WHAT TO LOOK FOR
KEEP IT CLASSY
Interiors don’t always age well; look for sagging leather, delaminating wood and tatty carpets. Unsurprisingly, retrimming or refurbishment costs can be eyewateringly expensive. Watch out for any warning lights on the dash; if you’re lucky these will be down to nothing more than the main battery needing to be replaced. The Arnage has two batteries; one to start the engine and the other to run all of the ancillary systems. The former tends to last well, but the latter can fail, leading to all sorts of problems. A replacement can be fitted for around £100, however.
CALL FOR REINFORCEMENTS
Early Arnages weren’t very structurally stiff, so they can creak and groan more than you’d expect on the move. A stiffer bodyshell was used from September 2006; reinforced wheelarches, roof, bulkheads and sills resulted in less flexing and a quieter ride. That bluff front easily gets damaged, so check for paint chips. A damaged radiator grille could easily cost £2000-plus to fix. Also check that the windscreen is undamaged; the Arnage’s screen uses thinner glass than previous Bentleys, so it can chip then crack.
FOURS VS SIXES
Most Arnages were fitted with a reliable four-speed GM automatic gearbox, but there was a switch to a more complicated ZF six-speed automatic with Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic modes for the 2007 model year. The gearbox’s oil should be changed occasionally and the same goes for the differential, which was always a regular unit with no limited-slip fuction. If the oil isn’t changed in the rear axle and gearbox, both are guaranteed to wear prematurely, with resultant big bills, either for repair or buying a replacement reconditioned unit.
NON-RUNNING GEAR
The suspension and brakes have to work hard, so check that they’re not tired. Little-used cars can suffer from corroded brake discs. New brake pads cost over £300, while replacement front dampers are £1000 apiece; rears cost around £1300 each. New suspension bushes (at £1000) may also be needed and the brake pipes could have corroded; replacing them is an involved job. So if the car is being sold on because these parts need some TLC, your introduction to Bentley motoring could be pretty costly.
AVOID ROT
Corrosion shouldn’t be an issue, although some earlier cars can suffer from corrosion in the wheelarches and sills. Where the later cars are concerned, the area most likely to rot is where the inner wing meets the main bodyshell. This is caused by water getting in behind an incorrectly fitted wheelarch liner, which allows mud to collect behind, leading to corrosion. Any car showing significant corrosion should be avoided – such cars are rare, but the costs of putting things right will be huge, so you’re better off just finding a better example.
STELLAR SPACE TRAVEL
The V8 can easily manage 250k+ miles. The correct anti-freeze mix must be maintained; internal corrosion is unlikely, but engines can overheat through broken fan belts or leaking hoses. The pistons will knock on an engine that’s overheated and early Red Labels can suffer from cylinder head gasket failure because of a reaction between the anti-freeze and gasket sealant. Oil changes should be every 6-10k miles. A replacement engine costs £10-20k, depending on whether you go for a used, rebuilt or new unit.
WHEEL APPEAL
Alloy wheels were anywhere between 17 and 20 inches in diameter; the latter was for the run-out edition only. These wheels don’t age well, with peeling lacquer par for the course. Many cars aren’t sitting on their original rims any more; refurbishing what’s fitted needn’t be costly, but fitting new wheels could easily cost in excess of £2000. Be wary of split-rim wheels as they’re easily damaged and very expensive to overhaul.
KNOW YOUR ARNAGES
Every Arnage is different to drive; even Red Labels vary, thanks to an array of suspension settings, power outputs, engine set-ups and wheelbases/weight distribution. The Red Label gets all the plaudits, but a Green Label offers effortless driving with better economy. Bentley made a raft of chassis improvements in 2002, resulting in improved roadholding. Earlier cars can be (expensively) upgraded, but later cars are the ones to go for. The Arnage R is more refined than the Arnage T, but post-2007 Ts are much less harsh, so you get the sporty drive with no refinement penalty.