2006 Vantage - Rear Light (Red) Replacement Part??
Discussion
Hi all!
The nearside (passenger side) rear light cluster has failed on my 2006 Vantage, looks like water has found its way in so it's flickering on/off & indicator isn't working which equals an MOT failure :-/
Aston Martin have quoted £747.00 (inc VAT) for a replacement part, there's used parts for approx £425.00 online, but wanted to check on here first to see if there were any alternative suggestions for parts? Or, if anyone was selling there's, perhaps if they've replaced their red lights for clear? I am looking for a red replacement light.
Also, any suggestions as to why/how the water got in in the first place/how to avoid it happening again?
Thanks!
The nearside (passenger side) rear light cluster has failed on my 2006 Vantage, looks like water has found its way in so it's flickering on/off & indicator isn't working which equals an MOT failure :-/
Aston Martin have quoted £747.00 (inc VAT) for a replacement part, there's used parts for approx £425.00 online, but wanted to check on here first to see if there were any alternative suggestions for parts? Or, if anyone was selling there's, perhaps if they've replaced their red lights for clear? I am looking for a red replacement light.
Also, any suggestions as to why/how the water got in in the first place/how to avoid it happening again?
Thanks!
Hi Adam,
Unfortunately its a very common issue on Gaydon era cars and the topic has been covered on here and 6speed multiple times before. Sadly its a design flaw with the lights (not that Aston will admit it despite giving the dealers guides to ‘repair’ the issue). Ultimately, the seal fails due to heat cycles/age and the lens separates from the back and moisture gets in and cant escape. Later versions of the light include a valve thats supposed to let moisture escape but mine had this and moisture still got in.
If your lights were working, there is a guide on here covering separating and resealing the unit but sadly it sounds like yours is past that point. There is a repair service available on ebay however ive not personally used it so cant vouch for it but there may be someone on here that has? Second hand lights are obviously cheaper than new but who knows how long it will be before they fail. My lights were functioning 100% correctly but had moisture inside and even after resealing the moisture returned.
Aston price the new lights to encourage you to buy a complete set (£750 for 1 vs ~£1k for 2 inc centre strip) which is what i ended up doing. The newer lights seem to have a much thicker sealant on them as well as the valve so im hoping they last. My advice is bite the bullet and get a new set, especially if youre planning on keeping the car for years to come. You could use this as an opportunity to upgrade to clear lights which i think make the older cars look more modern but obviously thats down to your own personal preference.
Hope that helps
Unfortunately its a very common issue on Gaydon era cars and the topic has been covered on here and 6speed multiple times before. Sadly its a design flaw with the lights (not that Aston will admit it despite giving the dealers guides to ‘repair’ the issue). Ultimately, the seal fails due to heat cycles/age and the lens separates from the back and moisture gets in and cant escape. Later versions of the light include a valve thats supposed to let moisture escape but mine had this and moisture still got in.
If your lights were working, there is a guide on here covering separating and resealing the unit but sadly it sounds like yours is past that point. There is a repair service available on ebay however ive not personally used it so cant vouch for it but there may be someone on here that has? Second hand lights are obviously cheaper than new but who knows how long it will be before they fail. My lights were functioning 100% correctly but had moisture inside and even after resealing the moisture returned.
Aston price the new lights to encourage you to buy a complete set (£750 for 1 vs ~£1k for 2 inc centre strip) which is what i ended up doing. The newer lights seem to have a much thicker sealant on them as well as the valve so im hoping they last. My advice is bite the bullet and get a new set, especially if youre planning on keeping the car for years to come. You could use this as an opportunity to upgrade to clear lights which i think make the older cars look more modern but obviously thats down to your own personal preference.
Hope that helps
Quite common, I have had 2 fail in the last 24 months on a 2012 car. Same as yours MOT failure and needed fixing ASAP
At the time I just picked up a good used one for £450 and the MOT garage fit for me for an hours labour.
Then earlier this year the other side went, same again, just flickering, noticed it few weeks before scheduled service.
During my dealer service they tempted me with a special offer, new pair of clear lights, latest pattern for £1500 fitted so I went with those.
Managed to sell the one good light I had on ebay.
company here, £195 for repair https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304057287263?hash=item4...
At the time I just picked up a good used one for £450 and the MOT garage fit for me for an hours labour.
Then earlier this year the other side went, same again, just flickering, noticed it few weeks before scheduled service.
During my dealer service they tempted me with a special offer, new pair of clear lights, latest pattern for £1500 fitted so I went with those.
Managed to sell the one good light I had on ebay.
company here, £195 for repair https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304057287263?hash=item4...
When I had this issue, a set of clears was only about £100 more than a single red light from Aston.
However - there was a guy who traded Aston parts - I bought a grill and and clear lights from him on two separate occasions. And he "part ex'd" my old parts - which meant I could part ex my one working rear light, and the centre one and got a reduction on the clear light set.
I don't want to post his details on here (he may not even be doing it anymore) but if you PM me, I'll let you have his contact details
However - there was a guy who traded Aston parts - I bought a grill and and clear lights from him on two separate occasions. And he "part ex'd" my old parts - which meant I could part ex my one working rear light, and the centre one and got a reduction on the clear light set.
I don't want to post his details on here (he may not even be doing it anymore) but if you PM me, I'll let you have his contact details
Or, for £1380, if you wanted something a little more dynamic, you can have your lights rebuilt: https://www.divinatech.com/seq-lights.html
Greathey said:
Yep - I can highly recommend Steve Campbell to repair these lights. He çan strip down the existing unit, diagnose the fault and in most cases repair it. Sometimes the PCB can’t be repaired and he does carry spares good used units which have been fully tested if this is the case, although not guaranteed to have spare units.The lights are then sealed to much better than factory spec and good to go again.
Or buy an unknown used unit on eBay for twice the price….
JonnyCJ said:
Yep - I can highly recommend Steve Campbell to repair these lights. He çan strip down the existing unit, diagnose the fault and in most cases repair it. Sometimes the PCB can’t be repaired and he does carry spares good used units which have been fully tested if this is the case, although not guaranteed to have spare units.
The lights are then sealed to much better than factory spec and good to go again.
Or buy an unknown used unit on eBay for twice the price….
Glad to hear that The lights are then sealed to much better than factory spec and good to go again.
Or buy an unknown used unit on eBay for twice the price….
I will be taking two old broken units to the UK soon. Both have a section of the upper red strip dead
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