Autocar UK – 07 August 2019

HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE

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Thus was born the most comfortable, brutish

conveyance this side of the Flying Scotsman

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USED CARS

7 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 77

An expert’s view

ADRIAN WORTH, DIRECTOR,

PRESTIGE SERVICES LEEDS

“I joined Appleyard Rippon, a Bentley

agent, in Leeds, as a technician in 1974

and left 20 years later to start my own

business, with a partner, maintaining

Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. I’ve

worked on lots of Turbo Rs over the

years. Like all prestige cars, they need

to be serviced regularly by people who

know what they’re doing and what to

look for. Preventative maintenance

is key to controlling running costs.

Never buy one with anything less than

full specialist or main dealer history.

I’d avoid the early and troublesome

carburettor engine.”

Buyer beware

QENGINE

Early carburettor models can have

failed carburettor gaskets. Post-1996

cars can suffer failure of their rubber

head gaskets. Noisy tappets should be

r e p l a c e d w i t h o r i g i n a l R o l l s- R oyc e p a r t s.

QCOOLING SYSTEM

Check the viscous cooling fan works

by running the engine to temperature

and then switching it off. If it runs on,

it should be replaced. Most serious

engine problems can be attributed to a

failed cooling system.

QTRANSMISSION

Generally reliable. Make sure the filter

has been changed regularly.

QSUSPENSION AND BRAKES

Steering and front suspension are

prone to worn dampers, bushes, ball

joints and track rod arms. The rear is a

self-levelling system using gas springs

mounted on top of hydraulic dampers,

whose pressure is varied automatically.

Over time, the gas in the springs leaks

out, making the suspension hard. The

height control valves for the hydraulic

dampers can fail. If the brake pressure

warning illuminates when you depress

the brake pedal, the accumulators may

be leaking.

QBODY

Doors, bonnet and boot are aluminium

and rust can form around handles and

badges. Later cars had rubber gaskets

separating these steel parts from the

aluminium. Check the rubber bumpers

Check it all works

because repairs

can be pricey

Few will be driven

th i s h a r d b u t i t w i l l

o b l i g e i f yo u wa nt to

One we found

BENTLEY TURBO R, 1996/N,

53,000 MILES, £14,950

Private seller claims it has “genuine

full service history, mostly main dealer”

and was last serviced by a main agent

in November. Recent work includes

the brakes and suspension system. It

comes with all of the books and the two

umbrellas it was originally supplied with.

aren’t swollen. Replacement sections

can be pricey. Also look for body filler.

QINTERIOR

Ensure everything works, including

the air-con. Even simple electrical

components cost a fortune.

Also worth knowing

The Rolls-Royce and Bentley Specialists

Association represents garages intent

on upholding the high servicing and

repair standards associated with the

marques. It also represents firms that

make scarce parts to OE standards.

Look for the RRBSA logo.

How much to spend

£4500-£6499

Highish mileage, fair condition – such

as a 1988 car with 87k miles for £5995.

£6500-£9999

Includes a £7k 1997 car “with a bundle

of service invoices, mostly Bentley”.

£10,000-£15,999

Tu r b o R s w i th b e t te r s e r v i ce s h i sto r i e s ,

such as a £16k 1997 car with 112k miles.

£16,000-£19,999

Good, specialist dealer cars, such as a

1997 R with 118k miles for £19,260.

£20,000-£29,999

Low-mileage Rs, including a mint 1997

car with 35k miles for £29,995.

Rear speedo

So His Lordship can keep an

eye on Parker up front, the

RT Mulliner has a second

speedometer in the back.