I have a 2014 GTC with 30,000 miles. I had some minor problems and sent it to the closest dealer, which is 500 miles.

They replaced the front bushings and control arms and did the 30000 mile service.
The bill was eye watering, but the car is like brand new! I had no idea that the front end bushings were bad. Man, what a difference!

I like to do things myself, but the Bentley is a whole other animal. Pony up to drive these fantastic cars!

 

Well, dare I ask, what was the bill? Are there no reliable independent mechanics nearby? I'm sure they pinged you $10 for the requisite fob battery, which of course is incidental but mandatory!
-Larry.

 

It was north of $15k, and they did do the fob for $8. Lol. This did include the 30,000 mile service and a bunch of other stuff. No one will touch a Bentley in my area, not even the VW or Audi dealers. They did throw in shipping which was fantastic.

 

I’m assuming your car was not under cpo warranty?

 

May I ask where you're located? Here in the Washington, DC, area there's one dealer and local independents
are at their mercy for parts, and get perhaps a 10 per cent discount on the parts, so you may save on labor
with an independent.

The problem, amongst others, is that the dealers will find problems that could warrant a repair not a replacement. They have other
gouging strategies, like the "bent wheel" replacements for $3000 each rather than ignore it or repair the wheel. I could go on.

I have had to rely on the dealer for extra keys and for a tricky convertible top issue (turned out to be mechanical and not electrical, and
easily fixed by the dealer's tech, who is honest and excellent).

I supply my own oil and air filters, as well as other parts when possible for the routine maintenance, and the independent happily uses them.
When my radiator goes, I will get the proper part from Flying Spurs and have it installed by the independent. I figure the savings will be substantial.

 

You just reminded me of a colleague with a 2011 gtc, who had a convertible top issue repaired at the dealer. He got
the top fixed but also was given a 3 page printout of suggested repairs total running in excess of $24,000.

Perhaps some of the suggested repairs should be done sooner rather than later, but I think the dealers look
at most of us as blank checks.

 

I’m out west where there are few dealers. I trust the dealer I go to. The service manager is one of us. I chalk it up to the price of admission for an exotic. You really need to go into one of these cars with your eyes wide open. I should have no serious problems for the next few years.

 

I think the dealer's are "required" to replace not repair to keep their franchise. There is no doubt
that the parts pricing on Bentley (cf. VW/Audi) for the same part in a Bentley box is quite profitable.
Most of us have no way to verify a dealer or independent's accuracy/veracity on a problem. But
that's true for a dishwasher or computer repair too. It's just that the price of the toys are greater
with an exotic car.