3rd Mar 2013, 09:23

Sounds like *maybe* you ought not to be driving a Bentley. Walter Owen probably spun in his grave when that KYB shock was put in, in place of the proper self-leveling damper!

The problem with practicing what you say is that you devalue the car immensely, as anyone who would eventually buy it will see the approach you've taken to maintain it.

Ok, so of course, the brake calipers don't have to be overhauled by a Royce dealer or indie, and in fact, are like any other brake caliper, save for the fact that they use LHM instead of brake fluid. You could've even overhauled them yourself -- it's not hard -- but please, I implore you -- don't make RR/B ownership seem 'economical' because there are enough other things with the cars that can catch the uninitiated with their pants down! How about when the hydraulic system requires overhaul? That operates the brakes, which are a bit of a safety requirement. So have you ponied up for the proper overhaul, or are you waiting for a valve/accumulator/line failure?

If the cars are maintained in the manner which RR advised (i.e. all scheduled services adhered to and cheap parts not substituted), then the cars are indeed reliable as anything else.