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

[xtriple]

I'm in a quandary: my heart says:do it all, but my head says: fuck off you will! Do the important bits and live with it... so I'd do all the stuff bar the suspension. But, the front suspension (as much as I try to lie to myself and say it's not) is clunking a bit and I will notice it more and more. The labour to change the top mounts is the same as to do the rest of the suspension so I'll have to pay out twice for the bastard!

 

I'm not a fan of paying large amounts for repair work regardless of whatever my posts imply (infer?) and I am NOT made of money.  This scares me shitless.

 

I have got the money at the mo' but only just (well, getting a bit close) but it's very unlikely I will ever earn any more REAL money as I'm unlikely to be healthy enough. Also, do I spend the dough and enjoy the car for however long I can or put it off and let my son fix it in a year or two? I am an arsehole but I don't really want to saddle the lad with an 8 grand bill....

 

With all this done, it's a 20 - 25 grand motor. Much more than I ever wanted to spend but it is worth the money (to some poor mug!) whereas it's a car that I would struggle to sell for 15 at the moment. It's a 'final edition' series four 'R' and one of only twelve made (four in right hand drive!) so do I owe it to posterity or am I just trying to justify it to myself?

 

The latter I think....

 

Oh bollox.....

[Junkman]

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...

 

The Continental R doesn't frighten me because Bentley, but because VW.

I'm not easily scared, but I regard anything VW pre-1986 too miserable and anything VW post-1986 too timebombesque.

[Junkman]

....an 8 grand bill....

 

With all this done, it's a 20 - 25 grand motor.

See, that's the big advantage with your car. No matter what you do, you can sell it without a big loss, if the need arises.

Much in contrast to old Imperials, where you have Facel level restoration costs resulting in Chrysler level sell prices.

[BavarianRetro]

I'd suggest doing structural and safety related parts to a level that it is structurally sound and safe and useable and reassess in six months.

 

If you like it and want to keep it, do the rest to the highest standard you can afford. If you don't like it and decide to sell it, do the rest to the standard that will produce the biggest return for the least output. They might be the same, but you might do things differently and in a different order for a keeper over a fix up and sell on.

[the judge]

Definatly go for your suspension units overhauled. Same warrenty,and all original. Makes sense,plus huge saving

[the judge]

Is there no way you would let a more sensibly priced garage/specialist touch it? I would have the rack and struts reconditioned all day long. Makes way more sense

[xtriple]

This is what I have just sent to SPSW.

 

 

 

 

Dear Paul,

My God, you REALLY hate me don't you? I said 'be gentle' with me and you take it as a personal affront to your business acumen and decide to sort out your, and all the staffs Christmas bonuses in one hit! Am I paying for the party to be held in the Mauritius isles? Friends AND family.....

I jest, just in case my tragic humour is lost....

I have been trying to prioritise the works needed but it feels to me like they are all pretty important. I would do the lot in one BIG hit 'if' you could/can see your way clear to applying a discount to me, who is, your oldest a dearest friend.... and, as said before, it's YOUR fault I've got this car - I should have stuck with the Turbo R, it would have been cheaper! Bad advice followed....

So, discount?

Please?

Pretty please....

Best regards,

Dave.

P.S. I would require ALL of it done within a very short period as it's my birthday on Friday and I want to grow old in style.

[BavarianRetro]

My response to that would start, "If you need it done quickly, I'm afraid ...'

[Junkman]

Couldn't you come to an agreement to pay the big invoice in installments?

Like say 8k in quarterly installments of 2k during 2016?

[Felly Magic]

Deffo go down the rebuild state, difference will be minimal quality wise, but wallet savings are mahoosive

[Paul Dupart]

This post has learnt me that folk who drive around in old motors like this deserve utmost respect.  You just can't fix them cheaply.  There's a saying 'Champagne motoring for lemonade money' but these motors are different, it still costs champagne money to keep them going properly and safely.

 

There was a beautiful T regd (1999 era) Bentley Arnage in our local Aldi car park his morning.  Parked amongst all the white and silver euro blob financed hatchbacks, it really stood out with its immaculate shiny blue paintwork.  I didn't see the driver, but he/she gained my immediate respect for choosing to travel around in such comfort, style, quality and class, regardless of cost.  Most of the euro blob owners couldn't afford to do it.  And would probably look down on the owner in his 'old car'.

 

You sound, Mr xt, like a guy who seeks perfection.  As long as you and your dogs can eat and keep warm this winter, go for it, get it done because you'll never be happy until it's virtually perfect.  Then you'll be laughing, having the last laugh as you waft around in a way you only can do in a Bentley.

 

We're all behind you with our fingers crossed!

[Timewaster]

17 pages and no one has suggested hammering a smaller Bentley over it.

 

This place etc. etc.

[Bear]

If you were closer, I'd suggest bringing it over here and having a good look at how complex the engineering really is. Given the nightmarish messes modern cars are, I suspect that the Bentley's issues aren't "too hard to understand", but may be "too big/heavy" for many places to tackle. Though the corrosion points are always best handled by an expert in these cases, assuming they deliver what they promise.

[purplebargeken]

I have plenty of dog food I can post out just in case. Wouldn't want the furries to go hungry now, eh?

[anonymous user]

This post has learnt me that folk who drive around in old motors like this deserve utmost respect.  You just can't fix them cheaply.  There's a saying 'Champagne motoring for lemonade money' but these motors are different, it still costs champagne money to keep them going properly and safely.

 

The trouble is, it appears that this is Champagne motoring for vintage champagne money

[xtriple]

I have now reconciled myself to getting it done. No, I can't 'afford; it but I can't 'not afford' it either!  I've had money in the bank for a few years now and not spent a penny (other than on Phoebes vet bills early this year) and earn't about  £3 in interest (okay, a bit more than that but fuck all really - after tax about £12 a month!) which is just not worth worrying about.

 

I will sell the Honda when it's all done (anyone want a really, REALLY good Honda Insight - very low mileage,very full history, very fussy owner that spends money on cars like the stuff is going out of fashion... just had two bits of paintwork done on it that NO ONE except me could see, but I could see it and it drove me crazy. It's  a shame 'cos I do like the car but I hardly use one car so two 'decent cars is one too many!)

 

When it comes back, I will go mad with the waxoyl or similar and get it properly protected underneath, I wonder if any Rolls Royce owner that we may know has access to a ramp that I could borrow for an hour or three for the exchange of petrol vouchers (not too many, expensive stuff petrol    ) and get the wheelarches done etc. Oh yes, got to get the stripe on the front wing as well.

 

Major problem....

 

I am now trying to compose a letter to the seller of this fine vehicle to, basically, ask for the money for all the parts that would have failed an MOT if the poor car had ever been put in for one instead of a phone call and postage version! Rack, engine mounts (are they a fail?) brakes and that tiny bit of welding that is going to cost £500! Yes, it is a fairly tiny bit, but still a fail and to do it properly (Bentley standard that will last a year or ten) will cost money.

 

I suspect he will tell me to 'do one' but I will then enjoy (once the remote prospect of getting some cash is gone) dobbing the bastard in to all and sundry.

[panhard65]

I do have a ramp available when you want to waxoyl it. The only trouble is the weather, when it is cold the bloody stuff won't come out of the can let alone spray so you will need a nice day or bring a heater.

[xtriple]

Thank you very much. I shall bring my blow torch as usual and see what I can blow up!

[Timewaster]

Gas Mark 4 for 10 minutes.

 

 

I accept NO responsibility for the outcome if you follow this advice.

 

 

PS Unscrew the lid FIRST!

[colino]

Before you get too carried away and do any work on it, arrange a fixed appointment to take the car back to the seller and email him a list of the faults discovered so far.  If you are crystal clear about the condition of the car, especially with corrosion + MOT, they may make you an offer (to be assisted by his MOT station) towards repair.  If they do feel solid on their ground though and dispute what a rival garage has said, they may well just tell you to go away.

[Bren]

Fair play to you xtriple. You have to chase your dreams.

 

For me, the work WILL have to be done but I would prioritise. I would overhaul your suspension units rather than replace them - the work has been done but saved £££££.

 

I would certainly get on to the vendor - that prospective bill is the stuff of heart failure, if he says k' off then take it further.

 

I am deliberating whether or not to spend £10 on a set of rear pads for the focus, or whether or not they can wait until next month. Fair to say I will never own anything exotic.

[Taff]

 

Major problem....

 

I am now trying to compose a letter to the seller of this fine vehicle to, basically, ask for the money for all the parts that would have failed an MOT if the poor car had ever been put in for one instead of a phone call and postage version! Rack, engine mounts (are they a fail?) brakes and that tiny bit of welding that is going to cost £500! Yes, it is a fairly tiny bit, but still a fail and to do it properly (Bentley standard that will last a year or ten) will cost money.

 

I suspect he will tell me to 'do one' but I will then enjoy (once the remote prospect of getting some cash is gone) dobbing the bastard in to all and sundry.

 

fuck writing him a letter, it will end up in file 13.

 

Take the quote from the specialist with you when you visit the vendor. Otherwise, accept the 8K hit and move on.

[xtriple]

 

 

 

 

 

She's back!!!!!!

 

What a difference a good fettle makes. Before it felt loose and old... a bit tired. Disappointing to be honest, the Turbo R was much nicer! But now, taught, refined, precise and rattle, clunk and iffy brakes free!

 

The suspension is lovely:sporty and really comfortable, no clunks or rattles absolutely spot on. Brakes the same, smooth, powerful and nicely progressive. It  warms up super fast as well so the heater works (pleasant today!) and all the little niggles and annoyances have gone.

 

The engine still feels better than the Turbo Rs: much smoother, faster to respond and much quieter, not as powerful but bugger all in it to be honest. The gearbox is much nicer, more gears and smooth as silk.

 

All the little things that drove me crazy have been done: new wipers, new number plates, new flying 'B' all the bulbs in the dash work (though I never used it at night so hadn't noticed) the alarm doesn't piss around and the central locking works properly. Oh, and no rattle in the back door!

 

Yes, the bill is truly frightening. This has given me many sleepless nights worrying: am I doing the right thing? Am I just wasting money? The answers are probably -no and yes respectively!

 

They undersealed it all underneath for me after rubbing it all down first (proper job!) and didn't charge me for the time. They did loads of the little jobs and didn't charge me for the time! They fitted all the number plates and bulbs and stuff without charging me.... Good stuff!

 

The bill was £10690 after they refunded me for the key that wouldn't work (again) which is a horrendous amount and I feel quite sick at the thought of how much this car owes me (|£25K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but, it's what I wanted.

 

Parts came to £5550.

Labour was     £3025

VAT was          £1715

 

That was the first page... the second page only had a couple of things billed and was £332 and £66.

 

I am truly astonished at parts prices for anything that had to come from Bentley themselves: a metre long cable with a connector at each end =£120 each! Had to have them as the new struts were different and the old cable wouldn't fit and they had to be coded to the car!

 

But, it drives beautifully! Christ, it's quiet. And it really goes - got it sideways turning across a junction on the way home, that certainly got my attention! Oh, and the radio works perfectly - all speakers fine and so does the tape, just the CD player that pisses around. I'd buy a new one, but I need to stop spending for a while. I shall get used to the radio!

[Felly Magic]

get one of those tape deck adaptors and an mp3 player, job done for a fraction of the cost, plus no skippage when going over bumps

[Richard]

Have you tried running a cleaning disc through the CD player? I used this one and it made the Volvo's CD player behave itself http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003XIMUYU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

[danthecapriman]

That is beautiful! And absolutely worth every penny. You must be made up with it!

That must have been hilarious to watch going sideways over a junction! Hooligan!

 

If it makes you feel better, my bill is about £3000 more than yours and mines still got a bit more to go. For this Bentley, I'd have payed what you have. Worth every bit to keep stuff like this on the road.

[twosmoke300]

That is bloody lovely and can totally see why you spent that on it . It's the sort of car that needs to to factory perfect to get the full joy/ effect . Any little niggles would drive you mad . It wasn't exactly a 200 pound shitter before so it makes sense to keep on top of it . Well done

[fordperv]

I'd say you have done the right thing, if you would have had only the most important jobs done the other jobs would have eaten at you and if your anything like me you wouldn't have been happy until in your head it was spot on, now you can enjoy it

 

It does look a lovely motor

[twosmoke300]

Just look at the bland modern shit 26 odd k would get you ! Fuck that ! Bentley all the way

[richardmorris]

Pm me your address and I'll put an MP3 tape deck adaptor in the post tomorrow free.