Simple $3 gasket swap shows what it takes to maintain a luxury Rolls-Royce Phantom as it turns into four-figure repair
Published on Dec 07, 2025 at 10:51 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Dec 04, 2025 at 9:53 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
You might think owning a Rolls-Royce Phantom means you have reliability to match the luxury, but YouTuber Car Wizard has shown that repairs can be incredibly expensive.
The YouTuber, real name David Long, recently had a 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom in his shop, and it needed a simple $3 gasket repair, which doesn’t sound bad.
However, as the Car Wizard showed us, these repairs can quickly turn into a huge ordeal costing over four figures.
While it shows that a luxury car is exceptional, it also shows just how expensive things can be when something goes wrong with one of them.
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What was wrong with the 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom
This particular Phantom had just 32,007 miles on the odometer when it suffered from a severe oil leak.
Under the hood of the car is a 6.75-liter V12 engine, based on the BMW N73 family.
According to the Car Wizard, the leak began because of an issue with the design of the alternator bracket.
This is bolted directly onto the engine block.
The gasket failed, and then fluids began to leak, but the part itself is actually quite cheap.
What causes the costs to soar is the sheer amount of labor required to get the car back on the road again.
Labor costs can see repair prices soar
Due to how complex the engine bay in the car is, the Car Wizard said it could take up to 12 hours to change the gasket.
The cooling system in the car needed draining.
The two alternators that power the electrics were liquid-cooled, and that is far more complex than a traditional air-cooled alternator.
A fantastic quote from the mechanic and YouTuber perfectly summarized the situation.
He said the system ‘overcomplicated the living hell out of it.’
Labor costs, then, due to the complex nature of the Phantom, are what can drive the price up to over four figures.
Some auto repair shops will even refuse to take in a Rolls-Royce and other luxury cars.
This is due to the complexity and potential liability issues if the car is damaged further.
You might expect nearly perfect reliability for a car like the Phantom.
But even these luxurious machines have their pitfalls.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
