With BMW's acquisition of the rights to use the Rolls-Royce name in 1998, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars began using BMW supplied V12 engines but Bentley under Volkswagen Group ownership continued to use highly modified versions of the L series on its Arnage, Azure, Brooklands and Mulsanne models, with VAG W-12 and V8 engines being used in its Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga models.

The first engine of V8 configuration was developed in 1904 by Léon Levavasseur in France and used for speedboat racing.

Prior to World War II, Rolls-Royce had developed a 7.3-litre V-12 for the Phantom III, which was succeeded by the inlet-over-exhaust B60 straight-6 and B80 straight-8 series of engines.

This can be seen in its design characteristics, with features like an aluminium alloy cylinder block with wet liners, gear-driven camshaft, (initially) outboard spark plugs and porting inspired by the Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine.

The marine version of the engine (LM 841) was sold directly as a "complete power pack".

Engine cooling was closed loop glycol with heat exchangers to pumped sea water.

With improved tuning and the addition of turbochargers, the 6.75-litre became one of the world's most powerful automobile engines and enormously enhanced the image of Bentley as a sporting car maker.

[4] The 6+3⁄4 litres (412 cu in) 512 PS (377 kW; 505 bhp) engine used in Bentley Mulsanne was built at Crewe plant, and took nearly 30 hours to build.

BMW were initially expected to agree to a purchase quickly given their existing engine and component supply contracts with Rolls-Royce and Bentley, together with their recent history of expansion in the UK, with the purchase of Rover Group.

BMW would go on to warn Mayflower Corporation that it would cease to supply engines should they purchase Vickers or Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and that it considered itself the best buyer for the company in late 1997.

[9] The Volkswagen sale appeared to have collapsed later in May, with BMW being announced as the preferred buyer for the Rolls-Royce and Bentley business 1 June 1998, subject to shareholder approval.

It was considered damaging to the German automotive industry for Volkswagen and BMW to engage in legal action against each other.