Bentley Turbo RT
Discussion
Stephen-q7iik said:
Hi All,
New to forum,
I have just managed to get a 1997 Bentley Turbo RT, and wondered if there were any opinions around, or pearls of wisdom.
Steve
I think, making sure the suspension is sorted properly. Often cars seem to have great service history, but the suspension has been neglected in one way or another. The biggest problem (and which the majority of cars on the market seem to be suffering from, to varying degrees) is ride height. the springs gradually loose height and require shimming, maybe every couple of years, regardless of whether the car has been used or not. Ultimately, they can not be shimmed anymore and you have to replace them. 20 years is about the max - I'm just having my car shimmed (1996 Cont. R), but it will be the last time - next time, it's new springs.New to forum,
I have just managed to get a 1997 Bentley Turbo RT, and wondered if there were any opinions around, or pearls of wisdom.
Steve
The reason you need to keep the ride height correct is because otherwise you will be resigned to a ride quality ranging from below par to down right awful depending on how bad it is. And the handling becomes dead and lifeless in the front end. And the front wheels assume too much negative camber. All in all, in my view, it thoroughly detracts from the experience of driving the car.
The reason there are so many cars in this state is probably two-fold. Firstly, many owners don't really notice or don't really care. And second, many general garages don't know how to set it up properly, which, like many other elements of these cars, is not conventional. "the car seems to drive OK" is the general observation!
Edited by matt5791 on Monday 1st February 21:07
Stephen-q7iik said:
Thanks for the information,
I am setting up a list of things to do, I will make sure that I query the ride height when she next has a service.
I think its important to experience the car at its best.
I am hoping to use it quite regularly.
Regards,
Steve
There is a detailed method in the workshop manual for checking the ride height.I am setting up a list of things to do, I will make sure that I query the ride height when she next has a service.
I think its important to experience the car at its best.
I am hoping to use it quite regularly.
Regards,
Steve
jackg said:
Congrats on purchase.
I've been looking for one of these for ages.
Where/ which one did you buy?
Anyone know of any others?
Ta
Jx
Yes, would be interesting to know - there used to be a Turbo RT parked on a drive just down the road from me, dark blue - but it disappeared not so long ago (along with a Silver Seraph that used to accompany it) I was wondering it they were in storage or gone for good.I've been looking for one of these for ages.
Where/ which one did you buy?
Anyone know of any others?
Ta
Jx
Hi ,
My car came from Suffolk.
It belonged to a professional couple, and as they had just purchased a Continental GT (such hardship) it came up for sale. I think I was in the right place at the right time.
Apparently an earlier owner of the car was also in pursuit of the RT.
I am having to make a sacrifice to own the RT as I have promised my wife that I will sell an E39 Alpina Touring B10 V8 that I own. I have put it on the Alpina register forum but it has not sold yet, I am sort of keeping my fingers crossed that it does not.
Re my RT, It has a full history and it is in good condition. The chap used it regularly. I managed to catch up with the Rolls/Bentley specialist that looked after the car, and he commented that it wanted for nothing over the last couple of years under their ownership,
There is an RT for sale at the Jade Motor Company in Scole near Diss, and there was one on eBay with no history and a few problems but I think that one sold.
My car came from Suffolk.
It belonged to a professional couple, and as they had just purchased a Continental GT (such hardship) it came up for sale. I think I was in the right place at the right time.
Apparently an earlier owner of the car was also in pursuit of the RT.
I am having to make a sacrifice to own the RT as I have promised my wife that I will sell an E39 Alpina Touring B10 V8 that I own. I have put it on the Alpina register forum but it has not sold yet, I am sort of keeping my fingers crossed that it does not.
Re my RT, It has a full history and it is in good condition. The chap used it regularly. I managed to catch up with the Rolls/Bentley specialist that looked after the car, and he commented that it wanted for nothing over the last couple of years under their ownership,
There is an RT for sale at the Jade Motor Company in Scole near Diss, and there was one on eBay with no history and a few problems but I think that one sold.
Not every Bentley sits too low at the front due to springs. Some poor, unfortunate cars are owned by superannuated 'boy racers' who like the low look! Yes, it has just had new springs... and dampers (active ride) and a front suspension overhaul. £4.5K on the front suspension alone. Plus VAT...
I still requested that the ride height be left 'as it was' I don't like the high height when they are correct, just looks wrong to me! I admit, my old Turbo R (at the correct height) rode far, far better, but just looked 'wrong'. Specialist cars have said that ' when I grow up I can have the shims fitted in for free' but.... I've got a way to go yet!
I still requested that the ride height be left 'as it was' I don't like the high height when they are correct, just looks wrong to me! I admit, my old Turbo R (at the correct height) rode far, far better, but just looked 'wrong'. Specialist cars have said that ' when I grow up I can have the shims fitted in for free' but.... I've got a way to go yet!
There is a very detailed procedure for setting heights but every dealer, including the factory service centres ignored it. It was complex because it took to account actual suspension heights that ignored the potential position of the variable body heights and wheel to arch gaps engineers expected of the cars. In practice the procedures were ignored and if the cars looked right they were considered correct. As a very general rule the height of the stainless sill moulding on the Rolls-Royce models should, if projected fore and aft, cross the the wheel centre lines. If on a Bentley, with no moulding, the equivalent position should be used.
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