Bentley Continental r problems
The Bentley Continental R is a luxury coupé manufactured by British automobile manufacturer Bentley Motors from 1991 to 2003. It was the first Bentley to feature a body not shared with a Rolls-Royce model since the 1965 S3 Continental and was the first to use the GM 4L80-E transmission. The Continental R was the fastest, most expensive, and most powerful Bentley automobile of its day. It was also the most expensive production car in the world at its introduction. A convertible derivative, called the Bentley Azure, was launched in 1995.
Origin and the Bentley revival
As managing director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the early 1980s under the Vickers ownership, David Plastow could see the potential in the Bentley brand. It had been neglected for the previous 15 years and made up only a very small percentage of the company's sales at that time, particularly outside the UK in important markets such as the USA. The first move in reshaping the brand was to introduce a turbocharged model of the standard Bentley 4-door saloon: as a result, the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo was launched in 1982. On the back of this, Peter Ward, marketing director of the company (and later, managing director), wanted to further enhance the distinctive sporting nature of the Bentley brand and move away from a Bentley that was merely a re-badged Rolls-Royce. They appointed designers John Heffernan and Ken Greenley to come up with ideas for a new, distinctive, Bentley coupé. A fibreglass mock up of the design was displayed at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show as Rolls-Royce's "Project 90" concept of a future Bentley coupé. The concept was met with an enthusiastic reception, but the Project 90 design was largely shelved as the company began to work towards a replacement for the Rolls-Royce Corniche. During this process, Graham Hull, chief designer in house at Rolls-Royce, suggested to the board of directors that the designs sketched for the Corniche would suit a Bentley coupé better. From this point it was decided the Corniche could continue as it was, and efforts would once again be channelled into a new Bentley coupé. In 1986 Graham Hull produced a design rendering of a new Bentley coupé which became the Continental R. Based on the Rolls-Royce SZ platform (which was an evolution of the SY platform), an aerodynamically shaped two-door coupé body had been styled.
John Heffernan and Ken Greenley were officially retained to complete the design of the Continental R. They had run the Automotive Design School at the Royal College of Art and headed up their own consultancy, International Automotive Design (IAD), based in Worthing, Southern England. Greenley and Heffernan liaised constantly throughout the design process with Graham Hull. The interior was entirely the work of Graham Hull and the small in house styling team at Rolls-Royce. The shape of the car was very different from the somewhat slab sided four-door SZ Rolls-Royce and Bentley of the time and offered a much improved coefficient of drag of Cd=0.37. The Continental R also featured roof-cut door frames, a necessity to allow easier access into the car which had a lower roofline than its four-door saloon contemporaries. A subtle spoiler effect was also a feature of the rear. The finished car effectively disguises its huge dimensions (the Continental R is around 4-inch longer than a 2013 long wheelbase Mercedes S Class).
The "Continental" designation recalls the Bentley Continental of the post-war period. The "R" was meant to recall the R Type Bentley models from the 1950s as well as the Turbo R of the 1980s and 90s where the "R" refers to "roadholding".
The revival of the Bentley marque following the introduction of the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo, and then the Continental R, is widely acknowledged to have saved Rolls-Royce Motor cars and formed the groundwork which led to the buyout and parting of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley brands in 1998. Bentley was once again capable of standing alone as a marque in its own right when it was purchased by Volkswagen.
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Bentley Continental r model years
Common Bentley Continental r problems
The Bentley Continental R is a car that has been praised for its luxury and performance, but like any vehicle, it has its share of common problems. Here are some of the issues that Bentley Continental R owners have reported:
- Rust: Rust is a common problem with older cars, and the Bentley Continental R is no exception. Areas to look out for include the lower panels, especially the sills, the tops of the doors around the area of the stainless steel finisher and the rubber seal, the boot lid’s back seam, and the lower front wing areas.
- Suspension issues: The Bentley Continental R uses an air suspension system, which can be prone to wear and tear. If the front part of the car sits lower than the backside, or if there is a knocking noise coming from the front, it could indicate a suspension problem. A deflected air spring can also cause significant damage to the compressor.
- Brake light failure: Brake light failure is a common issue with the Bentley Continental R. While it is not a major problem, it is important to replace the brake light as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the driver and other road users.
- Brake hoses replacement: Bentley recommends that the brake hoses be replaced every five years. Given the high-end design of the Bentley Continental R, this replacement may be required more frequently than with other vehicles.
- Power window failure: The power windows in the Bentley Continental R can stop working from time to time. A common symptom of this issue is a hissing sound coming from the windows. In some cases, the motor may need to be replaced, while in other cases, the total replacement of the unit may be required.
- Electrical problems: Electrical problems can occur in the Bentley Continental R, causing faulty icons to appear on the dashboard. It is important to have the electrical system checked by a professional electrician who specializes in Bentley GT.
While these issues can be frustrating for Bentley Continental R owners, it is important to note that regular maintenance and timely repairs can help prevent these problems from becoming more serious. If you are experiencing any of these issues with your Bentley Continental R, it is recommended that you take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic as soon as possible.
What is the common problem with Bentley?
Bentley Engine Problems
One of the significant Bentley flying spur problems is gasket leaks in the engine. It is an expensive fix and does require some meaningful work to replace. Other common Bentley engine problems are issues with the turbo oil pipe and vacuum, cooling fan issues and corrosion on the radiator.
Is the Bentley Continental a reliable car?
On the whole, owners report that this solidly constructed car has a good reputation for reliability. The only reported problems lie in the actual cost of the parts, rather than the issue of breaking down.
Are Bentleys high maintenance?
Gasket leaks and issues with the turbo oil pipe, vacuum, and cooling fan are all common in Bentley cars. These can be expensive to fix and may require extensive work or replacement. Preventive Bentley maintenance is better than spending thousands on repairs or replacements.
Is the Bentley Turbo R reliable?
The Bentley Turbo R is a pretty tough car, but even the smallest of faults could result in a big bill, so negotiate hard if you find any issues. Full service history is a must, preferably at a specialist, and the post-1986 fuel-injected models are generally seen as more reliable.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Bentley Continental r years
We have researched Bentley problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Bentley Continental r cars and compiled the top 1 most problematic Bentley Continental r model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Bentley Continental r model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Bentley Continental r years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Bentley Continental r car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Bentley Continental r , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Bentley Continental r vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Bentley Continental r . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Bentley Continental r vehicles.
List of Bentley Continental r complaints
Bentley Continental r 1993
- Date Of Incident: 2019-10-09
- Date Complaint: 2019-10-09
- VIN: SC8ZB03D8PC
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 1993 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL R. CONSUMER WRITES WITH INQUIRES REGARDING FUEL SYSTEM SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. *JS
Recalls Bentley Continental r
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the Bentley Continental r.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Bentley Continental r 1993
- Report Received Date: 1995-08-17
- Manufacturer: ROLLS-ROYCE MOTORS, INC.
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Summary: AN INCORRECTLY POSITIONED WIRE WITHIN THE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GEARBOX ACTUATOR CAN CHAFE AGAINST THE COVER CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR FUSE TO BLOW.
- Consequence: IF THE FUSE BLOWS, THE DRIVER CANNOT CHANGE GEARS OR PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS CONDITION CAN DISABLE THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE AFFECTED WIRE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE GEARBOX ACTUATOR COVER.
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