Looking At A Classic Miami Bentley With An Eye To Buy

The biggest problems you’ll see with classic pre-owned Bentleys in Miami stem from a common cause- owner neglect. While you’re more apt to see results of owner neglect when you’re dealing with a privately owned vehicle, dealer sold vehicles aren’t exempt from some of these common issues, so be sure to inspect your prospective Bentley thoroughly, with an eye for the little details. What To Look For Start with the outside. What you’re looking for here are any cracks, peels, or stains in the woodwork, worn spots or faded area in the carpets, splits, fading, or weather damage in the leatherwork, and scrapes, dents or rust marks on the body paint or the frame itself. While these cosmetic damages don’t have to keep you from buying a Bentley you really want, keep in mind that they should bring down the asking price- and for good reason. Cosmetic repairs may seem small compared to engine work, but giving a sadly neglected Bentley a cosmetic restoration in Miami can easily range into the six figures. Even a simple paint job could end up costing over $10,000, because the original paint must first be carefully stripped away. Assess the external neglect and appraise the restoration costs before you set your heart on that car. While you’re at it, take a gander at the tires. Cheapie tires will get you nothing but a mushy, poorly handling ride. These heavy vehicles need the stiff sidewalls you can only find in modern tires with a speed rating of V or higher. They’re more expensive, but in terms of handling, you get what you pay for. Once the outside has passed muster, it’s time to do an internal inspection. Pop the hood and check out the engine. Even if you’re no mechanic, you can still recognize some basic signs of owner neglect. Look for oil or dirt on the engine components, and fluid leakage underneath the car. It’s okay for the engine to be dusty, but oil, grease, dirt and leaks are a warning sign that all may not be well under the hood. Ask to the owner or dealer to show you the engine belts and hoses, and look for cracking or signs of wear damage. Check the oil filter for blackened oil sludge and build-up. Oil sludge is viral, once it starts to accumulate, it grows, turning all the remaining engine oil into sludge and coating your engine parts with a hard grimy layer that must be chiseled off by an experienced mechanic. Sludge in the oil filter is a good indication that there may be some engine damage in the car’s recent past, and some expensive repair work in its future. Start up the engine, and be alert for any funky smells, noises or smoke coming from the exhaust system. The engine sound should be fairly smooth, and an overly rough idle can indicate problems within the engine, such as clogged injectors. If nothing seems to be off, you can proceed to the next phase in your buying inspection- bringing in an expert. Never commit to buy without having a professional inspection done first. You may decide that owning a classic Miami Bentley is worth the restoration costs, but it’s best to know what you’re getting into before drive it home.