DB11 headlamp switch
Discussion
Driving my 20k mile, one previous owner DB11 on the motorway recently, the core of the headlamp switch (i.e. the bit with the fog lamp switch) fell out onto the floor. As you might imagine, this was a bit of a surprise.
The switch is located in a small sub-panel which incorporates the panel dimmer, is in the dash roll and orientated downwards, hence gravity took effect.
On investigation, the rotation bezel is also insecure: there are two small white nylon(?) bosses internally, into which screws are driven from the rear on assembly which hold the whole thing together whilst allowing rotation. The bosses have fractured, possibly by being over-tightened on assembly.
Has anyone out there had similar and self-repaired?
Many thanks in advance.
The switch is located in a small sub-panel which incorporates the panel dimmer, is in the dash roll and orientated downwards, hence gravity took effect.
On investigation, the rotation bezel is also insecure: there are two small white nylon(?) bosses internally, into which screws are driven from the rear on assembly which hold the whole thing together whilst allowing rotation. The bosses have fractured, possibly by being over-tightened on assembly.
Has anyone out there had similar and self-repaired?
Many thanks in advance.
If you do a search you'll find that the switch panel assy. was updated due to quality issues.
You don't say the age of your car but it may be the older style, so depending on the cost to repair you may want to consider an update.
This is assuming that the electrical connector and physical fit is a match.
You don't say the age of your car but it may be the older style, so depending on the cost to repair you may want to consider an update.
This is assuming that the electrical connector and physical fit is a match.
V8 Minotaur said:
If you do a search you'll find that the switch panel assy. was updated due to quality issues.
You don't say the age of your car but it may be the older style, so depending on the cost to repair you may want to consider an update.
This is assuming that the electrical connector and physical fit is a match.
V8 Minotaur, You don't say the age of your car but it may be the older style, so depending on the cost to repair you may want to consider an update.
This is assuming that the electrical connector and physical fit is a match.
Thank you for the swift and helpful reply.
My car is 10/18 (an early Volante). Having reviewed the position as you suggested, the 2020 model year cars had a completely different (as per DBX) auxiliary switch panel, which means the lower dash roll panel will be different - and no doubt the harness, too, as you suggest. So it's a case of biting the bullet and buying another one of the same poor design (over £800 including VAT but excluding fitting). It's not a Mercedes-Benz part, either - it appears to be unique to Aston, though I'd better check Chinese-market only prestige models just in case. Perhaps it's telling, that Aston Works have stock!
zephyr6 said:
V8 Minotaur,
Thank you for the swift and helpful reply.
My car is 10/18 (an early Volante). Having reviewed the position as you suggested, the 2020 model year cars had a completely different (as per DBX) auxiliary switch panel, which means the lower dash roll panel will be different - and no doubt the harness, too, as you suggest. So it's a case of biting the bullet and buying another one of the same poor design (over £800 including VAT but excluding fitting). It's not a Mercedes-Benz part, either - it appears to be unique to Aston, though I'd better check Chinese-market only prestige models just in case. Perhaps it's telling, that Aston Works have stock!
One of our club members with a Volante DB11 2019 model had exactly the same issue. It seems that part was below standard quality.Thank you for the swift and helpful reply.
My car is 10/18 (an early Volante). Having reviewed the position as you suggested, the 2020 model year cars had a completely different (as per DBX) auxiliary switch panel, which means the lower dash roll panel will be different - and no doubt the harness, too, as you suggest. So it's a case of biting the bullet and buying another one of the same poor design (over £800 including VAT but excluding fitting). It's not a Mercedes-Benz part, either - it appears to be unique to Aston, though I'd better check Chinese-market only prestige models just in case. Perhaps it's telling, that Aston Works have stock!
Ah yes - I was thinking of this one...
https://ebay.io/m/HXl7uN
It would be worth contacting the eBay seller, Charles Trent Limited, to see if they have the one you need that hasn't yet been listed.
https://ebay.io/m/HXl7uN
It would be worth contacting the eBay seller, Charles Trent Limited, to see if they have the one you need that hasn't yet been listed.
Yep, same on my 2019 Volante. Fortunately I hadn’t bought it at the time so it was a free dealer fix. I would also recommend that you are careful with the hood raise/lower switch as that feels somewhat fragile to me as well. The only other thing I’ve heard of being a common problem is sticking exhaust valves. That’s an expensive fix as well and I’d like to think there has been a bit of a redesign of those for some better longevity.
Don't want to get off-topic but re. the valves you can get new ones welded in and guaranteed for as long as you own the car.
People over on ftypeforums.co.uk have used Modstock - I believe they get a few requests in an area of the country then come to you to carry out the replacements.
People over on ftypeforums.co.uk have used Modstock - I believe they get a few requests in an area of the country then come to you to carry out the replacements.
I don’t think they are the same type of valves - maybe more akin to older car’s non-electronic valves. McGurks and Aston Works will weld in new ones for about half the price of a new back box (so expensive rather than crazy expensive!) but the work is 2 days to one week and most certainly couldn’t be done in a McDonald’s car park (as one Jag owner did with the Modstock ones).
V8 Minotaur said:
Ah yes - I was thinking of this one...
https://ebay.io/m/HXl7uN
It would be worth contacting the eBay seller, Charles Trent Limited, to see if they have the one you need that hasn't yet been listed.
V8 Minotaur, many thanks - unfortunately the Charles Trent is a 2020 MY on.https://ebay.io/m/HXl7uN
It would be worth contacting the eBay seller, Charles Trent Limited, to see if they have the one you need that hasn't yet been listed.
I've found another s/h item but let's just say it's a very different price point. It appears to be a Valeo part, but a trawl of the Valeo website fails to produce a result, so sales are presumably restricted to authorised dealers only. Replacement means removing the knee roll panel, which includes an airbag, so it's becoming a more involved repair....I'll update in due course.
andrewdj said:
Yep, same on my 2019 Volante. Fortunately I hadn t bought it at the time so it was a free dealer fix. I would also recommend that you are careful with the hood raise/lower switch as that feels somewhat fragile to me as well. The only other thing I ve heard of being a common problem is sticking exhaust valves. That s an expensive fix as well and I d like to think there has been a bit of a redesign of those for some better longevity.
Good to know I'm not alone!Thank you also for the other feedback - seems like low volume parts aren't great quality.
Z6
Mine has this problem too, seems it is common enough for AM to issue a service bulletin on a 'fix' I'll link it here if I can and may mean you can use the fix on your own switches if you have all the parts.
Each AM dealer was apparently issued with a kit to complete these fixes....
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10231544...
Each AM dealer was apparently issued with a kit to complete these fixes....
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10231544...
Thank you to all posters - a link to the AM technical service bulletin is now also available via www.aston.club ('DB11 common faults').
I note that the TSB is dated 2023, by which time the whole switch and mounting panel had been changed (2020 MY on?) to the DBX type. The bulletin states that it's necessary to rebuild the switch as there was insufficient stock of new items....maybe there was a rash of failures.
It shows that AM issued a drilling jig and a milling drill, plus a new bracket to secure the switch core. Presumably, once new switches were back in stock (it is or was manufactured by Valeo) the TSB was superseded. I imagine it's not possible for a retail customer to buy the kit but had it been available and circumstances been different (more time) I'd have had a go at repairing mine.
The failed parts internally are two nylon bosses into which screws are secured from the back of the switch (which is a sealed unit). The rotary bezel is lightly greased to allow it to rotate smoothly: it appears the grease finds its way onto the nylon bosses which harden over time and fracture (perhaps due to vibration) causing the switch core to fall out.
So I had mine renewed by Aston Martin - a shockingly expensive repair for what it is, but the dealer service was excellent once I'd phoned them and explained to the service adviser. Once he understood the problem, he managed to slot the car in to get it repaired - and complete the annual service - before the MoT expired, which it would obviously have failed if presented with an inoperative switch.
I note that the TSB is dated 2023, by which time the whole switch and mounting panel had been changed (2020 MY on?) to the DBX type. The bulletin states that it's necessary to rebuild the switch as there was insufficient stock of new items....maybe there was a rash of failures.
It shows that AM issued a drilling jig and a milling drill, plus a new bracket to secure the switch core. Presumably, once new switches were back in stock (it is or was manufactured by Valeo) the TSB was superseded. I imagine it's not possible for a retail customer to buy the kit but had it been available and circumstances been different (more time) I'd have had a go at repairing mine.
The failed parts internally are two nylon bosses into which screws are secured from the back of the switch (which is a sealed unit). The rotary bezel is lightly greased to allow it to rotate smoothly: it appears the grease finds its way onto the nylon bosses which harden over time and fracture (perhaps due to vibration) causing the switch core to fall out.
So I had mine renewed by Aston Martin - a shockingly expensive repair for what it is, but the dealer service was excellent once I'd phoned them and explained to the service adviser. Once he understood the problem, he managed to slot the car in to get it repaired - and complete the annual service - before the MoT expired, which it would obviously have failed if presented with an inoperative switch.
Edited by zephyr6 on Friday 2nd October 12:51
Edited by zephyr6 on Friday 2nd October 12:55
Edited by zephyr6 on Friday 2nd October 12:59
V8LM said:
The switch broke on my DBS (Dec 18), during the MOT test, meaning the car has a RED MOT failure against its name. The only time I had ever touched the switch was on the day of collection, new. 
V8LM, when one is trying to preserve the good history of a car, that's precisely the kind of problem you absolutely don't need - you have my sympathy!I bought my DB11 last year, so can't vouch for the first owner, but surely most drivers will set the switch to 'Auto' and leave it at that, as you and I evidently do.
The fact that in the DB11 the switch is orientated downwards probably doesn't help, as it means the retention of the switch core is reliant on those two nylon bosses - effectively, the mass of the switch core means they will be under tension that they almost certainly weren't intended to deal with - vibration just makes it worse.
One wonders how the switch managed to pass durability and pavé testing - perhaps it wasn't designed/developed in time for that?
As the switch is barely visible under there dash roll and on the basis that other dash parts are shared with Mercedes Benz, what was wrong with providing one out of an MB S-class? Had that been the case, I'm quite sure this thread would have been completely unnecessary!
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