The Rolls is Alive - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ashman · #1 09-08-2002, 08:53 PM

Well after getting the entire engine rebuilt practically, the rolls is back and better than before. We had the entire top end of the engine redone. To the tune of like $6000.

But its running very nice and smooth and very powerful compared to what it was.

Anyway, Just thought I'd Share.

Alon

Holson Adi · #2 09-08-2002, 09:17 PM

I remember the thread when the car needed the engine rebuild.

How many miles did it have when it happened?

Which Rolls is it? Does it have the huge turbocharged V-8?

420SEL · #3 09-08-2002, 09:57 PM

Do you have any pictures?

#4 09-08-2002, 11:15 PM

Congrats!!! Good to hear that the Rolls lives on!!!

Ashman · #5 09-09-2002, 02:27 PM

its an 83 silver spur, no turbos or superchargers.

it happened at about 250-300k miles.

Alon

jcantor · #6 09-09-2002, 05:07 PM

Alon,

I'll second the request for pictures. Also, any comments on the Rolls vs various M-Bs in terms of driving/riding pleasure, maintenance, cost of ownership, and performance would be much appreciated.

I've always wanted to at least drive a Rolls and am kicking myself for letting the two opportunities that have presented themselves pass without taking.

jlc

Holson Adi · #7 09-09-2002, 05:14 PM

Yeah Pictures!!

I only rode in a Rolls Royce once, it was an older model Silver Spur (might be the same one). It was an early '80s model.
Of course I wasn't driving it (I wish I was) but that car gathered so much attention !! That was in Hong Kong...

I didn't think that it was that nice riding a car...

On the opposite occasion (going to the airport this time) we went in a then late-model Mercedes S600. Now that thing was just amazing.... the way it drove at 140-160km/h.. it was just flawless. Very quiet, smooth, fast, stable...

#8 09-09-2002, 07:33 PM

The ride in a Rolls Royce depends very much on how well the suspension has been maintained, the braking system (remember this is a car that has 2 independent braking systems on each wheel!), the leveling system and so forth. They probably compare cornering and accellerating favorably (in my admittedly limited experience!) with other European luxury cars, better than a Cadillac, probably not as well as a European sports suspension.

Where a Rolls really shows its stuff though is at 100mph on a rough road--in a properly maintained Rolls you will literally ask 'what road, what bumps?' So this is not the ride for those who like to feel the road as they drive.

I heard this story firsthand, and am pretty sure it is true, but I was not there:
A fellow I know from Hugo, Oklahoma drives Bentley's/Rolls (he owns the hotel there!). Once he was driving 100mph on a lousy, rough southern Oklahoma turnpike (Indian Nations I think it was, for those who know it). His wife commented to him from across the way in the passenger seat that the car seemed to be swerving a bit, and it had never done that before. He had felt it, but assumed it was windy, but looking out the window he soon determined there was no wind.
So he decided to stop and check. When he got out, he noticed the problem immediately. The right rear tire had blown and was completely shredded, the car was riding on the rim!
They had felt only the slight sway, the leveling system was compensating. And the sound deadening was so good they never heard the rim on the road. (Fortunately, the wheel was not ruined.)

Definately a different breed from most cars....(I have blown a tire on the Cadillac at 80mph, and while it was hardly wrenching, the sensation was a little stronger than that!)

Ashman · #9 09-09-2002, 08:39 PM

the Rolls is not a cheap car to maintain.

if the rear shocks go out, you are looking at $2500.00 minimum.

Alon

LuckyF8 · #10 09-09-2002, 10:31 PM

I worked at a RR dealer in the earley 80's, got to drive lots of them. They weigh 6025 lbs (for tax reasons) and perform well for their size. RR didn't dsclose the engine size, they would say it was adiquite. We had an engine apart and it measured about 420 CI. The RR engine is amazing, steel billet pressed together crankshaft with bolt on counterweights, Hemi Heads...bla bla...
then these stupid SU carbs!

Expensive parts, I once had an Ins. adjuster threaten to come down and kick my but for telling him a set of simple hub caps cost $2600.00 plus a $500.00 trip to the paint shop! That was 20 years ago.

I have driven a couple of 600SEL's and they are every bit as nice or nicer than the RR, in my opinion.