V8V Lifting Windscreen and Swiss AM Dealers
Discussion
Hi All,
just wondering if anyone has had any issues with the bonding on their windscreens failing? After attending the recent Big 5 event at Nurburgring, it sounded as though a window was open on the car and on further checking the windscreen was found to be lifting in both upper corners. I hadn't experienced any problems previously and to my knowledge the screen has never been replaced. The car is relatively new (MY '09) and has only done about 10k.
The AM technician at the event said he'd never seen anything like that before but agreed that it could be replaced under warranty. It does seem to be the bonding material failing and probably not done right at the factory, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has seen something similar?
The second part of the discussion is around the AM dealer support in Switzerland: unfortunately I have to go to my local AM dealer in (Emil Frey - Safenwil Switzerland) for the warranty work on the screen. They said that they needed an entire day to do this, and so after a couple of weeks they managed to get a new screen from the UK and we organised a day to drop the car off for the work to be done. As the garage is about an hour's drive away a hire car from the dealer was organised ( I would expect to have a courtesy car free of charge - but they said this was not possible). Anyway after dropping the car at the garage and returning home, I get a call stating that they've removed the old screen, but the new one was damaged "in transit" and to get a new one sent over is a minumum 5 days! Oh and I should pay the extra time that I need the hire car because that's a customer issue!
Eventually after a lot of discussion I managed to get the hire car charges removed, but what's that for customer service!? All this in addition to paying circa £2000 for a straightforward 2 year regular service. I just wanted if there's anyone else on the forum that's had similarly poor experience in CH and if there are any options?
Thanks,
Paul
just wondering if anyone has had any issues with the bonding on their windscreens failing? After attending the recent Big 5 event at Nurburgring, it sounded as though a window was open on the car and on further checking the windscreen was found to be lifting in both upper corners. I hadn't experienced any problems previously and to my knowledge the screen has never been replaced. The car is relatively new (MY '09) and has only done about 10k.
The AM technician at the event said he'd never seen anything like that before but agreed that it could be replaced under warranty. It does seem to be the bonding material failing and probably not done right at the factory, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has seen something similar?
The second part of the discussion is around the AM dealer support in Switzerland: unfortunately I have to go to my local AM dealer in (Emil Frey - Safenwil Switzerland) for the warranty work on the screen. They said that they needed an entire day to do this, and so after a couple of weeks they managed to get a new screen from the UK and we organised a day to drop the car off for the work to be done. As the garage is about an hour's drive away a hire car from the dealer was organised ( I would expect to have a courtesy car free of charge - but they said this was not possible). Anyway after dropping the car at the garage and returning home, I get a call stating that they've removed the old screen, but the new one was damaged "in transit" and to get a new one sent over is a minumum 5 days! Oh and I should pay the extra time that I need the hire car because that's a customer issue!
Eventually after a lot of discussion I managed to get the hire car charges removed, but what's that for customer service!? All this in addition to paying circa £2000 for a straightforward 2 year regular service. I just wanted if there's anyone else on the forum that's had similarly poor experience in CH and if there are any options?
Thanks,
Paul
Paul,
I don't know where you are in Switzerland though my dealer Aston Martin St. Gallen is really good and very customer focused when it comes to warranty issues if there is anything.
The guys in the shop (Peter and Roger) are former race car mechanics so they know which end of the spanner is which and Roger is good with electrical things which a lot of guys struggle with. They also speak English if that helps.
The annual service cost you've been charged seems a bit high though I don't know what you had done and "few" extra things can really add up. I think Peter quoted me 2,300 CHF (~£1,550) for an annual service for a V8V, though it's better to ask them.
E-mail me if you'd like, as it's always good to get together for a bit of blast around with other Astons. I'm also toying with the idea of loosely organizing getting a few people together this summer for a weekend drive through the mountains.
I don't know where you are in Switzerland though my dealer Aston Martin St. Gallen is really good and very customer focused when it comes to warranty issues if there is anything.
The guys in the shop (Peter and Roger) are former race car mechanics so they know which end of the spanner is which and Roger is good with electrical things which a lot of guys struggle with. They also speak English if that helps.
The annual service cost you've been charged seems a bit high though I don't know what you had done and "few" extra things can really add up. I think Peter quoted me 2,300 CHF (~£1,550) for an annual service for a V8V, though it's better to ask them.
E-mail me if you'd like, as it's always good to get together for a bit of blast around with other Astons. I'm also toying with the idea of loosely organizing getting a few people together this summer for a weekend drive through the mountains.
I have no experience of having an AM serviced in Switzerland as we're currently looking to purchase a car, however the service that we have received from everyone at Aston Martin St Gallen has been exemplary. We've been dealing with Andreas, one of the owners but the focus on customer service has been the same with everyone we've met or spoken to.
Our experience with Emil Frey has been constantly appalling and we avoid them wherever possible. It doesn't surprise me one bit the service you got. If Emil Frey was my only option for AM here in Switzerland I wouldn't be considering one.
Overall, here in Switzerland our experience has been it pays to give business to small(er) family owned businesses and you'll get great service. Try a big chain and they don't care.
Our experience with Emil Frey has been constantly appalling and we avoid them wherever possible. It doesn't surprise me one bit the service you got. If Emil Frey was my only option for AM here in Switzerland I wouldn't be considering one.
Overall, here in Switzerland our experience has been it pays to give business to small(er) family owned businesses and you'll get great service. Try a big chain and they don't care.
That sounds strange for Switzerland standards
No experience with Aston Martin dealer but quite a lot with Jaguar in Basel Land (they are all part of the same group Emil Frey).
Certainly there is not a lot of competition (maybe for Aston you can go to Zurich but they are still Emil Frey if it is not too far but I do not know how good they are) and prices are higher vs UK but usually quality and customer service is impeccable (but again I am talking about experience with Jaguar in Munchenstein and also based on experience with friends on other top brand such as Ferrari and Lambo). In Jaguar I have never paid the replacement car. Warranty is also usually more comprehensive than in other countries (France etc)
I had a problem for the delivery of my first car, I wrote to Jaguar and they immediately reacted with the dealer and gifts to me
No experience with Aston Martin dealer but quite a lot with Jaguar in Basel Land (they are all part of the same group Emil Frey).
Certainly there is not a lot of competition (maybe for Aston you can go to Zurich but they are still Emil Frey if it is not too far but I do not know how good they are) and prices are higher vs UK but usually quality and customer service is impeccable (but again I am talking about experience with Jaguar in Munchenstein and also based on experience with friends on other top brand such as Ferrari and Lambo). In Jaguar I have never paid the replacement car. Warranty is also usually more comprehensive than in other countries (France etc)
I had a problem for the delivery of my first car, I wrote to Jaguar and they immediately reacted with the dealer and gifts to me
Edited by Riccardino on Friday 1st June 07:05
Swiss_Toni said:
I'm also toying with the idea of loosely organizing getting a few people together this summer for a weekend drive through the mountains.
Have a look at this thread. A bunch of us Swiss folk have been doing one or two drives a year. It's a good group, relaxed and go-at-your-own-pace. Some nice cars (Ferraris, Porsches, Lotus....) though to date no Astons.Paul - you omit to say if you are operating under the original warranty (MY09 can be either).
If so, then your treatment is shocking.
I have had maybe 5 minor warranty items since ownership and each time Wilmslow have come and collected the car, fixed it, cleaned the car then returned it same day. On the last warranty claim regarding paintwork JCT kept it for 3 days after the service then returned it onto my driveway.
Sometimes you just have to be firm
If so, then your treatment is shocking.
I have had maybe 5 minor warranty items since ownership and each time Wilmslow have come and collected the car, fixed it, cleaned the car then returned it same day. On the last warranty claim regarding paintwork JCT kept it for 3 days after the service then returned it onto my driveway.
Sometimes you just have to be firm
Hoi, I am based in Zurich and also had some bad experience with Emil Frey. I can recommend www.luxurycarclinic.ch/
Stephan is a very nice chap. Just give them a call.
Stephan is a very nice chap. Just give them a call.
Hi All,
thanks for your advice and help, I'll let you know how the windscreen situation pans out. The car is under original warranty, but I'm afraid Emil Frey are do nothing to enhance the ownership experience, perhaps they are just not geared up to deal with relatively low-volume specialist brands. I will likely try St. Gallen or maybe even a works service if I combine it with a trip back to blighty.
Swiss_Toni & chandrew - I will try to hook up for a drive around the passes.
Cheers
Paul
thanks for your advice and help, I'll let you know how the windscreen situation pans out. The car is under original warranty, but I'm afraid Emil Frey are do nothing to enhance the ownership experience, perhaps they are just not geared up to deal with relatively low-volume specialist brands. I will likely try St. Gallen or maybe even a works service if I combine it with a trip back to blighty.
Swiss_Toni & chandrew - I will try to hook up for a drive around the passes.
Cheers
Paul
If you are getting poor service from an AM approved dealer / franchise then you should really make AM Gaydon aware of your problems. They are very conscious of the importance of projecting a good image of AM. I would have thought that Zurich would be a good market for them.
Just give them a quick call. I am sure you will be taken seriously. I for one am fed up with poor service from premium brands.
AM Gaydon: +44 1926-644745
Just give them a quick call. I am sure you will be taken seriously. I for one am fed up with poor service from premium brands.
AM Gaydon: +44 1926-644745
I had exactly the same problem last year with the windscreen lifting approx half an inch. Fixed under warranty and was told they had never heard of anything like this before. Took age to diagnose as the wind only came in at high speed and also made a "clunking" noise over rough roads.
Car is a 08 V8V N400
Car is a 08 V8V N400
Swiss_Toni said:
FYI, I don't know what you're looking for but I was at AM St. Gallen yesterday and they just got a V12V in on trade.
Sorry for the delay in responding. We're going to make the jump to a Rapide as two small children are meaning the Lotus stays most of the time in the garage on a charger. We tested it as an outside-choice alongside a Maserati Granturismo / Ferrari 612 and fell for it in a big way. It's probably got about the same space inside as those cars but the extra 2 doors make it far more usable and it's just such a lovely thing in every way. Just waiting until later in the year to get the last summer on the passes in the Lotus.See you next weekend on the drive.
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