Buying a Bentley Turbo R

[Xtriple129]

Bluebottle911 said:

You have probably sorted this by now and I don't know which part of the South West you inhabit, but if you have not and you are anywhere near Exeter, Specialist Cars SW are excellent and very knowledgeable and won't charge you an arm and a leg.

Amusingly (or not) enough, this is where the car came from!
Sort of lost sight of where I am u to with telling you guys this sorry tale, so, apologies if I'm repeating myself...

Specialist cars were great and returned the money for the Turbo R, and the money I spent on it! So, I bit the bullet straight away and bought a Brooklands 'R'! Sight unseen, from the internet and sent the money before I'd even seen the car....

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, pretty much everything to be honest. The car was not as good as described even though I asked about scrapes and rust and everything else and was assured all was good. There were scrapes on the bumpers, rust behind the o/s/f wheelarch and the paintwork was totally flat. But, it did drive very well and I love the very last cars with the small grilles and big bumpers and nice wheels.... so I kept it.

I'd had it less than seven hours before it was in the bodyshop having its paint sorted out. The lads ( as usual) did a first rate job but... the paint didn't match. Dealer had said it was 'racing green'... it isn't! The paint code on the car is one that no one has ever seen before (9531108) and the paint had to be specially matched by a specialist and re-sprayed again!

Hmm, pricey....

Car now looks delicious and went straight off the very next morning to Specialist Cars South West for a service and 'checkover'... it's still there!

The list of faults was/is staggering. Front active ride hard/springs soft. Brake pressure low, steering rack leaking (even though there is a receipt for a new one less than two years before) water temp low, alarm fault, central locking fault, disc pads worn out on the front, brake imbalance on the front (which in my brief tenure I had noticed and was the main reason I wanted the car looked at), passenger seat not working, lhm leak.... and on and on and on.....

So, it's having all new front suspension, new active ride dampers, new front brakes and pressure accumulators, new rack, thermostat and sensors, new engine mounts, various bushes/mounts etc, new horn, and so on.

The estimate for most of this work was just over eight grand!

Am I down-hearted? Yes, I am a bit. My foray into Bentley ownership has been troubled at best, but, I really don't care! By spending all my money on her now, it will at least be good right from the get go. I could have had the jobs done piece meal, but they would always be in my mind, so just get it done right at the start and enjoy my Bentley ownership experience!

My original budget for the car was ten grand. I upped that to fifteen, then twenty and I am still going to be massively over budget. I could have had the front suspension converted to non active ride for a lot less, but the ride and handling is what makes these cars so special, so, no. I could have kicked off with the dealer and sent the car back, but I can't keep on dithering.

So, she's a 98 Brooklands 'R' swb (which I wanted). In Brewster green (eventually found out!) with the BIG brakes from the Conti 'R' and a patchy service history! I should have taken more notice of that 'patchy' service history... She's done 79000 miles and does drive well (which just shows how even a 'tired' Bentley still feels great!) and looks wonderful now. I like the later wheels (17") and the late bumpers/grille and the zytec management does feel very different to the earlier stuff as the car feels very sprightly.

I hope that she proves to be a good car after all this money and care has been lavished on her!

[POORCARDEALER]

The old cliche about buying the very best you can find/afford relates to these cars like no other...when you look at the cost of righting a wrong un, it makes real sense.

The good thing is, I think they are hugely undervalued to start with and a proper one is a thing of beauty

[Scotty2]

Just got my 96 Turbo RL back from a bit of a mechanical o/haul.

I have had the car for about 6 years now and have been carrying out a rolling restoration on the car. Last year I had the bodywork repaired at all the usual suspect points (lower front wings, wheel arches and behind the rear bumper e.t.c.).

My annual bills have been around the £600 to £2000 depending on work, and I know I extended the life of the discs by having them skimmed once. This year it was time to get some major work done as the rear oil pump for the suspension/brakes was leaking badly and a number of other "to do" things built up.

New front and rear discs with pads, and parking brake o/haul and pads.
Repair of oil pumps and body.
Several brake and suspension pipes.
Fuel pipe.
Suspension bushes and a track control rod.
ABS phonic ring.
Rear calliper rebuild.
and much much more of minor things that build up.

The cost? something over 3 times my previous largest bill!

Now the car looks mint, drives and stops better than it ever did with no clunks, rattles or groans from anything but my wallet.

I can justify it to myself with the knowledge that my car IS one of the better ones, so if I ever need to sell it, I should be able to get the upper end of the range. In the meantime, I have been using the old gal as my daily driver to savour the whole experience. Been using Shell Nitro and got 17mpg at last check. Average before was about 14mpg, but I need to try a few more tankfulls of Nitro before being convinced.

Still an awesome beast!

[biglump]

biglump said:

Grey is Greyt!!!

After 6 months of searching and loitering in the background on this forum, this is now sat on our drive...300 miles in 1st week and all good...a couple of niggles but what a motor!!! Love it!

http://thumbsnap.com/sc/Va9HXIpq.jpg?0413

Quick update and two penneth for what it's worth...

So...10 months and 4000 miles later, I have to say that it seems you can run these without breaking the bank....

Initially what I thought was an exhaust manifold blow (and offered a bartering opportunity on sale) turned out to be a rotten aux air pipe - £400 by local specialist. Bobbed a couple of new Avons on the rear (£250 a corner fitted by Formula One Autocentre and still offering at that price!) to replace the perished old ones. Also changed fuel filter with the help of my brother as it was noisy (£90 from euro car parts).

Since then it's been a case of fill with "Posh" petrol...drive...smile...repeat!!!!

It's averaging mid-high teens mpg even with spirited driving. Cost me £45 to get through MOT last month (handbrake needed adjusting) and £500 for a service this week at specialist as all it really needed was oil, filter and a bush of some description.

I guess I've been lucky, but speaking to my local specialist he does say that using them is the best thing you can do and the ones he sees most often are the ones that aren't used - ironic.

I'll have to do the front pads at some point in the next year (£450 fitted) but so what? Every journey is an adventure!!!!

To anyone reading this who are thinking of taking the plunge...buy right and you'll be fine...with no sign of the values increasing atm, now is surely the time to scratch the itch before the rest of the motoring world realise what they're missing and prices rocket.

[POORCARDEALER]

biglump said:

biglump said:

Grey is Greyt!!!

After 6 months of searching and loitering in the background on this forum, this is now sat on our drive...300 miles in 1st week and all good...a couple of niggles but what a motor!!! Love it!

http://thumbsnap.com/sc/Va9HXIpq.jpg?0413

Quick update and two penneth for what it's worth...

So...10 months and 4000 miles later, I have to say that it seems you can run these without breaking the bank....

Initially what I thought was an exhaust manifold blow (and offered a bartering opportunity on sale) turned out to be a rotten aux air pipe - £400 by local specialist. Bobbed a couple of new Avons on the rear (£250 a corner fitted by Formula One Autocentre and still offering at that price!) to replace the perished old ones. Also changed fuel filter with the help of my brother as it was noisy (£90 from euro car parts).

Since then it's been a case of fill with "Posh" petrol...drive...smile...repeat!!!!

It's averaging mid-high teens mpg even with spirited driving. Cost me £45 to get through MOT last month (handbrake needed adjusting) and £500 for a service this week at specialist as all it really needed was oil, filter and a bush of some description.

I guess I've been lucky, but speaking to my local specialist he does say that using them is the best thing you can do and the ones he sees most often are the ones that aren't used - ironic.

I'll have to do the front pads at some point in the next year (£450 fitted) but so what? Every journey is an adventure!!!!

To anyone reading this who are thinking of taking the plunge...buy right and you'll be fine...with no sign of the values increasing atm, now is surely the time to scratch the itch before the rest of the motoring world realise what they're missing and prices rocket.

£450 for front pads is very expensive, shop around

[biglump]

Tbh, that's the fitted price and it's that price just for the set of 8
Pads from Flyingspares. Still makes me chuckle....8 pads for the front only

[POORCARDEALER]

biglump said:

Tbh, that's the fitted price and it's that price just for the set of 8
Pads from Flyingspares. Still makes me chuckle....8 pads for the front only

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BENTLEY-TURBO-R-Front-Brake-Pad-Set-PAD1901-6-7-ltr-01-198801-1998-/322015941376?fits=Car+Make%3ABentley|Model%3ATurbo+R&hash=item4af9a55300:g:lTcAAOSwll1WyyGv



Pads should be no more than £100 in a decent brand

[biglump]

Hmmmmm. ...they look too cheap?

Wouldn't want to scrimp on brakes tbh.

Cheapest OE ones seem to be £380 from Intro cars but out of stock.

Like I said, have a few thousand left on them yet, so maybe a job for a warm summers eve

[POORCARDEALER]

biglump said:

Hmmmmm. ...they look too cheap?

Wouldn't want to scrimp on brakes tbh.

Cheapest OE ones seem to be £380 from Intro cars but out of stock.

Like I said, have a few thousand left on them yet, so maybe a job for a warm summers eve

I have sold dozens of Turbo Rs, brooklands etc and trust me you dont have to spend £450 on front pads.

Good luck

[SFO]

OP, any further updates on your ownership experience?

[rodbargee]

This thread should be required reading for so many markes, especially those with a large repair bill possibilities. as an alpina B5 owner I am only too aware of the potential ticking bombs the car may have in store but the diligence approach of the OP is spot on, buy with as much foresight as possible. Superchargers were I thought very straight forward not so it seems. buying the best you can, I hope will serve me ok in the long run I couldn't find a better car no matter where I looked and despite paying over the odds a bit I still think it was money well spent
so thanks to the posters here it has been interesting and entertaining in equal measure. I have included a gratuitous snap of my drive which is for a two hundred MPH car the ultimate wolf in sheep clothing, hope you'll excuse the interruption and like the car..

[SRT Hellcat]

I do like an Alpina

[geeman237]

I've got an opportunity of a 1990 Turbo R here in the US. Its silver with a charcoal grey interior and 113,000 miles. I know the owner, a Ferrari trained tech who loves British cars, owns many and does all his own work. I haven't seen the car in the 'metal' yet as its several states away for a start. Apparently the car is in very good condition, wants for nothing except perhaps "rear shock accumulators" which he says he'll replace along with a thorough service and fluids. It only came to light yesterday so early days in discussion. I've had my eye on a RR or Bentley of this vintage on and off for a couple of years, but its just about timing. I have no reason to doubt the owner on its condition. He owned it about 10 years ago and sold it to a friend who put about 8k miles on it and has bought it back. He's owned about 7 Turbos over the years.

I've looked online today here in the US and the UK and as mentioned by others, prices are all over with little to no correlation to mileage.

The ask on this one is $20k which is about £16k (GBP).

I will be asking more questions, some from the information on this thread.

Its my intention to only own the car for maybe a year just to have the experience.

I have the garage space, I can wield the spanners (I maintain my Lotus Esprit), I could afford a big bill if I had to.

I believe being a 1990 it will have the old 3 speed auto? I am not a fan of the grey leather but it looks like it will come up better with a good 'feed' and detail. It has the correct Avon tyres on it (age tbc). No rust (originally a California car), brakes 100% good. Dooubt it has a full dealer service history but I will check some more.

AC is probably changed from R12 to R134a, common in the US and it doesn't always give an equivalent cooling performance.

Any initial thoughts?

[BenTurboR]

£16k is about what I paid for my '96 Turbo R in May '21, which had done nearly 58k miles at the time. I'd probably want to pay a little less for an older car with more miles under its belt but like you say the prices seem very up and down and don't really fit any sort of pattern. I also think the prices seem a little higher in general on your side of the pond so $20k is probably about right, or at least not far off.

Service history is important and it does sound like this one's been looked after and used regularly so that's a definite plus. They really don't like sitting around.

A 1990 car will have the three speed GM TH400 box, the 4 speed 4L80-E was introduced for the 1992 model year.

I'd go for it, there's nothing like the feeling you get driving these cars. Not super quick by today's standards but certainly a lot quicker than they look!

[breakfastmeansbreakfast]

Definitely go for it! Owned my '91 since 2019 and adore it.

If you are handy with the spanners they don't cost too much to maintain unless they have been kept as garage queens - they suffer badly if not started and driven regularly. This one has some good miles on it and has been maintained by someone knowledgeable so looks a good one. Be very weary of low mileage examples!

[alabbasi]

geeman237 said:

I believe being a 1990 it will have the old 3 speed auto? I am not a fan of the grey leather but it looks like it will come up better with a good 'feed' and detail. It has the correct Avon tyres on it (age tbc). No rust (originally a California car), brakes 100% good. Dooubt it has a full dealer service history but I will check some more.

AC is probably changed from R12 to R134a, common in the US and it doesn't always give an equivalent cooling performance.

Any initial thoughts?

1990 Would be an earlier Turbo R with the Bosch CIS-E jetronic and a TH 400 3 speed auto, This makes it a simple car to maintain instead of the later cars that require the proprietary omitec scanners.
R134a functions fine in this cars, especially in cooler parts of CA.

[Bluebottle911]

I have had mine for 20 years now. 1990 car. Covered approx. 2,000 miles pa on average. Servicing / maintenance / repair has averaged c. £3,000 pa.

2 years ago I found a convertible of the same age in identical colours inside and out, even the coachlines are the same, so now I have a matching pair.

[alabbasi]

biglump said:

Tbh, that's the fitted price and it's that price just for the set of 8
Pads from Flyingspares. Still makes me chuckle....8 pads for the front only

I think i read somewhere that they're the same as W126 pads which cost considerably less.

[entwisi]

Well great read and i am also about to join the turbo r daily drivers club..

I'm about to pick this up in a few days
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211151...

No corrosion of the types often described and having recently had all 4 arches done its good there. Good service history, just one item to resolve is the passenger seat module appears to have suffered the usual battery issue. Vendor has agreed to go halves on a replacement module so at worst its 250 quid from flying spares..

My commute has gone from 35K to 5K thanks to the Chinese disease 👍 so why not drive a bonkers machine every day.. Box to be ticked, life to be lived.. Its only money right??

[Mulsanne-Speed]

Thought I'd share this one which I'd just spotted as "coming soon" on Collecting Cars.

Looks like a nice example:

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1997-bentley-t...