Press information: rainwater getting into Bentley cars
A summary for journalists of the evidence that rainwater gets into Bentley Continental Flying Spurs and Continental GTs, often through blocked drains under the windscreen. It is backed by one owner's case: a 37,000-mile Flying Spur, bought from Jack Barclay and serviced by Bentley, that was severely damaged by rainwater while parked.
The evidence in brief
Owners of Bentley Continental GTs and Flying Spurs describe rainwater getting into their cars. On older cars it is usually blocked drains under the windscreen. On cars built from 2018, Bentley's own technical bulletins name factory faults that let water into the cabin. The motoring press warns buyers that the worst case costs more than £15,000.
7
public forum threads on water getting in
2
models: Continental Flying Spur and Continental GT
8
Bentley technical bulletins on water in the cabin or a musty smell
£15,000+
worst-case repair quoted by PistonHeads, Prestige & Performance Car and Autocar
What specialists and Bentley say
Autocar
On the Continental Flying Spur, a blocked windscreen scuttle can let water through the fuse box seal and soak the keyless entry control unit in the footwell.
Read the sourcePMC, UK Bentley specialist
The plenum drains tend to get choked with leaf matter, particularly on cars parked near trees.
Read the sourcePrestige & Performance Car
On early Continental GTs, a void in the scuttle fills with water if the drain blocks and runs into the front left footwell, home to much of the wiring loom and several ECUs. Putting it right can cost over £15,000.
Read the sourceBentley technical bulletins
Tell dealers how to deal with water in the cabin of Continental GT and Flying Spur cars built from 2018. One, covering every model from 2004 to 2024, tells technicians to check the body drains for blockages.
See the bulletinsThe cars in the reports
Continental Flying Spurs and Continental GTs from 2005 to 2021 are sold and resold all over the world. The reports we found come from owners posting on British and American forums. These photographs show example cars, not the cars in the reports.
Continental Flying Spur
First generation, 2005 to 2013
Continental GT
Second generation, 2011 to 2018
Flying Spur
Third generation, 2019 on
Continental GT
Third generation, 2018 on
One owner's case
Bought and serviced
The Bentley above was purchased from Jack Barclay, part of H.R. Owen. It was cherished, serviced by Bentley, and driven just 37,000 miles from new – until it died.
Found soaked after rain
We returned from summer vacation to find that the car had soaking wet carpets and would not start, despite having been safely parked with doors, windows and sunroof properly locked and alarmed.
H.R. Owen's diagnosis
“Water is not draining away through the drains and is just filling up in the plenum area under the screen and entering the car through the HVAC seals which has caused the saturation inside the car.”
The engineer's findings
I have gained access to the KESSY module which is the alarm and immobiliser on the car. This module is sitting completely covered by water, the water has entered the module and completely corroded the modules circuits. Some of the terminals in the wiring to the module are also corroded. I have gained access to some connectors called CAN headers in the rear footwell. These are also heavily corroded by the sitting water.
The dealer refuses
We contacted Jack Barclay to say it was unacceptable to sell us a car without warning us that the car could not be left out in the rain. We pointed out that Bentley had also failed to warn us each time they serviced the car. We suggested they should cover the repair cost. They flatly refused and asked us to take the car away.
Lawyers' letters
Despite letters from our lawyers, neither Jack Barclay nor H.R.
Going public
After many months of trying and failing to get satisfaction from H.R. Owen we decided to share this story as a caution to others who may be considering buying one of these cars.
Quotable lines
Verbatim, from a Continental GT owner, a 2021 Flying Spur owner and the dealer's service department.
“This is without question the Achilles heel of the GT. It is not a matter of if you get the problem but when. It is all down to very poor design.”
“Bentley stress this is an isolated failure and not a common fault”
“Water is not draining away through the drains and is just filling up in the plenum area under the screen and entering the car through the HVAC seals which has caused the saturation inside the car.”
Photographs
The owners' car. Please credit BentleyTubs.
Press contact
For more details on the facts of this matter, please email the owners.
Bentley Motors, H.R. Owen and Jack Barclay have a standing right of reply. Background reading: Flying Spur problems and UK buyers' rights.