1993 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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Common 1993 Bentley Continental r problems
The Bentley Continental R, produced in 1993, is a luxurious and powerful vehicle that offers a unique driving experience. However, like any car, it is not without its common problems. Here are some issues that Bentley Continental R owners have reported:
- Alarm System Problems: Some owners have reported issues with the factory alarm system on their Bentley Continental R. For example, the alarm may beep four times after a few seconds and then turn on the horn. This issue can be caused by a problem with the alarm system's sensors or wiring. In some cases, the issue can be resolved by resetting the alarm system or replacing the sensors.
- Hydraulic Suspension and Braking: The Bentley Continental R is one of the last cars to feature hydraulic suspension and braking. This system uses pipes that run under the floor, which can make the car sit higher than expected. While this system offers a smooth ride, it can also be prone to leaks and other issues that can affect the car's performance .
- Interior Quality: While the Bentley Continental R offers a luxurious interior, some owners have reported issues with the quality of the wood paneling and other interior components. Over time, these components can fade or become damaged, which can affect the car's overall appearance and value .
- Cost of Parts and Maintenance: The Bentley Continental R is a high-end luxury car, and as such, the cost of parts and maintenance can be significant. Simple consumables like air filters and oil filters can be expensive, and more significant repairs can cost thousands of dollars. However, companies like IntroCar offer replacement parts at a reasonable price for all Bentley and Rolls-Royce models, which can help offset the cost of maintenance.
In summary, while the Bentley Continental R is a luxurious and powerful vehicle, it is not without its common problems. Issues with the rear suspension, alarm system, hydraulic suspension and braking, interior quality, and cost of parts and maintenance are all common complaints among owners. However, with proper maintenance and care, these issues can be minimized, and the Bentley Continental R can provide a unique and enjoyable driving experience.
Do Bentleys have mechanical problems?
Engine Problems
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.
How many Bentley Continental R were made?
| Bentley Continental R | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1991–2003 (1,854 produced) |
| Assembly | Crewe, England, United Kingdom |
| Designer | John Heffernan Ken Greenley |
| Body and chassis |
What was the performance of the Bentley R Type?
Performance. A four-door saloon with automatic transmission tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1953 had a top speed of 101.7 mph (163.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 13.25 seconds. A fuel consumption of 15.5 miles per imperial gallon (18.2 L/100 km; 12.9 mpg‑US) was recorded.
Is Bentley Continental GT reliable?
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.
1993 Bentley Continental r car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bentley Continental r problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1993 Bentley Continental r vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1993 Bentley Continental r complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1993 Bentley Continental r.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 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
1993 Bentley Continental r recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1993 Bentley Continental r.
- 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.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1993 Bentley Continental r problems:
Turbo R Known Issues? | FerrariChat
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Jan 8, 2020 ... Have tried nothing so-far except putting the gas filling pistol in about a 100 positions ... but no curing effect to the problem... Mechanic's ...
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Nov 16, 2009 ... ... common problems and any ideas what they might be ?? ... On my recent purchase 1993 Turbo ... craig harriman Feb 6, 2010 · Bentley Turbo R...
Continental R - alarm system problems - 6SpeedOnline - Porsche ...
Sep 23, 2014 ... Bentley - Continental R - alarm system ... this is common for most alarm systems. about ... flyingspares says that mastercheck is up to 1993.
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