Bentley W12 Engine Codes
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There are lots of manufacturers of remanufactured shocks. They commonly replace valving, shaft and seals, and hone the shock tube. I've had quite a few high-end shocks/coilovers rebuilt this way, to as-new specification. If you insist on getting brand new ones at OEM or better quality I'd probably go for Bilstein B4:
https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/45-260452
At $2,481.50 a corner they're not cheap but personally I've trusted Bilstein both on the street and track, including circuit racing, since the 80's and only been disappointed once - and that's my fault, I ordered tarmac rally spec shocks for a track car, which unsurprisingly didn't work as intended.
All in all suspension is not black magic. Only engineering and manufacturing. Either to the car manufacturer's specifications or measuring and calculating your own with a different bias, be it towards comfort, grip, steering feel or handling characteristics. Bilstein, Öhlins, Koni and other brand name manufacturers have done most of the hard lifting for you.
https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/45-260452
At $2,481.50 a corner they're not cheap but personally I've trusted Bilstein both on the street and track, including circuit racing, since the 80's and only been disappointed once - and that's my fault, I ordered tarmac rally spec shocks for a track car, which unsurprisingly didn't work as intended.
All in all suspension is not black magic. Only engineering and manufacturing. Either to the car manufacturer's specifications or measuring and calculating your own with a different bias, be it towards comfort, grip, steering feel or handling characteristics. Bilstein, Öhlins, Koni and other brand name manufacturers have done most of the hard lifting for you.
Last edited by Johnny Hotspur GT; Sep 23, 2025 at 02:02 PM. Reason: Live link
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There are lots of manufacturers of remanufactured shocks. They commonly replace valving, shaft and seals, and hone the shock tube. I've had quite a few high-end shocks/coilovers rebuilt this way, to as-new specification. If you insist on getting brand new ones at OEM or better quality I'd probably go for Bilstein B4: https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/45-260452
At $2,481.50 a corner they're not cheap but personally I've trusted Bilstein both on the street and track, including circuit racing, since the 80's and only been disappointed once - and that's my fault, I ordered tarmac rally spec shocks for a track car, which unsurprisingly didn't work as intended.
All in all suspension is not black magic. Only engineering and manufacturing. Either to the car manufacturer's specifications or measuring and calculating your own with a different bias, be it towards comfort, grip, steering feel or handling characteristics. Bilstein, Öhlins, Koni and other brand name manufacturers have done most of the hard lifting for you.
At $2,481.50 a corner they're not cheap but personally I've trusted Bilstein both on the street and track, including circuit racing, since the 80's and only been disappointed once - and that's my fault, I ordered tarmac rally spec shocks for a track car, which unsurprisingly didn't work as intended.
All in all suspension is not black magic. Only engineering and manufacturing. Either to the car manufacturer's specifications or measuring and calculating your own with a different bias, be it towards comfort, grip, steering feel or handling characteristics. Bilstein, Öhlins, Koni and other brand name manufacturers have done most of the hard lifting for you.
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plus with the Bilsteins do they retain the 4 different valving choices-they don't really give much info on the site-I'm guessing they do as an OE replacement-they class them as a replacement stock damper, so not an upgrade, but a quality OEM type replacement? Do we know who makes the OE struts for Bentley?
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I'm all for cost effective solutions. I do it myself to a pathological degree. One of the main reasons I eventually pulled the trigger on the FS is that it shares so many parts with Phaeton/A8/S8 and I can do pretty much anything with cars myself. I just did another complete rebuild on a Volvo whiteblock earlier this year, I can't even count how many transmissions (mainly Chrysler, Aisin-Warner and Getrag) I've rebuilt over the decades and as an old school hacker "unrepairable" and "unmodifiable" electronics are often a breeze. I've steered away from new cars for quite some time now, both because of value for money and there isn't much really interesting made during last decade or so in price brackets that aren't totally silly.
Bilstein B4 series shocks are commonly PnP, retaining all features of factory items, so I'd hazard a guess that they're full featured.
Bilstein B4 series shocks are commonly PnP, retaining all features of factory items, so I'd hazard a guess that they're full featured.
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I don't have experience with either so it's difficult to say. Reputable companies that remanufacture components and have stayed in business for at least a few years are likely to offer solid products, as a rule of thumb. I'd get the cheapest ones that seem allright and have few customer complaints. Searching for "company name" problems often reveals if there's something fishy going on.
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I don't have experience with either so it's difficult to say. Reputable companies that remanufacture components and have stayed in business for at least a few years are likely to offer solid products, as a rule of thumb. I'd get the cheapest ones that seem allright and have few customer complaints. Searching for "company name" problems often reveals if there's something fishy going on.
Miessler- Germany-I found lot of threads from MB, Audi, Volvo, Porsche. Limited experience with product, but those who have tried have had minimal if any problems. Those that did, praised the companies response and eagerness to solve the problem and all reported a resolution. They have been in biz since 2002.
So my conclusion is either company would be legit option, all customers recommended priority shipping vs their free snail mail thru USPS. I'm likely to try the Germans as it's a no wait solution and I'd have parts before tearing car apart. Then I'd also have my originals if I chose to have rebuilt later as I don't plan on selling this beauty!
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Joined: Jul 2025
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From: Greenville, MI
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I don't have experience with either so it's difficult to say. Reputable companies that remanufacture components and have stayed in business for at least a few years are likely to offer solid products, as a rule of thumb. I'd get the cheapest ones that seem allright and have few customer complaints. Searching for "company name" problems often reveals if there's something fishy going on.
I'll also see if I can find feedback on foreign companies like these-not sure how to do that, but I'll try and figure it out.
Edit: Forgot to submit this before my subsequent post after doing research on the 2 companies in question-70 yr old brain f***
Last edited by 09Speed; Aug 10, 2025 at 09:23 PM. Reason: forgot to submit
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I ended up ordering the completely rebuilt front struts from Meissler in Germany. I will be installing tomorrow, so look for my review in the next days and weeks ahead. Visually they seem like a nice piece and with both shock hydraulic and air side rebuilt with OEM function, I'm excited to see how they do! No core, so I get to keep my Originals incase I want to rebuild in future. $1700 US dollars to my door including Approx $300 in Tarrif, not bad for 2 struts!
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Hello @hq_ , @09Speed ,
In the future, please be mindful of keeping threads on topic, here @DrGigabit simply asked about the variations of the W12 engine in regards to his 2017, and all responses were fine up to post number 5, then from post 6 to 23 you both took the thread completely off topic, wherein discussing everything but the engine in question...
Sincerely.
Johnny
In the future, please be mindful of keeping threads on topic, here @DrGigabit simply asked about the variations of the W12 engine in regards to his 2017, and all responses were fine up to post number 5, then from post 6 to 23 you both took the thread completely off topic, wherein discussing everything but the engine in question...
Sincerely.
Johnny
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Found it- from Car and Driver review of 2010 GTC Speed:
Speed in More Than Just Name
As with the GT Speed coupe, most of the work to turn the GTC into a Speed model is mechanical. The 6.0-liter W-12 engine makes 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, improvements of 9 and 15 percent over the base car’s 552 hp and 479 lb-ft. The engine now features a single-chain cam drive, lighter connecting rods and pistons, an oil pump that reduces pressure (and pumping losses), and a modified block. By opening a port between the crankcase divisions, gases can move more freely between the crank webs, thus avoiding crankcase compression.
The chassis changes include stiffer rear-axle bushings, retuned steering, 20-inch wheels with specific Michelin tires, a recalibrated stability system, and a suspension that features revised spring and shock settings. The GTC Speed also has been lowered by 0.4 inch at the front and 0.6 inch at the back. The standard brakes are large enough—15.9 inches in diameter up front, 13.2 inches out back—but the optional carbon-ceramic discs are simply enormous. The front discs are 16.5 inches in diameter, with 14.0-inch rotors at the rear. The front brake calipers have no fewer than eight pistons. And they cost $16,500, if you need to ask.
That's some pretty specific and not Minute changes!
Speed in More Than Just Name
As with the GT Speed coupe, most of the work to turn the GTC into a Speed model is mechanical. The 6.0-liter W-12 engine makes 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, improvements of 9 and 15 percent over the base car’s 552 hp and 479 lb-ft. The engine now features a single-chain cam drive, lighter connecting rods and pistons, an oil pump that reduces pressure (and pumping losses), and a modified block. By opening a port between the crankcase divisions, gases can move more freely between the crank webs, thus avoiding crankcase compression.
The chassis changes include stiffer rear-axle bushings, retuned steering, 20-inch wheels with specific Michelin tires, a recalibrated stability system, and a suspension that features revised spring and shock settings. The GTC Speed also has been lowered by 0.4 inch at the front and 0.6 inch at the back. The standard brakes are large enough—15.9 inches in diameter up front, 13.2 inches out back—but the optional carbon-ceramic discs are simply enormous. The front discs are 16.5 inches in diameter, with 14.0-inch rotors at the rear. The front brake calipers have no fewer than eight pistons. And they cost $16,500, if you need to ask.
That's some pretty specific and not Minute changes!
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