Opinions please on VH Vantage rear subframe powder coating

[nickv12]

This is the state of my 2018 V12 Sportshift Vantage subframe 18 months ago whilst being serviced at HWM. It's fine. At that same time, HWM did ACF-50 underbody protection...



I use my car year-long, only avoiding the roads if there's any hint of salt still there. (It hasn't budged for over a week, 'cos of this.) It's sheltered and/or covered when parked up. This car is a lifer, so I want to ensure it's all protected and maintained as best as possible.

I am wondering about getting the corroision-prone rear subframe powder coated whilst it's still in a good state to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

I need to check that this process wouldn't invalidate the Timeless warranty, which will be extended for another 2 years later this year.

Has anybody got recent experience of this process? Who did it? What's the cost ballpark?

Thanks!

[LTP]

Speaking personally I'd leave it until it needs to be done. The rust tends to be superficial, not structural and they'd need to media blast the old subframe before powder-coating (or fit an already-powder-coated exchange), so you might as well wait until there's something worthwhile to blast off. That way the warranty issue becomes moot.

I've seen my '15 V8V on a ramp and, while it was slightly scabby in places, it doesn't need doing yet. Bear in mind that the VH Vantage was engineered for a 10-year life. I'll probably get mine done when I eventually replace the SS clutch.

typo fixed

Edited by LTP on Saturday 20th January 18:53

[nickv12]

LTP said:

Speaking personally I'd leave it until it needs to be done. The rust tends to be superficial, not structural and they'd need to media blast the old subframe before powder-coating (or fit an already-powder-coated exchange), so you might as well wait until there's something worthwhile to blast off. That way the warranty issue becomes moot.

I've seen my '15 V*V on a ramp and, while it was slightly scabby in places, it doesn't need doing yet. Bear in mind that the VH Vantage was engineered for a 10-year life. I'll probably get mine done when I eventually replace the SS clutch.

Thanks for the thoughts

Yep - you can definitely wait longer, but by the time it moves from light surface corrosion (which mine and many others will be at) to more substantial, you're starting to eat away at structural rigidity. I know there's probably a very good margin of error, but why wait?

One argument I can think of for waiting is that powder coating isn't infallible and corrosion will catch up. But it should buy you time.

This year, I'm paying for ceramic coating (it's been over three years, but I'm now absolutely convinced by its worth), 2 years of Timeless extension and obviously the annual service. So I may spread any cost to powder coating out depending on how much it is. If I do it.

[john ryan]

Powder coating is the original finish, and the problem. It's a cheap cosmetic coating which disguises sometimes rough manufacture, and is beloved of car makers; it eventually allows moisture to be trapped and run all over the unprotected steel. What would work is a plated finish on the steel, followed by a powder coat for cosmetic appearance, but Aston did not specify this.
My 07 car has a yearly application of underbody wax on the subframe, which so far has kept it looking tidy.

Edited by john ryan on Saturday 20th January 18:35

[LTP]

john ryan said:

Powder coating is the original finish, and the problem. It's a cheap cosmetic coating which disguises sometimes rough manufacture, and is beloved of car makers;
<snip>

Are your sure? AFIK most chassis parts are black EP paint (E-coat), not powder coat.

[CatalystV12V]

Having looked at many that doesn't look too bad.. obviously the Subframe goes up around the gearbox, like a cradle and thats not visible in the photo.

As other have said it needs sand blasting,Zinc coating and then powder coat..

I think BR do it for about 4k ish and its a direct swap out.. DAE I believe is cheaper, but its a longer time frame.. but obviously check with them..
Also I think AM Performance in Macclesfield have a spare one ready to go..

The only word of warning is don't leave it too long as you can't buy a new replacement.. and you're taking a chance with a secondhand one..

[paulrog1]

If you want to do this yourself read this-

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[nickv12]

LTP said:

Are your sure? AFIK most chassis parts are black EP paint (E-coat), not powder coat.

I’m 99% certain the original is not powder coated too. The corrosion is taking place too quickly and uniformly.

[nickv12]

CatalystV12V said:

Having looked at many that doesn't look too bad.. obviously the Subframe goes up around the gearbox, like a cradle and thats not visible in the photo.

As other have said it needs sand blasting,Zinc coating and then powder coat..

I think BR do it for about 4k ish and its a direct swap out.. DAE I believe is cheaper, but its a longer time frame.. but obviously check with them..
Also I think AM Performance in Macclesfield have a spare one ready to go..

The only word of warning is don't leave it too long as you can't buy a new replacement.. and you're taking a chance with a secondhand one..

DAE responded publicly to my same Q on Facebook that they will do it for £2.5k + VAT. They seem to be the goto people for many. Trinity Engineering have also been in contact.

[nickv12]

paulrog1 said:

If you want to do this yourself read this-

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Simply haven’t got the time or facilities

[CatalystV12V]

nickv12 said:

CatalystV12V said:

Having looked at many that doesn't look too bad.. obviously the Subframe goes up around the gearbox, like a cradle and thats not visible in the photo.

As other have said it needs sand blasting,Zinc coating and then powder coat..

I think BR do it for about 4k ish and its a direct swap out.. DAE I believe is cheaper, but its a longer time frame.. but obviously check with them..
Also I think AM Performance in Macclesfield have a spare one ready to go..

The only word of warning is don't leave it too long as you can't buy a new replacement.. and you're taking a chance with a secondhand one..

DAE responded publicly to my same Q on Facebook that they will do it for £2.5k + VAT. They seem to be the goto people for many. Trinity Engineering have also been in contact.

DAE are great.. they helped me hugely just recently with the purchase of my car that they looked after for the previous owner.

[nickv12]

CatalystV12V said:

DAE are great.. they helped me hugely just recently with the purchase of my car that they looked after for the previous owner.

I do hear good things about DAE and Trinity

[Nigel_O]

DAE and BR said that mine was one of the worst they'd seen, but it was still structurally solid.

DAE refurbed it, along with quite a lot of other underside bits (ARBs, brackets, pipes, suspension etc)

Before





After

[nickv12]

Nigel_O said:

DAE and BR said that mine was one of the worst they'd seen, but it was still structurally solid.

DAE refurbed it, along with quite a lot of other underside bits (ARBs, brackets, pipes, suspension etc)

Before





After

Ouch! I think you’ve out the strongest argument forward! How many miles and what age was it when the work for done?

[LTP]

Nigel_O said:

DAE and BR said that mine was one of the worst they'd seen, but it was still structurally solid.

DAE refurbed it, along with quite a lot of other underside bits (ARBs, brackets, pipes, suspension etc)

Before

Interesting. I look at the first picture and I winced. Then you look at the second, and thought "Overall that doesn't look too bad"

[Nigel_O]

nickv12 said:

Ouch! I think you’ve out the strongest argument forward! How many miles and what age was it when the work for done?

2007 4.3 Vantage at 62,000 miles

It looked awful, but most of the flaking was just what was left of the old powder coating.

The issue I found is that if your rear subframe is looking brown, there will be other stuff in the same vicinity that needs doing too. It would be a false economy to just do the subframe and leave rusty gearbox oil cooler pipes, ARBs etc

[nickv12]

Nigel_O said:

2007 4.3 Vantage at 62,000 miles

It looked awful, but most of the flaking was just what was left of the old powder coating.

The issue I found is that if your rear subframe is looking brown, there will be other stuff in the same vicinity that needs doing too. It would be a false economy to just do the subframe and leave rusty gearbox oil cooler pipes, ARBs etc

Unless yours was power coated at an earlier stage, I think the flaking would be the original paint. But yes - I can imagine it looks worse than it is and probably not a structural issue at that point.

For sure - if you're diving in, you may as well do all the parts which are in need of TLC.

[BiggaJ]

Vantage Engineering had mine treated about a year ago. Said for the year it was in very good order. During a service being done at Phoenix last year, i had a chance to have a look under mine and it still looked great. On the next ramp was a 2014 Vantage and the rear subframe had failed, so bad was the corrosion.

As others have said, I try not to use mine when the roads have salt/grit down. otherwise it gets used weekly most other times.

[nickv12]

BiggaJ said:

Vantage Engineering had mine treated about a year ago. Said for the year it was in very good order. During a service being done at Phoenix last year, i had a chance to have a look under mine and it still looked great. On the next ramp was a 2014 Vantage and the rear subframe had failed, so bad was the corrosion.

As others have said, I try not to use mine when the roads have salt/grit down. otherwise it gets used weekly most other times.

A 2014 car failed? Ouch!

Thanks for your feedback

Happily, this morning I got confirmation from HWM that they had this work put down on the warranty policy so that it's not affected. Green light.