| Author | Message | ||
| Kevin (Jammy)
Junior Member Username: Jammy Post Number: 107 Registered: 3-2002 |
'99 456M (manual) owned nearly 3 yrs, 10K miles. Problems: one replacement battery backup for the alarm system, one replacement battery & replacement rubber gaiter on a suspension component. Apart from routine servicing that's it. | ||
| Red (Redhead)
Junior Member Username: Redhead Post Number: 225 Registered: 12-2001 |
Stephen, To be honest, I have not heard about a window campign. There are some tech bulletins on the windows on the 456 and the adjustment procedure, but I am not aware of a campagin. Not saying it does not exsist. If it is something that has come out since Feb 1, I have no information on it. Sorry.  | ||
| stephen r chong (Ethans_dad)
Junior Member Username: Ethans_dad Post Number: 241 Registered: 3-2002 |
Red, Is the window seal issue resolved with the FNA Window Campaign? I'm also in the market for a 456 and am doing my homework. | ||
| Red (Redhead)
Junior Member Username: Redhead Post Number: 224 Registered: 12-2001 |
Mainly to try and get into a 456M. Those are proving to be a little bit more reliable. Twyla should prove to be extremly helpful and if you do have any tech questions that she may not know the answer, I am sure she will track it down through myself or the service advisor!! Good Luck on your choice!!! | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 311 Registered: 11-2002 |
Red, when you say go as new as possible, does that mean that the 456 line has progressively gotten better with age, or is there a general cutoff in which quality was sorted? Thanks for your valuable input. | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 306 Registered: 11-2002 |
Just two cars I want to purchase. The 512 is going to be the tough one. A chat member mentioned that the Euro and US versions are essentially the same but that the US versions suffer from some problems. I have been talking to Twyla. I was referred by BMC in SF, because I had dealt with them with a potential Bentley purchase and potential Murcielago trade in/sale. I have recently gotten rid of my Murcielago and she is trying to help me get in a Ferrari. Also, I've brought an employee of mine who is interested in a Ferrari as well. She has been very helpful, but I just wanted to see if there are others who could answer questions she might not know the answer to (mechanical etc) | ||
| Red (Redhead)
Junior Member Username: Redhead Post Number: 223 Registered: 12-2001 |
Taek-- Couple other things that I thought about on lunch.... On the 456, the door seals are prone to tear, and you get wind noise. As well, the hingle bolts are a weak deisgn that has been updated on later model cars. I just scanned through all the tech bulletins that I have on the 456/M and the ones I listed earlier should be what to look for. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2445 Registered: 2-2001 |
512M is the same as a 512TR with a few cosmetic changes & titanium connecting rods. On the 512TR Ive had to replace the circuit board, ignition switch & thats all I can think of. Of course I had to replace the transmission main shaft and a transmission exploded on me but thats cus I drive the car on race tracks at redline most of her life  If you dont drive that extreme I doubt you will have transmission problems. Just make sure you never do burnouts | ||
| Red (Redhead)
Junior Member Username: Redhead Post Number: 222 Registered: 12-2001 |
456--Go as new as possible, in other words, get a "M". The 456 has had the same issues as the 550. The coolant hose update and the motor mounts being the major ones. Other then that, I have seen these cars >30k miles with normal service and no major issues. On the 512m, The issue was with the wheels leaking if I recall. Most of the 3 pc wheels that F supplied have had this problem. (If I remember wmhart had his 550b wheels all replaced.) The thing about the 512M is there a so few of them and we have only 3 that we service, so my knowledge is not that deep on them. Email me at [email protected] if you have more questions....I know these were general answers. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 499 Registered: 9-2002 |
There is a recall issue with the wheels I am aware of, but in general the F512M should be the most reliable, as they worked out most of the bugs in the 11 year TR run. There is 2 or 3 owners here, hopefuly I will join them in a year or two | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 271 Registered: 11-2002 |
With all of these reliability threads popping up... How reliable or maintenance intensive are the 1995 F512M's? What are some of the issues with these cars? Same questions with the 456s. Are there any particular model years to avoid? By the way, I found you while looking at the 550 reliability thread, and saw you were employed at Bentley Silicon Valley, where I'm currently considering to purchase a car. Cheers |