Had my 2016 Vantage subframe refurbished by BR last year plus handbrake cable and wheel bearings replaced due to corrosion. It wasn't serious corrosion on the subframe but looked ugly and unloved. Wheel bearings were very badly corroded and no doubt would have caused sensor issues at some point. It wasn't a cheap job (nothing is with AM) but for the amount of work I felt it was worth it to know the underneath matches the bodywork. Also resale value should be enhanced especially if the buyer uses a specialist to report on vehicle condition. Great job done by BR.
Thanks Mark! Your “not serious” corrosion, most others would deem a fairly mint car! What you have now is a car underside you could eat your dinner off! It’ll stay mint that way for decades to come…!
What about a ‘18 DB11 with 22k miles, having spent 3 yrs in NY? Is it possible to have serious corrosion? I’d have it looked at regardless prior to buying, but just curious how worried I should be. Thx
Every time I take the under trays off the rear of my DB9 I spray another coat of 'Rustbuster Fe-123' onto the subframe. I know it's not possible to see or reach all of the subframe whilst institu but you can get to the majority of it. I have been using Rustbuster for many years and know that it achieves fabulous results, converting the rust into an impenetrable barrier. It doesn't look nice, being a purple black colour when converted, but it's out of sight and I am confident that the subframe is no longer dissolving.
Precisely why I NEVER use mine in salt conditions and keep it in a dry garage when not on use (and even avoid wet use unless caught out in it). My subframe has some very slight surface tarnish from previous owners (as per your first example) but being of an OCD temperament, I still want to get it all done anyway. Lines and hoses are still very good. (Late 07 Roadster). Something else I've seen on Roadsters is the seal round the return lip on the body side of the rear quarters which are made of steel, water collects and sits there rotting that lip resulting in spiderwebbing of corrosion to breakout along those rear quarters. The first example I went to see when originally looking for mine had this issue and I was mortified. I've seen this issue on a few others too. The single stage line paint on used on the subframes was hopeless. I'm going through a slow process of replacing and replating all the nuts and bolts on mine as I want to retain a newness to it. Most of them are good, but I'd like them perfect.
Hi Mike, great update. When my V8V was 3 year old I noticed the surface rust starting on all the points under the car you mentioned, was a bit shocked. I started applying dinitrol rustproof every couple of years. Now almost 10 years old sub frame still looks good. Also had a couple of paint blisters at 4 and 5 years old, AM Edinburgh, where I purchased the vehicle were great at arranging paint warranty repairs. Just replaced a rear wheel bearing at 22k miles, and there was significant rust build up behind. Great additional services being offered at BR 👍👍
I've had paint corrosion blistering on both my 07 and 08 Vantages - one on a side marker light and the other near the door handle as in your clip. Great info, as always!
Very useful and informative, but also extremely disappointing. I'm planning to sell my TVR Chimaera 450 in the next few months and buy a V8V. As most people know, the main problem affecting TVRs is rust in the steel tubular chassis (I had to do a full chassis restoration on mine). I thought I would be leaving all that behind, but it appears that Astons are potentially just as bad, but a lot more expensive to fix. Whereas TVRs were priced quite reasonably when they were new, these Astons are in an entirely different league, and for cars in that price bracket to have these problems is simply unforgivable. I had expected that Aston, especially with Ford overseeing things at the time, would have got these basic things sorted, but apparently not.
I can’t believe it isn’t worth treating them. Surely treating the rust and then sealing it from oxygen and water will significantly slow down the process?
Had my 2016 Vantage subframe refurbished by BR last year plus handbrake cable and wheel bearings replaced due to corrosion. It wasn't serious corrosion on the subframe but looked ugly and unloved. Wheel bearings were very badly corroded and no doubt would have caused sensor issues at some point. It wasn't a cheap job (nothing is with AM) but for the amount of work I felt it was worth it to know the underneath matches the bodywork. Also resale value should be enhanced especially if the buyer uses a specialist to report on vehicle condition. Great job done by BR.
Thanks Mark! Your “not serious” corrosion, most others would deem a fairly mint car! What you have now is a car underside you could eat your dinner off! It’ll stay mint that way for decades to come…!
You're
What about a ‘18 DB11 with 22k miles, having spent 3 yrs in NY? Is it possible to have serious corrosion? I’d have it looked at regardless prior to buying, but just curious how worried I should be. Thx
Mike have you thought of writing a horror movie 😂
Every time I take the under trays off the rear of my DB9 I spray another coat of 'Rustbuster Fe-123' onto the subframe. I know it's not possible to see or reach all of the subframe whilst institu but you can get to the majority of it. I have been using Rustbuster for many years and know that it achieves fabulous results, converting the rust into an impenetrable barrier. It doesn't look nice, being a purple black colour when converted, but it's out of sight and I am confident that the subframe is no longer dissolving.
Precisely why I NEVER use mine in salt conditions and keep it in a dry garage when not on use (and even avoid wet use unless caught out in it). My subframe has some very slight surface tarnish from previous owners (as per your first example) but being of an OCD temperament, I still want to get it all done anyway. Lines and hoses are still very good. (Late 07 Roadster). Something else I've seen on Roadsters is the seal round the return lip on the body side of the rear quarters which are made of steel, water collects and sits there rotting that lip resulting in spiderwebbing of corrosion to breakout along those rear quarters. The first example I went to see when originally looking for mine had this issue and I was mortified. I've seen this issue on a few others too.
The single stage line paint on used on the subframes was hopeless.
I'm going through a slow process of replacing and replating all the nuts and bolts on mine as I want to retain a newness to it. Most of them are good, but I'd like them perfect.
This is such valuable information that will stick with me forever. Thank you.
Hi Mike, great update.
When my V8V was 3 year old I noticed the surface rust starting on all the points under the car you mentioned, was a bit shocked. I started applying dinitrol rustproof every couple of years. Now almost 10 years old sub frame still looks good. Also had a couple of paint blisters at 4 and 5 years old, AM Edinburgh, where I purchased the vehicle were great at arranging paint warranty repairs. Just replaced a rear wheel bearing at 22k miles, and there was significant rust build up behind. Great additional services being offered at BR 👍👍
What preventative treatments are available for those of us who drive our cars all year round?
I've had paint corrosion blistering on both my 07 and 08 Vantages - one on a side marker light and the other near the door handle as in your clip. Great info, as always!
Very useful and informative, but also extremely disappointing.
I'm planning to sell my TVR Chimaera 450 in the next few months and buy a V8V. As most people know, the main problem affecting TVRs is rust in the steel tubular chassis (I had to do a full chassis restoration on mine). I thought I would be leaving all that behind, but it appears that Astons are potentially just as bad, but a lot more expensive to fix. Whereas TVRs were priced quite reasonably when they were new, these Astons are in an entirely different league, and for cars in that price bracket to have these problems is simply unforgivable. I had expected that Aston, especially with Ford overseeing things at the time, would have got these basic things sorted, but apparently not.
... no it is just the damp weather in the UK, makes every car rot. And no shop offers any wax sealing for the underside
I can’t believe it isn’t worth treating them. Surely treating the rust and then sealing it from oxygen and water will significantly slow down the process?
Does the rapide suffer the same issue?
Milk it...milk it.....