Hi Everyone,

Well between You tube and Here I decided to take the plunge and invest (I use that term loosely as it will take my time and money lol.)

Bought a 2006 Continental GT 2006 with 60,000 miles with 9 genuine Bentley stamps and 3 Independent stamps.

Basically owned my an elderly gentleman for the last 2 yrs , all that he had done was a service at Bentley and at the same time had the discs and pads and front suspension bushes changed.
He had only driven it 5,000 miles in 2 yrs and yes had the batteries changed.

I knew it had a couple of issues but the list grew.

!. Driving home 340 miles and about halfway heard the exhaust getting louder, exhaust leak top of engine drivers side.

2. water in the passenger footwell.

3. Heated seats working intermittently.

4. Windscreen cracked at the bottom all the way along .

5. Soft close door not working , can't here motor when closing gently.

6. Sagging roof liner.

7. Drivers door cracking noise when opening and closing.

9. Needs a machine polish on the outside.

10. boot won't shut on drivers rear corner, I have to help it with my hand, then it closes.

So that's my list so far in 48Hrs of ownership of a Bentley.

Thoughts and suggestions welcome been reading quite a few threads and doing my research and first one on the list as I write it is in the Garage having the exhaust leak sorted.
As soon as I get it back going to try the unblocking the front under the scuttle drain blockage which i suspect is the water in the footwell, thank you to a particular you tuber and member
@Johnny Hotspur GT and 1 other but I will thank him later as I can't remember the name lol....

Thanks for any input

Sal

 

10. boot won't shut on drivers rear corner, I have to help it with my hand, then it closes.

Probably this is about 3W8827550G gas struts.You can check it if you open and close a lot of times it should work norm for a while. or not. depends of how old thay are.

 

Hi Everyone,


Here Is the Dilema , so had the car for 5 days drove it home and now got all these issues to sort.

First big issue is the Exhaust blowing at the top of the engine, and therefore took it to an experienced garage who do top end cars and said he needs 2 weeks to get to it.

Or i go to an Independent Bentley specialist who says he needs to look at it and leave it with him and already prepared me for a bill of £3k upwards

Thanks

Sal

 

Hello @sal4b
Welcome to 6speedonline !

As to your issues, let me start with the exhaust leak, being that you say it is up in the engine compartment, I assume it is not a broken flex pipe down below, so look at my attached pictures to see the plugs that are in each cylinder head, these plugs have blown out on some over on Audiworld with the W12 (non turbo) A8L's, that is where I first heard if it some years ago, and more recently here in this forum from a member or two with the W12TT.

As to the water leak, do as you said, but also be sure to check out the drains for the HVAC for good measure, these also clog, then the AC condensation will fill up in the lower duct work and leak out onto the carpet.

Just out of curiosity, did the windshield crack as you were driving, or did you just miss it during inspection ?

Johnny


.

 

Hi

Thank you so much for the replies guys.

Windscreen I did miss it i think it is below the windscreen wipers where the black part of screen where the dash meets the screen, i didn't even see it when i first washed the car.
I travelled home 340 miles so It might have happened then I am not sure.

I only saw it when I was looking at the wipers and and scuttle as i was going to do the infamous drain checks.

As for the Exhaust leak i am going to have to wait to get it sorted the Garage has some big jobs on so booked me in for later, thank you so much @Johnny Hotspur GT for
all the invaluable advice, i will pass on this to the mechanic before he start to remove the subframe, as he said its subframe or engine out to do this.

Also do you think it could be a Manifold Gasket or Catalytic convertor.

I am going to spend a few hours tomorrow morning sorting out the Drainage, will try and get pics.

To Be honest it took me a while to save for this and feel down about it, yes I know its just a car.

Thannks

Sal

 

Hi been using the boot regularly, and it is still exactly the same, so would you replace the gas strut as they are not costly.

Thanks @molphar

Sal

 

@sal4b ,
Just a heads-up, if the issue is either one, or both of the plugs as I suggested, it is not an engine out, or subframe drop job, the new plugs are installed from the top.

​​​​See @Yoghurtshotgun 's thread where his plug came out.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...s-cockpit.html

I haven't heard of anyone here having an exhaust manifold gasket leak.

Johnny

 

@sal4b ,
Here are some pictures of where an exhaust leak may be, the plugs in the cylinder head (circled in blue), exhaust manifold gasket (highly unlikely imo), the EGT sensor probe securing nut (yellow), the ring seal between the exhaust manifold and the turbo (red, also highly unlikely), the multi layer metal plate gasket between the turbo and the cat, the gasket between the cat and the down pipe, and of course the flex pipes themselves, or the gaskets at the mid section.

Johnny

.

 

@johnnyhotspur .... thank you again for the info ...

Actually someone did say to me they could smell exhaust fumes in the car, had a look at the thread you sent me with the blown core plugs.

Its just finding someone who won't rip me of basically, so far both garages are on similar lines Bentley experienced saying he will have to look at it, but scared the life out of me
as started saying anything from 3k upwards as they could find something else.

The experienced mechanic had a look said it had to see anything from underneath and said come back in 2 weeks and he said it could be subframe out or engine out.

I have read that there is a Bentley specialist in Crewe which is around 65 mies away GT SERVICES in Crewe , Ivor is the person to talk to as several forum members have used them.

Hope someone in the uk has a read of this.

Thanks again

Sal

 

Thank you again for this ,I thought i replied and now can't find the reply lol.

Need to find a reputable Bentley specialist....

The garage i took it to said 2 weeks but had a 5 min look and couldn't see anything and turned round and said needs more time as sub frame or engine out.

The Bentley specialists said he needs to have a look but they might find other issues so could go from £3k to over £10k

Some members have mentioned GT SERVICES in Crewe and a contact named IVOR.

Hope someone from the uk reads this and lets me know

Thanks

Sal

 

Hello

@Lewis Barwick I have researching my issue with my car all day and @Johnny Hotspur GT for his fantastic in depth knowledge, I have found your thread

and the Bentley specialist you used CREWE GT SERVICES. I think i may have a problem with the SI plugs in the head causing a exhaust leak.

Everyone wants to take the subframe or the engine out.

Please let me know your experience with this Bentley Specialist

Thanks

Sal

 

Hello @sal4b ,

Sorry to hear you are having troubles with your new Bentley.

Yes one of my manifold plugs blew out when the engine began running rough due to a failed boost control solenoid.

The guys at GT services were able to replace the plug and do other work without removing the engine.

I was generally happy with the work but when I got the car back the front bumper wasn't aligned correctly and when I pointed this
out they said they would correct it when I brought the car back next (which was fair enough as it was closing time on a Friday)
but I just ended up sorting it out myself and since then I have been able to do my own work on the car meaning I haven't required Ivors services.

If you are planning to take it to GT services I would get in touch with them sooner rather than later as they are always very busy!

Good luck with getting it fixed up.

 

Hi Everyone,

Well the car has gone into GT SERVICES..... but not in CREWE it has moved to KNUTSFORD.

Its not an engine out at least, and apparently they are saying it won't be that bad as they reckon its probably a bolt that's come out.

Its also having the boot lid and the water ingress in the footwell sorted.

Oh yes and the front drop links while its there as the bushes are shot.

Thanks

Sal

By the way they have moved opposite to Bentley Manchester, literally opposite them.

 

Hello again @sal4b ,

Glad to hear you've got the car in and sounds like it won't be a complicated job to fix your problems.

Its very useful to know GT services are now based in Knutsford as that is even closer to home for me should I need their services again.
(About half an hour away from home)

Did you have any symptoms to suggest the front ARB links were worn?

By the way, should you require any Bentley diagnostics or advise at no cost I have VCDS. (Thought I would let you know as you must live fairly locally to me)

Kind regards,
Lewis

 

Hi @Lewis Barwick

Thank you so much for the kind offer.... I live in Blackburn.

The problem with the car they have pinned down to a missing Catalytic convertor bolt.

I am getting the drains sorted to stop the water ingress in the footwell and the boot lid which i have to push down to close, also getting an interim service.

Over the next month basically going to get everything sorted.

As for the the ARB links if i went over a bump you got a knocking noise and I knew straight away when i drove it.

But to be honest Even after I get everything done I still got it at a good price for the year and mileage.

Is there any other Bentley owners near Blackburn ?

Sal