2012 Vantage corrosion advice
Discussion
Hi All HNY!
I thought I’d ask for any recent experience in dealing with this issue. I’m planning on asking AML and the AM dealer to contribute to the cost of addressing/ respraying corrosion. I bought the car from AM dealer in July ‘21 and the 10 year warranty expires in a couple of months. I’ve just noticed bubbling on the roof, drivers side, where it meets the windscreen. The dealer is washing their hands, saying they didn’t notice when inspecting the car for sale. I’ve read previous threads, so understand that this doesn’t qualify for warranty work. I’ve heard that AML sometimes contribute as a goodwill gesture and I plan to appeal on the same grounds again with the AM dealer given I bought the car within the last 6 months. Any recent experience/ advice to guide my efforts would be much appreciated. My local AM dealer (different to the one I bought from) estimated the cost at £1500-2500, based on photos I sent them.
Many thanks
Rich
I thought I’d ask for any recent experience in dealing with this issue. I’m planning on asking AML and the AM dealer to contribute to the cost of addressing/ respraying corrosion. I bought the car from AM dealer in July ‘21 and the 10 year warranty expires in a couple of months. I’ve just noticed bubbling on the roof, drivers side, where it meets the windscreen. The dealer is washing their hands, saying they didn’t notice when inspecting the car for sale. I’ve read previous threads, so understand that this doesn’t qualify for warranty work. I’ve heard that AML sometimes contribute as a goodwill gesture and I plan to appeal on the same grounds again with the AM dealer given I bought the car within the last 6 months. Any recent experience/ advice to guide my efforts would be much appreciated. My local AM dealer (different to the one I bought from) estimated the cost at £1500-2500, based on photos I sent them.
Many thanks
Rich
Unfortunately a common issue on these era cars including the drivers door on my own. I purchased mine privately but tried to get it addressed under the 10 year warranty via a main dealer. The best AML would do is a discount of 10% as a gesture of good will against a similar quote to yours.
I ended up getting my drivers door resprayed and blended by a local bodyshop for £600 and looks perfect so definitely recommend not paying the extortionate main dealer prices.
Considering you purchased yours so recently from a main dealer i would keep pushing them to fix it.
I ended up getting my drivers door resprayed and blended by a local bodyshop for £600 and looks perfect so definitely recommend not paying the extortionate main dealer prices.
Considering you purchased yours so recently from a main dealer i would keep pushing them to fix it.
Edited by Bazziz on Sunday 9th January 20:12
I'm learning to live with corrosion on my Aston just like I'm learning to live with Covid, although I've only had Covid once.
The last time I got corrosion fixed on my 63 plate Vantage was Nov/Dec 2019 when it was 6 years old. At that time I had corrosion around the driver's door handle, below both mirror arms and on the corners of the bonnet done completely free of charge through AM Nottingham. They (AML) also paid for the replacement of the PPF that had to be taken off to do the work. At the time I was told (not in writing) that AML were doing all paint corrosion issues FOC on cars under 10 years old. I have no idea whether or not this was true then but it doesn't seem to be now, from the sounds of things.
If they will only contribute 10% then I would just pay a decent place to do it myself because it will be cheaper overall.
Given that you only bought the car recently from a main dealer then I think you have a stronger case than many. If the dealer won't help then I'd go directly to AM customer services at Gaydon. Good luck.
The last time I got corrosion fixed on my 63 plate Vantage was Nov/Dec 2019 when it was 6 years old. At that time I had corrosion around the driver's door handle, below both mirror arms and on the corners of the bonnet done completely free of charge through AM Nottingham. They (AML) also paid for the replacement of the PPF that had to be taken off to do the work. At the time I was told (not in writing) that AML were doing all paint corrosion issues FOC on cars under 10 years old. I have no idea whether or not this was true then but it doesn't seem to be now, from the sounds of things.
If they will only contribute 10% then I would just pay a decent place to do it myself because it will be cheaper overall.
Given that you only bought the car recently from a main dealer then I think you have a stronger case than many. If the dealer won't help then I'd go directly to AM customer services at Gaydon. Good luck.
I bought my car from Newcastle AM but live in the midlands. When it It was for 5 years service a few small paint issues were noticed on the door. The car was out of extended warranty. Notts Aston Martin checked paint during a service and raised warranty claim. They collected the car a few weeks later and returned it fixed free of charge.
Perhaps try another dealer. If they want your ongoing service business its in their interest to get it sorted.
Perhaps try another dealer. If they want your ongoing service business its in their interest to get it sorted.
I had corrosion issues on both my doors on my 2013 Vantage that occurred about 12 months after I bought the car. All repaired at no cost to me by AM Nottingham - and Morningfrost white is hard to match!.
I have to say that AM Nottingham have been a very good dealer experience for me. I have had a fair bit of work done under the Timeless warranty, all with no quibble and lost of good humour. The car has not been unreliable per se, but I report the slightest thing and, well, Nottingham gets it fixed (as indeed any good dealer should)
After my experiences with Jaguar, Maserati, Audi and other main dealers I have to say that I am very very pleasantly surprised by just how good AM Nottingham are.
I have to say that AM Nottingham have been a very good dealer experience for me. I have had a fair bit of work done under the Timeless warranty, all with no quibble and lost of good humour. The car has not been unreliable per se, but I report the slightest thing and, well, Nottingham gets it fixed (as indeed any good dealer should)
After my experiences with Jaguar, Maserati, Audi and other main dealers I have to say that I am very very pleasantly surprised by just how good AM Nottingham are.
I had a very similar corrosion issue to the OP on my 09 Vantage when it was around 6 or 7 years old. I did get it fully repaired under the AM warranty at no expense to me. However, it does require the dealer being on your side to fight the claim within AML. There's no reason why they wouldn't do this as the costs are covered centrally by AML not borne by the suppling dealer. Suggest you speak to the dealer principle as corrosion like this is absolutley covered by the 10 year body warranty.
Thank you all for your comments, much appreciated! I’ve gone back to the dealer asking them to communicate with AML and highlighting that best dealer practice is to cover the repair cost regardless. I’d like to give a positive online review in the event this is resolved. I’ll see how they respond, plan B is to go to AML direct.
How does a composite panel corrode or is it on the aluminium part ?
I thought the issue was in the paint process and it was paint bubbling rather than panel corrosion. Other companies like Lotus had similar issues when they moved to new water based paints on composite cars. Still no excuses for not fixing the issue over the last 15 years (in my memory) it has been occurring.
I thought the issue was in the paint process and it was paint bubbling rather than panel corrosion. Other companies like Lotus had similar issues when they moved to new water based paints on composite cars. Still no excuses for not fixing the issue over the last 15 years (in my memory) it has been occurring.
BigMig said:
I had a very similar corrosion issue to the OP on my 09 Vantage when it was around 6 or 7 years old. I did get it fully repaired under the AM warranty at no expense to me. However, it does require the dealer being on your side to fight the claim within AML. There's no reason why they wouldn't do this as the costs are covered centrally by AML not borne by the suppling dealer. Suggest you speak to the dealer principle as corrosion like this is absolutley covered by the 10 year body warranty.
The world at Aston Martin has changed a bit since 2016 . And indeed 2020 when they paid £12k to respray my 2012 vantage . In 2021 , when some more corrosion appeared … they offered 20% . Now 20% at an AML body shop isn’t worth doing … Unfortunately, this is very common on aluminium panels because the alloy "breathes" under the paint surface and was made far worse with the advent of eco friendly, water based paints. Same issue with diamond cut wheels, the slightest break in the paint finish and the lacquer is toast.
I had my panels refinished in a planet destroying, oil based paint and its tougher, shinier and I have not had the problem recur.
Similar situation with water based paints around the house, even the recognised brands are yellowing in months with the polar bear killing whiteners and preservatives banned by the EU.
I had my panels refinished in a planet destroying, oil based paint and its tougher, shinier and I have not had the problem recur.
Similar situation with water based paints around the house, even the recognised brands are yellowing in months with the polar bear killing whiteners and preservatives banned by the EU.
Hi All
An update for those that are interested, the AM dealer said no luck with AML but that they’d sort the repair at the next annual service. It’ll probably be an expensive service but worth it given an inde quoted me £3600 to do the work. £2,400 of that was for removing/ replacing glass and interior trim! Thanks again for all your advice, it helped in my negotiation with AM main dealer. Best wishes to all
An update for those that are interested, the AM dealer said no luck with AML but that they’d sort the repair at the next annual service. It’ll probably be an expensive service but worth it given an inde quoted me £3600 to do the work. £2,400 of that was for removing/ replacing glass and interior trim! Thanks again for all your advice, it helped in my negotiation with AM main dealer. Best wishes to all
AstonRich said:
Hi All
An update for those that are interested, the AM dealer said no luck with AML but that they’d sort the repair at the next annual service. It’ll probably be an expensive service but worth it given an inde quoted me £3600 to do the work. £2,400 of that was for removing/ replacing glass and interior trim! Thanks again for all your advice, it helped in my negotiation with AM main dealer. Best wishes to all
yes, good luck. do bear in mind that the front screen is bonded and they will do well to remove it without cracking it so fingers crossed here......An update for those that are interested, the AM dealer said no luck with AML but that they’d sort the repair at the next annual service. It’ll probably be an expensive service but worth it given an inde quoted me £3600 to do the work. £2,400 of that was for removing/ replacing glass and interior trim! Thanks again for all your advice, it helped in my negotiation with AM main dealer. Best wishes to all
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