My next door neighbour runs a Lexus LS400 that he’s had for donkey’s - 90% of the feeling of a Bentley in the real world ? It never goes wrong and is utterly fantastic. Most people don’t have a clue what it is so if you want normal people to look at you then the Bentley is a better choice but as a car to drive and enjoy the Lexus is pretty amazing.
An LS400 is a fine car, and probably on paper does most of what the Bentley can do. They're a shrewd buy for those looking for a bit of luxury, without the potential for big bills, however finding a good one here in the UK is now tricky. However, if you have your heart set on a Bentley or RR, nothing else will do, and they really are in a league of their own.
@@fuelupclassic Yes certainly I can see that - if you live in the world where money is no object then great but I can, sort of, see us running an LS400 as a second vehicle instead of my old van. I won’t do it though as I like doing stuff rather than working to pay to have stuff. I’m pleased that people like you run these vehicles as it’s interesting seeing them - a bit like it’s interesting to see and hear a Spit fly over. All the best.
I wouldn't want to open my garage and see a Lexus. That'd be a daily disappointment. So I really don't care how reliable it's supposed to be (and it's surprising how often these 'bulletproof' cars turn out to be anything but). I go to the window sometimes just for a visual 'hit' of my car. I could never do that with a Lexus.
I think you’re right regarding specialists - as these cars get older often they’re encountered less regularly by the main dealership team. A great specialist who trained and worked on these cars when new and now has gone out on their own is a great option.
It can be, but the wrong specialist will have your shirt. Some are very slippery. Some are great. Need to watch some of the prices at Flying Spares and Introcar too. Take the water temperature sensor, standard Lucas part also fitted to load of other cars, going rate £7-£9. With a RR part number from Flying Spares, £36+vat, identical and in a lucas box.
We have a beautiful Continental R. In the main it's been very reliable and last year we ventured through Spain & Portugal on a 3k mile trip. I was really surprised because the locals just loved it and even the underground car park attendants kept their eye on it. All those people knew we were enthusiasts but it was great for us to share the car with them. We are not rich well to do people, just people who wanted something a little out of the ordinary. This year it's doing my sons wedding so it comes with a great deal of happy memories, what more could you want.
I have owned 2 Arnage. A 6.75 and one of the original 4.4 If I was looking at buying a third one of these beautiful cars then I would not look beyond the 4.4 'Green Label'. I used 'Starmans' (Nottingham) independent for servicing (the guys are passionate about their Bentley and Rolls) and never felt either ripped off or as though they did work that didn't need doing. The 4.4 is incredibly reliable, and does not suffer the head gasket issues the 6.75 suffers from. I would personally go for a car that has higher mileage but a good service history rather than a low mileage garage queen....
Great to hear from fellow owners of both variants. I'm tempted to give a 4.4 a go, just to see the difference. Thankfully, head gasket issue aside, the 6.75 in this one has never given any dramas and still pulls what is a big heavy car along exceptionally well.
@@fuelupclassic The 6.75 I had was a year 2,000 and it almost bankrupt me. In one year alone it suffered the inevitable head gasket failure, plus gearbox failure, water-pump failure, and a number of other 'smaller' issues. The cost in that year alone were in excess of £12,000. Ouch.
£40425.00 over 24 years breaks down to about £1684.38 per year or £33.00 per week, rain or shine. Not bad for a car that is not used commercially. I can speculate that if it was used a lot more the cost would go down, although it may seem counterintuitive.
It's not really too bad when you average it out and there's plenty of other cars that would cost similar or more over the same period and mileage, yet RR/Bentley seem to be the one that people are most fearful of when it comes to large bills.
£33.00 per week is less than five quid per day. Some people's lattes cost more. It's a matter of perspective. What you need to do is put away money regularly and invest at least some of it to make gains with which to cover some of the sporadic larger bills.
Fantastic presentation! I haven't seen your channel yet, but the immediate selling point is "the Internet is full of egos". I want to hear an objective presentation just as screened here. Thank you so much! Too bad the Internet is full of egos, and not of quality information. Well done, Sir!
Great review. I’ve always fancied owning a Rolls Royce or a Bentley. That doesn’t seem too bad at £1600 per year. Almost a bargain I’d say! I have a 2004 Porsche 911, all the receipts for that average out at about £2000 a year over 120k miles, including,tyres and so on, as well as a lot of suspension and infotainment upgrades which weren’t strictly necessary but add massively to the driving experience.
I had a HONDA WAGOVAN in the 1980's that I purchased new. I drove it 315,000 miles over 8 yea and this is what I spent on repairs (parts AND labour); Clutch (used from salvage yard): $240 Radiator (new): $160 Gas Tank (used from wrecker yard): $200 TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS: $600 (8 years) The Honda was fun to drive, handled Canadian winter temperatures, snow and icy roads very well, and got excellent fuel mileage. The engine and transmission were never opened up, and when I got rid of it the engine still ran so quietly and so smoothly you could not hear it unless you strained to. AND it still burned very, very little oil. NOT a status car, rather a reliable, economical, fun car. FOR SURE! Loved that car and because of that experience I still drive Hondas 40 years on.
The way of Japanese engineers is such. They know people usually don't tend to take regular and proper care of their vehicles, thus making them last as much. German engineers on the other hand are quite the opposite. If you take proper care of your vehicle, it will definitely last. A logic embedded in Japanese culture mind you. Taking proper care of something will definitely make it last longer rather than not. Understanding the ideals of such logic, can also be seen with everything in life. Not in service of the materialistic domination for modern society, no, but of choice in something greater and beyond the impeccable test of a local mind to simply observe what not of a lifespan its choice will possess.
I owned a bicycle for 30 yrs and only had to replace the tires and the chain! Reliable and economical FOR SURE! What has that to do with the Bentley in the vid you say; about as much as a Honda does.
Thanks for this. Those maintenance costs are pretty similar to those of my recent Alpina B5, but that car depreciated every 4-5 months about the same amount as the Bentley's head gasket repair cost.
Thank you for watching. Firstly, I have to commend you on buying an Alpina B5, you're clearly a man of exquisite taste. They still remain one of my bucket list cars. You raise a really good point about depreciation - the Arnage seems to have stabilised in recent years and depreciation is virtually non-existent, which makes the maintenance costs seem palatable.
Oh my lord! Firstly id like to congratulate you on a simply gorgeous car! I'd like to maybe own one some day! As the owner of a 2005 Aston Martin DB9 i can sympathise with the running costs. Ive had it only 6 months and have only driven it on odd occasions but its fantastic. However the history file that came with it makes ahem interesting reading! Servicing is on a par with your Bentley but some of the invoices are staggering.thankfully had a pre purchase inspection done which showed up a few things which were rectified at the dealers expense so fingers crossed im good for a while. MPG on the Aston is marginally better than yours at an average of 19.7 mpg! But,like your Bentley the smiles per mile are immeasurable. Thanks for sharing.👍👏👏👏♥️
I've owned a Bentley Continental R for 10 years. Ive owned a lot of luxury and performance cars. But the Bentley has cost WAY more to maintain than I was expecting. It's more like running an aircraft than a car. But they are like nothing else on the road. BUT some of the specialists are VERY expensive, that head gaskets bill being a prime example.
They certainly can cost a fair bit, especially if you end up paying for previous owners deferred maintenance or are just unlucky with a major fault. Looking at the invoice, the previous owner went for a 'belt and braces' approach following the head gasket failure, which included a full overhaul of the cooling system and anything else it needed at the time, hence the rather large bill.
@@fuelupclassic sure, but my first advice to anyone considering these vehicles (pre-VW designed cars) is to be very careful with some specialists - it's very easy to rip people off with these cars. Yes, they are very expensive to maintain, but they just build on that!
@@highlandmalt6368 Let's be honest, the car industry as a whole isn't exactly overflowing with integrity. I guess it's a matter of shopping around, so-to-speak, for a half decent human being who is honest. Good luck with that!
Fabulous cars, I preferred the Turbo R and this can be expensive for an even older car but as you say, probably expected, it was a dream come true and one car I miss very much. The driving experience of most of these cars is fabulous, the driving position quite high and the smoothness and the response when driving is amazing for such a large car. Thanks for this AND mentioning the biggest headache possibly with the Arnage and the Turbo R, the head gasket pain! What they use in the factory for a gasket must be akin to toffee with the reports I have heard of owners getting the billowing smoke that can be a head gasket fault! Thanks so much for the great advice, many potential owners will be listening and making notes I am sure!
I had the Arnage Green label around 2000-2002. Wonderful vehicle. Being the sprightly BMW 4.4 Twin Turbo V8, it was surprisingly cheap to run (approx 22mpg), given the size and weight of the car. It's one car I would happily buy back. The car in this video is the Red label 6.75 litre even heavier engine. I'd say the Green Label is the one to own.
I own a Jag - 1998 XJ8 4.0. You kind of know that a major thing can happen anytime. Chains for me right now, which is a bit painful, but apart from that it's a once per year service with my km (few 000 per year) and nothing much seems to need doing so far. The rest is what you choose with a classic (or emerging classic) - bits of improvement on the interior etc. I've done home repair on a ripped leather bolster (minor cost), and I've replaced my wood veneer with a second hand set, repaired cup holder and got a nicer gear knob. All home done relatively low cost stuff. I used to own a VW Golf 1.4TSi (mark 6). That cost me AU$8K in one year to keep it running and enable me to sell it.... for $8K. And some of those things should never have failed in the life of the car. So, any car can cause a major haemorrhage when something goes awry!
Absolutely! Well done for keeping up on the maintenance on the XJ8, as so many have been neglected by now. A properly sorted Jaguar is a wonderful way to travel.
I currently use my 2007 Jag XJ8L and it's quite reliable, aluminum bonded construction, 29 MPG at 75 mph all day long. I have used it from 82000 miles when I bought it, to 110,000 to this day. VERY reliable Ford related reliability until the Ford "Premier Automotive Group dropped dead in 2010 and the very low structure of newer XJ's make putting my head under the headliner is no fun at all.
Very interesting as it is a lovely car. My thoughts, a main Bentley dealer will obviously charge Bentley prices, but a lot of the parts are used in other manufacturers cars, which are exactly the same product, same quality, but at at cheaper price (some other specialists will even know this). Also I was taught that if you need to change, for example one wheel bearing you change both on the same axle, same for shockers, rear brakes, front brakes, so then you don't get a similar failure only a few months down the line and have to pay twice, get it done at the same time and save some money I am not a car engineer, I am into electronics but I raced a drag bike in the 1970's so I know a little Rob
As owner of the sister version of the Bentley Arnage. The Rolls_Royce Silver Seraph. I find the biggest and most annoying issue, is the modern electronics. !⚠. Especially the airbag warning light 🚦, among others.....
Ahhh yes! I've had the dreaded airbag warning light too on a few occasions. Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoy your Silver Seraph for many more years and miles to come.
I have a 2003 Arnage R and my airbag light is illuminated. I haven't found anyone in Ohio who can clear the code because the early (2001 to 2003) Arnage requires a unique scanner to be able to communicate with the control units. Do you have any insight on this subject?
I had heard at first that the factory would not let those scanners go out to anyone but dealers. But I hear now garages specializing Bentleys and Rolls's are able to get them. Have you checked on the website of the American Rolls-Royce Owners Club? ( RROC ) They also have a very helpful owners forum. -Greg in California.
@@attilacsepe4946 Sorry 🙏 I wish I could help you with regards to having your airbag warning ⚠ light turned off. You a correct about having to have a special Rolls_Royce and Bentley scanning tool to access the vehicle code . I have to take my Silver Seraph to the R.R specialist dealership many kilometers from where I've, to have this annoying light 🚦 turned off and reset !...
A good and informative video, thank you, I agree with your point about only buying one with the fullest service history you can find. As an Ex Rolls Royce And Bently owner myself, I endorse the fact, that if you buy a "cheap" neglected one, you will without doubt regret it. It is important to say the real cost of ownership, is indeed quite reasonable, particulaly if you factor in, the pure joy of owning such a fine vehicle. Nay sayers, buy something different.
Nice of you to acknowledge us specialists. It's our name above the door, not a franchise, so we make sure the job is done correctly. Mainly because we are passionate about the marque.
Absolutely! Specialists really are the best option to help keep them on the road at a sensible price with proper customer service. Thank you for watching.
A truly beautiful work of Automotive Art.. A very lucky car that it didn't fall into the hands of the wrong people. The £40+k would also need to be adjusted for inflation.. £1000 in 2001 was considerably more than today. Well done.. On behalf of the car, we thank you :>)
I fancy one of these. The closest I have come is a 2002 Jag XJ8 4.0 which I bought 3 years old and was a pretty nice car. It drove beautifully. Here we are 20 years later. I would like an Arnage. The Jags do go rusty...... I am considering my options.
I can highly recommend going for one. It's very similar to the Jag in many ways, but on a whole different level in others. There's plenty for sale and plenty of options, so just make sure you get one that's been properly looked after and it should be one of the best motoring experiences you can have. Oh and check it will actually fit in your garage! They're big and do really need to be inside, especially in the winter.
If it's a car you intend to keep for a few years remember an Arnage is 18ft long, most ordinary garages are shorter. I extended the garage in my new house so my 1975 Bentley would fit. At 20-25 years old an Arnage isn't really a practical or economical everyday car so you will need another vehicle. As a toy they are almost sensible and with a good specialist unless you are unlucky very affordable.
40k pounds over twenty years doesn't seem so bad when some Ferraris built around the same time as this Red Label demand twice that in only five years. The Bentley is expensive, but not farcically so compared to a high end performance oriented brands. I appreciate this video you did and the reality of what it takes to look after one of these fine cars. I'll definitely refer other people to this video if they go looking about on Reddit or some forum for information about what an Arnage demands in regular maintenance plus repair bills.
New indicator switch for my Toyota Aygo - change out of £40, (fitted it myself inside 1 hour - including drinking 2 mugs of tea) 20 quid PA road tax too😁😁😁😁
@@timbo19751975 I agree, but seriously, if I had the money to buy and run a Bentley (or any other exotic car) I don't think I would as I consider them a waste. Just my personal opinion, your mileage may vary.
The paint looks epic. I wonder what detailing costs have added to the total cost of ownership because I consider it vital to keeping a car of any age looking fresh and pampered.
The paint has held up really well thanks to just regular cleaning and polishing - to my knowledge it hasn't been professionally detailed in over a decade or more, but still looks extremely good.
Thank you for this video! It confirms my theory that maintaining a great car can be affordable if you have good independant specialists, good availability of parts AND if your car model is so mature that the weak spots are well known by now and specialists know how to fix them without blindly throwing lots of OEM parts at them. I don't think this would work for a Bentley in my native Germany as it does for you in the UK - so much as though I like those barges, I'll pass...
My 2014 Renault Grand Scenic has cost 3000 euros over 3 years (servicing and repairs) I thought it was a lot until I watched your commentary! We have now covered 220,000 km and it seems to be over it's mid life crisis!!........For now!!
Back in the seventies my friends were sitting around my kitchen table talking about what was acceptable as annual maintenance costs for our cars. We were all young Canadian boys and none of us had what I'd call a nice car. But the consensus was that if your car dinged you for a thousand bucks a year , you were in the sweet spot. That was then and since that time inflation has really skewed our notions of relative value. Your Arnage cost about 1500 pounds annually in maintenance. Call that $2000 dollars in age appropriate currency. I'd say that for the sheer pleasure of owning a bus like that , 1500 pounds puts you in that sweet spot. The odd head gasket job might make you swallow your tongue but you have to just pay up or lose your shirt. I think that fancy car has been (from a very narrow perspective) a cheap luxury.
Overall, the numbers are quite reasonable. I have owned a 1998 BMW 7 series (740iL) which shares many mechanicals with both this Bentley and the Rolls Seraph, and not only was it rather unreliable, (although a huge joy to drive and one of the most beautiful sedans ever made), but also the repairs were just as expensive as the Bentley repairs in the UK. I paid only $10.5k for the BMW, it was only 7 years old and had 113k miles, and put another 40k miles on it in the 12 years I owned it (I have other cars, plus my commuting distances were always very short)
In my experience, having more cars than I can count over 60 years of driving, if you are going to keep a car for 25 years and say 100,000 miles, budget $100 a month for repairs and maintenance. That gives you $30,000. For a car as expensive as the Bentley, add $10k. If it's a Toyota, Chevy, Ford, Nissan, maybe $10k less. This is without having to shell out for a new motor or transmission, etc.
Head gaskets on these become suspect when the mileage passes 60K and if they had been done as a 'service attention' the cost of the job would have been less than half what it eventually cost. It does sound like there were some complications, a little bit more than mere "coolant loss". A lot of the other general wear and tear is down to the huge ammount of torque developed by that engine being thrown against a car that weighs 2.5 tons. My half pennies worth on this type of car is to buy one that someone else has spent their money on, then maybe it not cost you so much. This appears to be exactly what you have done! I own a RR Silver Seraph, had it 12 months now and just passed MOT with no advisories. Keeping fingers crossed!
You're absolutely right, the problem was well known even in the Turbo R but obviously wasn't properly rectified for a number of years. I believe the previous owner went for a 'belt and braces' approach following the failure, choosing to have the entire cooling system overhauled at the same time, which helps explain the rather large bill. Definitely the way to do it is to find one that has already had the big ticket items sorted, although sadly that's not always the case, but they are out there. Really curious to hear how you're finding Silver Seraph ownership so far? I've always liked them, and wonder how they compare with the Arnage. I hope you continue to enjoy it for many years and miles to come.
@@fuelupclassic I am very well pleased with the Seraph. Its on here under "Classics World", - "Last Real Rolls Royce". It was bought with recent invoices to about £6K but had a lot of electrical issues. Two were daft, glove box light stuck on and a wire off a sensor. But remote fob was US and the alarm and central locking ECU showed sign of past attention. I hacked in a new Viper 350 system and a lot of other stuff. All LED interior lamps, illuminated grill and mascot, modern screen with front and rear parking cams, CCTV and yes, a WiFi. On a run they deliver 22 mpg. The mascot in front adds a lot to the driving experience and makes a statement on the road or a car park. They are in truth not as breakable as the Bentleys, the big BMW V12 engines seem to last for ever from what I have seen. But I think you have done well with your car.
@@royfellows5468 I love how people like to 💩 on BMW for reliability, but on this video alone you're the second person I've seen praising the reliability of the BMW engine in the RR or Bentley. Also you have a beautiful example! I love the Silver Seraph in... Silver. The Arnage/SS are stunningly beautiful.
@@analogdriven Thinking about it a bit more, I have seen Arnage's for sale with the BMW V8 Turbo engine but the red label big wheels etc. Never on sale for very long.
Excellent Video, too bad I cannot use your numbers either in the USA (where I winter) and in Greece (May-October every year). I suspect it will be much more expensive to service and fix in the USA than in the UK, since y our head gasket job, with 96 hours of labor, came at less than 8k pounds total. In the US, 100 hours of labor alone for a cheap econobox are at least $13,000, and for a Bentley they probably will be over $20,000. AND this is Labor ONLY, not parts etc. The car is a beauty, especially the interior.
Hopefully some of the costs will be roughly the same or at least useful. It’s worth pointing out that the head gaskets were done in 2017 and should a similar issue occur now, I suspect the bill could easily be much more. A good specialist is currently circa £100-120 pound per hour and a Bentley dealer I suspect somewhere in the region of double that, so it soon mounts up.
Great video showing why to avoid at all cost. Bought a convertable XK8 in 1997 for around 60k, it was an ex launch car with 7k recorded miles. Apart from initial warranty services did most of the maintenance myself which was oil, oil filter, air filter and changing pads etc every 10,000 miles. Kept it for over 25 years and had 107k when sold. Including 4 expensive tyre changes total outlay including parts was around 10K. Sounds like the hugely expensive Bently is totally unreliable and a complete money pit. If it were Japanese maintenance bills would be a fraction and would be as reliable as a Swiss clock.
Glad to hear you had such a positive ownership experience running and maintaining a Jaguar XK8 - not entirely sure how it's relevant, but thanks for sharing nonetheless.
Thanks for great informative video. I've had an 89 TurboRL currently @ 175000 Kilometers for 5 years(My 3rd in 14 years) just as a hobby car.It's been an inexpensive fun toy.Last week I looked @ buying a very nice cosmetically 2013 Bentley W12 Flying Spur Mulliner Spec , 1 corporate owner currently @157000 Kilometers & ALWAYS Dealer serviced. Total cost for 11 years was $85000 Canadian or 49000 pounds. Seller is asking $45000 Canadian & suggesting I make an offer. What do you think? Or should I just run away & keep my Turbo RL :) ?
Really good to hear you've had a positive ownership experience with your Turbo RL. Would the Flying Spur be replacing it, or joining it? In almost every way, the Flying Spur will be a 'better' and much more modern car, but they do lack the old school charm of a Turbo R. It does sound as though you've found a good one though that's been properly looked after, which is very important. They tend to be quite a hard car to sell and that only gets harder when they have covered more miles, so i'd say if you're happy with the condition, i'd offer a figure that leaves you with a bit of slush fund, just in case. Remember as well, the Flying Spur still may have some hefty depreciation left to do, which is unlikely to be the case with your Turbo RL. Whichever you decide, happy motoring.
@@fuelupclassic Thanks for reply. If I bought the Flying Spur I would keep the Turbo RL & sell my Cloud. I'm 78 now & lack of A/C in the Cloud means I just don't drive it as much as when I was younger. Bought it in 1984.
Here's the problem I have with most cars like this......they don't get used enough. The sitting around is killing the unit. Not enough thermal cycling causes the gaskets and seals to let go. Give me a car that gets used every day with a service history.
My W210 E55 AMG came with all the paperwork from the previous owner, he bought it new and had it 16 years. There were bills for over £70k but he was putting it into a central London main dealer for absolutely everything and £8k of that was for a paintwork and rust repair. 🙄
nia on 25 years old and it still looks gorgeous to be fair.. and roughly what guy said earlier £40k over 24 years, £33 a week over its life time to maintain.
A Ferrari needs to be stamped with a main dealer, but Bentley you can take them to specialists that are known in the trade and instantly you labour cost is half and they may use after market parts.
It is my contention, that people who acquire these cars are not really owners but are simply 'Caretakers' of these prestigious automobiles until the next person 'Acquires. them.
Hi, thank you for your videos they are fantastic. Love the Marcos. So I know the following cars I am going to request you review are in a different price point to the Arnarge but there are very few videos on the subjects, Compare and contrast the Bentley Brooklands Coupe and the Azure. Also what are the differences between your Bentley and the Seraph. Why the price difference. I believe some people look at both cars when they are in the market to purchase one of these beauties. Marlow Cars in Buckinghamshire have all the models I have listed for sale so might partner with you for your videos so you do not have to go hunt down a Brooklands which is not easy as only 500+ where made. There a lot of reviews when these cars were new but very little regarding them now as a second hand option. Only a suggestion and I won’t be offended if you do not follow through lol Thank you again for all you do. Cheers JT
Thank you for watching :) I'd love to get a Brooklands and an Azure on the channel in the near future. Main differences with the Arnage and Seraph are the engine - the early Arnage used a 4.4 turbocharged V8, and then later models re-introduced the 6.75 litre Turbocharged V8, which by the end of production was producing near 500 BHP. The Seraph used the BMW V12 and is silky smooth, but sold in fewer numbers, and therefore tends to command a premium these days. The Bentley offers plenty of power and is a surprisingly fun car to hustle down the road. The RR is softer, more sedate, and probably a little bit more comfortable. All the best, Matt.
What a stunning drivers car you have! For everyone commenting negatively, it's okay to not be a car enthusiast. You can go to your driveway and take out your humdrum econo car that gets good gas mileage and is driven by a CVT. There's nothing wrong with commuter cars, they're driven by commuter NPCs 😉 But seriously, for enthusiasts - true enthusiasts who have a love for the car(s) they drive, they see the cost of purchase and add a number atop that. That's what's required to not just purchase the car but keep it running. When you get a used car, you're buying into all of the previous owners problems and mistakes. Just do your homework by watching videos like this to get an idea of what the average cost of ownership might be. And remember that the cost listed here was for the LIFETIME of the vehicle, the cost over 24 years by numerous owners. If you know what you're getting into, it's a good idea to keep an amount set aside and like I said, add to the purchase cost of the vehicle as it's just the entry fee. Be aware of what common issues are by reading ownership forums, watching repair videos, etc. Get to know the car. For me and I'm sure many other enthusiasts that's part of the joy of the experience. Getting to learn about the car, it's faults and how to correct them. ALL used cars will come with a price that's more than the cost of purchase, to keep them running. Unless you're buying a CPO car, you're getting someone else's problems that might need mitigation. Whether it's your run of the mill Japanese car or South Korean car, or one of the reliable econoboxes from America or Europe, all cars will cost money to keep on the road. And while many people may get away with just doing oil changes, you'll often come across people who buy these cars who are of the mindset that they don't want to pay for maintenance costs and will skimp on the oil changes and cause major headaches for the next owner. Oil changes are the key to the health of your engine, for all makes and models. For example, I have a 97 BMW 540i, with the 4.4l V8 that's found not just in other BMW's but also Range Rovers and the Bentley Arnage even(The Green Label series) and the internet loves to talk about timing chain guide failure on these engines. But that's usually at about 150-200k miles, and even then it's not a guarantee that the failure will happen if the car had religiously maintained oil changes. Some people are on 250k-300k miles on original guides. But like the head gasket failures of the Bentley 6.75L V8, it's a one and done type of repair. I did mine when I bought the car, because it was at 197k miles and didn't have it documented amongst it's fairly detailed service history. But it was preventative, and now I don't have to worry about it for another 150-200k miles. So while the BMW V8 is infamous for these issues, it's not as bad as the internet makes it out to be. There's another person who commented on this video who as a previous owner of 2 Bentley Arnages said he would gladly buy another one, but specifically the Green Label series for it's BMW V8 which he said, and I quote was "Exquisitely reliable" Everything is relative, just know what you're getting and be happy with it. And if someone else is happy to pay for their car, why put them down just because you don't have one? You choose to drive an econo car, that's fantastic for you. Enjoy your car and let others enjoy theirs, don't get in another man's wallet and judge how he spends his money 😂😂💀💀
How do you gets parts? There are gobs of these in USA that are parked because they cant get parts, especially on these, many electronics that control transmission shifting. Even in the newer GT coupes that are based on the VW Phaeton have issues getting fixed. If we cant get parts over here how come you guys can over there?
We have a number of specialist suppliers here in the UK (Flying Spares, IntroCar etc..), so most items are readily available. However, they're are a few things that are getting tricky to obtain, and sometimes a used part will be your only option from specialist RR/Bentley breakers.
I tried a few of these, but went of the same era Lexus LS, which I thought was/is far superior to the Arnage in every way, especially with how quiet and comfortable the Lexus drives over the Bentley. And the LS handles far better! In the end, I couldn't find a reason to buy an Arnage over the Lexus LS … so I went with the Lexus. As they say; *You Should Neve Meet Your Hero's*
I did, and I have no regrets! They’re not for everyone though and for many a Lexus will offer exactly what they’re looking for at a much cheaper price. Personally, they don’t do much for me and I’ve owned a few and never found them particularly exciting to drive. Interestingly, almost 100% of comments claiming their cars to be ‘far superior to a RR/Bentley’ are from Toyota/Lexus owners - they’re certainly a loyal, almost tribal group, that clearly love their cars and seem very keen to shout about it. For me, the Bentley does exactly what I want from a large luxury car and a mass produced Lexus doesn’t even come close.
18% of the running costs were the £7880 fee for the head gasket, which does seem quite steep for an old-nail pushrod V8 engine; not really any more complex than the Rover 3.5 V8.
It's certainly one that i'm glad the previous owner footed the bill for! However, in reality it's the only big ticket failure it's ever had in 24 years. Even though it's an old pushrod V8 albeit in a relatively high state of tune by the year 2000, labour to do the job on the turbocharged 6.75 V8 is hefty and with genuine parts soon mount up, unlike an old Rover V8 where parts are cheap and plentiful. Although that figure included the diagnosis and strip down, replacing both head gaskets with upgraded parts and a full overhaul of the entire cooling system and anything else it may have needed whilst access was easy. A friend has just had a near £10,000 bill for a similar job on a Turbo R, so for 2017 and the work being undertaken at a very respected specialist, it's not too out of the ordinary.
I have an old Peugeot Boxer based Camper, which costs roughly the same as this annually. Similar mileage too. Nobody says to me …. “Must be a money pit” or such stuff. All to do with folk’s preconceptions.
If Honda built it , suspension failures 0 , head gasket failure 0 , fuel pump failure 0 . What a joke , appreciate it’s a luxury super car but where’s the quality ??
Only the head gasket is an issue, and many Hondas go to the breakers because of premature auto transmission failure, for example. Change your brand to "Toyota" and I shall take your point.
Maybe Honda should go out of their way to produce a low-volume, mostly hand built, £250,000 + luxury vehicle and see how many they sell. Single figures?
For peace of mind it's always best to buy one with evidence that it's already been replaced by a reputable specialist. Once they're sorted, it's unlikely to go again. Having said that there are plenty of Turbo R, Arnage and Continentals still running happily on their original head gaskets, so it is a bit of a case of luck of the draw, I suppose. Either way, I wouldn't make it a sole reason not to buy one, just be clued up on the potential cost or buy one that's had it done, or seek out an early 4.4. It was/is an anomaly in regards to being a stand out large repair bill, compared with any other in the cars history.
I'm surprised. These running costs are really proportionate to the true value of this car. I believe they are perfectly acceptable for such a car. Does this vehicle represent value? That's really subjective. There are hundreds of vehicles out there that will get you from A to B and which would represent a significant saving. However do they provide the same ownership experience? If you own one of these I'm sure you love it. If you don't own one, perhaps you need to drive/ own one prior to reflecting on its value for money
has not discouraged me from getting a 2nd hand Rolls. just look at it, if you were my neighbour, I would have an excuse every day to look in your garage
Well, tyres for a Tesla Model Y are around £270 each, so that's something. To be honest, buying an old one like this and doing the work yourself would probably divide those bills by a factor of three. However, what kills it for me is the truly shocking fuel efficiency.
DIY is possible, especially with servicing but can lead to false economy overall. If you're ever thinking of selling the car, and they aren't always the easiest things to sell at the best of times, one that has a patchy service record or one that has been 'home serviced' will dramatically affect the value and could lead a lot of potential buyers to simply walk away. Of course, if you plan on keeping the car for a long time, it could make better financial sense. Fuel economy is really no worse than any other big V8 luxury car of the era, (circa 15 MPG on average, although 20 mpg is possible on a steady, long run). My old Jaguar XJ6 Series 3 and Range Rover Classic are worse on fuel than the Bentley.
This car is a masterpiece regardless of its flaws , there is no such thing as a reliable car per se however I’d buy it even it is higher maintenance it’s worth it for the pleasure alone but just make sure you don’t have its head gasket replaced in your ownership 😊😅
$150/month X 12 X 24 = $43K not so bad. I had 2 porsches at the same time 95 C2 96 C4S and they avg'd $120/month which is great. Bentley is worth it if you don;t get a bad one.
Exactly! When you break it down on a monthly basis, it really isn't too bad and not really out of the ordinary for an expensive luxury car. Of course, those figures are just maintenance. If Fuel, tyres and of course depreciation (circa £125,000, albeit pretty much non-existent now) were to be added, the final amount would be alarming.
@@analogdriven And? BMW engine, yet look inside the passenger side front door and you will see a manufacturers plate: Made by Rolls Royce Motors, Crewe, England. So it's a Bentley badged Rolls Royce with a BMW engine.
Call it 2000 a year for servicing and repairs. Not terrible really, nearly inconsequential compared to depreciation. And used sparingly and kept properly, it won't depreciate at this point. At UK petrol prices, the cost of fuel is eye opening! Nearly double the fuel consumption of my Mercedes E350 estate, and fuel at least 2X US prices, and probably closer to 3X. Yikes!
Absolutely! In the grand scheme of things they really aren't too bad. Theres so much misinformation out there on actually running these old barges that I think many people are scared to own one. Roughly £2,000 per year seems to keep on top of general running and servicing in my experience, however there's no denying it could cost a lot more should something major fail. However, the fuel bills will never be an easy pill to swallow!
The difference is running one may cost you a lot, but now they are old you loose pretty much no depreciation so you can sake that cost off, you can buy an average French car and trade it in two years later and loose 10k, look at it long term and it’s not actually that expensive.
I feel this is how every 'man maths' decision is made haha! Yes, but in all seriousness fundamentally depreciation has done its thing and knowing that really does help you justify the high running costs.
So an average of £1,684 per year. That doesn’t seem too bad to me. Over the same period of time I have owned 5 Range Rovers (not the sport but the full fat ones) and I have kept meticulously records on the costs and my average yearly costs for servicing and repairs ( and there are a lot if repairs on the earlier L322 ones) was closer to £3,000 per year. That figure was slightly inflated due to my last L322, being the Queens spec car (green with the same interior etc) and my intention to keep it as immaculate and standard as possible. That car almost broke me financially everything went wrong and even using an independent specialist, the costs were eye watering. So, I think that a budget of £2,000 per year to keep a luxury car in good condition isn’t too surprising.
Yep, it's really not too bad all thing considered. Of course, should something major fail, it could lead to eye watering bills, just like any high end car. Funnily enough, i'm searching for an L322 after selling my last Range Rover 18 months ago. You have just reminded me what i'm getting myself back into haha... I still love them though! Thank you for watching.
Although I have a L405 now, having spent a small fortune on my last L322 I still find myself browsing the Autotrader site looking at L322’s. The L405 is definitely the better car and I really like it but there’s something special about the L322. I loved that car!
Less expensive, and far more wonderful than a MB S class. I have owned several, and never will have another. They were also new cars, not run into the ground.
What about tyres, exhaust and batteries, I'm guessing that was included in the total but you didn't specify them in your list. Beautiful car, I've always loved a Bentley.
As tyres and batteries are basically consumable items, they have been left out. Although I do mention what replacement tyres cost these days and the car is still fitted with its original exhaust. Thank you for watching :)
@@fuelupclassic Original exhaust is impressive, I was wondering about tyres because it's a heavy car but I heard you say about the tyre price, batteries can add up if it's a battery eater which luxury car often are, but it's all good I was just wondering, Thanks for the reply.
£774 for rear pads?! I know the parts are seemingly a lot more expensive than the fronts (not sure why), but pads from Flying Spares are £190ish and the genuine wear sensor is £90. So that's nearly £500 in labour to change rear pads.
If you buy one of these you're probably best befriending a retired Bentley mechanic who repairs and maintains them at home just for the love of it and doesn't charge because he's having so much fun.
Haha! That would be wonderful, although I think it might be incredibly difficult to find this mysterious retired Bentley expert, who is still willing to take on work from his home and not charge.
It's not too bad really! Depreciation is almost non-existent these days too. Around £2-£3,000 per year keeps on top of servicing, although it has the potential to throw some really big bills your way should something major fail.
Prices are not as shocking as I thought it would be. I'm trying to convert the pounds to U.S. dollars here... Not too shabby, but over 40,000 pounds of service in its lifetime is pretty damn high.
Really gorgeous car😊 I've owned 2 Rolls Royces several years ago. 😊Yes they are expensive but who cares 😊.Life is for living. If you are thinking about the bills you can't afford to run one. I'm in the market for another one in the next year or so 😊😊😊😊
i have a seraph, and I've already spent over USD 3,000 and I've not had it a year. I bought it not knowing things that needed to be done. Well, I'm forking the $$$ out for these fixes slowly but surely.
This car is a BMW. I would buy one with a blown engine, fit an M60B44 and 5- (not 6-) speed manual box for BMW service (if not repair) costs, then use it as a weekend car until I die without ever seeing a dealer.
They share surprisingly few components with BMW when you look into it, unlike the RR. Either way, it would likely be a fun project that you should give it a go! Or you could simply just buy an early Arnage fitted with the 4.4 V8.
I think it’s a bargain considering the pleasure it brings. Take out the new head gasket, it’s a couple of grand a year to enjoy a gorgeous Bentley. Bargain if you ask me
40000£ for only 78000mi are 50p/mi, add depreciation of the probably 200000£ sticker price and 5800 gallons at 4£ each make 3.35£/mi, you may have called a cab for each travel. The problem is the very low mileage, the service cost would be ok for 250000 miles, a blown head gasket at 78000 is just ridiculous crappy workmanship.
i've avoided adding depreciation into the mix on this occasion, as really this is about the running costs and general maintenance required to keep one in tip top condition as they get older. Depreciation is probably in the region of circa £125,000 from the original list price and happens naturally on all big, luxury cars. Nonetheless it really would have only been a 'concern' for the first/ second owners. During recent times it hasn't really depreciated at all, which is a nice bonus. Also, fuel costs are a very difficult one to factor in over 24 years, and quite frankly who would really be surprised that it's never going to be economical (15 MPG on average) and it's currently approximately £8 per UK gallon. Head gasket problems around 60,000 miles are well documented and cost quite a bit to sort. You may consider 78,000 miles not very much, but there's very few out there that have covered huge mileages as they were likely purchased new by people who had several cars to choose from and subsequent owners often use them as their weekend cars to enjoy, rather than an everyday car. Having said that a well used, properly maintained example is a far better buy than one that has sat around in a collection for years doing nothing. I never said ownership was cheap, nor are they perfect, but really the overall figure isn't far off any high end, very expensive luxury car over a near quarter of a century period. They do offer one of the finest driving experiences of any car, but completely understand why some would not want one at all.
They're a known weak point on turbocharged Bentley's of the 90s and early 2000s - I guess when you're pushing pretty impressive power figures from an ancient engine design, something eventually has to give. Either way, they don't ALL go, but if you're unlucky enough to suffer a HG failure, it's really not the end of the world and head gasket aside, they're a very strong unit. Once it's been sorted with modern upgraded gaskets etc, it's unlikely to go again. I've had so called 'bulletproof' Toyotas in the past that required entire injector replacements and suffered corrosion issues at just sever years old, which cost a fortune to rectify. In my experience, all cars break, have inherent faults and all need ongoing maintenance, whether they are cheap or expensive.
That's a pretty imprssive weak point. In my opinion Bentley should be prepared to at least to come to the party with some of the costs. The early xk8 had a liner problem, again a known fault, and most were replaced by Jaguar at no cost to the owner. You can't compare Toyotas to Bentleys. They cost a fraction of the price, and they are very reliable in the main. I agree all cars require upkeep for wear and tear and most components will fail eventually, but I still think a failed head gasket at 60k is pretty poor.
@@artistglyn Unfortunately, there's not a chance Bentley were going to pay or even part pay, for a then 17 year old vehicle that had suffered head gasket failure. Luckily, that bill didn't land on my front door and I can only speak of my personal ownership experience of a now pretty old car. Of course, Bentley must of had some idea of the issue, as they did eventually tweak later models, which from what i'm told are far less likely to suffer the same problems. The Nikasil Liner issue on Jaguars of the era was indeed largely properly addressed by Jaguar (I recall my mother had three new engines in an XK8 back in 97!). However BMW were far less generous with dealing with a similar issue at the time, and both would have laughed you out of the showroom if you turned up 17 years later demanding a new engine. Therefore, it does seem to be a bit of pot luck depending on how a manufacturer will look after you, even whilst the car is in warranty. - e.g current LR/Jaguar ingenium engines! Interestingly, i've had hundreds of comments from Toyota and Lexus owners on this video who are only too keen to tell me how great their cars are and how cheap to run they are, and that they are so much better than a RR/Bentley - I can only go on my personal experience in that, of the several that I have owned, they've been no better or worse than any other car. I will take a Bentley or Rolls any day of the week.
My next door neighbour runs a Lexus LS400 that he’s had for donkey’s - 90% of the feeling of a Bentley in the real world ? It never goes wrong and is utterly fantastic. Most people don’t have a clue what it is so if you want normal people to look at you then the Bentley is a better choice but as a car to drive and enjoy the Lexus is pretty amazing.
An LS400 is a fine car, and probably on paper does most of what the Bentley can do. They're a shrewd buy for those looking for a bit of luxury, without the potential for big bills, however finding a good one here in the UK is now tricky. However, if you have your heart set on a Bentley or RR, nothing else will do, and they really are in a league of their own.
@@fuelupclassic Yes certainly I can see that - if you live in the world where money is no object then great but I can, sort of, see us running an LS400 as a second vehicle instead of my old van. I won’t do it though as I like doing stuff rather than working to pay to have stuff. I’m pleased that people like you run these vehicles as it’s interesting seeing them - a bit like it’s interesting to see and hear a Spit fly over. All the best.
I wouldn't want to open my garage and see a Lexus. That'd be a daily disappointment. So I really don't care how reliable it's supposed to be (and it's surprising how often these 'bulletproof' cars turn out to be anything but). I go to the window sometimes just for a visual 'hit' of my car. I could never do that with a Lexus.
@@bm7760 Well said. I strongly suspect Mr Lexus looks across in envy every time he sees the Arnage...
Most people not having a clue what it is, is probably an advantage.
I think you’re right regarding specialists - as these cars get older often they’re encountered less regularly by the main dealership team. A great specialist who trained and worked on these cars when new and now has gone out on their own is a great option.
Absolutely! It really does make all the difference.
It can be, but the wrong specialist will have your shirt. Some are very slippery. Some are great. Need to watch some of the prices at Flying Spares and Introcar too. Take the water temperature sensor, standard Lucas part also fitted to load of other cars, going rate £7-£9. With a RR part number from Flying Spares, £36+vat, identical and in a lucas box.
We have a beautiful Continental R. In the main it's been very reliable and last year we ventured through Spain & Portugal on a 3k mile trip. I was really surprised because the locals just loved it and even the underground car park attendants kept their eye on it. All those people knew we were enthusiasts but it was great for us to share the car with them. We are not rich well to do people, just people who wanted something a little out of the ordinary. This year it's doing my sons wedding so it comes with a great deal of happy memories, what more could you want.
Fantastic to hear you're enjoying and using a Continental R for what they were designed for. I'd love to get one in the future.
I have owned 2 Arnage. A 6.75 and one of the original 4.4
If I was looking at buying a third one of these beautiful cars then I would not look beyond the 4.4 'Green Label'. I used 'Starmans' (Nottingham) independent for servicing (the guys are passionate about their Bentley and Rolls) and never felt either ripped off or as though they did work that didn't need doing.
The 4.4 is incredibly reliable, and does not suffer the head gasket issues the 6.75 suffers from.
I would personally go for a car that has higher mileage but a good service history rather than a low mileage garage queen....
Great to hear from fellow owners of both variants. I'm tempted to give a 4.4 a go, just to see the difference. Thankfully, head gasket issue aside, the 6.75 in this one has never given any dramas and still pulls what is a big heavy car along exceptionally well.
You barely find any 4.4 for sale in switzerland
@@pipolebnene They're quite tricky to find even in the UK.
@@fuelupclassic The 6.75 I had was a year 2,000 and it almost bankrupt me. In one year alone it suffered the inevitable head gasket failure, plus gearbox failure, water-pump failure, and a number of other 'smaller' issues. The cost in that year alone were in excess of £12,000. Ouch.
£40425.00 over 24 years breaks down to about £1684.38 per year or £33.00 per week, rain or shine.
Not bad for a car that is not used commercially. I can speculate that if it was used a lot more the cost would go down, although it may seem counterintuitive.
It's not really too bad when you average it out and there's plenty of other cars that would cost similar or more over the same period and mileage, yet RR/Bentley seem to be the one that people are most fearful of when it comes to large bills.
This is what I am thinking. It is not bad at all.
£33.00 per week is less than five quid per day. Some people's lattes cost more. It's a matter of perspective. What you need to do is put away money regularly and invest at least some of it to make gains with which to cover some of the sporadic larger bills.
Fantastic presentation! I haven't seen your channel yet, but the immediate selling point is "the Internet is full of egos". I want to hear an objective presentation just as screened here. Thank you so much! Too bad the Internet is full of egos, and not of quality information. Well done, Sir!
Thank you for watching.
Great review. I’ve always fancied owning a Rolls Royce or a Bentley. That doesn’t seem too bad at £1600 per year. Almost a bargain I’d say! I have a 2004 Porsche 911, all the receipts for that average out at about £2000 a year over 120k miles, including,tyres and so on, as well as a lot of suspension and infotainment upgrades which weren’t strictly necessary but add massively to the driving experience.
I had a HONDA WAGOVAN in the 1980's that I purchased new. I drove it 315,000 miles over 8 yea and this is what I spent on repairs (parts AND labour);
Clutch (used from salvage yard): $240
Radiator (new): $160
Gas Tank (used from wrecker yard): $200
TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS: $600 (8 years)
The Honda was fun to drive, handled Canadian winter temperatures, snow and icy roads very well, and got excellent fuel mileage.
The engine and transmission were never opened up, and when I got rid of it the engine still ran so quietly and so smoothly you could not hear it unless you strained to. AND it still burned very, very little oil.
NOT a status car, rather a reliable, economical, fun car. FOR SURE! Loved that car and because of that experience I still drive Hondas 40 years on.
Cool :). Glad to hear you're enjoying Honda ownership.
The way of Japanese engineers is such. They know people usually don't tend to take regular and proper care of their vehicles, thus making them last as much.
German engineers on the other hand are quite the opposite.
If you take proper care of your vehicle, it will definitely last.
A logic embedded in Japanese culture mind you.
Taking proper care of something will definitely make it last longer rather than not.
Understanding the ideals of such logic, can also be seen with everything in life. Not in service of the materialistic domination for modern society, no, but of choice in something greater and beyond the impeccable test of a local mind to simply observe what not of a lifespan its choice will possess.
I owned a bicycle for 30 yrs and only had to replace the tires and the chain! Reliable and economical FOR SURE! What has that to do with the Bentley in the vid you say; about as much as a Honda does.
@@MarkGelderland Good point. Thanks.
Thanks for this. Those maintenance costs are pretty similar to those of my recent Alpina B5, but that car depreciated every 4-5 months about the same amount as the Bentley's head gasket repair cost.
Very true, some earlier models have even increased in value.
Thank you for watching. Firstly, I have to commend you on buying an Alpina B5, you're clearly a man of exquisite taste. They still remain one of my bucket list cars.
You raise a really good point about depreciation - the Arnage seems to have stabilised in recent years and depreciation is virtually non-existent, which makes the maintenance costs seem palatable.
Oh my lord! Firstly id like to congratulate you on a simply gorgeous car! I'd like to maybe own one some day!
As the owner of a 2005 Aston Martin DB9 i can sympathise with the running costs. Ive had it only 6 months and have only driven it on odd occasions but its fantastic. However the history file that came with it makes ahem interesting reading! Servicing is on a par with your Bentley but some of the invoices are staggering.thankfully had a pre purchase inspection done which showed up a few things which were rectified at the dealers expense so fingers crossed im good for a while.
MPG on the Aston is marginally better than yours at an average of 19.7 mpg!
But,like your Bentley the smiles per mile are immeasurable. Thanks for sharing.👍👏👏👏♥️
Enjoy :) They're wonderful cars.
The red color of the Bentley is very elegant. It's very helpful to understand. Thank you for always sharing such good video🙏
My pleasure 😊
I've owned a Bentley Continental R for 10 years. Ive owned a lot of luxury and performance cars. But the Bentley has cost WAY more to maintain than I was expecting. It's more like running an aircraft than a car. But they are like nothing else on the road.
BUT some of the specialists are VERY expensive, that head gaskets bill being a prime example.
They certainly can cost a fair bit, especially if you end up paying for previous owners deferred maintenance or are just unlucky with a major fault.
Looking at the invoice, the previous owner went for a 'belt and braces' approach following the head gasket failure, which included a full overhaul of the cooling system and anything else it needed at the time, hence the rather large bill.
@@fuelupclassic sure, but my first advice to anyone considering these vehicles (pre-VW designed cars) is to be very careful with some specialists - it's very easy to rip people off with these cars. Yes, they are very expensive to maintain, but they just build on that!
@@highlandmalt6368 Let's be honest, the car industry as a whole isn't exactly overflowing with integrity. I guess it's a matter of shopping around, so-to-speak, for a half decent human being who is honest. Good luck with that!
Fabulous cars, I preferred the Turbo R and this can be expensive for an even older car but as you say, probably expected, it was a dream come true and one car I miss very much.
The driving experience of most of these cars is fabulous, the driving position quite high and the smoothness and the response when driving is amazing for such a large car.
Thanks for this AND mentioning the biggest headache possibly with the Arnage and the Turbo R, the head gasket pain!
What they use in the factory for a gasket must be akin to toffee with the reports I have heard of owners getting the billowing smoke that can be a head gasket fault! Thanks so much for the great advice, many potential owners will be listening and making notes I am sure!
I had the Arnage Green label around 2000-2002. Wonderful vehicle. Being the sprightly BMW 4.4 Twin Turbo V8, it was surprisingly cheap to run (approx 22mpg), given the size and weight of the car. It's one car I would happily buy back. The car in this video is the Red label 6.75 litre even heavier engine. I'd say the Green Label is the one to own.
I've always been tempted to try a 4.4 to see how they compare, however for now i'm happy with the 6.75.
I own a Jag - 1998 XJ8 4.0. You kind of know that a major thing can happen anytime. Chains for me right now, which is a bit painful, but apart from that it's a once per year service with my km (few 000 per year) and nothing much seems to need doing so far. The rest is what you choose with a classic (or emerging classic) - bits of improvement on the interior etc. I've done home repair on a ripped leather bolster (minor cost), and I've replaced my wood veneer with a second hand set, repaired cup holder and got a nicer gear knob. All home done relatively low cost stuff.
I used to own a VW Golf 1.4TSi (mark 6). That cost me AU$8K in one year to keep it running and enable me to sell it.... for $8K. And some of those things should never have failed in the life of the car. So, any car can cause a major haemorrhage when something goes awry!
Absolutely! Well done for keeping up on the maintenance on the XJ8, as so many have been neglected by now. A properly sorted Jaguar is a wonderful way to travel.
I currently use my 2007 Jag XJ8L and it's quite reliable, aluminum bonded construction, 29 MPG at 75 mph all day long. I have used it from 82000 miles when I bought it, to 110,000 to this day. VERY reliable Ford related reliability until the Ford "Premier Automotive Group dropped dead in 2010 and the very low structure of newer XJ's make putting my head under the headliner is no fun at all.
@@fuelupclassic I would agree with the reliability of the older 4.0 XJ, though you do lose mileage and a taller gearing of six-speeds.
Not too bad considering the class of car this Bentley is. A timeless beauty
that is how I see it as well. just look at it and if you own one, you can look and fondle it every day, and no complaints, unlike the wife
Very interesting as it is a lovely car.
My thoughts, a main Bentley dealer will obviously charge Bentley prices, but a lot of the parts are used in other manufacturers cars, which are exactly the same product, same quality, but at at cheaper price (some other specialists will even know this). Also I was taught that if you need to change, for example one wheel bearing you change both on the same axle, same for shockers, rear brakes, front brakes, so then you don't get a similar failure only a few months down the line and have to pay twice, get it done at the same time and save some money
I am not a car engineer, I am into electronics but I raced a drag bike in the 1970's so I know a little
Rob
Thank you for such an informative and honest view of the costs
My pleasure 😊.
Thank you very much for watching.
As owner of the sister version of the Bentley Arnage. The Rolls_Royce Silver Seraph. I find the biggest and most annoying issue, is the modern electronics. !⚠. Especially the airbag warning light 🚦, among others.....
Ahhh yes! I've had the dreaded airbag warning light too on a few occasions. Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoy your Silver Seraph for many more years and miles to come.
I have a 2003 Arnage R and my airbag light is illuminated. I haven't found anyone in Ohio who can clear the code because the early (2001 to 2003) Arnage requires a unique scanner to be able to communicate with the control units. Do you have any insight on this subject?
I had heard at first that the factory would not let those scanners go out to anyone but dealers. But I hear now garages specializing Bentleys and Rolls's are able to get them. Have you checked on the website of the American Rolls-Royce Owners Club? ( RROC ) They also have a very helpful owners forum.
-Greg in California.
Actually, when you break that down to a monthly reserve, if you will, it's only a few hundred p.m.. quite reasonable for such a car!
@@attilacsepe4946 Sorry 🙏 I wish I could help you with regards to having your airbag warning ⚠ light turned off. You a correct about having to have a special Rolls_Royce and Bentley scanning tool to access the vehicle code . I have to take my Silver Seraph to the R.R specialist dealership many kilometers from where I've, to have this annoying light 🚦 turned off and reset !...
A good and informative video, thank you, I agree with your point about only buying one with the fullest service history you can find. As an Ex Rolls Royce And Bently owner myself, I endorse the fact, that if you buy a "cheap" neglected one, you will without doubt regret it. It is important to say the real cost of ownership, is indeed quite reasonable, particulaly if you factor in, the pure joy of owning such a fine vehicle. Nay sayers, buy something different.
Thank you for watching. I completely agree :)
Nice of you to acknowledge us specialists. It's our name above the door, not a franchise, so we make sure the job is done correctly. Mainly because we are passionate about the marque.
Absolutely! Specialists really are the best option to help keep them on the road at a sensible price with proper customer service.
Thank you for watching.
A truly beautiful work of Automotive Art.. A very lucky car that it didn't fall into the hands of the wrong people. The £40+k would also need to be adjusted for inflation.. £1000 in 2001 was considerably more than today. Well done.. On behalf of the car, we thank you :>)
Thank you very much for watching :)
I fancy one of these. The closest I have come is a 2002 Jag XJ8 4.0 which I bought 3 years old and was a pretty nice car. It drove beautifully. Here we are 20 years later. I would like an Arnage. The Jags do go rusty...... I am considering my options.
I can highly recommend going for one. It's very similar to the Jag in many ways, but on a whole different level in others. There's plenty for sale and plenty of options, so just make sure you get one that's been properly looked after and it should be one of the best motoring experiences you can have.
Oh and check it will actually fit in your garage! They're big and do really need to be inside, especially in the winter.
A Bentley will go rusty too.
@@martinluke9470 they're certainly not immune to it. Keeping the underside clean and an annual dose of Lanoguard, seems to work wonders.
If it's a car you intend to keep for a few years remember an Arnage is 18ft long, most ordinary garages are shorter. I extended the garage in my new house so my 1975 Bentley would fit. At 20-25 years old an Arnage isn't really a practical or economical everyday car so you will need another vehicle. As a toy they are almost sensible and with a good specialist unless you are unlucky very affordable.
I recommend the 4.4 way more reliable and cheaper to run.
40k pounds over twenty years doesn't seem so bad when some Ferraris built around the same time as this Red Label demand twice that in only five years. The Bentley is expensive, but not farcically so compared to a high end performance oriented brands. I appreciate this video you did and the reality of what it takes to look after one of these fine cars. I'll definitely refer other people to this video if they go looking about on Reddit or some forum for information about what an Arnage demands in regular maintenance plus repair bills.
Thank you for watching and i'm glad you found the video useful.
Very well presented, excellent.
Thank you for watching.
New indicator switch for my Toyota Aygo - change out of £40, (fitted it myself inside 1 hour - including drinking 2 mugs of tea) 20 quid PA road tax too😁😁😁😁
Nice one!
Not really comparing apples to apples tho
@@timbo19751975 I agree, but seriously, if I had the money to buy and run a Bentley (or any other exotic car) I don't think I would as I consider them a waste.
Just my personal opinion, your mileage may vary.
Yes, but you got only a switch. The Bentley got a stork! (Wonder what you feed those things...)
Thank you for posting this rundown. It is very helpful to me.
You're very welcome.
The paint looks epic. I wonder what detailing costs have added to the total cost of ownership because I consider it vital to keeping a car of any age looking fresh and pampered.
The paint has held up really well thanks to just regular cleaning and polishing - to my knowledge it hasn't been professionally detailed in over a decade or more, but still looks extremely good.
Thank you for this video!
It confirms my theory that maintaining a great car can be affordable if you have good independant specialists, good availability of parts AND if your car model is so mature that the weak spots are well known by now and specialists know how to fix them without blindly throwing lots of OEM parts at them.
I don't think this would work for a Bentley in my native Germany as it does for you in the UK - so much as though I like those barges, I'll pass...
My 2014 Renault Grand Scenic has cost 3000 euros over 3 years (servicing and repairs) I thought it was a lot until I watched your commentary! We have now covered 220,000 km and it seems to be over it's mid life crisis!!........For now!!
Yep! Pretty much all cars end up costing money at some point.
Back in the seventies my friends were sitting around my kitchen table talking about what was acceptable as annual maintenance costs for our cars. We were all young Canadian boys and none of us had what I'd call a nice car. But the consensus was that if your car dinged you for a thousand bucks a year , you were in the sweet spot. That was then and since that time inflation has really skewed our notions of relative value.
Your Arnage cost about 1500 pounds annually in maintenance. Call that $2000 dollars in age appropriate currency. I'd say that for the sheer pleasure of owning a bus like that , 1500 pounds puts you in that sweet spot. The odd head gasket job might make you swallow your tongue but you have to just pay up or lose your shirt. I think that fancy car has been (from a very narrow perspective) a cheap luxury.
Overall, the numbers are quite reasonable. I have owned a 1998 BMW 7 series (740iL) which shares many mechanicals with both this Bentley and the Rolls Seraph, and not only was it rather unreliable, (although a huge joy to drive and one of the most beautiful sedans ever made), but also the repairs were just as expensive as the Bentley repairs in the UK. I paid only $10.5k for the BMW, it was only 7 years old and had 113k miles, and put another 40k miles on it in the 12 years I owned it (I have other cars, plus my commuting distances were always very short)
In my experience, having more cars than I can count over 60 years of driving, if you are going to keep a car for 25 years and say 100,000 miles, budget $100 a month for repairs and maintenance. That gives you $30,000. For a car as expensive as the Bentley, add $10k. If it's a Toyota, Chevy, Ford, Nissan, maybe $10k less. This is without having to shell out for a new motor or transmission, etc.
Sensible advice. Thank you for watching.
❤ new to your channel, love it ! Greetings from Spain!
Head gaskets on these become suspect when the mileage passes 60K and if they had been done as a 'service attention' the cost of the job would have been less than half what it eventually cost. It does sound like there were some complications, a little bit more than mere "coolant loss". A lot of the other general wear and tear is down to the huge ammount of torque developed by that engine being thrown against a car that weighs 2.5 tons. My half pennies worth on this type of car is to buy one that someone else has spent their money on, then maybe it not cost you so much. This appears to be exactly what you have done!
I own a RR Silver Seraph, had it 12 months now and just passed MOT with no advisories. Keeping fingers crossed!
You're absolutely right, the problem was well known even in the Turbo R but obviously wasn't properly rectified for a number of years. I believe the previous owner went for a 'belt and braces' approach following the failure, choosing to have the entire cooling system overhauled at the same time, which helps explain the rather large bill. Definitely the way to do it is to find one that has already had the big ticket items sorted, although sadly that's not always the case, but they are out there.
Really curious to hear how you're finding Silver Seraph ownership so far? I've always liked them, and wonder how they compare with the Arnage. I hope you continue to enjoy it for many years and miles to come.
@@fuelupclassic I am very well pleased with the Seraph. Its on here under "Classics World", - "Last Real Rolls Royce". It was bought with recent invoices to about £6K but had a lot of electrical issues. Two were daft, glove box light stuck on and a wire off a sensor. But remote fob was US and the alarm and central locking ECU showed sign of past attention. I hacked in a new Viper 350 system and a lot of other stuff. All LED interior lamps, illuminated grill and mascot, modern screen with front and rear parking cams, CCTV and yes, a WiFi.
On a run they deliver 22 mpg. The mascot in front adds a lot to the driving experience and makes a statement on the road or a car park. They are in truth not as breakable as the Bentleys, the big BMW V12 engines seem to last for ever from what I have seen. But I think you have done well with your car.
@@royfellows5468 I love how people like to 💩 on BMW for reliability, but on this video alone you're the second person I've seen praising the reliability of the BMW engine in the RR or Bentley. Also you have a beautiful example! I love the Silver Seraph in... Silver. The Arnage/SS are stunningly beautiful.
@@analogdriven Thinking about it a bit more, I have seen Arnage's for sale with the BMW V8 Turbo engine but the red label big wheels etc. Never on sale for very long.
Excellent Video, too bad I cannot use your numbers either in the USA (where I winter) and in Greece (May-October every year). I suspect it will be much more expensive to service and fix in the USA than in the UK, since y our head gasket job, with 96 hours of labor, came at less than 8k pounds total. In the US, 100 hours of labor alone for a cheap econobox are at least $13,000, and for a Bentley they probably will be over $20,000. AND this is Labor ONLY, not parts etc. The car is a beauty, especially the interior.
Hopefully some of the costs will be roughly the same or at least useful. It’s worth pointing out that the head gaskets were done in 2017 and should a similar issue occur now, I suspect the bill could easily be much more. A good specialist is currently circa £100-120 pound per hour and a Bentley dealer I suspect somewhere in the region of double that, so it soon mounts up.
I thought my old Honda civic head gasket was expensive. I feel better now thanks.
Haha, glad it made you feel better. A big bill on any car is never nice, but part of life unfortunately.
Great video showing why to avoid at all cost.
Bought a convertable XK8 in 1997 for around 60k, it was an ex launch car with 7k recorded miles. Apart from initial warranty services did most of the maintenance myself which was oil, oil filter, air filter and changing pads etc every 10,000 miles. Kept it for over 25 years and had 107k when sold. Including 4 expensive tyre changes total outlay including parts was around 10K.
Sounds like the hugely expensive Bently is totally unreliable and a complete money pit. If it were Japanese maintenance bills would be a fraction and would be as reliable as a Swiss clock.
"avoid at all cost".
Not necessarily. I owned a 4.4 and it never missed a beat. However I also owned a 6.75 which was a money pit.
Glad to hear you had such a positive ownership experience running and maintaining a Jaguar XK8 - not entirely sure how it's relevant, but thanks for sharing nonetheless.
Thanks for great informative video. I've had an 89 TurboRL currently @ 175000 Kilometers for 5 years(My 3rd in 14 years) just as a hobby car.It's been an inexpensive fun toy.Last week I looked @ buying a very nice cosmetically 2013 Bentley W12 Flying Spur Mulliner Spec , 1 corporate owner currently @157000 Kilometers & ALWAYS Dealer serviced. Total cost for 11 years was $85000 Canadian or 49000 pounds. Seller is asking $45000 Canadian & suggesting I make an offer. What do you think? Or should I just run away & keep my Turbo RL :) ?
Really good to hear you've had a positive ownership experience with your Turbo RL. Would the Flying Spur be replacing it, or joining it?
In almost every way, the Flying Spur will be a 'better' and much more modern car, but they do lack the old school charm of a Turbo R. It does sound as though you've found a good one though that's been properly looked after, which is very important. They tend to be quite a hard car to sell and that only gets harder when they have covered more miles, so i'd say if you're happy with the condition, i'd offer a figure that leaves you with a bit of slush fund, just in case. Remember as well, the Flying Spur still may have some hefty depreciation left to do, which is unlikely to be the case with your Turbo RL. Whichever you decide, happy motoring.
@@fuelupclassic Thanks for reply. If I bought the Flying Spur I would keep the Turbo RL & sell my Cloud. I'm 78 now & lack of A/C in the Cloud means I just don't drive it as much as when I was younger. Bought it in 1984.
Another great video, thanks
Great to hear you enjoyed it and thank you for watching.
Here's the problem I have with most cars like this......they don't get used enough. The sitting around is killing the unit. Not enough thermal cycling causes the gaskets and seals to let go.
Give me a car that gets used every day with a service history.
A valid point, and using any classic car regularly is always a good thing. Having said that, not many 25+ year old Bentleys are used everyday anymore.
My W210 E55 AMG came with all the paperwork from the previous owner, he bought it new and had it 16 years. There were bills for over £70k but he was putting it into a central London main dealer for absolutely everything and £8k of that was for a paintwork and rust repair. 🙄
I can well believe it, it's incredible really how the bills can mount up to eye watering levels.
nia on 25 years old and it still looks gorgeous to be fair.. and roughly what guy said earlier £40k over 24 years, £33 a week over its life time to maintain.
Really surprised how reasonable the servicing is compared to my Ferrari.
A Ferrari needs to be stamped with a main dealer, but Bentley you can take them to specialists that are known in the trade and instantly you labour cost is half and they may use after market parts.
My Turbo RL has over 30k spent at Hilliar Hill in Bedford since 2016. Many other jobs done during this period too.
It's easily done, but I hope you're enjoying it.
It is my contention, that people who acquire these cars are not really owners but are simply 'Caretakers' of these prestigious automobiles until the next person 'Acquires. them.
Hi, thank you for your videos they are fantastic. Love the Marcos. So I know the following cars I am going to request you review are in a different price point to the Arnarge but there are very few videos on the subjects, Compare and contrast the Bentley Brooklands Coupe and the Azure. Also what are the differences between your Bentley and the Seraph. Why the price difference. I believe some people look at both cars when they are in the market to purchase one of these beauties. Marlow Cars in Buckinghamshire have all the models I have listed for sale so might partner with you for your videos so you do not have to go hunt down a Brooklands which is not easy as only 500+ where made. There a lot of reviews when these cars were new but very little regarding them now as a second hand option. Only a suggestion and I won’t be offended if you do not follow through lol Thank you again for all you do. Cheers JT
Thank you for watching :)
I'd love to get a Brooklands and an Azure on the channel in the near future. Main differences with the Arnage and Seraph are the engine - the early Arnage used a 4.4 turbocharged V8, and then later models re-introduced the 6.75 litre Turbocharged V8, which by the end of production was producing near 500 BHP. The Seraph used the BMW V12 and is silky smooth, but sold in fewer numbers, and therefore tends to command a premium these days. The Bentley offers plenty of power and is a surprisingly fun car to hustle down the road. The RR is softer, more sedate, and probably a little bit more comfortable. All the best, Matt.
Thank you, most informative and useful.
Glad it was helpful and thank you for watching.
This was an exceptional video about an exceptional car 👌🏽
Thank you for watching.
Nicely kept that’s for sure!
What a stunning drivers car you have! For everyone commenting negatively, it's okay to not be a car enthusiast. You can go to your driveway and take out your humdrum econo car that gets good gas mileage and is driven by a CVT. There's nothing wrong with commuter cars, they're driven by commuter NPCs 😉
But seriously, for enthusiasts - true enthusiasts who have a love for the car(s) they drive, they see the cost of purchase and add a number atop that. That's what's required to not just purchase the car but keep it running. When you get a used car, you're buying into all of the previous owners problems and mistakes. Just do your homework by watching videos like this to get an idea of what the average cost of ownership might be. And remember that the cost listed here was for the LIFETIME of the vehicle, the cost over 24 years by numerous owners. If you know what you're getting into, it's a good idea to keep an amount set aside and like I said, add to the purchase cost of the vehicle as it's just the entry fee. Be aware of what common issues are by reading ownership forums, watching repair videos, etc. Get to know the car. For me and I'm sure many other enthusiasts that's part of the joy of the experience. Getting to learn about the car, it's faults and how to correct them.
ALL used cars will come with a price that's more than the cost of purchase, to keep them running. Unless you're buying a CPO car, you're getting someone else's problems that might need mitigation. Whether it's your run of the mill Japanese car or South Korean car, or one of the reliable econoboxes from America or Europe, all cars will cost money to keep on the road. And while many people may get away with just doing oil changes, you'll often come across people who buy these cars who are of the mindset that they don't want to pay for maintenance costs and will skimp on the oil changes and cause major headaches for the next owner. Oil changes are the key to the health of your engine, for all makes and models. For example, I have a 97 BMW 540i, with the 4.4l V8 that's found not just in other BMW's but also Range Rovers and the Bentley Arnage even(The Green Label series) and the internet loves to talk about timing chain guide failure on these engines. But that's usually at about 150-200k miles, and even then it's not a guarantee that the failure will happen if the car had religiously maintained oil changes. Some people are on 250k-300k miles on original guides. But like the head gasket failures of the Bentley 6.75L V8, it's a one and done type of repair. I did mine when I bought the car, because it was at 197k miles and didn't have it documented amongst it's fairly detailed service history. But it was preventative, and now I don't have to worry about it for another 150-200k miles. So while the BMW V8 is infamous for these issues, it's not as bad as the internet makes it out to be. There's another person who commented on this video who as a previous owner of 2 Bentley Arnages said he would gladly buy another one, but specifically the Green Label series for it's BMW V8 which he said, and I quote was "Exquisitely reliable"
Everything is relative, just know what you're getting and be happy with it. And if someone else is happy to pay for their car, why put them down just because you don't have one? You choose to drive an econo car, that's fantastic for you. Enjoy your car and let others enjoy theirs, don't get in another man's wallet and judge how he spends his money 😂😂💀💀
Thank you for watching :)
How do you gets parts? There are gobs of these in USA that are parked because they cant get parts, especially on these, many electronics that control transmission shifting. Even in the newer GT coupes that are based on the VW Phaeton have issues getting fixed. If we cant get parts over here how come you guys can over there?
We have a number of specialist suppliers here in the UK (Flying Spares, IntroCar etc..), so most items are readily available. However, they're are a few things that are getting tricky to obtain, and sometimes a used part will be your only option from specialist RR/Bentley breakers.
Is that bill for replacing one head gasket? Surely if one goes you replace both?
Both and a full overhaul of the cooling system at the same time.
faults in my RR annoyed me so much more than faults in my old GM car..possibly costs and a sense of unreliability
I completely get that! They can and do go wrong and usually cost a little bit more than you'd like to fix.
I ran a modern RR Ghost for 18,000 miles and it never missed a beat.
Did you record this in March ?
I tried a few of these, but went of the same era Lexus LS, which I thought was/is far superior to the Arnage in every way, especially with how quiet and comfortable the Lexus drives over the Bentley. And the LS handles far better! In the end, I couldn't find a reason to buy an Arnage over the Lexus LS … so I went with the Lexus.
As they say; *You Should Neve Meet Your Hero's*
I did, and I have no regrets! They’re not for everyone though and for many a Lexus will offer exactly what they’re looking for at a much cheaper price. Personally, they don’t do much for me and I’ve owned a few and never found them particularly exciting to drive. Interestingly, almost 100% of comments claiming their cars to be ‘far superior to a RR/Bentley’ are from Toyota/Lexus owners - they’re certainly a loyal, almost tribal group, that clearly love their cars and seem very keen to shout about it. For me, the Bentley does exactly what I want from a large luxury car and a mass produced Lexus doesn’t even come close.
The head gasket. Which one? Had they both been done?
yes, both done at the same time, along with a full overhaul of the entire cooling system.
One of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Really interesting video. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for watching.
That depreciation is the biggest cost. Outrageous.
I doubt many new ones are private purchases...
It's a biggie for sure! But pretty much irrelevant today, as they haven't really depreciated for a number of years.
Fix the n/s bank on my Bentley turbo R . Replace head gasket £560 non franchise garage
Seems like it's worth budgeting roughly £3k-£3.5k per year for any very heavyweight luxo-barge.
18% of the running costs were the £7880 fee for the head gasket, which does seem quite steep for an old-nail pushrod V8 engine; not really any more complex than the Rover 3.5 V8.
It's certainly one that i'm glad the previous owner footed the bill for! However, in reality it's the only big ticket failure it's ever had in 24 years.
Even though it's an old pushrod V8 albeit in a relatively high state of tune by the year 2000, labour to do the job on the turbocharged 6.75 V8 is hefty and with genuine parts soon mount up, unlike an old Rover V8 where parts are cheap and plentiful. Although that figure included the diagnosis and strip down, replacing both head gaskets with upgraded parts and a full overhaul of the entire cooling system and anything else it may have needed whilst access was easy.
A friend has just had a near £10,000 bill for a similar job on a Turbo R, so for 2017 and the work being undertaken at a very respected specialist, it's not too out of the ordinary.
I have an old Peugeot Boxer based Camper, which costs roughly the same as this annually. Similar mileage too. Nobody says to me …. “Must be a money pit” or such stuff. All to do with folk’s preconceptions.
If Honda built it , suspension failures 0 , head gasket failure 0 , fuel pump failure 0 . What a joke , appreciate it’s a luxury super car but where’s the quality ??
Only the head gasket is an issue, and many Hondas go to the breakers because of premature auto transmission failure, for example. Change your brand to "Toyota" and I shall take your point.
Maybe Honda should go out of their way to produce a low-volume, mostly hand built, £250,000 + luxury vehicle and see how many they sell. Single figures?
The head gasket is not an anomaly, it's a known problem and the one stopped me from buying one. If anything I am surprised it didn't blow earlier.
In all 6.75 engines even the non turbo
For peace of mind it's always best to buy one with evidence that it's already been replaced by a reputable specialist. Once they're sorted, it's unlikely to go again. Having said that there are plenty of Turbo R, Arnage and Continentals still running happily on their original head gaskets, so it is a bit of a case of luck of the draw, I suppose. Either way, I wouldn't make it a sole reason not to buy one, just be clued up on the potential cost or buy one that's had it done, or seek out an early 4.4.
It was/is an anomaly in regards to being a stand out large repair bill, compared with any other in the cars history.
I'm surprised. These running costs are really proportionate to the true value of this car. I believe they are perfectly acceptable for such a car.
Does this vehicle represent value? That's really subjective. There are hundreds of vehicles out there that will get you from A to B and which would represent a significant saving. However do they provide the same ownership experience?
If you own one of these I'm sure you love it. If you don't own one, perhaps you need to drive/ own one prior to reflecting on its value for money
That has to be one the best and level-headed responses i've had to this video. Thank you for watching.
Thanks for the very interesting information.
My pleasure and thank you for watching.
I simply love the Arnarge.
So you should, they make you feel very special and are great value for money.
has not discouraged me from getting a 2nd hand Rolls. just look at it, if you were my neighbour, I would have an excuse every day to look in your garage
I'm pleased to hear it and I hope you get one. They cost a fair bit to keep going but there's nothing quite like them.
Does the indicator stork deliver little baby Bentleys? 😅
Yes! If you pay Bentley enough, i'm sure it could be arranged haha.
Well, tyres for a Tesla Model Y are around £270 each, so that's something. To be honest, buying an old one like this and doing the work yourself would probably divide those bills by a factor of three. However, what kills it for me is the truly shocking fuel efficiency.
DIY is possible, especially with servicing but can lead to false economy overall. If you're ever thinking of selling the car, and they aren't always the easiest things to sell at the best of times, one that has a patchy service record or one that has been 'home serviced' will dramatically affect the value and could lead a lot of potential buyers to simply walk away. Of course, if you plan on keeping the car for a long time, it could make better financial sense. Fuel economy is really no worse than any other big V8 luxury car of the era, (circa 15 MPG on average, although 20 mpg is possible on a steady, long run). My old Jaguar XJ6 Series 3 and Range Rover Classic are worse on fuel than the Bentley.
This car is a masterpiece regardless of its flaws , there is no such thing as a reliable car per se however I’d buy it even it is higher maintenance it’s worth it for the pleasure alone but just make sure you don’t have its head gasket replaced in your ownership 😊😅
$150/month X 12 X 24 = $43K not so bad. I had 2 porsches at the same time 95 C2 96 C4S and they avg'd $120/month which is great. Bentley is worth it if you don;t get a bad one.
Exactly! When you break it down on a monthly basis, it really isn't too bad and not really out of the ordinary for an expensive luxury car. Of course, those figures are just maintenance. If Fuel, tyres and of course depreciation (circa £125,000, albeit pretty much non-existent now) were to be added, the final amount would be alarming.
@@fuelupclassic "....the final amount would be alarming." 😂😂💀 The things people do for love!
Cracking colour
96 hours on a head gasket!? That’s 12 hours shifts for eight days straight!
Yep! It's a large job on the 6.75. I'm glad someone else paid that one.
It's the cars No.1 weakness, as it was on the Turbo R. It's part of the reason that that the earlier BMW engined car has become popular.
@@jjefferyworboys8138 It's not a weakness on the 4.4 version.
@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne The 4.4... is the BMW engine 😂😂
@@analogdriven And?
BMW engine, yet look inside the passenger side front door and you will see a manufacturers plate: Made by Rolls Royce Motors, Crewe, England. So it's a Bentley badged Rolls Royce with a BMW engine.
Call it 2000 a year for servicing and repairs. Not terrible really, nearly inconsequential compared to depreciation. And used sparingly and kept properly, it won't depreciate at this point.
At UK petrol prices, the cost of fuel is eye opening! Nearly double the fuel consumption of my Mercedes E350 estate, and fuel at least 2X US prices, and probably closer to 3X. Yikes!
Absolutely! In the grand scheme of things they really aren't too bad. Theres so much misinformation out there on actually running these old barges that I think many people are scared to own one. Roughly £2,000 per year seems to keep on top of general running and servicing in my experience, however there's no denying it could cost a lot more should something major fail.
However, the fuel bills will never be an easy pill to swallow!
The difference is running one may cost you a lot, but now they are old you loose pretty much no depreciation so you can sake that cost off, you can buy an average French car and trade it in two years later and loose 10k, look at it long term and it’s not actually that expensive.
I feel this is how every 'man maths' decision is made haha!
Yes, but in all seriousness fundamentally depreciation has done its thing and knowing that really does help you justify the high running costs.
Very informative thank you
So an average of £1,684 per year. That doesn’t seem too bad to me. Over the same period of time I have owned 5 Range Rovers (not the sport but the full fat ones) and I have kept meticulously records on the costs and my average yearly costs for servicing and repairs ( and there are a lot if repairs on the earlier L322 ones) was closer to £3,000 per year. That figure was slightly inflated due to my last L322, being the Queens spec car (green with the same interior etc) and my intention to keep it as immaculate and standard as possible. That car almost broke me financially everything went wrong and even using an independent specialist, the costs were eye watering. So, I think that a budget of £2,000 per year to keep a luxury car in good condition isn’t too surprising.
Yep, it's really not too bad all thing considered. Of course, should something major fail, it could lead to eye watering bills, just like any high end car. Funnily enough, i'm searching for an L322 after selling my last Range Rover 18 months ago. You have just reminded me what i'm getting myself back into haha... I still love them though!
Thank you for watching.
Although I have a L405 now, having spent a small fortune on my last L322 I still find myself browsing the Autotrader site looking at L322’s. The L405 is definitely the better car and I really like it but there’s something special about the L322. I loved that car!
Less expensive, and far more wonderful than a MB S class. I have owned several, and never will have another. They were also new cars, not run into the ground.
They're certainly wonderful things :) As long as you go into ownership with you're eyes wide open, then they're shouldn't be any major surprises.
What about tyres, exhaust and batteries, I'm guessing that was included in the total but you didn't specify them in your list. Beautiful car, I've always loved a Bentley.
As tyres and batteries are basically consumable items, they have been left out. Although I do mention what replacement tyres cost these days and the car is still fitted with its original exhaust.
Thank you for watching :)
@@fuelupclassic Original exhaust is impressive, I was wondering about tyres because it's a heavy car but I heard you say about the tyre price, batteries can add up if it's a battery eater which luxury car often are, but it's all good I was just wondering, Thanks for the reply.
Not many miles. Needing a whole lot of work done.
Most of the issues I have experienced with my earlier Bentley have been caused by lack of use. Old cars in general need to be used.
An extremely valid point! Regular use is the best thing you can do for any classic car.
Less than £2,000 a year in servicing and repairs. Not to bad for such a lovely car, in my opinion.
BMW is more expensive
£774 for rear pads?! I know the parts are seemingly a lot more expensive than the fronts (not sure why), but pads from Flying Spares are £190ish and the genuine wear sensor is £90. So that's nearly £500 in labour to change rear pads.
Yeah, it was a hefty one! Pretty sure it had a full inspection too, which soon adds up.
If you buy one of these you're probably best befriending a retired Bentley mechanic who repairs and maintains them at home just for the love of it and doesn't charge because he's having so much fun.
Haha! That would be wonderful, although I think it might be incredibly difficult to find this mysterious retired Bentley expert, who is still willing to take on work from his home and not charge.
Am I becoming seriously wealthy, why does this sound like no expense at all???
It's not too bad really! Depreciation is almost non-existent these days too. Around £2-£3,000 per year keeps on top of servicing, although it has the potential to throw some really big bills your way should something major fail.
Prices are not as shocking as I thought it would be. I'm trying to convert the pounds to U.S. dollars here... Not too shabby, but over 40,000 pounds of service in its lifetime is pretty damn high.
It's certainly a big number, but really when you break it down over such a long period and factor in the type of car, it really isn't too bad.
Really gorgeous car😊 I've owned 2 Rolls Royces several years ago. 😊Yes they are expensive but who cares 😊.Life is for living. If you are thinking about the bills you can't afford to run one. I'm in the market for another one in the next year or so 😊😊😊😊
Thank you for watching. Absolutely! Life is for living and you've got to do what makes you happy. Good luck with your search for your next Rolls.
i have a seraph, and I've already spent over USD 3,000 and I've not had it a year. I bought it not knowing things that needed to be done. Well, I'm forking the $$$ out for these fixes slowly but surely.
It will be worth it in the end.
@@fuelupclassic I agree. i'm the only one in my town with one, and thats how I like it :)
This car is a BMW. I would buy one with a blown engine, fit an M60B44 and 5- (not 6-) speed manual box for BMW service (if not repair) costs, then use it as a weekend car until I die without ever seeing a dealer.
They share surprisingly few components with BMW when you look into it, unlike the RR. Either way, it would likely be a fun project that you should give it a go! Or you could simply just buy an early Arnage fitted with the 4.4 V8.
I think it’s a bargain considering the pleasure it brings. Take out the new head gasket, it’s a couple of grand a year to enjoy a gorgeous Bentley. Bargain if you ask me
Lovely car, of course. ♥. But I will be wiser to stick to my Raleigh bike.
Wisdom comes with age apparently, that's why I refuse to grow old. My Bentley doesn't get used much, but I love having it.
Haha! :) nothing wrong with a good Raleigh at all.
@@jjefferyworboys8138 I can understand that and don't blame you.
Cheers from California!
I want one
I highly recommend one, just make sure you buy the very best you can afford.
Stunning motor, well worth the up keep
Thank you.
40000£ for only 78000mi are 50p/mi, add depreciation of the probably 200000£ sticker price and 5800 gallons at 4£ each make 3.35£/mi, you may have called a cab for each travel. The problem is the very low mileage, the service cost would be ok for 250000 miles, a blown head gasket at 78000 is just ridiculous crappy workmanship.
i've avoided adding depreciation into the mix on this occasion, as really this is about the running costs and general maintenance required to keep one in tip top condition as they get older.
Depreciation is probably in the region of circa £125,000 from the original list price and happens naturally on all big, luxury cars. Nonetheless it really would have only been a 'concern' for the first/ second owners. During recent times it hasn't really depreciated at all, which is a nice bonus.
Also, fuel costs are a very difficult one to factor in over 24 years, and quite frankly who would really be surprised that it's never going to be economical (15 MPG on average) and it's currently approximately £8 per UK gallon.
Head gasket problems around 60,000 miles are well documented and cost quite a bit to sort. You may consider 78,000 miles not very much, but there's very few out there that have covered huge mileages as they were likely purchased new by people who had several cars to choose from and subsequent owners often use them as their weekend cars to enjoy, rather than an everyday car. Having said that a well used, properly maintained example is a far better buy than one that has sat around in a collection for years doing nothing.
I never said ownership was cheap, nor are they perfect, but really the overall figure isn't far off any high end, very expensive luxury car over a near quarter of a century period. They do offer one of the finest driving experiences of any car, but completely understand why some would not want one at all.
100%.
Toyota have been making bulletproof engines for 40 years.
There's really no excuse.
For a car that is suppoed to be built to the highest standard I find it amazing that the head gasket should fail with only 60k on the clock.
They're a known weak point on turbocharged Bentley's of the 90s and early 2000s - I guess when you're pushing pretty impressive power figures from an ancient engine design, something eventually has to give. Either way, they don't ALL go, but if you're unlucky enough to suffer a HG failure, it's really not the end of the world and head gasket aside, they're a very strong unit. Once it's been sorted with modern upgraded gaskets etc, it's unlikely to go again.
I've had so called 'bulletproof' Toyotas in the past that required entire injector replacements and suffered corrosion issues at just sever years old, which cost a fortune to rectify. In my experience, all cars break, have inherent faults and all need ongoing maintenance, whether they are cheap or expensive.
That's a pretty imprssive weak point. In my opinion Bentley should be prepared to at least to come to the party with some of the costs. The early xk8 had a liner problem, again a known fault, and most were replaced by Jaguar at no cost to the owner. You can't compare Toyotas to Bentleys. They cost a fraction of the price, and they are very reliable in the main. I agree all cars require upkeep for wear and tear and most components will fail eventually, but I still think a failed head gasket at 60k is pretty poor.
@@artistglyn Unfortunately, there's not a chance Bentley were going to pay or even part pay, for a then 17 year old vehicle that had suffered head gasket failure. Luckily, that bill didn't land on my front door and I can only speak of my personal ownership experience of a now pretty old car.
Of course, Bentley must of had some idea of the issue, as they did eventually tweak later models, which from what i'm told are far less likely to suffer the same problems.
The Nikasil Liner issue on Jaguars of the era was indeed largely properly addressed by Jaguar (I recall my mother had three new engines in an XK8 back in 97!). However BMW were far less generous with dealing with a similar issue at the time, and both would have laughed you out of the showroom if you turned up 17 years later demanding a new engine. Therefore, it does seem to be a bit of pot luck depending on how a manufacturer will look after you, even whilst the car is in warranty. - e.g current LR/Jaguar ingenium engines!
Interestingly, i've had hundreds of comments from Toyota and Lexus owners on this video who are only too keen to tell me how great their cars are and how cheap to run they are, and that they are so much better than a RR/Bentley - I can only go on my personal experience in that, of the several that I have owned, they've been no better or worse than any other car. I will take a Bentley or Rolls any day of the week.
Big red Bentley? Where, I can't see it.
pop your glasses on?
Splen-did! Only a black-on-wood steering wheel would make it perfect (to me😊)
Thank you for watching.