Replacing headlight unit, easy job ?

[steveatesh]

My V8 failed it's MOT today with the drivers side front LED strip light not working
( don't know how I didn't notice before I took it! )

Anyway, as we all know the Aston front side light is one of the most expensive in the world, came in at over £1400 parts and labour.

So before I get it done I'm going to consider changing it myself with a used headlight unit, assuming I can source one of course.

So, is replacement an easy job or any special equipment needed?

It's a MY 2010, registered late 2009, HiD headlights and washer fitted during manufacture.

[steveatesh]

I'm trying to think of it as "progress". Engineers design a good idea, a sidelight, that consists of a single bulb which costs 50p to change. It works well for around 100 years when new engineers come along and decide to improve it by a strip of LED bulbs worked by a hidden PCB, and install it all in an expensive full headlight until that the end user can't touch. For that privilege it costs around £1400 to change said lightbulb. FFS

My first one went under warranty. I think Aston have a nice little earner here!

[steveatesh]

divetheworld said:

Removal
1. Disconnect vehicle battery.
2. Raise vehicle on ramp.
3. Remove LH/RH road wheel.
4. Remove intake air filter box
5. Disconnect headlamp multiplug.
6. Remove bolts (x3) from headlamp to bracket.
7. Disconnect headlamp washer supply hose.
8. Remove headlamp unit.

Installation
1. Connect multiplug and washer hose.
2. Position headlamp unit.
3. Install 3 Bolts from headlamp to bracket.
4. Install intake air filter box.
5. Install road wheel.
6. Lower vehicle on ramp.
7. Connect vehicle battery
8. Check headlamp alignment.


Headlamp Alignment-Adjust
1. Top up all fluids to correct level.
2. Ensure fuel tank is ‘FULL’.
3. Position 37.5 kg in each seat.
4. Remove the access panel from wheel arch liner.
5. Position beam setting equipment to vehicle.
6. Switch ignition to position 2 and back to 0 (to set headlights).
7. Check headlamp alignment.
8. Switch ignition to position 2 and back to 0 (to set headlights).
9. Check headlamp alignment.
10. Adjust headlights
11. Check headlamp alignment.
12. Remove beam setting equipment from vehicle.
13. Install the access panel to wheel arch liner.
14. Remove the 37.5 kg weights.

Well thats comprehensive, thanks very much, much better than the usual Haynes stuff "remove engine, refitting is a reversal of removal"

Hmm, I'm thinking thats beyond a screwdriver and spanner, cheque book taking a hit I think

Cheers though.

[steveatesh]

Moonhawk said:

If I do have the lights replaced - would they come with any kind of guarantee (outside of warranty). If I bought a £3000 TV - I would expect it to last more than a couple of years. Why should it be any different just because these electronic parts are fitted to a car?

It shouldn't really, I suppose the motor trade get away with a lot like that, sales of goods act etc, and the difficulty in demonstrating the article is unsatisfactory.

I'm having mine replaced next week, so five years of ownership, second occasion (1st under warranty) making factoring in to ownership costs just under £300 per year for a sidelight .

WTF were Aston thinking of when they signed off that design.

I'd like to think their quality control has influenced a change in the manufacture of the headlight, but like I said they'll make a few bob off these units and to hell with their reputation eh?

[steveatesh]

mikey k said:

Good luck with that
My 18 month old Samsumg 50" telly has recently developed 8/9 vertical bands of dead pixels.
Replacement panel is 3/4 of what I paid for it new and there is no "goodwill"
Any one want a cheap telly

really there shouldn't need to be goodwill with that, it would fit under the Sales of Goods act, 6 years is the cut off.
Most of us just let it go though cos its easier to buy a new one. I'm guilty of that myself .

[steveatesh]

Moonhawk said:

Spoke to the dealer I bought the car from this morning.....he says he has never heard of this issue before now.

Yeah I saw him when he starred in that film, Pinnichio I think it was called

[steveatesh]

8Tech said:

Really? I also have an early DB9 and find that the dip beam HID's are very good with only the halogen H9's in the main beam being dismal.

I am installing some 35W HID's at 6000K colour temp shortly in the mains. I have the hardware and now just need the time and inclination to install them.

I will take some pics and do a report if any early car owners are interested? I too am well pleased I dont have £1000.00 sidelight bulbs!!! Just pissed I have £500.00 taillight bulbs.

I am also certain that installing the HID's in the main beam will be legal as the car already has headlamp washers and automatic leveling but I am open to anyone who thinks otherwise to enlighten me. Not that it will stop me installing them, I just would like to know.

I know that in most cases, with cars not having washers or self leveling, the conversion is against construction and use regs, but as yet I am still to hear of anyone being prosecuted for having headlamps that are too good.

Forgive my ignorance but have you swapped out the led lights and replaced them with something else? Is that what you mean? I was wondering if there was an alternative way to provide sidelights by adapting the current units. Probably not but when is as your post I kinda hoped you've found a way?

[steveatesh]

avinalarf said:

Can anyone answer my query if this is a common problem with 2009 DB9's onwards or with the DBS or DB9.2
I ask because I have not read about this being a common problem and usually,if it is,it would have been discussed more on this forum,or maybe I've just missed it.

There have been quite a few occurrences mentioned on here, probably not as many as the paint blisters or clutch, but nevertheless a known issue. I dare say the DB9 will be as susceptible but that's only a guess based in how similar the design is to the vantage light unit? Start saving, lol!

Dare I say you've missed them because you've been spending too much time on the computer and technology forum and you've become distracted by whirring things and flashing lights?

[steveatesh]

avinalarf said:

I fear my IT knowledge is even more abysmal than car mechanics.
I was OK years ago when I had an MGB,things were so much simpler then.

Here you go, trade the Db9 in for one if these, courtesy of Viz , designed for the aging DB9 owner, avoid those little embarrassing moments as you get older! See how good I am to you

[steveatesh]

Or alternatively manufacturers could source or design units which are not susceptible to water ingress, OR, shock horror, stop using them altogether and go back to bulbs that a user can replace for pennies.

I'm unclear how a strip of LED lights adds anything to the car that a bulb doesn't?

But eyes you are right. It will be the last one I buy. Just as a matter of interest, the other manufactures you mention, do owners have to replace a ful headlight unit at around £1400 plus fitted, or can they just replace the part that breaks, eg the led strip, pcb board or whatever?

[steveatesh]

triple5 said:

Steve, I was looking that up this afternoon and it didn't take a lot of googling to find similar issues with Audi. A full replacement unit is required, albeit somewhat cheaper.

Ok thanks for that, must be a collective madness then!

[steveatesh]

BravoV8V said:

Who's to say that these parts are meant to last the 'lifetime' of the vehicle?!?? I'd struggle to believe that any part is designed to last the 'lifetime' of the vehicle (other than the dataplate!)

[i]If[/] you had bought the lights/car direct from AM, then you would have been covered by the bear minimum year's warranty (under European law). In actual fact, you would actually have been covered by the extended Manufacturer's warranty (of 3 years, IIRC).

As it stands, you will be covered by the insured warranty which, we know, is far more discretionary. You may, or may not, get a light unit changed. A lot will probably depend on the individual concerned (or your relationship with said individual).

Warranty is over and above stauatory rights, it's whether the light unit is covered by the Sales of Goods act which is important, and if so is it broken within the 6 year cut off period. The next test is did it last a reasonable time, which is a subjective test based on a variety of factors but price and use are,two of them.

I share the belief that manufacturers get away with it because we, the long suffering public, rarely pursue our stauatory rights and take the seller of said item to court. We just keep being bent over backward and money extracted.

With these light units in my opinion they are badly designed or manufactured because of their failure rate. I've had two replaced in under 5 years. You can't tell me it's beyond the skill of Aston et al to design the problem out, or make the vulnerable parts user replaceable for example? Why does it need a full unit replacement to repair what is in effect a side light?

[steveatesh]

8Tech said:

Am I the only one who thinks that having a circuit like that to replace an earth and a live to each circuit (grand total of 5) is excessive!!!

No wonder the bloody things are getting so unreliable.

Nope you aren't alone. I am astonished that they have introduced such complexity and guaranteed failure into a sidelight. They have replaced a 50p 5 watt bulb with a host of complex circuit and electronics.

WTF they need to go to LED is beyond me, and if they absolutely MUST go to LED surely they can design it so the PCB is external to the unit for easy replacement!

They do that with the HID ballast, why not the PCB?

[steveatesh]

Manwhoneverwas said:

I am actually surprised that when the LED board fails is does not have a knock on effect to something else electronic on the Aston (as usually happens)

Edited by Manwhoneverwas on Friday 28th November 18:05

Shhh, they haven't thought of that yet, when they do and connect together several other circuits into the sidelights, they can screw even more money out of us when the sidelight blows