DB11 wind noise

[scotpak]

Hi All

Some may remember me from way back when I was using the forums to source a cheap sports exhaust package for my underpowered V8 vantage or when I used the forum to help me source some new alloys from the US.

Anyway, after spending a few years with a Granturismo, Ive just purchased a 2017 DB11 with 17k miles. Its so beautiful, getting loads of compliments from everyone I meet (its in the launch colours of magnetic silver with light colour roof). I also really like the interior which is a surprise given all the hate ive comes across on various forums. The merc infotainment isnt so bad, although I may still upgrade to Andrior auto. In terms of power, wow, more than I'll ever need. Too scared to use Sports + too much!

Anyway had 2 questions:
(1) Im getting loads of wind noise from the driver side window. Is this normal? Seems alot louder than any car ive had previously.
(2) My main key is not in great shape. Was thinking of using this online out Phoenix bespoke. Has anyone used them?

Thanks

[skhannes]

Hi,

Just a reply for #1 - My DB11 has no wind noise at all, even at triple digit speeds. I would VISUALLY examine the contact rubber gasket (before any attempts to clean it). Sometimes, if the glass is not making contact on some part of the rubber, that can be visually evident by a change in color where dust might have worked its way in. If you can pinpoint that then you can work on getting that part to make better contact.

Next, if you find some part, or do not, then clean the rubber seal very well. I would personally use rubbing alcohol. There are some good products out there (and some bad ones too) that work well to keep rubber flexible and like new, sometimes even restoring a little more life to hard aged rubber. My goto product for anything rubber is 303 Aerospace Protectant.

On Item #2 - I am in the same boat as you are. My key is showing age and I only have one. Would like two keys. If you have any luck, could you report back? Thanks

[scotpak]

thanks for the reply. Will report back on the key once sorted.

[Hedged]

Thumbs up on 303 products, I have used their convertible top cleaner and protectant on my Vantage for many years. For rubber I would also recommend Gummi Pflege Stift made by nextzett GMbH, a water based protectant that is easy to apply to trim and stripping. Good luck with your DB11...a beautiful Aston whose appeal (IMO) has grown over time.

[Peter McKean]

I used Phoenix Bespoke. I purchased a brand new DB11 key carcass from eBay for a very good price and sent them that with my old, slightly scuffed key. They transplanted the old key circuit into the new carcass. They did a very good job.

[Brian_Blessed]

My DB11 has wind noise from the very front end of the drivers side window. Dropping the window slightly and putting it back up in an attempt to reseal it makes no difference. Coincidentally I just had a new battery fitted yesterday which included them resetting the window positions which made no difference (battery swap was for totally unrelated reasons so I didn’t expect it to fix that issue).

So seems to be more rubber related than glass related.

One theory could be if it’s the wing mirror but then that would be a constant across all db11 you would think. I get it from as little as 50mph. Was going to try folding in the mirrors to see if it changed but I was above the maximum speed where this is possible.

Have not yet closely inspected the seal but am interested if you get anywhere with it.

[LTP]

Brian_Blessed said:

My DB11 has wind noise from the very front end of the drivers side window. Dropping the window slightly and putting it back up in an attempt to reseal it makes no difference. Coincidentally I just had a new battery fitted yesterday which included them resetting the window positions which made no difference (battery swap was for totally unrelated reasons so I didn’t expect it to fix that issue).

So seems to be more rubber related than glass related.

One theory could be if it’s the wing mirror but then that would be a constant across all db11 you would think. I get it from as little as 50mph. Was going to try folding in the mirrors to see if it changed but I was above the maximum speed where this is possible.

Have not yet closely inspected the seal but am interested if you get anywhere with it.

Quick test you can do - masking tape. Get in the car and get someone to tape over the top of the window glass to the body, covering the seal and the glass gap. Make sure they go all down the A-pillar to the mirror foot (if you're worried, use low-tack tape from someone like Frog). Then drive the car and see if the wind noise has gone.

A quick non-driving test is to get a strip of paper about and inch (25mm) wide and progressively open and shut the door, trapping the paper between glass and seal. Keep doing this, moving the paper strip along a bit each time, and feel if the paper is trapped between seal and glass when the door is shut and the "short drop" (the drop when you open the door) closes up. If the paper isn't trapped then that gap is a potential source of wind noise.

Aston door glass can be adjusted back and forward, up and down and (most importantly) in and out at both the front and the back. It is tricky to get it right and easy to get it wrong, even in the factory and especially in the field if the door has been apart for any reason.

Wind noise can also seem illogical: personal anecdote - my V8V has no wind-noise on driver's side up to and beyond the UK motorway speed limit, but the passenger side has a slight rustle. When I wash the car and rinse it with a power-washer the passenger door glass is 100% watertight, yet on the driver's side I get a small trickle of water down the inside of the glass from the top of the A-pillar, indicating the seal isn't quite making sufficient contact with the glass at that point. Go figure.

[Brian_Blessed]

LTP said:

Quick test you can do - masking tape. Get in the car and get someone to tape over the top of the window glass to the body, covering the seal and the glass gap. Make sure they go all down the A-pillar to the mirror foot (if you're worried, use low-tack tape from someone like Frog). Then drive the car and see if the wind noise has gone.

A quick non-driving test is to get a strip of paper about and inch (25mm) wide and progressively open and shut the door, trapping the paper between glass and seal. Keep doing this, moving the paper strip along a bit each time, and feel if the paper is trapped between seal and glass when the door is shut and the "short drop" (the drop when you open the door) closes up. If the paper isn't trapped then that gap is a potential source of wind noise.

Aston door glass can be adjusted back and forward, up and down and (most importantly) in and out at both the front and the back. It is tricky to get it right and easy to get it wrong, even in the factory and especially in the field if the door has been apart for any reason.

Wind noise can also seem illogical: personal anecdote - my V8V has no wind-noise on driver's side up to and beyond the UK motorway speed limit, but the passenger side has a slight rustle. When I wash the car and rinse it with a power-washer the passenger door glass is 100% watertight, yet on the driver's side I get a small trickle of water down the inside of the glass from the top of the A-pillar, indicating the seal isn't quite making sufficient contact with the glass at that point. Go figure.

Good tips. Will give that a go in the coming weeks. Thanks.