So what have you done with your Aston today? (Vol. 2)

[brianabbot]

That is the only problem that i can find with my car - i cant really improve on the looks in any way, its not like when i had my lotus and there were loads of little things you could do to make it look better. I did wonder about a black grille but in truth I'd only be doing it so that i had something to do and would only end up changing it back again later!

[EVR]

brianabbot said:

That is the only problem that i can find with my car - i cant really improve on the looks in any way, its not like when i had my lotus and there were loads of little things you could do to make it look better. I did wonder about a black grille but in truth I'd only be doing it so that i had something to do and would only end up changing it back again later!

There are some small and not so small projects you can tackle, for instance the key fob just posted above. I see that you already did the short antenna and the plate plinth. I suspect you are going for the clean original look, but what about clear lights and side skirts? A carbon front spoiler/rear diffuser/side vents like the N420? LED interior lights upgrade? Removal of the ugly safety stickers on the sun visors and passenger dashboard side? Then the non-visual improvements, like updating the sat-nav to the latest available maps and Bluetooth-related improvements.

[cornershop]

Brian Abbot - please post here the name of the body shop.

Yours looks like Tungsten, same as mine, which is a difficult colour to match. If they’ve matched it well, it would be worth knowing who did the work.

[RMDB9]

EVR said:

brianabbot said:

That is the only problem that i can find with my car - i cant really improve on the looks in any way, its not like when i had my lotus and there were loads of little things you could do to make it look better. I did wonder about a black grille but in truth I'd only be doing it so that i had something to do and would only end up changing it back again later!

There are some small and not so small projects you can tackle, for instance the key fob just posted above. I see that you already did the short antenna and the plate plinth. I suspect you are going for the clean original look, but what about clear lights and side skirts? A carbon front spoiler/rear diffuser/side vents like the N420? LED interior lights upgrade? Removal of the ugly safety stickers on the sun visors and passenger dashboard side? Then the non-visual improvements, like updating the sat-nav to the latest available maps and Bluetooth-related improvements.

And more carbon, and larger wheels, and a wrap!

[EVR]

RMDB9 said:

And more carbon, and larger wheels, and a wrap!

[brianabbot]

EVR said:

There are some small and not so small projects you can tackle, for instance the key fob just posted above. I see that you already did the short antenna and the plate plinth. I suspect you are going for the clean original look, but what about clear lights and side skirts? A carbon front spoiler/rear diffuser/side vents like the N420? LED interior lights upgrade? Removal of the ugly safety stickers on the sun visors and passenger dashboard side? Then the non-visual improvements, like updating the sat-nav to the latest available maps and Bluetooth-related improvements.

Hi, yes Ive done a few bits like the led interior lights and the bluetooth mod. Im just not sure about the side skirts and splitter - there is something really nice about the way the car sits, its like the clear lights, they do look really nice but i also like the red as it breaks up the car a bit. On my last car i spent about two years fitting things then another two years slowly putting it back to standard so this time I think Ill enjoy it for a while - I also need to see some of these parts in the flesh rather than buying off the internet i think. Thanks for the advice though, its good to get other peoples opinion - im not really allowed to mention the word 'Vantage' in our house any more...

[brianabbot]

cornershop said:

Brian Abbot - please post here the name of the body shop.

Yours looks like Tungsten, same as mine, which is a difficult colour to match. If they’ve matched it well, it would be worth knowing who did the work.

Yes i think they have done a great job, Im not sure if Im allowed to mention a company on here?

[cornershop]

brianabbot said:

cornershop said:

Brian Abbot - please post here the name of the body shop.

Yours looks like Tungsten, same as mine, which is a difficult colour to match. If they’ve matched it well, it would be worth knowing who did the work.

Yes i think they have done a great job, Im not sure if Im allowed to mention a company on here?

Yes you can - you’re not allowed to bad-mouth a company, but recommendations are allowed

[brianabbot]

In that case its Sam Harris Automotive in Folkestone. Tel: [phone].

[EVR]

brianabbot said:

Hi, yes Ive done a few bits like the led interior lights and the bluetooth mod. Im just not sure about the side skirts and splitter - there is something really nice about the way the car sits, its like the clear lights, they do look really nice but i also like the red as it breaks up the car a bit. On my last car i spent about two years fitting things then another two years slowly putting it back to standard so this time I think Ill enjoy it for a while - I also need to see some of these parts in the flesh rather than buying off the internet i think. Thanks for the advice though, its good to get other peoples opinion - im not really allowed to mention the word 'Vantage' in our house any more...

Yeah, I know what you mean, I am also always looking for small things to do, while sometimes it is just good to accept the car as "done" and just enjoy it! No problem for the suggestions, these are things that I was interested in (hence I bought an N420) but I totally understand the clean look some are going for on here.

[brianabbot]

Probably in six months I’ll be posting pictures of a splitter and rear diffuser - I do really like the carbon rear diffusers..

[JonnyCJ]

Went up to AML Performance in Macclesfield for my first service since lockdown and since rebuilding the rear subframe, cleaning up all the suspension, rebuilding the calipers etc etc.

Clean bill of health, aside from a slight re-aligning of the centre exhaust joints, which is a tricky DIY lying on your back under axle stands.

Was great to really open it up on the way back knowing all was in tip top fettle.

[preA356]

put my private plate on

[LPH]

Drove it for the first time in well over 6 months.

It's been off the road and SORNed due to lockdown. Service and MOT were due end of Feb but decided to leave it until we had more freedom to move around.

So I prised it out of the garage and took it over to Aston Engineering in Derby for a service, MOT but more importantly all the stone chips being sorted. Lots on the rear arches and also front bumper.

Should collect in in about 3 weeks time.

They have some amazing cars there. I always feel like the poor relation among all the DB5s and DB6s!

[JonnyCJ]

Replaced the two rear hatch bump stops. These are two springy things that lift the hatch an inch or so when you press the hatch switch on the remote. Or in my case didn't.

I never knew the hatch popped up and now it does. Happy days.

Kindly pointed out by Adam at AML Performance whilst in for it's service.

Part number is 6G33-N40452-AB. £8ish plus VAT from the very helpful chaps at HWM.

The rubber casing screws into the hatch half an inch or so and then you need to stick a Phillips screwdriver into the sprung plunger and twist it 1/4 of a turn and the plunger operates. If you don't twist the plunger it won't pop out and your hatch won't pop up.

I can see myself stood in the garage for half an hour this evening just opening and closing the hatch...

[EVR]

JonnyCJ said:

Replaced the two rear hatch bump stops. These are two springy things that lift the hatch an inch or so when you press the hatch switch on the remote. Or in my case didn't.

I never knew the hatch popped up and now it does. Happy days.

Kindly pointed out by Adam at AML Performance whilst in for it's service.

Part number is 6G33-N40452-AB. £8ish plus VAT from the very helpful chaps at HWM.

The rubber casing screws into the hatch half an inch or so and then you need to stick a Phillips screwdriver into the sprung plunger and twist it 1/4 of a turn and the plunger operates. If you don't twist the plunger it won't pop out and your hatch won't pop up.

I can see myself stood in the garage for half an hour this evening just opening and closing the hatch...

Nice.

Can you please, if it is not too much to ask, to post some pictures on how you remove and place those back in place? I tried to when I was looking for a rattle coming from the back of the car, but could not figure out how to remove them without breaking anything. Cheers.

[JonnyCJ]

Simply unscrew clockwise and when re-fitting, screw in anti-clockwise.

No pics needed - it’s simple !

[LTP]

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but In case you aren't aware these bump stops have two functions. As mentioned above they have the sprung-loaded plungers that pop the tailgate up when you open it so you can get fingers under the lower edge to open it, but they are of a compressible rubber so act as bump stops and need to be screwed in (or out) so that they allow the tailgate to latch without being slammed too hard. If they are set too far in you might get a latch rattle (although the latch also has a rubber overslam stop) and, if your car has a small clearance, it might be possible for the tailgate to contact the bumper top edge on closing.

[raceboy]

LPH said:

So I prised it out of the garage and took it over to Aston Engineering in Derby for a service, MOT but more importantly all the stone chips being sorted. Lots on the rear arches and also front bumper.

Should collect in in about 3 weeks time.

They have some amazing cars there. I always feel like the poor relation among all the DB5s and DB6s!

Know the feeling, they always have some stunning cars there.
Need to get mine booked in for service, what sort of lead time were they quoting?

[JonnyCJ]

LTP said:

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but In case you aren't aware these bump stops have two functions. As mentioned above they have the sprung-loaded plungers that pop the tailgate up when you open it so you can get fingers under the lower edge to open it, but they are of a compressible rubber so act as bump stops and need to be screwed in (or out) so that they allow the tailgate to latch without being slammed too hard. If they are set too far in you might get a latch rattle (although the latch also has a rubber overslam stop) and, if your car has a small clearance, it might be possible for the tailgate to contact the bumper top edge on closing.

Very happy to be educated and appreciate the heads up. Seem to have got mine at the correct depth, as the hatch latches with a firm push, but without having to slam it. Slamming can result in the air pressure in the cabin popping the rear glass apparently.