2014 Vantage S loses battle with hail stones...
Discussion
Good evening,
Not the first post I was hoping for unfortunately...
We just returned home tonight at circa 8pm and as we were parking up we noticed hail stones around our driveway, circa 1cm in diameter (with quite a lot of flooding en route home). We had been made aware that there had been bad storms in the area a few hours earlier... I dread to think what size those hail stones were before they had a couple hours to melt down....
Immediately, I rushed over to our Vantage S which is parked behind the house on another drive and, sure enough, quickly found a dent. And then another, and then some more. In total, the car is peppered with about 20-25 small dents, affecting the following panels: bonnet, roof, passenger C frame, top of drivers door, top of drivers rear wing. Further minor imperfections which definitely weren't on the car beforehand are visible elsewhere, but are minor enough to pass off as 'orange peel effect' to the untrained eye. Still painful to witness as every panel on the car was glass smooth up until now.
Our insurance excess is set sky high and being an 'Act of God' there is no way the insurance company will sort without it going down as a fault claim, paying the excess, losing NCB etc etc. And then there is the inevitable saga of convincing them to use a AM approved body shop, maybe even having to pay the difference in labour rate.
We're struggling to come to terms with what has happened and I'm absolutely mortified. One way or another it's going to cost stupid amounts to put right, and the implications of leaving it will be financially crippling when we try to sell the car... the buyers of a £75k car don't just look over a car vaguely (trade or private). Not that we could live seeing it like that in the meantime... so that's not an option.
My question to the community is... Can the aforementioned panels be worked on by a 'paintless dent repair' type of operator? I know the roof, doors and possibly even bonnet aren't made of steel on these cars... Can PDR's be carried out on these panels?
And if so, please can I reach out to you for recommendations of someone who can be trusted and knows these cars well? If we're to get this done outside of insurance, I only want the most experienced person in the game... The last thing I want to do is make the situation even worse. Would be happy to travel anywhere to get it sorted properly.
If these panels can't be repaired, how much are we looking at to get all the panels fixed and the whole car resprayed? I'm guessing 5 figures?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice, and promise that any future threads I start will be more cheery.
Disgruntled owner
Not the first post I was hoping for unfortunately...
We just returned home tonight at circa 8pm and as we were parking up we noticed hail stones around our driveway, circa 1cm in diameter (with quite a lot of flooding en route home). We had been made aware that there had been bad storms in the area a few hours earlier... I dread to think what size those hail stones were before they had a couple hours to melt down....
Immediately, I rushed over to our Vantage S which is parked behind the house on another drive and, sure enough, quickly found a dent. And then another, and then some more. In total, the car is peppered with about 20-25 small dents, affecting the following panels: bonnet, roof, passenger C frame, top of drivers door, top of drivers rear wing. Further minor imperfections which definitely weren't on the car beforehand are visible elsewhere, but are minor enough to pass off as 'orange peel effect' to the untrained eye. Still painful to witness as every panel on the car was glass smooth up until now.
Our insurance excess is set sky high and being an 'Act of God' there is no way the insurance company will sort without it going down as a fault claim, paying the excess, losing NCB etc etc. And then there is the inevitable saga of convincing them to use a AM approved body shop, maybe even having to pay the difference in labour rate.
We're struggling to come to terms with what has happened and I'm absolutely mortified. One way or another it's going to cost stupid amounts to put right, and the implications of leaving it will be financially crippling when we try to sell the car... the buyers of a £75k car don't just look over a car vaguely (trade or private). Not that we could live seeing it like that in the meantime... so that's not an option.
My question to the community is... Can the aforementioned panels be worked on by a 'paintless dent repair' type of operator? I know the roof, doors and possibly even bonnet aren't made of steel on these cars... Can PDR's be carried out on these panels?
And if so, please can I reach out to you for recommendations of someone who can be trusted and knows these cars well? If we're to get this done outside of insurance, I only want the most experienced person in the game... The last thing I want to do is make the situation even worse. Would be happy to travel anywhere to get it sorted properly.
If these panels can't be repaired, how much are we looking at to get all the panels fixed and the whole car resprayed? I'm guessing 5 figures?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice, and promise that any future threads I start will be more cheery.
Disgruntled owner
Edited by Maras Tontin on Wednesday 20th July 22:02
I think I may be able to help. Google Burbage Hail Storm 28th June 2012. I had a Peugeot dealership client bang in the middle with about 100 cars obliterated. All were repaired by a specialist, most without needing any paintwork. I'm on holiday ATM and not back until the 1st August but if you are happy to wait I will look up who did the work on my return. PM me. Hopefully these guys can sort you out 
AMDBSVNick said:
I think I may be able to help. Google Burbage Hail Storm 28th June 2012. I had a Peugeot dealership client bang in the middle with about 100 cars obliterated. All were repaired by a specialist, most without needing any paintwork. I'm on holiday ATM and not back until the 1st August but if you are happy to wait I will look up who did the work on my return. PM me. Hopefully these guys can sort you out
Evening Nick, thanks so much for your post... puts my mind ever so slightly at rest! I guess my concern is that these aren't conventional metal panels so maybe not straightforward to 'pull' out.Nevertheless, please expect a PM from me at the beginning of August and enjoy your vacation!
What area of the country are you in? I can highly recommend a man called mark White of mw dent repairs. He specialises in hail damage and often spends part of the year in Europe where this type of damage is more common. You could simply text him some photos and he will give you an honest opinion of what is possible - 07989 553064
I am in Hampshire and use a chap called Jim Collins. He charges £50 per panel irrespective of the number of 'dints'. www.cardents.co.uk 07843 063 279
As mim has suggested above these guys are specialists so I would try the guy he has posted up. The incident in Burbage affected 1000's of cars and a team arrived from Italy to help with the workload.
As an aside many years ago a gazebo fell on my DBS damaging the rear wing on the shoulder and I never thought it would be reparable. 15 mins in the hands of an expert and all sorted.
I'm sure you will be fine.
Off to the beach now
As an aside many years ago a gazebo fell on my DBS damaging the rear wing on the shoulder and I never thought it would be reparable. 15 mins in the hands of an expert and all sorted.
I'm sure you will be fine.
Off to the beach now
Just had a chance to take a proper look at the car in the daylight... its quite a bit worse than I had thought. There are probably a total of about 35 pronounced dents (shallow, small, completely paintless, but evident nevertheless). These would be easily pointed out to anyone, regardless of car knowledge.
What wasn't as obvious last night is how almost every horizontal surface now has a rippled / dimpled appearance under close inspection. Its the sort of thing that would be hard to point out to someone who isn't meticulous about paint finish, as it looks quite continuous. But for me, knowing those panels were like glass beforehand, its terrifying to look at.
Hard to explain... and can't get any of it to really show up on camera unfortunately.
Spoke with my insurance company just as a precautionary measure and I could literally hear the other advisors in the background discussing hail, so sounds like I'm not alone.
Perhaps I should try get the work done in Italy - if its common out there maybe they'll have better knowledge and experience.
What wasn't as obvious last night is how almost every horizontal surface now has a rippled / dimpled appearance under close inspection. Its the sort of thing that would be hard to point out to someone who isn't meticulous about paint finish, as it looks quite continuous. But for me, knowing those panels were like glass beforehand, its terrifying to look at.
Hard to explain... and can't get any of it to really show up on camera unfortunately.
Spoke with my insurance company just as a precautionary measure and I could literally hear the other advisors in the background discussing hail, so sounds like I'm not alone.
cayman-black said:
Yes as Nick says these can be repaired without any paint work.
I have a body shop here in Italy that does this as these hailstones are common here.
Thanks CB. Would you mind PM'ing me the details of the bodyshop you have mentioned? ... as luck would have it, I'm off tomorrow for a 3 week tour around the Alps + Italy... its one of the reasons the Aston had been parked outside, as I was cleaning and preparing it for departure tomorrow. I still intend to take it, but my heart is going to sink every time I walk up to the car now I have a body shop here in Italy that does this as these hailstones are common here.
Perhaps I should try get the work done in Italy - if its common out there maybe they'll have better knowledge and experience.
I've yet to use it on anything other than steel car panels, but "paintless dent removal" by a skilled practitioner is amazing.
I had a car back into my Mini Cooper Countryman and put a dent about 4" wide by 8" long by 1" deep into the rear hatch. I was quoted $2,300 for repair and paint by a traditional body shop. a PDR specialist did the job for $400 and paint wasn't needed.
I had a car back into my Mini Cooper Countryman and put a dent about 4" wide by 8" long by 1" deep into the rear hatch. I was quoted $2,300 for repair and paint by a traditional body shop. a PDR specialist did the job for $400 and paint wasn't needed.
After being sent round the houses and generally messed about by several un-interested PDR outfits, I have found a local operator who seems really enthusiastic to help and clearly knows their stuff. Its going to take 2 full days of work and should be 99% defect-free once finished. I'll report back in a few weeks once this is completed. I am obviously so relieved to hear that there is hope! 
As an aside, whilst looking round the car the PDR chap noticed a few things on the car (primarily on the nearside) which don't quite stack up and have now got me paranoid that the car might have more 'history' than I was hoping for. I wanted to disclose these here in case anyone can offer any thoughts / cross-check with their own car.
To set the scene, I should start by saying this car was bought approved used from an AM main dealer not long ago. It is 2 years old. It is my first ever AM, and my first time dealing with this dealer (although have heard very good things previously)... apologies that the car is so dirty in the pictures, it is yet to be washed after our 3 week trip around Italy.
1) There are remnants of masking tape on the nearside chassis bar... any logical explanation for this?
2) There are overspray marks on the chassis where the bonnet gas struts are mounted. This is on both sides though, so assuming this is normal? Also, clear signs that the engine bay brace bar has been removed a few times - are there any normal maintenance jobs which require the brace to be removed? In the first 6,000 miles of a car's life to be precise?
3) On the offside front wing inner seam there once was a sticker, which has mostly come off. Out of curiosity, what would this sticker have been? And is it usual for this to peel away after just 2 years?
4) Signs that the headlights have needed adjustment - surprising on a car that has not gone through an MOT yet. Unless this is part of their PDI process on used cars... which seems very very OTT?
5) The front of the wings, front bumper and CF splitter all have PPF applied (you can see the seam on the wings where the film ends, just above the headlights). When I bought the car, I was told that AM are funny about part-PPF application on bonnets, as the seam can stand out and look unappealing on photos, hence why the bonnet has no PPF whatsoever... has anyone every heard this before?
6) When I bought the car, I spotted some bubbling / paint defect on the passenger door, just under the mirror assembly. I was promised that this can be rectified at any point under warranty. A quick google showed that others have had similar defects on just as young cars, so I didn't think any more of it. Photo showing the defect here:
7) It now looks like the door may have been painted at some point. Perhaps this is the more likely reason why there is a paint defect? I would find it unlikely that AM would have signed off a brand new car 2 years ago with a) bubbles and b) masking tape marks?
8) Finally, the alignment between the C-frame (windscreen pillar) and wing panel is not consistent on both sides of the car. On the nearside, it seems like these panels are much tighter together and also that the edges do not line up perfectly... is this normal on a 'hand built' AM? Or a sign that the car has had panel work?
... I'd be interested to hear your thoughts and would appreciate any advice. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid and everything is in order?
I know the blunt answer is simply "if you can't afford to buy new, don't complain!"... sure, it is perfectly legal to repair cars and that the vast majority of cars out there have had work on them at some point, but... 1) is there actually anything above that screams 'accident damage' and 2) if so, does the repair seem adequate enough for an AM main dealer to retail this car?
Thank you in advance!
As an aside, whilst looking round the car the PDR chap noticed a few things on the car (primarily on the nearside) which don't quite stack up and have now got me paranoid that the car might have more 'history' than I was hoping for. I wanted to disclose these here in case anyone can offer any thoughts / cross-check with their own car.
To set the scene, I should start by saying this car was bought approved used from an AM main dealer not long ago. It is 2 years old. It is my first ever AM, and my first time dealing with this dealer (although have heard very good things previously)... apologies that the car is so dirty in the pictures, it is yet to be washed after our 3 week trip around Italy.
1) There are remnants of masking tape on the nearside chassis bar... any logical explanation for this?
2) There are overspray marks on the chassis where the bonnet gas struts are mounted. This is on both sides though, so assuming this is normal? Also, clear signs that the engine bay brace bar has been removed a few times - are there any normal maintenance jobs which require the brace to be removed? In the first 6,000 miles of a car's life to be precise?
3) On the offside front wing inner seam there once was a sticker, which has mostly come off. Out of curiosity, what would this sticker have been? And is it usual for this to peel away after just 2 years?
4) Signs that the headlights have needed adjustment - surprising on a car that has not gone through an MOT yet. Unless this is part of their PDI process on used cars... which seems very very OTT?
5) The front of the wings, front bumper and CF splitter all have PPF applied (you can see the seam on the wings where the film ends, just above the headlights). When I bought the car, I was told that AM are funny about part-PPF application on bonnets, as the seam can stand out and look unappealing on photos, hence why the bonnet has no PPF whatsoever... has anyone every heard this before?
6) When I bought the car, I spotted some bubbling / paint defect on the passenger door, just under the mirror assembly. I was promised that this can be rectified at any point under warranty. A quick google showed that others have had similar defects on just as young cars, so I didn't think any more of it. Photo showing the defect here:
7) It now looks like the door may have been painted at some point. Perhaps this is the more likely reason why there is a paint defect? I would find it unlikely that AM would have signed off a brand new car 2 years ago with a) bubbles and b) masking tape marks?
8) Finally, the alignment between the C-frame (windscreen pillar) and wing panel is not consistent on both sides of the car. On the nearside, it seems like these panels are much tighter together and also that the edges do not line up perfectly... is this normal on a 'hand built' AM? Or a sign that the car has had panel work?
... I'd be interested to hear your thoughts and would appreciate any advice. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid and everything is in order?
I know the blunt answer is simply "if you can't afford to buy new, don't complain!"... sure, it is perfectly legal to repair cars and that the vast majority of cars out there have had work on them at some point, but... 1) is there actually anything above that screams 'accident damage' and 2) if so, does the repair seem adequate enough for an AM main dealer to retail this car?
Thank you in advance!
Sounds like it has been painted but that's not bad.
A couple of mine have had paint and no accident damage. It's usually due to road rash, stone chips and generally prep by the dealer.
The excuse for PPF missing from the bonnet is simply b
ks. It's been removed because the bonnet needed paint.
Strut braces could have been removed for mechanical work. On my V12's you have to remove them and the intake manifolds just to change the plugs.
A couple of mine have had paint and no accident damage. It's usually due to road rash, stone chips and generally prep by the dealer.
The excuse for PPF missing from the bonnet is simply b
ks. It's been removed because the bonnet needed paint. Strut braces could have been removed for mechanical work. On my V12's you have to remove them and the intake manifolds just to change the plugs.
Interesting set of "issues" there, the car is only 2 years old, have you got the last 2 service reports? if they are just a 10K & 20K service I can't think of anything which needs to be done which needs the cross member to be removed, very strange the bolts look as if they have been removed.
There are alot of possible reasons for the panel gaps, masking tape etc, I think the previous owner could of had a light bump, and took it somewhere for bodyshop repairs, probably not told his insurance company so not recorded as a CAT A etc, so basically nobody knows.
Possible other reason is the AM dealership did this, maybe the previous owner wasn't very careful and they did a rush job to get the car upto "showroom standard".
I understand this can be quite concerning considering the money you've spent on it to purchase the car. How long ago did you purchase it from the AM dealership? Go back to the AM dealership, have a word with service manager about what you've found if they are really good they should take the car back to look at the panel gaps and sort out any paintwork bubbles/defects.
Then go to have your repairs done at the paintshop you've found, afterwards decide if you are happy with the car, if your still not happy about the cars history you could swap it for another one and next time you'll be better informed before purchase.
Most cars on the road have a history the current owners don't know about, normally an light scuff whilst parking etc, happens alot, I think my DB9 rear bumper has had a respray sometime in it's life, I found a paint line under the rear lights when I changed them for clear units a few months ago, panel gaps are spot on.
There are alot of possible reasons for the panel gaps, masking tape etc, I think the previous owner could of had a light bump, and took it somewhere for bodyshop repairs, probably not told his insurance company so not recorded as a CAT A etc, so basically nobody knows.
Possible other reason is the AM dealership did this, maybe the previous owner wasn't very careful and they did a rush job to get the car upto "showroom standard".
I understand this can be quite concerning considering the money you've spent on it to purchase the car. How long ago did you purchase it from the AM dealership? Go back to the AM dealership, have a word with service manager about what you've found if they are really good they should take the car back to look at the panel gaps and sort out any paintwork bubbles/defects.
Then go to have your repairs done at the paintshop you've found, afterwards decide if you are happy with the car, if your still not happy about the cars history you could swap it for another one and next time you'll be better informed before purchase.
Most cars on the road have a history the current owners don't know about, normally an light scuff whilst parking etc, happens alot, I think my DB9 rear bumper has had a respray sometime in it's life, I found a paint line under the rear lights when I changed them for clear units a few months ago, panel gaps are spot on.
Edited by paulrog1 on Tuesday 30th August 08:16
As mentioned above having panels repainted is a relatively common event (and that could well explain the PPF absence on the bonnet). For example I had to have my bonnet redone on my old DB9 thanks to someone scratching it and putting a light dent in the front with their pushbike in a car park.
So I wouldn't worry too much about that. Not sure about the engine brace though
So I wouldn't worry too much about that. Not sure about the engine brace though
Many thanks for all your thoughts - much appreciated.
At this stage, the things which are concerning me are the masking tape on the NS chassis arm (even the smallest hands wouldn't be able to wrap this round the back of the chassis arm with the wing in situ) and the panel alignment being off on the NS.
It would be good to find out if the overspray around the gas strut mounts is normal... perhaps someone could take a few moments to admire their engine bay and report back?
Thanks once again!
At this stage, the things which are concerning me are the masking tape on the NS chassis arm (even the smallest hands wouldn't be able to wrap this round the back of the chassis arm with the wing in situ) and the panel alignment being off on the NS.
It would be good to find out if the overspray around the gas strut mounts is normal... perhaps someone could take a few moments to admire their engine bay and report back?
Thanks once again!
I agree the PPF missing is absolute nonsense and would have raised a warning flag with me. So that car definitely had a repainted bonnet at least but as has been pointed out there are any number of reasons for that.
Panel gap alignment is not always that great from the factory so I would not read too much into that.
Panel gap alignment is not always that great from the factory so I would not read too much into that.
Maras Tontin said:
Does anyone know (definitively) what the following panels are made of:
- Roof. Aluminium
- Boot Lid. Composite (Resin Transfer Moulding)
- Rear Wings + C Pillars. Steel
- Front Wings. Composite
- Bonnet Aluminium
I have been asked to source this info by the PDR operator as it will determine which methods he can / can't use.
Thanks!
Information from The Definitive Guide to Aston Martin - Roof. Aluminium
- Boot Lid. Composite (Resin Transfer Moulding)
- Rear Wings + C Pillars. Steel
- Front Wings. Composite
- Bonnet Aluminium
I have been asked to source this info by the PDR operator as it will determine which methods he can / can't use.
Thanks!
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