Clutch wear on a 2009 DBS
Discussion
Looking at a 2009 DBS (one owner car) with 30,000 miles. Dealer can't locate the history file or the sapphire key but that's another matter. Carfax states the car was serviced every year / 2k with lots of tyre changes but no clutch work i can see. The clutch bite feels like it's at the very top of the pedal but doesn't seem to slip at all.
Can anyone guide me on whether this is likely an upcoming item and servicing costs at AM? Or is this operator error. My reference point is a 991.2 911 Manual. Appreciate the help.
Can anyone guide me on whether this is likely an upcoming item and servicing costs at AM? Or is this operator error. My reference point is a 991.2 911 Manual. Appreciate the help.
My car is a manual Vantage. They originally had single plate clutches and the replacement points can be quite variable. Mine was at 17,000 miles.
I guess that the DBS has a twin plate clutch, which should last very much longer.
Quite a long job to replace a clutch, because of the engine gearbox layout. UK cost is about £3,000.
Beautiful cars and a manual DBS might be fairly rare.
velocitas said:
Looking at a 2009 DBS (one owner car) with 30,000 miles. Dealer can't locate the history file or the sapphire key but that's another matter. Carfax states the car was serviced every year / 2k with lots of tyre changes but no clutch work i can see. The clutch bite feels like it's at the very top of the pedal but doesn't seem to slip at all.
Can anyone guide me on whether this is likely an upcoming item and servicing costs at AM? Or is this operator error. My reference point is a 991.2 911 Manual. Appreciate the help.
What about the brakes? 30,000 miles - how many sets of brake pads? Can anyone guide me on whether this is likely an upcoming item and servicing costs at AM? Or is this operator error. My reference point is a 991.2 911 Manual. Appreciate the help.
The twin-plate clutch is pretty robust, but I'd look into the brakes - this is a topic covered ad nauseam on here on many threads...
velocitas said:
Looking at a 2009 DBS (one owner car) with 30,000 miles. Dealer can't locate the history file or the sapphire key but that's another matter. Carfax states the car was serviced every year / 2k with lots of tyre changes but no clutch work i can see. The clutch bite feels like it's at the very top of the pedal but doesn't seem to slip at all.
Can anyone guide me on whether this is likely an upcoming item and servicing costs at AM? Or is this operator error. My reference point is a 991.2 911 Manual. Appreciate the help.
Hi Velocitas, how much is the DBS your looking at, I just replaced the clutch on mine it was £2,500&VAT for parts and had a very experienced mechanic swap it out.Can anyone guide me on whether this is likely an upcoming item and servicing costs at AM? Or is this operator error. My reference point is a 991.2 911 Manual. Appreciate the help.
Mines is up for sale its a beautiful Manual DBS, 58 Plate, Storm Black, just spent £12k on various bits and bobs including new clutch at 31k...... its listed with my friend at his new company https://theautolounge.co.uk/stock/aston-martin-dbs...
I bought it 8 years ago from Grange Aston, 2 owners from new and I have had it form 13k miles.
In absolute mint condition, both mechanically and paint finish etc, its sadly a bargain.
Only reason its for sale is I am building another Whisky distillery....
You really need to make sure everything is in tip top condition and if possible an Aston Martin warranty included, warranty is expensive but worth every penny! Carbon ceramics are £18000 to replace and manual clutch is approx £3000. I got one of these awesome cars last July and absolutely love it to bits. Don’t whatever you do use iron cleaners on wheels when washing car or getting it detailed. Only use ph neutral soap and try not to get that on ceramics.
Eeyore9 said:
You really need to make sure everything is in tip top condition and if possible an Aston Martin warranty included, warranty is expensive but worth every penny! Carbon ceramics are £18000 to replace and manual clutch is approx £3000. I got one of these awesome cars last July and absolutely love it to bits. Don’t whatever you do use iron cleaners on wheels when washing car or getting it detailed. Only use ph neutral soap and try not to get that on ceramics.
Would the warranty cover those items?mikeyb2410 said:
Hi Velocitas, how much is the DBS your looking at, I just replaced the clutch on mine it was £2,500&VAT for parts and had a very experienced mechanic swap it out.
Mine is up for sale, it's a beautiful ...
Mine is up for sale, it's a beautiful ...
Sorry Mike, cannot resist a You Bet Your Life retort.
Are you offering free delivery to New York ? -

We all get confused, the internet is so international, but a handy post.
Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 23 February 09:08
mikeyb2410 said:
Hi Velocitas, how much is the DBS your looking at, I just replaced the clutch on mine it was £2,500&VAT for parts and had a very experienced mechanic swap it out.
Mines is up for sale its a beautiful Manual DBS, 58 Plate, Storm Black, just spent £12k on various bits and bobs including new clutch at 31k...... its listed with my friend at his new company https://theautolounge.co.uk/stock/aston-martin-dbs...
I bought it 8 years ago from Grange Aston, 2 owners from new and I have had it form 13k miles.
In absolute mint condition, both mechanically and paint finish etc, its sadly a bargain.
Only reason its for sale is I am building another Whisky distillery....
Oh my. Gorgeous. Mines is up for sale its a beautiful Manual DBS, 58 Plate, Storm Black, just spent £12k on various bits and bobs including new clutch at 31k...... its listed with my friend at his new company https://theautolounge.co.uk/stock/aston-martin-dbs...
I bought it 8 years ago from Grange Aston, 2 owners from new and I have had it form 13k miles.
In absolute mint condition, both mechanically and paint finish etc, its sadly a bargain.
Only reason its for sale is I am building another Whisky distillery....
a word of warning. if you are buying the DBS, whomever you are buying it from - besides the clutch (but that also depends on how it has been driven), you need to check the Ceramic Discs carefully. It needs to be popped up on a ramp and if you can, look at the floating bolt heads that hold the bell to the disc. If no care has been taken in washing the car and the wheels and discs were sprayed with water and then the car not driven to dry the discs before putting away, you may find the bolts have corroded (you cannot see it in situ). This corrosion can lead to the bolt expanding and cracking the disc.
If you cannot sight the rear of the discs clearly on the ramp (the back plate usually is fairly close) you may need to remove the discs (you need to remove the calipers first). Depending on your negotiating skills and the seller, there will likely be a cost for time and as the calipers bolts will need replacing if the calipers have been removed.
I say to check the discs because there have been a few cases of this occuring...likely because of the lack of washing care - and as a previous poster advises, the cost of replacing the Ceramic Discs will cause more eye watering than squeezing a lemon in your face.
Yes, I went through this so I speak from experience.
Good Luck.
ps. Fyg, Aston actually recommend you remove the wheel if you wish to wash it. (ie. don't wash the wheels on the car - crazy, yes I know). or after washing it go and drive it using your brakes to generate enough heat to dry the discs out. (and hopefully you don't get your car dirty enough that you have to wash it again).
If you cannot sight the rear of the discs clearly on the ramp (the back plate usually is fairly close) you may need to remove the discs (you need to remove the calipers first). Depending on your negotiating skills and the seller, there will likely be a cost for time and as the calipers bolts will need replacing if the calipers have been removed.
I say to check the discs because there have been a few cases of this occuring...likely because of the lack of washing care - and as a previous poster advises, the cost of replacing the Ceramic Discs will cause more eye watering than squeezing a lemon in your face.
Yes, I went through this so I speak from experience.
Good Luck.
ps. Fyg, Aston actually recommend you remove the wheel if you wish to wash it. (ie. don't wash the wheels on the car - crazy, yes I know). or after washing it go and drive it using your brakes to generate enough heat to dry the discs out. (and hopefully you don't get your car dirty enough that you have to wash it again).
Jon39 said:
Sorry Mike, cannot resist a You Bet Your Life retort.
Are you offering free delivery to New York ? -

We all get confused, the internet is so international, but a handy post.
Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 23 February 09:08
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