This Cheap Bentley’s W12 Proves Volkswagen’s Engine Is Tough
▼ Summary
– The author strongly advises against personally buying the cheapest available Bentley Flying Spur due to the high financial and emotional risk involved.
– YouTuber Sreten from M539 Restorations purchased the cheapest Bentley in Europe for $12,500, a car originally worth $275,000 with over 160,000 miles.
– The purchased vehicle was in very poor condition, suffering from electrical issues, rust, a bad paint job, and a moldy interior due to water leaks.
– Sreten performed initial repairs on the car, fixing sunroof drains, drying waterlogged floors, and refurbishing a parking brake, with the engine initially seeming solid.
– After getting the car on the road, the project encountered a major setback when the Bentley overheated.
Purchasing the most affordable Bentley Flying Spur available might appear to be a disastrous financial decision, and in most respects, that assumption is correct. The risks involved with a high-mileage luxury car are substantial, often outweighing any initial savings. However, there’s a unique fascination in observing someone else undertake such a daunting project, allowing us to experience the thrill of a potential restoration without facing the associated costs and stress. A popular automotive YouTuber recently embarked on this very journey, acquiring what is believed to be the least expensive example in Europe.
The vehicle in question, a model that originally commanded a price near $275,000, was secured for a mere $12,500. This staggering discount came with significant caveats: an odometer reading exceeding 160,000 miles and a condition that could only be described as rough. The car presented a host of problems, including multiple electrical gremlins, surface rust, and a questionable paint finish. Perhaps most alarmingly, moisture intrusion had created literal lakes in the footwells, leading to a pervasive mold infestation throughout the cabin’s luxurious interior. Despite these considerable issues, one critical component showed promise: the complex 6.0-liter W12 engine, a powerplant shared with other Volkswagen Group flagships, appeared to run without major fault, offering a glimmer of hope for the project.
After transporting the Bentley to his workshop, the owner addressed the most pressing issues. He repaired the clogged sunroof drains responsible for the interior flooding, spent considerable time drying out the soaked flooring, and serviced a malfunctioning rear parking brake. Progress seemed encouraging, particularly with the engine performing reliably during initial checks. The moment of truth arrived during the first proper drive, where the sedan’s legendary refined and potent performance from its early-2000s heyday could finally be sampled. Just as the experience was living up to expectations, a critical failure occurred: the vehicle began to overheat dramatically, threatening the very heart of the project.
(Source: jalopnik)