Newbie needs dash refurb.
Discussion
Hi, just acquired my new DB9 on Friday, onyx black with truffle cream interior. It's 4 years old and imacculqte apart the walnut wood centre console needs refurbishing. It looks as if the sun has caused the lacquer to lift at the edges (milky appearance) - the underlying veneer looks ok. I'm looking for some advice on how to remove it, and whether there's a preferred specialist to take it to. Any guidance appreciated. Thanks.
welcome to Aston Martin ownership......pics of your car and the problem would be nice.....I think you have several options.....lots of wood dash bits are on e-bay.....there are several companies that do new inserts which a more modern feel whom you could use......sounds like your car has been left in the sun for an extended period
v8woollie said:
michael gould said:
sounds like your car has been left in the sun for an extended period
Must be an import then 
michael gould said:
sliver....so thin you can see through it....thats why you should put your car in the garage each night ......love a bit of fake wood formica myself Mr Woollie
As you know Mr G, I deal in tonnes of veneer, chipboard, mdf etc, but I've never seen it so thin that this could happen. Our normal thickness of veneer is 0.6mmm which reduces to 0.5mm after sanding. ......love a bit of fake wood formica myself Mr WoollieIf AM are buying in thinner than that then they are bloomin' cheapskates
Pete,
This is a common problem, to which there are a number of solutions;
(1) Buy a new replacement part - depends from where, but figure on around £600 new
(2) As Jockman mentioned - have a trawl around ebay. You can often pick up secondhand units for much less (than above). But be careful, you need to check that these do not suufer the same damage you already have!
(3) Recoat the existing unit. I have gone down this route on my MY2005 and now have two sets (dash and door cappings) one in carbon and one in birds-eye maple (see images below). Cost around £150.
Also check your door cappings (if they are wood). On my originals there was also significant 'sun damage' along the window edge.
This is a common problem, to which there are a number of solutions;
(1) Buy a new replacement part - depends from where, but figure on around £600 new
(2) As Jockman mentioned - have a trawl around ebay. You can often pick up secondhand units for much less (than above). But be careful, you need to check that these do not suufer the same damage you already have!
(3) Recoat the existing unit. I have gone down this route on my MY2005 and now have two sets (dash and door cappings) one in carbon and one in birds-eye maple (see images below). Cost around £150.
Also check your door cappings (if they are wood). On my originals there was also significant 'sun damage' along the window edge.
thetees said:
Pete,
This is a common problem, to which there are a number of solutions;
(1) Buy a new replacement part - depends from where, but figure on around £600 new
(2) As Jockman mentioned - have a trawl around ebay. You can often pick up secondhand units for much less (than above). But be careful, you need to check that these do not suufer the same damage you already have!
(3) Recoat the existing unit. I have gone down this route on my MY2005 and now have two sets (dash and door cappings) one in carbon and one in birds-eye maple (see images below). Cost around £150.
Also check your door cappings (if they are wood). On my originals there was also significant 'sun damage' along the window edge.
carbon looks fantastic and very modern.....to th OP thats your answer This is a common problem, to which there are a number of solutions;
(1) Buy a new replacement part - depends from where, but figure on around £600 new
(2) As Jockman mentioned - have a trawl around ebay. You can often pick up secondhand units for much less (than above). But be careful, you need to check that these do not suufer the same damage you already have!
(3) Recoat the existing unit. I have gone down this route on my MY2005 and now have two sets (dash and door cappings) one in carbon and one in birds-eye maple (see images below). Cost around £150.
Also check your door cappings (if they are wood). On my originals there was also significant 'sun damage' along the window edge.
thetees said:
Pete,
This is a common problem, to which there are a number of solutions;
(1) Buy a new replacement part - depends from where, but figure on around £600 new
(2) As Jockman mentioned - have a trawl around ebay. You can often pick up secondhand units for much less (than above). But be careful, you need to check that these do not suufer the same damage you already have!
(3) Recoat the existing unit. I have gone down this route on my MY2005 and now have two sets (dash and door cappings) one in carbon and one in birds-eye maple (see images below). Cost around £150.
Also check your door cappings (if they are wood). On my originals there was also significant 'sun damage' along the window edge.
Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it.This is a common problem, to which there are a number of solutions;
(1) Buy a new replacement part - depends from where, but figure on around £600 new
(2) As Jockman mentioned - have a trawl around ebay. You can often pick up secondhand units for much less (than above). But be careful, you need to check that these do not suufer the same damage you already have!
(3) Recoat the existing unit. I have gone down this route on my MY2005 and now have two sets (dash and door cappings) one in carbon and one in birds-eye maple (see images below). Cost around £150.
Also check your door cappings (if they are wood). On my originals there was also significant 'sun damage' along the window edge.
The carbon looks great, but if I can get the walnut recoated that would be the best option initially, but the centre panel will need recolouring too - it's faded and is much lighter than the door cappings. Can you let me know where you got the recoating done please. £150 seems like a great price.. I'm also keen to know how to get the bits off - i'd like to go for a high gloss finish as opposed to the matt finish which is currently on - so I will need to get the door caps off too. Thanks
Petechard said:
Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it.
The carbon looks great, but if I can get the walnut recoated that would be the best option initially, but the centre panel will need recolouring too - it's faded and is much lighter than the door cappings. Can you let me know where you got the recoating done please. £150 seems like a great price.. I'm also keen to know how to get the bits off - i'd like to go for a high gloss finish as opposed to the matt finish which is currently on - so I will need to get the door caps off too. Thanks
Speak to Chris or Lyle at Wicked Coatings (info@wickedcoatings.co.uk). They can do you a high gloss, satin (my preferred option) or matt finish.The carbon looks great, but if I can get the walnut recoated that would be the best option initially, but the centre panel will need recolouring too - it's faded and is much lighter than the door cappings. Can you let me know where you got the recoating done please. £150 seems like a great price.. I'm also keen to know how to get the bits off - i'd like to go for a high gloss finish as opposed to the matt finish which is currently on - so I will need to get the door caps off too. Thanks
Both parts (centre and cappings) are easily removed (once you know how). The only required tool is a suitably sized torx driver (for the door panels).
If you need detailed instructions let me know.
thetees said:
Speak to Chris or Lyle at Wicked Coatings (info@wickedcoatings.co.uk). They can do you a high gloss, satin (my preferred option) or matt finish.
Both parts (centre and cappings) are easily removed (once you know how). The only required tool is a suitably sized torx driver (for the door panels).
If you need detailed instructions let me know.
Thanks, I'll Call them this afternoon. Detailed instructions would be appreciated if it's not too much trouble please. I don't want to break anything. Both parts (centre and cappings) are easily removed (once you know how). The only required tool is a suitably sized torx driver (for the door panels).
If you need detailed instructions let me know.
Petechard said:
Thanks, I'll Call them this afternoon. Detailed instructions would be appreciated if it's not too much trouble please. I don't want to break anything.
Called the guys at wicked coatings - great response - looking at a black ash finish - I think this will be awesome, and a lot simpler than trying to resurrect the damaged panel. They're quoting 200-250 for centre and cappings. Just need to get them all off in one piece now!Petechard said:
Called the guys at wicked coatings - great response - looking at a black ash finish - I think this will be awesome, and a lot simpler than trying to resurrect the damaged panel. They're quoting 200-250 for centre and cappings. Just need to get them all off in one piece now!
OK, Centre removal;(1) Start Sat Nav so panel opens. There are two plastic clips either side of the screen which attach it to the mechanism. Gently pop these off. Close down the Sat Nav so the screen folds back again (the lid will not go down fully now since its no longer attached to the screen).
(2) Place a suitably thin but strong piece of platic (like a spudger) or metal in the middle of the whole panel (so roughly at the same point as where the sat nav lid is). I use a small bit of card in between the spudger and the leather to avoid any damage). Force the spudger into the gap and then lever the whole panel upwards. This is the most scary bit the first time you do it! The whole panel will pop up once you have done this on both sides.
(3) Lever/rotate the panel up from the front (towards you), which gives you access to the cabling behind. Unplug any cables - dont worry about which is which - they only go in one way.
(4) Remove panel. BE CAREFUL not to let the sat nav lid swing and hit the main panel - you can slightly dent it if you do - so just hold it in place as you remove the whole panel.
I'll post a bit later on the cappings removal.
RE the post above - sorry but DO NOT do it that way (sorry OP)... Much easier way is to simply:
1) undo metal clips as mentioned
2) keep lid open half way - put hands in behind it, under the trim piece (i.e. over the top of the half open lid and back under the trim)
3) lift up with force - poppping the top two clips out in each corner
4) now work hands down either side of the trim peice and pop out each bottom corner as you go
5) don't life trim off until you unplug starter button (and others if sportshift) underneath
Lot easier and almost impossible to break it this way. Top tip however is dont use too much force and break the window on rebound!!
1) undo metal clips as mentioned
2) keep lid open half way - put hands in behind it, under the trim piece (i.e. over the top of the half open lid and back under the trim)
3) lift up with force - poppping the top two clips out in each corner
4) now work hands down either side of the trim peice and pop out each bottom corner as you go
5) don't life trim off until you unplug starter button (and others if sportshift) underneath
Lot easier and almost impossible to break it this way. Top tip however is dont use too much force and break the window on rebound!!
thetees said:
OK, Centre removal;
(1) Start Sat Nav so panel opens. There are two plastic clips either side of the screen which attach it to the mechanism. Gently pop these off. Close down the Sat Nav so the screen folds back again (the lid will not go down fully now since its no longer attached to the screen).
(2) Place a suitably thin but strong piece of platic (like a spudger) or metal in the middle of the whole panel (so roughly at the same point as where the sat nav lid is). I use a small bit of card in between the spudger and the leather to avoid any damage). Force the spudger into the gap and then lever the whole panel upwards. This is the most scary bit the first time you do it! The whole panel will pop up once you have done this on both sides.
(3) Lever/rotate the panel up from the front (towards you), which gives you access to the cabling behind. Unplug any cables - dont worry about which is which - they only go in one way.
(4) Remove panel. BE CAREFUL not to let the sat nav lid swing and hit the main panel - you can slightly dent it if you do - so just hold it in place as you remove the whole panel.
I'll post a bit later on the cappings removal.
Thanks guys, centre panel off in one piece! I'll wait for guidance on the doors - they don't look to be quite as easy.(1) Start Sat Nav so panel opens. There are two plastic clips either side of the screen which attach it to the mechanism. Gently pop these off. Close down the Sat Nav so the screen folds back again (the lid will not go down fully now since its no longer attached to the screen).
(2) Place a suitably thin but strong piece of platic (like a spudger) or metal in the middle of the whole panel (so roughly at the same point as where the sat nav lid is). I use a small bit of card in between the spudger and the leather to avoid any damage). Force the spudger into the gap and then lever the whole panel upwards. This is the most scary bit the first time you do it! The whole panel will pop up once you have done this on both sides.
(3) Lever/rotate the panel up from the front (towards you), which gives you access to the cabling behind. Unplug any cables - dont worry about which is which - they only go in one way.
(4) Remove panel. BE CAREFUL not to let the sat nav lid swing and hit the main panel - you can slightly dent it if you do - so just hold it in place as you remove the whole panel.
I'll post a bit later on the cappings removal.
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