Dimples on rear Bumper - Vantage Roadster

[BingoBob]

I noticed these inverted dimples the other day on my rear bumper. It's like something hard is pushing the bumper out in these areas circled in red:



The AM dealer I bought it from says this is very common, normal and one of the benefits of a hand-built car (that's his excuse for any defect I point out).

Anyone confirm or deny? Should I be making a fuss?

Thanks.

[Luke.]

Benefits? Bell end.

[Gio1210]

This is the 7th Vantage i've seen with these on! So yes, it's common!

[V8 Animal]

Similiar issue http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Bump?&mid=70703

[BingoBob]

Thanks, Guys.

@Gio1210: That's interesting. If it's a factory defect I'm not too fussed. More worried about damaged / repaired.

@AnimalV8: I think it's a different issue because you can definitely feel something hard behind the bumper that is pushing it out. Possibly the impact absorbers. I did see another thread with ripples on vantages further down the bumper. Might be related.

[LordBretSinclair]

BingoBob said:

Should I be making a fuss?

IMHO -

[BingoBob]

The car is under manufacturer's warranty. I suppose this could be seen as a manufacturing defect...

[ShortTimers]

BingoBob said:

The AM dealer I bought it from says this is very common, normal and one of the benefits of a hand-built car (that's his excuse for any defect I point out).

Should I be making a fuss?

Make a fuss, I'd be screaming at him by now... if its common they should know how to fix it and you shouldn't just take his word for it. If its under warrenty get it looked at by another AM dealer... thats what i would do.

[burntout]

Hell and back on this one.... Go and park it up in the dealers forecourt and when potential customers come along you can point out to them the fabulous trates of owning a hand built car..

I would imagine this should be covered under warranty...

[Gio1210]

Tricky warranty Issue! Might come back to normal after using a heat gun (not you, the dealers) or a new rear bumper!

[toofastforme]

Well, I wish I had your problem and not mine...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=106...

[BingoBob]

I saw that on another thread:

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

Sounds like the rear bumper is a problem area

[EBruce]

Bob-those dimples are different from what I have and have seen on other V8 Vantages. Usually they are above those (see the post directly above, there is a picture of it).

I would take it to the dealer and see if they can help sort it out. Mine used a heat gun and released the double sided tape. You can now only see it if you really are looking for it.

[Richales]

Had this both on my 06 coupe and now got it on my Roadster too. Very frustrating but out of warranty now, not that I think I'd get anywhere trying to argue to get it rectified.

Might try to remove the 'double sided tape' as described in the above link though.

[BingoBob]

Good to know I'm not the only one. However, I am certain that nothing can be done with either heatgun or doublesided tape since you can definitely feel the there is something rigid pushing the bumper out in these 2 spots. I can depress the bumper slightly with my finger everywhere else except these 2 dimples. It's like pushing on solid metal. No give at all.

Give the position, I am wondering if the bumper retaining bolts are slightly too long? I haven't really had a look.

Anyway, I've got to take it to Aston Martin for the stereo so I'll get them to look at it. Problem is, call me paranoid, I don't trust dealers to give it to me straight whether they be Audi or AM.

Edited by BingoBob on Friday 20th January 08:30

[Steve jm]

I would say that something has pushed the plastic bumper cover IN past the rigid supports and that is why you have highspots and not usual dimples.

I would really need a closer look but they could possibly be ironed out and a repair paint after to get it sorted?

Steve
(Chiltern Aston)

[BingoBob]

I could conceive of the bumper being pushed in, deformed by the rigid support then springing back to its original position leaving the dimples - in which case they might come out *but* it still feels like there is still something hard pushing them out.

The bumper fits everywhere else very nicely. Worried now, dealer said this was a common problem, but you are saying that you haven't seen it before?

[BingoBob]

@Gio1210: the 7 that you saw had exactly the same dimples?

[Steve jm]

Don't worry I have seen this many times before including DB7's where the bumper brackets stretch the plastic on impact?

[BingoBob]

Oh that's ok then, it's just impact damage