Hi, I'm new to Bentley ownership (have a Lotus Elise & Jag XJ X350 also, and many MG's in the past, including the Mustang powered ZT). I have just picked up a Continental GT 2005 from auction in Japan. It's in great condition with only 26k miles on the clock, and mint underneath. Small issue with the boot / trunk badge micro-switch not working, but will try the careful take-apart fix posted elsewhere on this amazing forum for that. My big issue since my MOT pass today has been some trouble with the bonnet / hood. I had a similar issue to that which has been posted elsewhere on this forum about the 'B' emblem not coming up much when the bonnet / hood release lever was pulled, and I had to release carefully with fingertips etc, but since reading other posts on this forum, and now knowing how the 'B' emblem safety retainer mechanism works, I have lubricated all, and it works well enough now (no sign of much previous lubrication tbh). The trick here is the small lift of the chrome grill to then raise up the 'B' emblem correctly to then pull up on (with one hand left under the chrome grill to to help take the weight of the bonnet / hood).

However... the massive issue I am now struggling with is not being able to close the damn bonnet / hood! My 'B' emblem safety retainer striker was loose and only finger tight, and has been mentioned elsewhere on this forum, there is some adjustment up and down on that bracket with torx bolts. I don't think that is my issue however, I think my problem is that the 2 x metal retaining hoops fixed on the underside of the bonnet / hood are not engaging the latch strikers at the slam panel deeply enough to operate the two latch mechanisms fully enough to their locking points. The two latch mechanisms appear to operate correctly enough when hand engaged with the help of a screwdriver, and then release OK on the pull of the release cable, so the latches work within the assembly, and the cable doesn't feel too stretched. It feels as though the bonnet and metal retaining hoops cannot lower enough to engage the 2 x retaining latches? Is there any adjustment allowed in the mounting of the full metal bracket assembly housing the 2 x latches (the elongated D-shaped metal bracket) onto the front of the car, so it can come up further to the surface of the slam panel? I see from the Bentley service manual posted elsewhere on this forum that shims can be applied to the metal retaining hoops on the underside of the bonnet / hood, but that would likely see the bonnet shut line sit a little too high against the wing? Given that shims have not been previously used, I am just wondering if the full assembly housing the 2 x retaining latches has seen some movement (like the 'B' emblem safety retainer striker). I guess my issue could also be cable related, despite the 2 x latches appearing to operate and lock correctly correctly by hand... Wish I'd never opened the bloody bonnet now! ;-)

 

They usually seize up open . Normally while your away on holiday giving Bonet not closed alarm. crapped my self the first time. In Germany on the derestricted autobahn doing xxx too many mph and up pops the bonett not closed allarm.
I now keep both latches well lubricated. You can pop the catch closed using s sreew driver and repetadly pop open using the bonet catch lever in the car. Keep doing untill latches open freely whilst using an anti seize spray. Then greese liberally.

 

Cheers Frank. I have been doing exactly as you say, and the latches both move freely with screwdriver, and release positively with the cable. I don't think my issue is a seized latch, I think it is that they don't get pushed down enough by the bonnet hoop metal brackets to their locking point. It may be that the whole latch assembly has moved down on its mountings somehow. I think it mounts onto the top of the radiator so that it sits just under the slam panel plate. I could try washers under the metal hoop brackets on the bonnet, or I could remove the slam panel plate to see how the latch assembly is mounted underneath. The joys of second hand cars...