Newish V8 Vantage Owner & Wheel Spacer Question...

[MrBGR]

Hi,

Can anyone advise me on which Wheels Spacers I should go for on my 08 V8 Vantage Roadster?

Although I have owned the car since the summer I have only just finished an 'interesting' battle with the company who supplied my car, I will keep that for a separate Thread...

Due to trying to get all the issues sorted I spent most of the summer attending the 100th Anniversary events without the car, a little frustrating but as I did not know about the 100th anniversary stuff pre purchase I can't really complain!

As the rules require I have added some images of my car below.

I have to say that coming from a 911 C4S I would never go back regardless of the 'feature of the model' issues, maybe as I have also owned a TVR 500 Griffith for over 5 years I am more forgiving than most.

Whist I have been getting the warranty issues sorted I have had some fun bolting some carbon fibre and a list of other items below:

I have fitted myself:

Clear Rear Lenses
Carbon Fibre Rear Diffuser
Carbon Fibre Front Splitter
Carbon Edition 6 Slat Front Grille
Carbon Fibre Side Strakes
Black Bonnet Mesh
Tracking Device with an Smartphone/Tablet APP based Mapping & Remote Starter Circuit Disable feature (Counter Car Key Theft/Car Jacking)

Work carried out at Nicholas Mee

Extended Warranty Inspection - (Which identify the issues that started the warranty battle)
QuickSilver Exhaust
Forward Facing Camera

Local Wheel Specialist:

Wheels Sprayed in Flash Chrome

Bought and not fitted yet, but will fit when I get some free time:

Carbon Fibre Door Sill Plates
Black Ceramic Tailpipes

Bought and not sure if I am going to fit: (I never thought I would say it but maybe there is such a thing as too much Carbon Fibre!?)

Carbon Fibre Mirror Caps
Carbon Fibre Kamm Tail
Carbon Fibre Rear Lens Insert

Still on the shopping list:

Glass Switch Kit
Alcantara Steering Wheel
Engine Power Upgrade (The standard Aston Martin option as I can't justify the Bamford Rose Upgrade, well not this year anyway...)
20mm Wheel Spacers all round

The last item on the list was one of the reasons for this post, can anyone help me out with a supplier for these?

Regards

Steve

[mikey k]

I like that!
Looks like Morning Frost ?
If you want to sell the Kamm Tail drop me a PM!

[Wobbly]

Not sure about the wheel spacers, but a lovely looking car.

Congratulations.

[J12MOC]

Steve...a search for wheel spacers on the forum will get you lots of info. It seems that 23mm on the back and 11mm on the front is what many people have used. H&R spacers are available from various supplyers....I have some 11mm ones on order ..try
http://www.larkspeed.com/index.pl?p=69HR2265681CR&...

You may have to cut the studs on the 23mm ones to clear the wheel.

[Jon39]

Beautiful car Steve. Sorry to hear of your difficulties.

You have certainly been busy with the alterations.

George may be along. He is our resident expert about white cars with black wheels and carbon fibre.
Do not take any notice though.

Enjoy your car. Pleased to see a proper number plate.

Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 21st December 11:54

[Jalfonse]

There are 2 basic choices for the spacers, one from an American company that doesn't need studs cutting (forget their name) and one from H&R which will need the studs trimmed back, lark speed sell them. I've spoken to a couple of guys on here who have them fitted and seen pictures, look really good and I'm gonna get the H&R 23mm for the rears. Do a search for the thread it's only a couple of months old and has pics etc and you'll see the US company's offering I mentioned, let me know how you get on, car is a beauty btw.

[MollyGTi]

Jon39 said:

George may be along. He is our resident expert about white cars with black wheels and carbon fibre.
Do not take any notice though.

^^^^^^^ What he said (i.e. don't take it personally )

Lovely car (as Mikey said - Morning Frost? Ours is Stratus White but yours looks a touch more pearlescent )

Only a real enthusiast would have such a list of improvements/additions after such a short period of ownership

I hope all your troubles have been resolved and you get to really enjoy your Aston now

[MrBGR]

MollyGTi said:

Only a real enthusiast would have such a list of improvements/additions after such a short period of ownership

'enthusiast' is one word that could be used, and yes any Pearlescent car is a brave choice but I love it!

Thank you all for your messages, and yes all the issues are behind me, learnt about about the 'Law', I also got very lucky on a number of points, the main one being that I could prove the faults were pre-existing prior to my purchase and as I decided to finance some of the car until the 911 was sold the finance company had to get involved, helps to have a 'Legal Department' behind you, MotoNovo were great and they made-up the final difference amount due that the other side refused to pay! I may post a separate topic, not to name and shame, more for information for other who are having issues.

Anyway that's in the past, I just want to enjoy the car.

So, after quite a bit of research I have decided to go with:

RSC Front Spacers & Wheel Studs

RSC Rear Spacers & Wheel Studs

Whilst I was in buying mode I also added their:

RSC Lowering Springs

After reading quite a few treads about David Appleby I contacted them about fitting.

James has been really helpful and we have agreed a price for them to fit all of the above and set-up Wheel Alignment / Geometry

The other reason for asking them to do all the work is that is make perfect 'Man Mans' to get them to fit their 200-Cell Exhaust Cats and a few other bits at the same time, I will start a separate thread about that as I had a Dyno Run on Friday to set a baseline to see the difference once the work is all done.

[Manwhoneverwas]

Lovely car Steve and well done fitting a lot of the kit yourself..
I have had pretty much the same work done to my car as yours after paintwork bubble issues with AM, but you are 100% correct (put the issues behind you) and enjoy a terrific looking car.
The CF mirror caps and black mesh kit was something I grappled with, but decided to limit the mods on my car, especially since the CF caps are not AM OEM parts

You mention the AM power upgrade kit which is available here at a reasonable price I think? (I have no connection to the dealer)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASTON-MARTIN-V8-VANTAGE-...

[MrBGR]

Hi,

Yes, I am not sure about the CF wing mirrors now that I have fitted them, easy enough to change back though!

The mesh in the bonnet was the simplest thing I have done on the car, a few nuts on each side and a can of heat proof satin matt spray from Halfords, if I want to change them back then another trip to Halfords...

Not sure I would ever want to tackle the Side Stakes again though...

Thank you for the eBay link, James at David Appleby put me in touch with their the Parts contact at Lancaster Reading Aston Martin, they source all their OE parts from them, and to my astonishment I got a discount, I know a Main Dealer and Independent working together.

It got better for me as they worked out the logistics of moving the car between themselves, ok they are both commercial enterties but I have to say it's a refreshing approach...

I will start a new thread about the Power Upgrade with a before and after Dyno for anyone who is interested.