MOT Advisory and AM Timeless Warranty
Discussion
After some advice.
Purchased a 3-year-old Vanquish in August this year and although being informed that the car had a full 12 months MOT (July 2019) I have just found out that there were two advisories on the MOT.
Both refer to offside shock absorbers “light misting of oil or has limited damping effect”, not happy that the dealer did not mention at the time (buyer beware).
The car has AM Premium Timeless warranty (initiated 02/09/2019) so would be covered if the units did fail, but at the moment as only advisories could I pursue a claim with AM under the warranty as this would require all four shock absorbers to be replaced.?
Purchased a 3-year-old Vanquish in August this year and although being informed that the car had a full 12 months MOT (July 2019) I have just found out that there were two advisories on the MOT.
Both refer to offside shock absorbers “light misting of oil or has limited damping effect”, not happy that the dealer did not mention at the time (buyer beware).
The car has AM Premium Timeless warranty (initiated 02/09/2019) so would be covered if the units did fail, but at the moment as only advisories could I pursue a claim with AM under the warranty as this would require all four shock absorbers to be replaced.?
There is so much openly available online now, one does sometimes wonder about privacy.
In this instance though, it has certainly been of help to you.
On the DVLA website it does not reveal who did the MoT, but the MoT document which you were given shows advisories. The main dealer might not have read that document, so for that reason if it were me, I would approach them with a 'soft touch' initially. If they refuse, I would then get tough, because in this instance, it is in writing that there was a mechanical fault at the time of your purchase.
Hope my thoughts might be helpful.
Apart from this, your car must be a joy to own.
PS. As you have found the information, I suppose the warranty firm could also, so perhaps they might say "existing fault before purchase".
Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 16th October 11:50
Jon
Many thanks for your input.
I was never given a copy of the MOT and it was only when checking online that I found out that the car had advisories on it. My fault for not checking beforehand but the reg number was covered by the AM Timeless plates when viewing.
The MOT was performed on the 12th July 2019 whereby the advisory was issued and the dealer completed an inspection on the vehicle on the 23rd July 2019 stating that the steering and suspension was all "OK" even though the dealer would have had access to the MOT.
I have found a little more info on the attached: -
http://www.theuniversalgroup.com/shock-absorber-in...
According to this misting of the shock absorber is "normal" and this may be why the AM Timeless warranty was issued even with misting shock absorbers.
Strange that it is both offside shock absorbers that are misting at only 8,000 miles. I would have thought that if the previous owner had hit a large pot hole on the offside, this may cause the misting but would also have damaged the tyres but the tyres are still the originals.
I probably will have to wait and see how it goes and get it booked in for its MOT next year a month before its due to see if it’s any worse.
Many thanks for your input.
I was never given a copy of the MOT and it was only when checking online that I found out that the car had advisories on it. My fault for not checking beforehand but the reg number was covered by the AM Timeless plates when viewing.
The MOT was performed on the 12th July 2019 whereby the advisory was issued and the dealer completed an inspection on the vehicle on the 23rd July 2019 stating that the steering and suspension was all "OK" even though the dealer would have had access to the MOT.
I have found a little more info on the attached: -
http://www.theuniversalgroup.com/shock-absorber-in...
According to this misting of the shock absorber is "normal" and this may be why the AM Timeless warranty was issued even with misting shock absorbers.
Strange that it is both offside shock absorbers that are misting at only 8,000 miles. I would have thought that if the previous owner had hit a large pot hole on the offside, this may cause the misting but would also have damaged the tyres but the tyres are still the originals.
I probably will have to wait and see how it goes and get it booked in for its MOT next year a month before its due to see if it’s any worse.
Edited by SHIFTY on Wednesday 16th October 12:26
As i have found out recently (not to my cost but major inconvenience) the timeless inspection is not worth the paper its written on.
If i find another car i will be getting an independant inspection done before purchase.
I have forund the timeless warranty to be very good having said that.
This is the section refering to suspension if of any help.
If i find another car i will be getting an independant inspection done before purchase.
I have forund the timeless warranty to be very good having said that.
This is the section refering to suspension if of any help.
David
Many thanks for the info.
Says it all when I check the Timeless warranty certificate of inspection supplied with the Vanquish it states its a coupe when its a Volante, maybe the certificate of inspection is just something that the dealeship ticks that all is OK without a through check?.
Many thanks for the info.
Says it all when I check the Timeless warranty certificate of inspection supplied with the Vanquish it states its a coupe when its a Volante, maybe the certificate of inspection is just something that the dealeship ticks that all is OK without a through check?.
IMO “misting” on the shock absorbers for a car of its age/mileage/ value would be unacceptable from a retail point of view....for me it’s like signs of a slight oil leak underneath (a friend bought an approved 355 a few yrs ago & I lay on the floor to spot a leak & I did the same when a friend bought a Bentley in the showroom of the main dealer 
). Go gently initially & slowly wind the pressure on the main dealer you bought it from to get it fixed.
). Go gently initially & slowly wind the pressure on the main dealer you bought it from to get it fixed.I had two rear shock absorbers changed under timeless warranty on a DB9.
They are very reluctant to change them for “misting”. I had a free health check and got them to email me the health check that said they were indeed faulty and needed replacement.(showing as red on their healthcheck).
Once in hand I then dropped the bombshell that the car was under warranty and to feel free to replace them as advised..
I think the bill was over £2000 for the two shock absorbers.
They are very reluctant to change them for “misting”. I had a free health check and got them to email me the health check that said they were indeed faulty and needed replacement.(showing as red on their healthcheck).
Once in hand I then dropped the bombshell that the car was under warranty and to feel free to replace them as advised..
I think the bill was over £2000 for the two shock absorbers.
I'm afraid that the more unscrupulous AM dealers treat the 'Timeless' inspection as a tyre kicking exercise and the warranty a means of selling a car with known faults knowing that the warranty will cover the cost (to hell with customer inconvenience). Which is a real shame as other more reputable dealers are called into question as are AML. I personally have found AML to be fantastic as far as customer care is concerned and they really should reel in the bad guys. The 'Timeless' warranty is very good, but it is no sign of a good car being bought.
Mac
How correct you are.
Had an independent inspection completed on car and both offside shocks are leaking not misting, nearside front shock is misting, oil leak from front timing cover and the car has been overfilled with at least 1 1/2 litres of oil.
It’s going to go back to the original dealer that sold me the car when I let them know later today.
So four new shocks and engine out for timing cover gasket probably will not see it again this side of Xmas.
How correct you are.
Had an independent inspection completed on car and both offside shocks are leaking not misting, nearside front shock is misting, oil leak from front timing cover and the car has been overfilled with at least 1 1/2 litres of oil.
It’s going to go back to the original dealer that sold me the car when I let them know later today.
So four new shocks and engine out for timing cover gasket probably will not see it again this side of Xmas.
SHIFTY said:
...... and the car has been overfilled with at least 1 1/2 litres of oil.
The damper can be replaced and the engine leak can be repaired, but I would be very worried about 1 1/2 litres of overfilled oil.
I don't know, but with the V12, perhaps 1 1/2 litres is modest percentage.
There might be a warning in our handbooks, but my Mercedes has this written warning on the oil filler cap, 'To avoid engine damage, do fill above MAX'.
The unknown presumably, is how long has the engine been run whist containing too much oil?
A very awkward situation. A knowledgeable engine expert is occasionally on this forum, but I will leave others to comment, because to mention a name, might not be the correct thing for me to do.
After chasing up the dealer today they are sorting out the engine oil leak by removing the timing cover with the engine in situ. This may damage the sump gasket when the timing cover is replaced as best practice is to remove the engine, I will have to wait and see
With respect to the misting dampers they have cleaned them!. Something I completed when I GTECH all of the wheels some 600 miles ago so the dampers are leaking, the car will be going back in again if the dampers are not renewed.
Spoke to AM customer services and basically no help at all they even stated that suspension is not included within the Timeless warranty but it does state that it is within the description.
AM Timeless warranty is with Car Care Plan so nothing to do with AM even though all of the AM marketing material states “AM Timeless” not “Car Care Plan”.
I will have to wait and see how the car is returned and then after a few weeks obtain another independent inspection and if the problems are still persisting they may have to have the car back as these issues were there before they sold me the car but failed to inspect them properly.
With respect to the misting dampers they have cleaned them!. Something I completed when I GTECH all of the wheels some 600 miles ago so the dampers are leaking, the car will be going back in again if the dampers are not renewed.
Spoke to AM customer services and basically no help at all they even stated that suspension is not included within the Timeless warranty but it does state that it is within the description.
AM Timeless warranty is with Car Care Plan so nothing to do with AM even though all of the AM marketing material states “AM Timeless” not “Car Care Plan”.
I will have to wait and see how the car is returned and then after a few weeks obtain another independent inspection and if the problems are still persisting they may have to have the car back as these issues were there before they sold me the car but failed to inspect them properly.
To me Dave, this is bad ‘vibes'
Several faults on one car. You indicate that both dealer and AML have not been helpful and in some instances even unprofessional.
My AM is now 10 years old, and has not had the faults which you describe.
I don't know the rules about rejecting a car following purchase, but you don't want to be the owner if any further faults appear.
I have had emails from other PH members stating that they have had issues with oil overfilling and the lack of response from a dealer in sorting out a problem that should have been identified prior to the selling of the car with a Timeless warranty.
My issue is that two of the dampers were identified as advisories in the MOT but were not identified by the dealer at the service or as part of the Timeless (or should we now be calling this worthless) inspection warranty. AM Gaydon customer services blames it on the previous owners not using the car enough and that the damper seals had dried out, work that out.
The car had only covered 70 miles from April to July and had been overfilled with engine oil for this period plus the 600 miles that I used the car for.
The AM Timeless warranty (which is a Car Care Plan) does not cover any previously identified faults, so it is in the interest of a dealer not to identify any problems on the inspection as in my case of faulty dampers and engine oil leaks it will cost them money to rectify but will then use the Timeless warranty to do so after selling the vehicle.
I have been lucky enough to have had two previous Aston Martins with no problems what so ever and then three Porsches again with no problems, maybe its time to look at another manufacturer if this is how warranty issues on a £230K car with 8,000 miles are sorted.
My issue is that two of the dampers were identified as advisories in the MOT but were not identified by the dealer at the service or as part of the Timeless (or should we now be calling this worthless) inspection warranty. AM Gaydon customer services blames it on the previous owners not using the car enough and that the damper seals had dried out, work that out.
The car had only covered 70 miles from April to July and had been overfilled with engine oil for this period plus the 600 miles that I used the car for.
The AM Timeless warranty (which is a Car Care Plan) does not cover any previously identified faults, so it is in the interest of a dealer not to identify any problems on the inspection as in my case of faulty dampers and engine oil leaks it will cost them money to rectify but will then use the Timeless warranty to do so after selling the vehicle.
I have been lucky enough to have had two previous Aston Martins with no problems what so ever and then three Porsches again with no problems, maybe its time to look at another manufacturer if this is how warranty issues on a £230K car with 8,000 miles are sorted.
Good advice but the AM Timeless warranty only covers for up to £2,000.00 for any MOT failures and swapping four dampers with be circa £6,000.00.
I will await what the dealer informs me of to the progress on Monday but at the moment I feel that they can have the car back.
"The car falls under the manufacturer's approved used Timeless programme meaning it comes with 12 months Aston Martin warranty, 12 months MOT and carries a full Aston Martin service history. The car also goes through a strict manufacturer approved checklist by Aston Martin trained master technicians to ensure the best possible quality of vehicle".
All of these issues should have been identified as part of the AM Timeless inspection and rectified before the warranty was applied but none were.
I will await what the dealer informs me of to the progress on Monday but at the moment I feel that they can have the car back.
"The car falls under the manufacturer's approved used Timeless programme meaning it comes with 12 months Aston Martin warranty, 12 months MOT and carries a full Aston Martin service history. The car also goes through a strict manufacturer approved checklist by Aston Martin trained master technicians to ensure the best possible quality of vehicle".
All of these issues should have been identified as part of the AM Timeless inspection and rectified before the warranty was applied but none were.
Edited by SHIFTY on Sunday 27th October 09:20
I'll bite my tongue here but maybe a DM is in order for a couple of posters above?
Honest John motor sales may want to flog you a car knowing it has faults and that the RAC Approved Used Car Warranty will cover it for them if they stall you enough but if franchised dealers are seemingly doing exactly the same with a prestige 'Timeless' brand and then creating annoyance, distrust, lack of use of the car (which may be costing someone £2k a month) and HUGE inconvenience to their customers it absolutely stinks.
But as I said, I'll just bite my tongue here as my Brizzle dealer is fab
Honest John motor sales may want to flog you a car knowing it has faults and that the RAC Approved Used Car Warranty will cover it for them if they stall you enough but if franchised dealers are seemingly doing exactly the same with a prestige 'Timeless' brand and then creating annoyance, distrust, lack of use of the car (which may be costing someone £2k a month) and HUGE inconvenience to their customers it absolutely stinks.
But as I said, I'll just bite my tongue here as my Brizzle dealer is fab
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