New Turbo R owner. And some initial questions ...

[keith9849]

Jeckman

A silence has descended so you are either over the moon and out tearing up the highway, or you have checked into therapy for post-expenditure depression! Don't keep us in suspense, spill the beans!

[jeckman]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the radio silence! Life has been a bit busy - work, travel and moving house in week and half.

Life with 'Larry' (as my wife affectionately refers to M278 'LRY') has been fun and I recently completed a 1300 mile round trip to France without any major issues to report. A bit of wobble thru the wheel at 75+ and brake judder from 65+ down to almost 0. Thinking either a bent wheel (s), alignment (which was previously looked at) and judder wise maybe the discs need skimming as it has recently had new discs, pads and caliper refresh. It's being picked up on Monday to look into this and .... drum roll ... the famous fuel smell ! Yes it has never really gone away and a few weeks ago a cabbie flagged me down to say "mate there's something seriously wrong with your car I've been following you a mile and smelled petrol the whole way"

My hope is that whatever has been going on fuel smell wise has finally reached a critical stage such that it will be easier to find. Already torn out the boot trim, replaced breather hoses, new fuel cap ... not really sure what it could be but then I am far from an expert and not very mechanically minded. Looking into the history file "Customer complains of petrol smell" pops up back in 1996/97 when Barclays was maintaining it but no mention of a fix.

All in all 3000 miles on the old girl since I picked her up earlier this year and mileage I don't know something less than 20. Its fun to drive but bloody annoying pottering around London always mindful that it needs refueling. I suppose there are worse places to spend the time.

Oh and it failed MOT back in May - waited 8 weeks for Autoglass to order some stupid clips to replace the cracked windscreen - but she now has a new windscreen, repaired fog lights (about £600 in total including two MOT tests) and a clean MOT until July 15 no advisories.

It has certainly been an enjoyable experience and although Larry may soon need to find a new home I certainly have been bit by the Bentley bug and look fwd to my next one, perhaps a Conti R...

[Byteme]

jeckman said:

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the radio silence! Life has been a bit busy - work, travel and moving house in week and half.

Life with 'Larry' (as my wife affectionately refers to M278 'LRY') has been fun and I recently completed a 1300 mile round trip to France without any major issues to report. A bit of wobble thru the wheel at 75+ and brake judder from 65+ down to almost 0. Thinking either a bent wheel (s), alignment (which was previously looked at) and judder wise maybe the discs need skimming as it has recently had new discs, pads and caliper refresh. It's being picked up on Monday to look into this and .... drum roll ... the famous fuel smell ! Yes it has never really gone away and a few weeks ago a cabbie flagged me down to say "mate there's something seriously wrong with your car I've been following you a mile and smelled petrol the whole way"

My hope is that whatever has been going on fuel smell wise has finally reached a critical stage such that it will be easier to find. Already torn out the boot trim, replaced breather hoses, new fuel cap ... not really sure what it could be but then I am far from an expert and not very mechanically minded. Looking into the history file "Customer complains of petrol smell" pops up back in 1996/97 when Barclays was maintaining it but no mention of a fix.

All in all 3000 miles on the old girl since I picked her up earlier this year and mileage I don't know something less than 20. Its fun to drive but bloody annoying pottering around London always mindful that it needs refueling. I suppose there are worse places to spend the time.

Oh and it failed MOT back in May - waited 8 weeks for Autoglass to order some stupid clips to replace the cracked windscreen - but she now has a new windscreen, repaired fog lights (about £600 in total including two MOT tests) and a clean MOT until July 15 no advisories.

It has certainly been an enjoyable experience and although Larry may soon need to find a new home I certainly have been bit by the Bentley bug and look fwd to my next one, perhaps a Conti R...

Unless you particularly like the Continental R body style I would suggest you're better staying with your current car or changing to a better/later example. If you do decide to go for one avoid any early cars with the short front seat cushions that have one less flute than your BTR.

Edited by Byteme on Thursday 28th August 21:03

[jeckman]

Byteme said:

Unless you particularly like the Continental R body style I would suggest you're better staying with your current car or changing to a better/later example. If you do decide to go for one avoid any early cars with the short front seat cushions that have one less flute than your BTR.

Edited by Byteme on Thursday 28th August 21:03

I admit I am attracted to the two door style - and to some extent approached the purchase of my current car as a way to get familiar/comfortable with Bentley ownership without the extra upfront outlay for a Continental R. I love both these cars and my perfect garage would have space for both a Turbo R and Conti R but as I'm about to move to a house with no garage I don't think that's realistic! I'd like to sort out the fuel smell and then try and move Larry on as I don't feel right keeping him outdoors.

Just out of interest do you know what year the Conti R got the longer cushion? I'm glad you mentioned this bc my legs are prone to going dead on short cushions

[V8 FOU]

Have you replaced the fuel gauge sender gasket? There's an upgraded one available. Then only use super unleaded so there won't be any ethanol to attack the seals....

[jeckman]

V8 FOU said:

Have you replaced the fuel gauge sender gasket? There's an upgraded one available. Then only use super unleaded so there won't be any ethanol to attack the seals....

Not yet. I will mention this to Nigel Sandell but I'm sure he'll already be considering it anyway. If the gasket has degraded would the fuel be leaking into the boot/rear seat upholstery? Sorry don't know where the sender unit is located ... I ask bc earlier this year we stripped out the boot trim and no evidence of leaks or wetness

[Byteme]

jeckman said:

I admit I am attracted to the two door style - and to some extent approached the purchase of my current car as a way to get familiar/comfortable with Bentley ownership without the extra upfront outlay for a Continental R. I love both these cars and my perfect garage would have space for both a Turbo R and Conti R but as I'm about to move to a house with no garage I don't think that's realistic! I'd like to sort out the fuel smell and then try and move Larry on as I don't feel right keeping him outdoors.

Just out of interest do you know what year the Conti R got the longer cushion? I'm glad you mentioned this bc my legs are prone to going dead on short cushions

I doubt that the short cushion was made for more than a year or two.

[matt5791]

Yes, I think 1993 it went out - 1994 model year cars seem to have a longer base.

[Byteme]

Significantly longer, in fact one entire additional flute.

Following complaints with the early short cushion I developed a mod to increased the length. Easy enough apart from the fact that the cushions were also heated. Having added length to the cushion and lower trim, longer BTR heated seat pads were then sewn into new covers.

Why Crewe never did this from the outset is beyond me.

[matt5791]

It is a silly looking seat in those early cars - I notice the seat back also looks wider and more clumsy on those early cars too.

[jeckman]

Byteme said:

Significantly longer, in fact one entire additional flute.

Following complaints with the early short cushion I developed a mod to increased the length. Easy enough apart from the fact that the cushions were also heated. Having added length to the cushion and lower trim, longer BTR heated seat pads were then sewn into new covers.

Why Crewe never did this from the outset is beyond me.

Thanks for the help guys

[Byteme]

jeckman said:

Thanks for the help guys

If you find a near perfect, but early car, I can tell you how to modify the cushion. You'll need (if important to you) two longer heated pads from a BTR You may be surprised just how many early parts Crewe have and how affordable they are. They used to be about £40 each.

Heated element failures were common due to rotten design requiring perfect placement of top hide, element and backing foam laminate prior to stitching. The element runs back and forth along each seat flute and it was quite common for them to be nicked by the sewing machine needle during production. Standard covers would have worked perfectly over basic heated pads fitted underneath. I always felt they got far too hot and the added thickness would have been welcome.

The stitch lines of the flutes were sewn on basic manually operated twin stitch machines following lines marked out on the hide with pencil. I bet, even now, upon close examination, many cars will still show them. Magnolia and parchment interiors are the most obvious where a carpenter's pencil was used and was obvious on all new cars for those who looked.

[jeckman]

Byteme said:

If you find a near perfect, but early car, I can tell you how to modify the cushion. You'll need (if important to you) two longer heated pads from a BTR You may be surprised just how many early parts Crewe have and how affordable they are. They used to be about £40 each.

Heated element failures were common due to rotten design requiring perfect placement of top hide, element and backing foam laminate prior to stitching. The element runs back and forth along each seat flute and it was quite common for them to be nicked by the sewing machine needle during production. Standard covers would have worked perfectly over basic heated pads fitted underneath. I always felt they got far too hot and the added thickness would have been welcome.

The stitch lines of the flutes were sewn on basic manually operated twin stitch machines following lines marked out on the hide with pencil. I bet, even now, upon close examination, many cars will still show them. Magnolia and parchment interiors are the most obvious where a carpenter's pencil was used and was obvious on all new cars for those who looked.

Thanks I'll keep that in mind. You are certainly knowledgeable about these cars. If you don't mind my asking, can you recommend somewhere in the London area for servicing? I've had this morning a rather unpleasant experience with the garage I'm currently using.

[Byteme]

You could give Wraith Continental in Barnet a call.

[jeckman]

Byteme said:

You could give Wraith Continental in Barnet a call.

Thanks I might do that. I saw you recommended them in another thread; do you patronise them yourself? The frustration with my current arrangement is that the garage seems too busy; maybe a victim of its own success.

[Byteme]

jeckman said:

Thanks I might do that. I saw you recommended them in another thread; do you patronise them yourself? The frustration with my current arrangement is that the garage seems too busy; maybe a victim of its own success.

The main dealer in Barnet has just closed and some of the staff have set up their own business rather than let decades of experience go to waste. I should add that I have no financial interest or any experience of using them however these are people I have known for many, many years.

Edited by Byteme on Friday 5th September 11:47

[jeckman]

Byteme said:

The main dealer in Barnet has just closed and some of the staff have set up their own business rather than let decades of experience go to waste.

Good to know, I'll check them out

[jeckman]

Update on the fuel smell: fuel injector seals leaking. Obviously the parts aren't expensive but as I am told the things on top of the engine have to be removed leading to a bill of approx £1700.

Thoughts? Anyone else had this problem?

[gvij]

Id look to sell her or learn diy or alternatively a cheaper mechanic. 11 grand is mental, surely parts from a breaker cant be that dear. Great car though Ive always wanted a BTR or Continetal R.

[V8 FOU]

£1700??
It's the hourly rate that is the killer - often £100+ /hr - whereas small independents like us are usually £50/60 per hour. Makes a big difference on longer jobs.