Aston Martin LED headlights

Aston Martin LED headlights

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Discussion

NeilGo

Original Poster:

9 posts

93 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
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I've seen previous threads about this and can update with some information about the cause.

My off-side LED sidelights failed so, as I was at the dealers for DB11 launch, mentioned the fail to my friendly service rep. There was most definitely a sharp intake of breath just like a dodgy plumber ... "Ah, I know that can be a little expensive ...", he said, "... around £1500 for an upgrade kit that replaces the original items (note plural) with a set of the black-rimmed type as found on the V8/12S". Mmmmm, sharp intake of breath on my part but went away thinking: upgrade, two headlights, could possibly convince myself that it's not too bad ... Yeah, right.

The formal quote came through the next morning. A few quid short of £2,000 that included fitting of ... ONE headlight unit! Step-in my mate Google and PistonHeads fora.

Here's the short of it. If you don't want to get ripped off by Aston (even the Works guys winced when I mentioned it during discussion) contact IER in Letchworth (grandly named) Garden City. I'll not give all the details here as that would be advertising but Google will be your mate as it was mine. Speak to Matt, tell him I told you first (I may need to go back for the other side!) and take your light unit to them. I didn't trust mine to the mail.

You'll need to remove the headlight yourself of course but that isn't too much of a task. Here's the potted version:

You need to take the under body (wheel arch) liner out after jacking up the car and removing the road wheel. That's quite straightforward to do though be aware that the liner extends to below the door pillar and forward to the front bumper/splitter (dependent on model) and under body tray. I keep my car clean underneath and there wasn't any crud in the way - it could be different if yours hasn't been kept so. You need to twist it a little to ease it out of the wheel arch.

If your car's a V8 then I believe the wheel arch will be a little less crowded than the V12 which has the air intake filters housed in them. The headlight is held in by three fixings that are again quite easy to remove when you get at them. If your car is a V12, then be prepared for a bit of fiddling as you remove the three bolts holding said air filter housing. The bolt heads run from front to rear and are quite difficult to access.

In total, should be less than a couple of hours effort.

My big tip: The front wiring loom runs below the headlight unit and is clipped to said item using three cable ties. Slide these "EdgeClips" off the unit as they aren't two-piece items. They could very expensive to replace - they only come in a 500-piece box and I'm still trying to find a couple for my car. Thinking they were (the usual) two-piece items, I chopped through the cable ties before realising they were injection-moulded items.


The failure problem (I'm told) is caused because manufacturing has gone "green". Lead-based solder is flexible - remove the lead during "greening" and you get a more brittle joint that (guess what) fractures due to vibration. I also had a blown LED and just like christmas-tree-lights and 70's trade unions, it's a matter of one out, all out.

Thank you Aston Martin for some good old design obsolescence, but an even bigger (and truly meant) thanks to the guys at IER.


wafu1983

27 posts

131 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
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Thanks NeilGo, top gen, bookmarked for when mine go...

Ken Figenus

5,678 posts

116 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
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Thanks Neil - sounds like it saves a few bob?

NeilGo

Original Poster:

9 posts

93 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
£350 inc VAT (plus getting it to/from IER). A far less bitter pill to swallow.

Murph7355

37,648 posts

255 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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Good write up.

Don't you just love modern technology. What used to be a £1 bulb replacement is now at least £350 for an LED unit that people say should last the life of the car and be more environmentally friendly to boot.

I hope AM have considered parts replacement strategy on the new cars.

steveatesh

4,893 posts

163 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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Murph7355 said:
Good write up.

Don't you just love modern technology. What used to be a £1 bulb replacement is now at least £350 for an LED unit that people say should last the life of the car and be more environmentally friendly to boot.

I hope AM have considered parts replacement strategy on the new cars.
Plus one, I have said and time again on the forum that quality is a strategic issue, not just an optional extra, and cost of running a car is still relevant. Designing and producing such a consumable in such an expensive way is ridiculous.

Like you I hope they give this some attention with the new model, but really the inner workings of the headlight should have been reviewed years ago.

steveatesh

4,893 posts

163 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
quotequote all
NeilGo said:
£350 inc VAT (plus getting it to/from IER). A far less bitter pill to swallow.
Great info thanks - do you shed them the full H/L unit or do you have to split it and just send them the board?

Jon39

12,782 posts

142 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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Murph7355 said:
Don't you just love modern technology.
What used to be a £1 bulb replacement is now at least £350 for an LED unit ...

I hope AM have considered parts replacement strategy on the new cars.


With profitability being so difficult for AML, do you think they have adopted the Gillette business model?
Give away the product at a loss, then overcharge for the consumables.





Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 30th June 10:12

NeilGo

Original Poster:

9 posts

93 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
quotequote all
steveatesh said:
Great info thanks - do you shed them the full H/L unit or do you have to split it and just send them the board?
Take the complete unit along and they'll do all the work for you. smile

NeilGo

Original Poster:

9 posts

93 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
quotequote all
NeilGo said:
Take the complete unit along and they'll do all the work for you. smile
Should have added, all of the failed components will be replaced as part of the price. smilesmile

steveatesh

4,893 posts

163 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
quotequote all
NeilGo said:
Should have added, all of the failed components will be replaced as part of the price. smilesmile
Cheers Neil beer

J12MOC

802 posts

143 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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Great info Neil...thanks. Should this be added to the FAQ thread?

Neil1300r

5,487 posts

177 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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J12MOC said:
Great info Neil...thanks. Should this be added to the FAQ thread?
yes

Can. They repair the rears as well?

NeilGo

Original Poster:

9 posts

93 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
quotequote all
Neil1300r said:
yes

Can. They repair the rears as well?
They haven't done one yet but I'd suggest giving them a call. As with all these things, the biggest problem will be getting the thing apart to access the electronics.

I'm assuming you've had one fail? What's gone wrong?

Neil1300r

5,487 posts

177 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
NeilGo said:
Neil1300r said:
yes

Can. They repair the rears as well?
They haven't done one yet but I'd suggest giving them a call. As with all these things, the biggest problem will be getting the thing apart to access the electronics.

I'm assuming you've had one fail? What's gone wrong?
Was just looking for information to put in the FAQ's. Anecdotally mmore rear lights fail than front, usually due to water ingress


NeilGo

Original Poster:

9 posts

93 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Neil1300r said:
Was just looking for information to put in the FAQ's. Anecdotally mmore rear lights fail than front, usually due to water ingress
Ah, OK. Good job I don't use mine in the rain much then! smile. Dare I ask how much a replacement is?

I've pinged the guys at IER and I think they'll be up for it.

Moonhawk

10,730 posts

218 months

Sunday 3rd July 2016
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I have a spare set of headlights that have the "side light issue" as I bit the bullet and had mine replaced.

I may send them to get them fixed so I have a spare set in case the inevitable happens.

This issue appears to be far more common than Aston Martin (or their dealerships) will admit. The dealer I bought mine from said he'd never heard of this issue before my case......scratchchin

Murph7355

37,648 posts

255 months

Monday 4th July 2016
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Jon39 said:

With profitability being so difficult for AML, do you think they have adopted the Gillette business model?
Give away the product at a loss, then overcharge for the consumables.
Am not convinced it was a conscious decision. Just lack of thought.

They're not the only ones to do this of course. I suspect focus has been elsewhere and this got overlooked. Perhaps they even thought the units would actually last forever...

It'd be nice if manufacturers acknowledged poor design and replaced parts well beyond warranty expiry. Will never happen though smile

steveatesh

4,893 posts

163 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
Murph7355 said:
Am not convinced it was a conscious decision. Just lack of thought.

They're not the only ones to do this of course. I suspect focus has been elsewhere and this got overlooked. Perhaps they even thought the units would actually last forever...

It'd be nice if manufacturers acknowledged poor design and replaced parts well beyond warranty expiry. Will never happen though smile
It may well have been lack of thought with the first models but I'm sure if they were taking notice of warranty claims and parts supplies they would quickly see there was something wrong with either design or manufacturer and take it up with the supplier to modify/ improve quality. Or maybe they don't work to continuous quality improvement?

Personally I think it's disgraceful that AM have allowed this to continue. Totally unacceptable in my opinion.

Edin430

940 posts

203 months

Friday 8th July 2016
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Surely it depends what has failed? PCB is a different kettle of fish to the LED strip failing. I've had both and replaced both myself with the help of the local dealer and spare parts from astonbits. PCB is a lot more complex than a strip failure which could be fixed on your own with no real specialist help tbh.