Side strakes chrome bubbling, can it be fixed under warranty

Side strakes chrome bubbling, can it be fixed under warranty

Author
Discussion

kazino

Original Poster:

1,580 posts

217 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Two issues I found on the car that I am buying from AM official dealer. The dealer said he will not fix these as "The very slight lifting of the coating in the offside headlight and the ‘bubbling’ on the offside side strake are commensurate with the cars age and will not form part of our preparation."

I'm surprised they are refusing to fix these two issues, should I take it up further with them?


robgt

2,585 posts

161 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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I think that I would be looking to buy a car elsewhere! If you accept your proposed purchase your eyes will be forever drawn to the problem.

kazino

Original Poster:

1,580 posts

217 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Jon1967x

7,175 posts

123 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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How old is the car? I think a better attitude for an old car should be as part of a negotiation.

The side strakes are a few hundred quid for a pair (ebay has carbon ones for £250-£500). A replacement head light is £500 for a used one (astonmartinbits). Add a bit of labour and you're into 4 figures.

What goes around comes around to an extent, if you went in with those two defects at part ex time and the dealer said he was chipping a grand off the part ex price to cover parts and labour to put right how would you feel?

If you're not happy then don't buy it although it is annoying if you find the otherwise ideal car.



V12Vanquish

477 posts

138 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Vote with your feet and go elsewhere, cars aren't exactly scarce...........

Neil1300r

5,487 posts

177 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Unlikely to be covered by AM warranty.

Walk away find another car if that's the dealers attitude. If you can see those faults what others are they not telling you about.

IanV12VR

2,749 posts

154 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Neil1300r said:
Unlikely to be covered by AM warranty.

Walk away find another car if that's the dealers attitude. If you can see those faults what others are they not telling you about.
Agree - lots of other cars available and if the dealer wants the sale he will come to an agreement with you and get it sorted. As V12Vanquish said I bet they knocked down the PX by something similar so looking to have it both ways.

lime1

365 posts

168 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Neil1300r said:
Unlikely to be covered by AM warranty.
Depends on the age of the car. I had exactly the same problem with the chrome side strakes on my 2010 V8V. Had both replaced under warranty without any quibbles. One side done when car was just over a year old and the other side at 2 years.

Little Donkey

1,544 posts

140 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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The side strakes are fundamental design cues. I can't see how any AM dealer could show such disrespect for the brand. I'd walk away - no question.

Bouldermobile

66 posts

131 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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I would walk away unless the deal is good enough to cover the cost of the repairs post purchase. I have experienced a number of similar issues, including this one, and have been told that none of them are covered by the extended warranty, which whilst not reducing my enjoyment of the car has tarnished my opinion of both the brand and the dealer concerned.

Incidentally, has anybody replaced the chrome strakes and seen the problem re-occur? I can't decide whether to replace them with new AM parts or have the original ones re-chromed (working on the theory that the original parts quality will not have improved over time). Any thoughts welcome.

DB531

87 posts

146 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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I had a similar situation when viewing a DB9, the dealer immediately agreed to replace the strakes. His comment was basically the strakes are a signature feature of the car and I the buyer would always find the corrosion annoying. In retrospect he was right.

Something to look for around the strakes on the vehicle that you are looking at is to check to see if there has been any cosmetic paint work carried out to the front wings. If this is the case the dealer may/will be reluctant to remove the strakes especially if the work was carried out with them in place and just masked off.

The corrosion on the strakes is reminiscent of the same problem one would see on the 1960/70 chromed lightweight/cheap zinc based alloy castings (muckite /mazak)of cars and white goods of that era.
With regard to re chroming existing units, I really can’t see the point as the base metal is poor and is already braking down.

Possible solutions, replace with new and keep well waxed (works for me) or buy new and have then properly plated with copper and nickel prior to the chrome or take out a mortgage and have some stainless steel ones made up. Weapons grade of course smile


Edited by DB531 on Wednesday 23 April 13:08


Edited by DB531 on Wednesday 23 April 13:11

avinalarf

6,438 posts

141 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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kazino said:
Two issues I found on the car that I am buying from AM official dealer. The dealer said he will not fix these as "The very slight lifting of the coating in the offside headlight and the ‘bubbling’ on the offside side strake are commensurate with the cars age and will not form part of our preparation."

I'm surprised they are refusing to fix these two issues, should I take it up further with them?

I might be inclined to say to the dealer.....
"Your attitude is commensurate with pissing me off and will not form part of my purchase." smile
On a more helpful note,the dealer I purchased my car from re sprayed some bubbling around the passenger door keyhole, and a few other bits to bring it up to scratch.
Quite frankly there is always another car and I would not be happy buying that car from that dealer,starts you off on the wrong foot.
Buying an Aston from a main dealer should be a very happy experience,too much agg and I would leave it.


Edited by avinalarf on Wednesday 23 April 14:19

kazino

Original Poster:

1,580 posts

217 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Noted, I shall go back and push the dealer for repair, else I will ask for my deposit back and move on.

smartmove

156 posts

211 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Had exactly the same issue with 1 of my strakes at year 3 and they replaced it under warranty. I do have the dreaded paint peel on one of the wing mirror supports now and unfortunately Aston have refused to sort that under the cars extended warranty (now over 3 years old) so a little unhappy about that frown

lime1

365 posts

168 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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DB531 said:
Possible solutions, replace with new and keep well waxed (works for me) or buy new and have then properly plated with copper and nickel prior to the chrome or take out a mortgage and have some stainless steel ones made up. Weapons grade of course smile
Could switch for carbon fibre side strakes depending on colour of car etc. Would probably then need to make some other cosmetic changes to go with it but at least they won't bubble

MichaelV8V

650 posts

260 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Mine bubbled quite badly at 2 years old, they were replaced under warranty.

So ... yours are corroded commensurate with age, the damn things should last at least 10 years, things don't have to corrode nowadays.

kazino

Original Poster:

1,580 posts

217 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for all your input. Dealer refused to fix it, but don't want it to be a deal breaker as the rest of the car is in tip top and the clutch has been replaced and service carried out in January. As well as the car being 1 owner and having 18k miles. Although it has no heated seats which the dealer assured me it had, but in the end said it does not have.

For the side blades, would it be a good solution to have them stripped and resprayed once they get worse?

smartmove

156 posts

211 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Not sure what the cost of a strip and re-coat would be. I do often notice the chrome ones coming up on ebay quite often (probably due to people changing them to the CF equivalent) so may be worth just keeping an eye on there. It's not overly difficult to replace them yourself.

kazino

Original Poster:

1,580 posts

217 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
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Thanks, will keep my eyes peeled (pun intended)

krisdelta

4,566 posts

200 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
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Aston Martin Bits seem to sell them too, £70 second hand and £120 new per side. I am considering some CF ones - they do look tasty!