DB11 Leather - Owners Question?
Discussion
Morning all,
So I've travelled to the US for work and my the hotel I'm staying at overlooks the Aston Martin dealership (if you can call it that) in Washington DC (which is actually miles from DC - but anyways). I found myself lurking around the forecourt looking at some of the stock they have whilst also cursing the LCT we have in Australia! They have a line of 5 DB11 cars which look terrific.
When walking around the back I noticed that 3 of the 5 of them had leather parcel shelf things that were shrunk and peeling away from the card underneath! Shock horror!
Has this happened to others? Is it covered under warranty ?
This happened to my DB9 with those front Dash Panel things... but I put that down to age and forgave it. But on a DB11 which at max is 2 years old? That seems like an issue they should have sorted.
So I've travelled to the US for work and my the hotel I'm staying at overlooks the Aston Martin dealership (if you can call it that) in Washington DC (which is actually miles from DC - but anyways). I found myself lurking around the forecourt looking at some of the stock they have whilst also cursing the LCT we have in Australia! They have a line of 5 DB11 cars which look terrific.
When walking around the back I noticed that 3 of the 5 of them had leather parcel shelf things that were shrunk and peeling away from the card underneath! Shock horror!
Has this happened to others? Is it covered under warranty ?
This happened to my DB9 with those front Dash Panel things... but I put that down to age and forgave it. But on a DB11 which at max is 2 years old? That seems like an issue they should have sorted.
I don't know specifically for the DB11, but I know a friend of mine whith a DB7 and he is having the same problem. According to him, it's the sun; his car has lived all of her life in the French Riviera.
Washington DC does not strike me has popular for a hot and sunny climate, but I might be wrong, maybe?
I wonder how they cope with Dubai cars.
Washington DC does not strike me has popular for a hot and sunny climate, but I might be wrong, maybe?
I wonder how they cope with Dubai cars.
No issues with mine. About 20 months old and always parked outside but London isn’t that sunny !
When I first went for a test drive in a demonstrator I didn’t feel the leather quality was as good as my DB9 - I asked the dealer about it and if it was worth upgrading the leather when I ordered but was told the car was a pre-production model and the finish would be better in an actual car. He showed me a customer car awaiting collection which seemed fine and my car when it arrived was good too. I do wonder though what happened to all those early cars - I am fairly sure the one I drove was sold.
When I first went for a test drive in a demonstrator I didn’t feel the leather quality was as good as my DB9 - I asked the dealer about it and if it was worth upgrading the leather when I ordered but was told the car was a pre-production model and the finish would be better in an actual car. He showed me a customer car awaiting collection which seemed fine and my car when it arrived was good too. I do wonder though what happened to all those early cars - I am fairly sure the one I drove was sold.
OK - So I guess it's a problem with some but not all of the DB11s.
As I mentioned in my post my own DB9 had some leather issues - I replaced the front two dash panels where the leather was like cardboard and had peeled away. Fixing these really smartened the car up.
I also had a issue with the roof lining sagging. I guess it's hotter than they expected here in Australia.
As I mentioned in my post my own DB9 had some leather issues - I replaced the front two dash panels where the leather was like cardboard and had peeled away. Fixing these really smartened the car up.
I also had a issue with the roof lining sagging. I guess it's hotter than they expected here in Australia.
Sean
I had to do the same with my 7 year old V8V when I got it, which came from Adelaide ( we know it regularly gets into the mid 40's in summer). I replaced the instrument binnacle leather and re stretched and glued the two pieces at the top of the dash.
I also keep a sunshade and use it always so no problems since, but it's endemic to leather - not sure what can be done to stop it
Graeme
I had to do the same with my 7 year old V8V when I got it, which came from Adelaide ( we know it regularly gets into the mid 40's in summer). I replaced the instrument binnacle leather and re stretched and glued the two pieces at the top of the dash.
I also keep a sunshade and use it always so no problems since, but it's endemic to leather - not sure what can be done to stop it
Graeme
Hey Graze,
You reckon it's all leather? Or just Aston leather. I'm OK with the leather doing that an older car because the chances are it's been in the sun for a bit over the years. But a newer DB11? That came as a shock.
I just replaced my dash panels. I could not the leather back the way I wanted it - so change over.
Once i get back from here I'm going to pour a ton of AutoGlym leather conditioner over the back leather tray in the DB11.
You reckon it's all leather? Or just Aston leather. I'm OK with the leather doing that an older car because the chances are it's been in the sun for a bit over the years. But a newer DB11? That came as a shock.
I just replaced my dash panels. I could not the leather back the way I wanted it - so change over.
Once i get back from here I'm going to pour a ton of AutoGlym leather conditioner over the back leather tray in the DB11.
Crazy_Sean said:
Once i get back from here I'm going to pour a ton of AutoGlym leather conditioner over the back leather tray in the DB11.
I would use this stuff instead -http://lttleathercare.com/product/ultra-leather-sh...
The Autoglym stuff is packed with oils, all that will achieve is these sitting on the leather finish, attracting dirt, which is detrimental to leather. It also features a leather perfume, so it's unlikely to be PH neutral.
Following Fermits advice a couple of years ago (hes in the trade...) I realised that there is NO POINT in leather food/oils/conditioner. It just sits on top as these leathers are sealed - none more so than the crappy leather in the (then) BMW. I use Dr Leather wipes and it leaves a lovely matt surface as opposed to that oily shiny mess when i used to use Autoglym Leather Conditioner and nail brush it 'IN' 
. I actually dont think they should even be selling it by now!
I also use a sunshade when its sunny - keeps direct sun off cooking the leather dash!
. I actually dont think they should even be selling it by now!I also use a sunshade when its sunny - keeps direct sun off cooking the leather dash!
Edited by Ken Figenus on Saturday 8th June 19:00
Ken Figenus said:
Following Fermits advice a couple of years ago (hes in teh trade...) I realised that there is NO POINT in leather food/oils/conditioner. It just sits on top as these leathers are sealed - none more so than the crappy leather in the (then) BMW. I use Dr Leather wipes and it leaves a lovely matt surface as opposed to that oily shiny mess when i used to use Autoglym Leather Conditioner and nail brush it 'IN' . I actually dont think they should even be selling it by now!
Indeed, an apt cleaner should leave a matt surface, or possible a satin finish, found on some leather, like our Stressless suite. Very occasionally you also find ultra high gloss finishes, like some Chesterfields. Anything that makes the leather shine/glisten/polish IE whatever they say on the tin, is also junk. Again the wax, silicone or oils used to achieve this sit on the surface, attracting crap. . I actually dont think they should even be selling it by now!milu said:
I had a new BMW a few years back with champagne nappa.
I was careful with it. But I did use lazy leather from time to time and found it very good.
When I sold it at 3 years old the leather was still like new,not shiny either.
Recommended.
Just to clarify for others, Lazy Leather is LTT's little and often cleaner. Our Stressless stuff, being Nappa too (essentially this is a leather with little pigment, and little artificial grain to give the best softness) shines up really quickly. I use the shampoo on it every few months, for a deeper clean, as we have cats who jump all over it, and occasionally dogs who do too (if Daddy is pissed and forgets to close the front room door I was careful with it. But I did use lazy leather from time to time and found it very good.
When I sold it at 3 years old the leather was still like new,not shiny either.
Recommended.
)Ken Figenus said:
That Nappa is the extra extra cost leather on a Bimmer isnt it? Looks more like the smooth matt quality looking leather in a non plastic dash Porsche or any Aston?
It will be cost option. Nappa is dearer as they are better hides. Like diamonds more imperfections/ damage (barbed wire scratches, mozi bites, stretch marks to name some) lowers the cost of the hides. More pigment and more grain correction can hide this damage, on a Nappa it would show more, hence the hides are dearer. mylam said:
Worlds best mat leather cleaner is Zymol Leather Cleaner
Glycerin is a sugar alcohol, and it contains it. Alcohol of any form shouldn't be used on leather, so it's not the best. It is PH neutral and seemingly unperfumed (both apt) and as you say, matt (or lightly satin, depending on the original finish) is how leather should be. Depending on the amount contained it may be of little detriment, but alcohol is too powerful for leather pigment. A very common question I receive upon completion is 'will it shine up?'. The answer is always 'yes, if you don't clean it correctly'
Crazy_Sean said:
So what is the consensus on Leatherique? I've used that a couple of times. A lengthy process what with the oiling, then the waiting, then the cleaning etc.
I've never heard of or used it, but, the fact that they repeatedly refer to it as dye tells me they have zero understanding of leather or their product. You dye Aniline and suede leather, it is absorbent, you are dying the fibres of the hide. Rolls Royce leather, like most leather is pigment coated. You don't dye it. Plus it looks like their website was developed in 1983.
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Monday 24th June 23:27
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