Regardless of whether you’re a Ferrari fanatic, a lover of Lamborghinis, or crazy about Koenigsegg, it’s almost impossible to ignore the allure of a Bugatti. Holding a unique place in automotive history that blends historical importance, unrivalled luxury, and astronomical performance figures, it’s easy to see why they are one of the most adored car marques in the world. Of the many models that have stunned the world since 1909, two of its most significant modern-era models, the Bugatti EB 110 and the Bugatti Veyron, are particularly noteworthy for how they redefined the limits of automotive engineering in their respective eras. The power and complexity of these pioneering models deliver an unrivalled driving experience, even when compared to contemporary Hypercars. However, pushing the boundaries of performance also necessitates a highly specialised maintenance process and programme.
Thankfully, Furlonger Cars, based out of Kent in the Southeast of England have the unique skill-set, knowledge and tools required to ensure your Veyron or EB 110 receives the best care it can possibly receive. This specialised tooling and experience required to maintain the EB 110 and Veyron is the reason why so few workshops are willing to work on them. This is the reason that Furlonger’s servicing department are the go-to for those lucky owners; both in the UK or beyond, with a dedicated team on hand to collect, transport and return the cars back to owners located all over Europe.
Servicing a Bugatti EB 110
Known as ‘The Great Comeback’, 1991 would see Bugatti launch the EB110 GT, one of the most advanced car at the time, boasting a carbon fibre chassis, all-wheel-drive and a monstrous quad-turbo V12 engine, making it one of the most powerful cars in the world. Just 139 examples exist, all of which steeped in passion, heritage and innovation, now amassing a collectorship that spans the US, Europe, Japan and beyond. Caring for such a unique machine is no easy feat, with many components no longer produced and the number specialists with the knowledge of such a complex car dwindling. Thankfully, though, there are experts out there, with Furlonger being the leading specialists in the UK and beyond for servicing EB 110s. To dive a little deeper into what actually goes into making that quad-turbo engine hit every note perfectly, we spoke with Matt Honeysett, a director at Furlonger, overseen by Simon Furlonger and his team who have the relevant parts in stock and can provide just about any maintenance required for Bugatti EB 110s, in both GT and SS guise.
Many EB 110s were used frequently during their initial years but have now become true collector’s items as their values continue to rocket. This sadly means some cars aren’t maintained to the best standards or are taken to specialists who may not be aware of the car’s old-school nature. Matt explains a little more about how Furlonger tackles servicing the 1990s icon: “As crazy as it sounds, the easiest way to service the EB 110 is the remove its engine, allowing you to access its many intricacies. From there, the car’s clutch, gearbox and filters can all be accessed and replaced if needed. So many of these cars have just had basic servicing and have multiple oil leaks, worn out clutches and perished fuel and coolant hoses. We enjoy it when a new car visits us, so we can get it back on its toes, as well as making it safe along the way for the client to enjoy.”
Matt continues, “The ‘engine-out’ process is of course a labour-intensive one, with Furlonger quoting between £25,000-£30,000 to carry out the service with all oil seals and relevant pipework replaced. This of course isn’t an annual cost and once completed the car shouldn’t need this for some times as long as it is looked after, going back to a much more reasonable £4,500 plus VAT for a major engine in service."
It’s fair to say this team know their way around the EB110, where Furlonger have been entrusted with the re-commissioning of numerous EB110s, including Romano Artioli’s personal SS. The team are currently restoring a very prominent example, which we look forward to hearing about soon, which will only re-affirm their position as one of the most renowned and respected Bugatti specialists in the world.
Servicing a Bugatti Veyron
14 years after the EB 110 changed the supercar world, Bugatti did it again in 2005 with the Veyron. Swapping the V12 for a 16.4-litre W16 mated to four turbochargers, 10 intercoolers, wheels costing over £10,000 for a set and a current price tag between £1,500,000 and £3,000,000 depending on the model. The Veyron, just as the EB 110 did, completely changed the supercar world upon its launch, and is treated more as a feat of aerospace engineering than a car. Just like Concorde, the Veyron requires patience, experience, plenty of fluids, a healthy dose of confidence and rather deep pockets to keep it moving.
Furlonger’s attitude to the Veyron, however, is focused on dispelling the myth that they are impossibly expensive to run. Thanks to their engineering viewpoint along with common sense, these W16 Quad Turbo monsters are now a regular sight in their workshops in Ashford, Kent. Looking purely at the figures, it would be easy to assume with 1,000 horsepower the Veyron would be quite a terrifying beast, but chatting with the Furlonger team, the resounding opinion is despite the car being part of the Volkswagen group, it doesn’t possess an overly Germanic feel. Ferdinand Piech, who spearheaded the Veyron project, managed to capture Ettore Bugatti’s ethos, making these French cars the fastest in the world while maintaining the highest standard of engineering.
Back when the Veyron was being developed under strict embargos, Volkswagen actually bought an EB110 for themselves to use as the test mule for the Veyron. Taking the chassis and mounting the now world-renowned W16 to the 1990s icon, they tried to understand what made the EB 110 so intoxicating to drive and own. Furlonger’s technical team followed a similar mantra to Volkswagen in their quest to become the ultimate experts in their field, and spent over three years with their own Veyron stripping and rebuilding it to fully understand exactly how the car was configured from the factory, but also how to repair and maintain key elements that ensure the life of such a mighty car is extended. Furlonger are now regularly maintaining Veyrons, with many cars in the UK visiting them. However, as with the EB 110, they offer their services to clients in Europe and even further afield, managing the relevant paperwork and transport.
We were keen to step into the shoes of being a Veyron owner, and understand the process that Furlonger undertake to look after our make-believe 16.4 hypercar. Matt explains, "The whole process takes around seven days to complete which includes the removal of both front and rear panels for full access to inspect and replace any relevant parts. At this point Furlonger get to cleaning, ensuring all mechanical components they are working on are clean and free of dirt and debris."
Next, all fluids and filters are changed; the Veyron has a staggering 16 oil drain plugs dotted around the vehicle, while it carries over 20 litres of oil at any given time, meaning draining the oil is no easy feat. Matt explains the process a little more: “There is a special process that requires both precision and experience. The gearbox, Haldex and differential oil are also changed, along with five gearbox filters, then the huge twin air filters are replaced along with pollen filters to allow the 16.4-litre motor to breathe freer than ever. Once the engine is checked for leaks and renewed of all its filters and fluids, the suspension, brakes, drivetrain and any other mechanical items of the car are carefully checked over, including the hydraulic system which powers the steering, suspension and rear spoiler.”
The key here is that Furlonger aren’t phased by the Bugatti’s reputation or complexity, and treat the car with complete confidence, just as they would if it was a Ferrari Enzo or a Lamborghini Murcielago LP-670 SV. They evaluate each individual car’s mechanical condition and ensure the correct parts are replaced to prevent future issues. Price wise, the whole process is about keeping the Veyron in perfect condition, and an extremely thorough service comes at the cost of 7,500 pounds plus VAT, while their their 3 year service package totals 20,000 pounds plus VAT. The savings go beyond the servicing as well, from radiator rebuilds to drive shaft gaiters, Furlonger have a multitude of avenues for reducing the running costs on Veyrons.
Whether you’re lucky enough to own one of Bugatti’s triumphs, or have found yourself on the fence, knowing a dealership like Furlonger exists makes for a comforting feeling. Their small but highly skilled team of technicians aren’t governed by time when taking on the task of servicing cars like the Veyron or EB 110. These machines require patience, scrutiny and care, and so the job is finished simply when all tasks are completed, not by deadlines. Caring for a Bugatti is unlike caring for any other type of performance vehicle; they house some of world’s most advanced materials and technologies, combined to create a car that pushes the boundaries of speed and usability, which is exactly why the motoring world loves and cares for them so dearly!
