servicing costs v12v or dbs
Discussion
Seriously though Rob, I was informed by both Gaydon and Statstone that a full set is closer to the £20K mark.
Interestingly I saw the new £154K Merc AMG SL blah blah on a stand the other day, with steel brakes as standard.
OK so they had the holes in them to allow the brake dust to escape rather than cover the alloys, but the optional extra Ceramic Brakes were an additional........£9K for the set.
When asked why on earth these were an optional extra on such a car, the sales guy stated it was because they did not work as well as the steel brakes when cold.
I informed him that I had actually heard the exact opposite from AM
Interestingly I saw the new £154K Merc AMG SL blah blah on a stand the other day, with steel brakes as standard.
OK so they had the holes in them to allow the brake dust to escape rather than cover the alloys, but the optional extra Ceramic Brakes were an additional........£9K for the set.
When asked why on earth these were an optional extra on such a car, the sales guy stated it was because they did not work as well as the steel brakes when cold.
I informed him that I had actually heard the exact opposite from AM

Front discs are £2900 each, rear discs £2700. Pads are £750 each. Throw in some new brake fluid and whatever drops off during work and you are looking at £15,000 for a set. Pads will last 20,000 or so miles, discs 100,000 or so. All subject to how hard you drive and so on. By way of contrast - the tyres were quoted as good for 3000 miles, one chap on here has 12000 miles. So it all depends how you drive.
It's the same parts for DBS or V12V.
It's the same parts for DBS or V12V.
1st year service V12V at an old factory near Newport Pagnal is around GBP950 inc VAT.
You also a) get a tour of the facilities and b) some rather nice smints in a personalied little box!
However, my experiance is that the courtesy, service and general well-being of you and your car is streets ahead of that I have experienced with francised dealers.
Bargin!
The ceramics I am told are weighed on the 4 serivice and not sure what period there after that. However, the 4th year service cost relects that extra work (??)
G.
You also a) get a tour of the facilities and b) some rather nice smints in a personalied little box!
However, my experiance is that the courtesy, service and general well-being of you and your car is streets ahead of that I have experienced with francised dealers.
Bargin!
The ceramics I am told are weighed on the 4 serivice and not sure what period there after that. However, the 4th year service cost relects that extra work (??)
G.
Edited by Guycord on Tuesday 14th June 05:13
Steve*B said:
Other than the obvious advantages of CCB's, they are also a godsend at eliminating the production of nearly all brake dust.
Yup, those holes in the carbon ceramic compound are pretty effective at re-routing the carbon dust away from the Alloys.I've even noticed the same holes on the steel discs on other high end marques

I paid £652 including VAT for my V12V 1st service at my main dealer in November. IIRC someone else paid a little less. Given that this is where I bought the car new and it is my nearest Aston dealer I was delighted to not have to shop around. It is also me that has 12000 miles on my first set of tyres despite most people I know thinking that I am an assertive, fast driver. They are not ready to be changed yet either.
Just to put my own spin on CCB.
Recently had a chat with a very pleasant test pilot over in Italy whilst playing silly buggers on a well known test
track,well we got chatting about this and that whilst trying to wear some tyres out and got round to CCB.
I asked his opinion on life expectancy and replacement costs and this is his reply[in not to brilliant English.]
"How old are you,only 7000km a year max,well me think you not worry you die before car want brakes".
Great!......... that's just about put it in prospective for me and nearly put me off my expresso as well.
Recently had a chat with a very pleasant test pilot over in Italy whilst playing silly buggers on a well known test
track,well we got chatting about this and that whilst trying to wear some tyres out and got round to CCB.
I asked his opinion on life expectancy and replacement costs and this is his reply[in not to brilliant English.]
"How old are you,only 7000km a year max,well me think you not worry you die before car want brakes".
Great!......... that's just about put it in prospective for me and nearly put me off my expresso as well.
Jockman said:
Yup, those holes in the carbon ceramic compound are pretty effective at re-routing the carbon dust away from the Alloys.
I've even noticed the same holes on the steel discs on other high end marques
Is that what the purpose of the holes are in the brakes? I always assumed it was just for ventalation.I've even noticed the same holes on the steel discs on other high end marques

Is it the SLS you were on about when you said the £154k SL? The amount of money that can be added speccing those up is unreal, one of the paint options was about £8-9k if I recall correctly.
George H said:
Is that what the purpose of the holes are in the brakes? I always assumed it was just for ventalation.
Is it the SLS you were on about when you said the £154k SL? The amount of money that can be added speccing those up is unreal, one of the paint options was about £8-9k if I recall correctly.
That's the one George - had the delorean type doors.Is it the SLS you were on about when you said the £154k SL? The amount of money that can be added speccing those up is unreal, one of the paint options was about £8-9k if I recall correctly.
I'm sure the CCM holes could offer a bit of ventilation, but their primary purpose would appear to be to almost completely eradicate the brake dust on the Alloys, as Steve pointed out. If you look at a cross section you can clearly see the ceramic surface on a fairly hefty carbon compound backing.
They are phenomenal at braking as the ceramic is a harder surface.
For a more articulate explanation, wait for Mikey K, sMurph, Adam or JohnG (mini-sMurph) to come along

Jockman said:
That's the one George - had the delorean type doors.
I'm sure the CCM holes could offer a bit of ventilation, but their primary purpose would appear to be to almost completely eradicate the brake dust on the Alloys, as Steve pointed out. If you look at a cross section you can clearly see the ceramic surface on a fairly hefty carbon compound backing.
They are phenomenal at braking as the ceramic is a harder surface.
For a more articulate explanation, wait for Mikey K, sMurph, Adam or JohnG (mini-sMurph) to come along
I went to look at one of those a few weeks back, wasn't a big fan of it. Was tiny inside, and when I got out I smacked my head on the door and looked a right tit in front of the dealer I'm sure the CCM holes could offer a bit of ventilation, but their primary purpose would appear to be to almost completely eradicate the brake dust on the Alloys, as Steve pointed out. If you look at a cross section you can clearly see the ceramic surface on a fairly hefty carbon compound backing.
They are phenomenal at braking as the ceramic is a harder surface.
For a more articulate explanation, wait for Mikey K, sMurph, Adam or JohnG (mini-sMurph) to come along


It did sound nice though, not as good as an Aston mind, but not a bad effort.
I would have assumed the holes were for heat dispersion due to a bigger area and harder surface, but I can see dust being a problem from those too. Only thing I dislike about the ceramic brakes is the way they look, nice shiny steel ones look much nicer.
I quite like the look of the pattern George.
The only reason I know about the holes is that the chaps at Gaydon mentioned that from time to time the holes will need a blowing out as they become blocked by the harder drivers. Would cause me to worry if they were for much else as surely the blockages could lead to a safety issue.
I just didn't like the Merc either, though it was in the colour du jour - white on black on white etc
The only reason I know about the holes is that the chaps at Gaydon mentioned that from time to time the holes will need a blowing out as they become blocked by the harder drivers. Would cause me to worry if they were for much else as surely the blockages could lead to a safety issue.
I just didn't like the Merc either, though it was in the colour du jour - white on black on white etc

The one I looked at was black, with a black and white interior. Was plastered with tacky bits of unpainted carbon fibre too. It was incredibly wide and long as well, made the Aston feel small. I do have a soft spot for AMG Mercs, maybe the roadster will be better.
Do the ceramic brakes work any better than the steel equivalents - i.e. stopping distances? I would have thought they would be less suited to a road car, due to the heat required in the first place.
Do the ceramic brakes work any better than the steel equivalents - i.e. stopping distances? I would have thought they would be less suited to a road car, due to the heat required in the first place.
Jockman said:
That's the one George - had the delorean type doors.
I'm sure the CCM holes could offer a bit of ventilation, but their primary purpose would appear to be to almost completely eradicate the brake dust on the Alloys, as Steve pointed out. If you look at a cross section you can clearly see the ceramic surface on a fairly hefty carbon compound backing.
They are phenomenal at braking as the ceramic is a harder surface.
For a more articulate explanation, wait for Mikey K, sMurph, Adam or JohnG (mini-sMurph) to come along
I'm 6'1" and rarely get called mini- anything....I'm sure the CCM holes could offer a bit of ventilation, but their primary purpose would appear to be to almost completely eradicate the brake dust on the Alloys, as Steve pointed out. If you look at a cross section you can clearly see the ceramic surface on a fairly hefty carbon compound backing.
They are phenomenal at braking as the ceramic is a harder surface.
For a more articulate explanation, wait for Mikey K, sMurph, Adam or JohnG (mini-sMurph) to come along

Moving on.... ;-)
You just don't get dust off the discs with CCM brakes. My V8V wheels used to be caked in brake dust after a spirited drive.
I had a 997 C2S with drilled steel discs and the wheels were also caked in brake dust after a spirited drive. So it's not the holes that stop the dust.
The CCM brakes just don't do that, they are tougher. The holes are theoretically for ventilation but I suspect there is an element of cosmetic marketing in this. I suspect that you could get along just fine without the holes in the discs.
JohnG1 said:
I'm 6'1" and rarely get called mini- anything....
So it's not the holes that stop the dust.
Bloomin'eck am I surrounded by giants on this forum ??So it's not the holes that stop the dust.
Letter of complaint on it's way to Gaydon regarding misinformation.
I would still love a set of CCs, though not sure about the price

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