Auto-ride shocks had to be replaced (USD$700 each).
Replaced the memory control module for the front passenger seat ($850 USD).
Replaced numerous relays and switches for the A/C fans and cooling unit.
Strange gas smell from the rear of the car due to a leak in a hose.
Lower engine coolant reservoir replaced (USD $250).
Numerous belts and hoses (total USD $3,200).
Steering pump O-rings ($129).
Lower front steering bushing ($300).
I acquired this car from Don L. Leasing in Florida last fall, and my disappointment has been more with the condition of the car when it was delivered to me rather than intrinsic failures within the car itself. I bought the car unseen and was guaranteed that it was in mint condition. It turned out to have several problems which I've finally sorted out.
Having lived its life in Florida, the salt got to the rubber in the car. I've had to replace almost every hose and belt in the car. Last winter, after the first cold snap I had every kind of fluid imaginable leaking out from under the car.
The car is beautiful, Black over a nice fawn grey. I've taken it on several road trips and it has performed beautifully on each. I always arrived well rested and comfortable.
It always gets the best valet spaces at clubs and garners all kinds of looks from people on the road. Definitely not a low-profile car.
Interior quality is remarkable.
Great performance (when the suspension works, anyway). Handles wonderfully.
Car is very expensive to maintain and gets really crappy gas mileage (I've seen an average of about 7.5 mpg!)
Wondering if once you had everything fixed (leaks etc) it was thereafter reliable. I also had a range rover which was a 'leaky' car... and never quite shook the problem... finally sold it. I was planning on buying a turbo are 1990-1995 used and driving it 5-7k year for quite awhile
any suggestions welcomed.
Gentlemen, please take my advice from the old world. We are driving Range Rovers for quite some years and Rollers (Rolls Royce) and Bentleys since long time. These you cannot mix. Range Rovers are nice cars, but quality wise on a level of a mexican made entry model Chevy compared to a hand made Lincoln for the president (if you allow for this comparison). Range Rovers have always been high profile standard vehicles, no more, no less. And they give some trouble from time to time, but they are rigid. Bentleys and Rollers are very conservative, but over-engeneerered and they will last forever if properly maintained. The quality of detail is tremendous, and if you are coming from Germany, as I do, and you have driven all of our nice things we have as Porsches, Benz and BMWs, if you really appreciate bullet-proof quality, you start to love e.g. in-house made fixing elements in in-house-sizes because "only they will do"...
Believe me, they are crucial for keeping their regular professional maintenance, but at the end their long term quality is unsurpassed. A car for life.
The best entry is SSII or TII with FSH Main Dealer. Engines will go far beyond 200.000 miles. Nice are Turbos Active Ride (>1991), best of that >1994. Better New Turbos (>1996 till end). Best of the Bunch Turbo RT (>1997). (Even here very hard to find). I would pick either > 1991 turbo or a nice TII/SSII depending on the Budget. My personal favorite for 70' would be Bentley Corniche Coupe II LHD, but only 9 made, so this would be tricky to find.
Anyhow, please join the RR community, you won't be dissaponted (as U say in the States...) and support the RREC Club...!
Greetings, alex@kubald.com.
Greetings. I have a question concerning the '91 Turbo R. I am new to Bentley and am considering a purchase. I have been made aware of their potential to "break". I share the question of a previous inquirer. Have you found the need to repair or replace the same item repeatedly or does one shot usually take care of it. The seller has a long list of recent repairs and replacements and I wonder if this should provide assurance or a warning? Thanks.
I do not own a Bentley, but I do have two Rolls Royces. Essentially a Bentley is a "hotrod" version of a Rolls Royce. You should really do your research on the different models and talk to people who own Bentleys and Rolls Royces. They are extremely reliable and well built automobiles, but, they must be serviced every 6500 miles by a Rolls Royce mechanic. Be very carefull, these are not Hondas, only a Rolls Royce mechanic can work on a Rolls or Bentley. Unfortunately, a lot a people will say that they know how to work on these cars and will do more damage to the car than if you didn't have it serviced at all. Go to the book store and read a specific book on Bentleys. Never buy a Rolls or Bentley "fixer, upper." There is no such thing as a minor problem on these automobiles. Buy the newest, best, serviced, model you can afford. In the long run you will save thousands. You can easily have a $25,000 bill on a neglected car (not talking about anything cosmetic, just service and parts). I have two Rolls Royces, they have the same 412 cu. in. Rolls Royce engines and GM automatic transmissions that Bentley have. Bentley has a TURBO and is sportier. There are many differences in fine tuning of each car, but they have the same basis. I use my cars as daily drivers and put as many as 30,000 miles in one year. They are as reliable as the sun rise and there is no automobile like a Rolls or Bentley. The more you drive them the better they get. The worst thing you can do to a Rolls or Benltley is let it sit for longs periods of time. They are meant to be driven at high speeds for long periods of time. My best advice is to be as educated as you can about Rolls and Bentley before you purchase one. If you buy a neglected or even worse abused car it will be a nightmare, but a proper car is an absolute Heaven.
Once I fixed the problems they fairly well stayed fixed.
The only one that didn't was the mysterious gas smell. That stuck around the whole time I had the car. My mechanic tried and tried to resolve it, but was never successful.
My advice would be that if you are planning to acquire one of these have it gone over very well. The investment in the pre purchase inspection will more than pay for itself if it keeps you from having to fix a bunch of stuff at the outset.
I have a 1996 turbo R. I would say the gas smell is a leak in the A/C as I had a similar strange car odour, which I finally tracked to a stone ding to the front (very low) A/C radiator causing a slow AC fluid leak.
If buying and RR/Bentley get the car fully checked by the AA/AAA first.
HELP HELP!!! I just got a 1991 turbo R with a broken belt in the distributor. We replaced the belt and I don't have any info on setting the distributors back in or firing order.
Please if any body out there can get me some info or contact me with any person who can help.
Thanks.
Juan Jose Recavarren.
British Columbia. Canada.
Hi,
I can help you about that. Just give me your email address and I will send you information about that.
I am surprised at the poor gas mileage noted in this review (7.5 mpg). I own a 1983 Rolls-Royce, and though my gas mileage is not great (12-14 mpg) it is certainly better than this owner (and not much worse than many new SUV's)! I suspect there is another problem he hasn't identified which is causing his high gas consumption. I heartily agree with all his comments on both the quality of the R-R and Bentley products as well as the high maintenance and repair costs.
Any automobile is supposed to be serviced at 3000 miles, not 6500.
Serviced at 3000/6500?? like what?
I don't completely agree with the previous comment. I have a civic 06 and if that guy means regular service then he is wrong cause civic regular stuff is around 5500.
I have owned a 1988 Bentley Eight for the last 3 years. I owned a Silver Cloud in the 70's and was never thrilled with the hood ornament. I purchased the car sight unseen, and after fixing a few items (The car had been neglected) it's a pleasure to drive. The things that have been fixed have STAYED fixed. I just had 4 new Michelin tires installed, and I never knew how wonderful the car drove. I had a succession of Mercedes over the years, but this is better. I have it serviced at a facility that only does Rolls & Bentleys.
I've got a bentley r turbo 1990 and service it myself for last 6 years. and replaced several hoses and bushings myself and I don't really know much about cars. you can save thousands doing this. don't be scared by the badge, it's a LOT more simple underneath than for example my late 90s c class merc!!. you can do a suprising amount with standard tools, not like new cars where you need special tools to take the engine cover off.
I concur with the owner that suggested going ahead and getting under the car. I have a '49 Mk VI and next week will add an '89 Turbo R to the collection. A good shop manual and a few hand tools can solve a lot of expensive problems fairly reasonably. Replacement Parts has been a good source for NOS parts. Does anyone know where I can get a Flying B hood ornament for my newer toy? Thanks.
Hello to all I actually work on these cars mentioned above and would like to say that they are and engineering master piece. The cars that need the most repairs are ones that have been previously repaired by people that don't know what they are doing. I have worked on everything Jaguar, MS, BMW, Rover you name it, but the Rolls-Royce and Bentleys are truly unique in their functionality. They tend to be a bit more complicated, so when repaired by someone who is not patient and doesn't know what they are doing creates quite a mess. My advice to anyone buying a used Rolls or Bentley is to make sure it has not only had a good repair record, but also to investigate who has been fixing it. A car that has had ten different shop working on has probably had a poor repair or two or more. As far as you're need for ornaments for you're new Rolls Royce and Bentley goes give Flying Spares a try, they are in England, but you will save quite a bit over anything in the states.
Cheers to all.