V12 Vantage side air vents corroded.
Discussion
Pitting on the strakes could be from stone chips. Why would they want recourse to AM instead of the selling dealer? Surely it would just be part of the deal - supply and fit new strakes as part of the purchase price.
The AM anti-corrosion warranty only covers rust from th inside out, not stone chips.
The AM anti-corrosion warranty only covers rust from th inside out, not stone chips.
If the pitting is on the chrome side strakes, then yes, it is quite normal (atleast in my experience) and generally no AM won't help (again from my experience). I believe the pitting is from sub-standard parts used by AM and shouldn't really happen on a brand like AM but it does all too frequently. My experience with this is: car three years and one month old (so just out of warranty) bad pitting, tried AM, not interested, so replaced chrome side strakes at my own cost. Replacement parts lasted eighteen months until the pitting returned, replaced side strakes in November 2014, and the pitting started coming back last week - about four months! Please note that during these four months the car was used for less than five hundred miles and garaged the remainder of the time, whilst waiting for replacement clutch, replacement bonnet cable (it seized), etc., etc......
About to send a set off to be chromed by a chroming specialist to see if their handiwork fares better than the original AM parts (not much in it cost wise).
About to send a set off to be chromed by a chroming specialist to see if their handiwork fares better than the original AM parts (not much in it cost wise).
Bouldermobile said:
....... replaced side strakes in November 2014, and the pitting started coming back last week - about four months! Please note that during these four months the car was used for less than five hundred miles and garaged the remainder of the time, whilst waiting for replacement clutch, replacement bonnet cable (it seized), etc., etc......
If the replaced strakes started pitting after only 4 months why not take them back to supplier for rectification or replacement??? 
I am of course pursueing that course of action but I don't really want to be replacing them so regularly. I assume there is a twelve month warranty on the part so will get them replaced but I will also have some re-chromed to see if they last better.
My point was more that surely they shouldn't fail even after eighteen months or even three years; I have owned much older cars with chrome parts that have lasted so much better, including classic (which were a 'cheaper' brand than AM when new) where the chrome is in better condition after 30+ years.
My point was more that surely they shouldn't fail even after eighteen months or even three years; I have owned much older cars with chrome parts that have lasted so much better, including classic (which were a 'cheaper' brand than AM when new) where the chrome is in better condition after 30+ years.
Sadly chrome plating over the base (zinc based alloy) metal is always going to be probmatical. The pitting is from moisture attacking the base metal. So far I have not had the problem with the main dealer replaced strakes which were fitted three years ago. Original ones were pitted . I do keep side strakes well waxed.
For the best plating job the strakes really needs to be nickel then copper plated and then chromed. That way moisture will not get to the base alloy. It may well be that removing the corrosion on the strakes will render the units unacceptable to the eye. I suppose Brass, gunmetal or stainless steel units could be made and have the model name engraved into the strakes? carbon of course is an option.
For the best plating job the strakes really needs to be nickel then copper plated and then chromed. That way moisture will not get to the base alloy. It may well be that removing the corrosion on the strakes will render the units unacceptable to the eye. I suppose Brass, gunmetal or stainless steel units could be made and have the model name engraved into the strakes? carbon of course is an option.
Colin, thanks for the technical explanation of the problem. One company I spoke to said they had done the AM strakes before without issue so I am going to give them a go. I did consider the CF option but personally I am not convinced they work that well on a Lightning Silver car; if it were black, then I would definitely have gone that route, along with the door handles!
I have seen this on some cars.
Yet strangely my very early build Vantage shows no signs in 18 months' ownership. Even though it's used in all weathers and not always garaged.
Is it possible the early cars were built using higher quality components, at least in this area? I have heard this directly from someone working at Land Rover. The launch cars would be done nicely, and once all the magazines have done their testing the cost cutting starts.
It's rather surprising on such a new car as in the original post.
Yet strangely my very early build Vantage shows no signs in 18 months' ownership. Even though it's used in all weathers and not always garaged.
Is it possible the early cars were built using higher quality components, at least in this area? I have heard this directly from someone working at Land Rover. The launch cars would be done nicely, and once all the magazines have done their testing the cost cutting starts.
It's rather surprising on such a new car as in the original post.
Didn't have pitting but fancied a change and like you not sure about CF. Didn't fancy cost and hassle fitting them without being sure so invested in £10 worth of 3M CF wrap and an hour of my time to see how it looked first. Think it suits Morning Frost and the quality of the end result doesn't seem to make getting the real thing worthwhile.
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PS Thanks to Jockman for loan of chair to work on:
Before:
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PS Thanks to Jockman for loan of chair to work on:
Pentoman said:
Is it possible the early cars were built using higher quality components, at least in this area? I have heard this directly from someone working at Land Rover. The launch cars would be done nicely, and once all the magazines have done their testing the cost cutting starts.
It's rather surprising on such a new car as in the original post.
This is common on boats, the first few have a thicker hull lay up so feel sturdier/stronger.It's rather surprising on such a new car as in the original post.
I had this on one of mine within the warranty period. Definitely a sign of penny pinching by AM.
Such a shame they don't see quality as a strategic issue rather than just something that is optional.
It's little things like this that put me off buying another one, and especially the nearly £1500 pound sidelights.
I really hope the next generation do better with the cost of ownership thing, makes them more attractive used, keep prices up thus reducing depreciation and lead to more car sales. Probably.
Such a shame they don't see quality as a strategic issue rather than just something that is optional.
It's little things like this that put me off buying another one, and especially the nearly £1500 pound sidelights.
I really hope the next generation do better with the cost of ownership thing, makes them more attractive used, keep prices up thus reducing depreciation and lead to more car sales. Probably.
I would certianly echo this sentiment.
Issues such as bubbling chrome, rusty grilles and failing sidelights really detract from the ownership experience; they make you seriously question whether to stick with the brand. IMHO some of the penny pinching is too far - the bonnet cable is really cheap, nasty and worse than those found on some 'budget' brands.
Issues such as bubbling chrome, rusty grilles and failing sidelights really detract from the ownership experience; they make you seriously question whether to stick with the brand. IMHO some of the penny pinching is too far - the bonnet cable is really cheap, nasty and worse than those found on some 'budget' brands.
One of my side strakes corroded about 4 years old, it wasn't so expensive just to buy a new one - £215 here
http://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantag...
http://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantag...
Retman said:
Didn't have pitting but fancied a change and like you not sure about CF. Didn't fancy cost and hassle fitting them without being sure so invested in £10 worth of 3M CF wrap and an hour of my time to see how it looked first. Think it suits Morning Frost and the quality of the end result doesn't seem to make getting the real thing worthwhile.
Before:
After:
PS Thanks to Jockman for loan of chair to work on:
Very good job.Before:
After:
PS Thanks to Jockman for loan of chair to work on:
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