Aston Martin DB9 Volante clear rear light upgrade

[gheimann0]

Hi all
I am just about to change the standard red tail lights on my DB9 Volante for DBS clear lights, as I prefer the cleaner look these give against the dark midnight blue paintwork. I was wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this on a DB9?

I have found some posts relating to the swap of lights on a Vantage, but none for the DB9. Any tips or comments would be appreciated, particularly such as accessing the light pods in the boot and removing trim etc. Also any pitfalls that anyone has experienced doing this.

I have seen various posts about needing an ECU software upgrade after installation in the V8V, but again would appreciate if anyone has experience of this with the DB9.

When I do the mod, probably next weekend, I will maintain a photo "diary", which may be useful to anyone else doing this in the future...

Many thanks in advance for your feedback/input.....

[George H]

I've had it done but not by myself. Was £916.67 + VAT so £1.1k from the dealer.

I'm fairly sure there is something like "clear config file - clear rear lamps pre 08MY" on the invoice, so I would presume that it affects any car pre 08. Odd it was on the bill as mine is 09MY

[gheimann0]

Thanks George, managed to get the new lights £820 inc. VAT and figured that it shouldn't be too hard to fit them myself (I hope!). If the ECU upgrade is needed, I guess will need to pop down to my friendly A-M dealer for their assistance..

[yeti]

I think you might find it harder than it looks... It apparently can be quite hard to get them straight from what I've heard, mine were done at Chiltern, DMS looked at them later and said it was a good job they'd done as he'd seen a few done badly or crookedly.

Also there will need to be a software update at the dealer's / specialists to tell your car that there are now LEDs instead of bulbs, if you're car is over a certain age. What that age is, I couldn't tell you.

[gheimann0]

Thanks for the advice Yeti.... Think I'll still have a go, if necessary when taking the car for the ECU upgrade, I'll get some assistance......

Giles

[sportie]

I did mine a few months ago and it is very easy to do. You certainly paid way over the odds for your set.............................
Mine were £425 including delivery straight from AM.

Mine is a 2005 and should have the software upgraded due to an issue when the hazard warning lights are used with the ignition on. However I havent had it done yet and dont have any issues yet.

[Highrisedrifter]

sportie said:

Mine were £425 including delivery straight from AM.

Blimey! Really? I wonder if it's the same for the V8 vantage. I've been casually looking into this and it seems it might be an idea to get them from Works and ask a friendly indie to fit them for me then being that I have spade-claw hands when it comes to this sort of stuff.

Edited by Highrisedrifter on Saturday 18th February 20:00

[yeti]

sportie said:

Mine were £425 including delivery straight from AM.

I don't think he paid over the odds, I think you paid well under

Most specialists and people who've done them agree they're hard to get right and level and the cheapest I've ever seen them is £900 or so.

Are you talking about the same thing??

[sportie]

yeti said:

I don't think he paid over the odds, I think you paid well under

Most specialists and people who've done them agree they're hard to get right and level and the cheapest I've ever seen them is £900 or so.

Are you talking about the same thing??

Yes, DB9 clear rear kit

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320796352774?ssPageName=...

I did a deal to include the postage

[V8 Animal]

Crikey they were cheap

[gheimann0]

sportie said:

I did mine a few months ago and it is very easy to do. You certainly paid way over the odds for your set.............................
Mine were £425 including delivery straight from AM.

Mine is a 2005 and should have the software upgraded due to an issue when the hazard warning lights are used with the ignition on. However I havent had it done yet and dont have any issues yet.

Thanks Sportie, sounds like you got a great deal on the lights- well below the norm. Going back to my initial reason for posting. Can you let me know how your removal & install went? What boot trim did you need to remove to get to the lights etc? Any pitfalls....

[petecowie]

Bought my lights in November and still haven't fitted to my 2006 DB9, will await this thread and then finally get on with it!

[gheimann0]

petecowie said:

Bought my lights in November and still haven't fitted to my 2006 DB9, will await this thread and then finally get on with it!

Pete

Spoke to my friendly AM dealer about the need for an ECU upgrade and they have confirmed that this will need doing.... they have now offered to fit the lights for me free of charge and do the ECU upgrade whilst my car is in on Wednesday/Thursday for some other warranty issues..... Very pleased!!

I will however, quiz them about the install and post some info after that which may be helpful to you..

[petecowie]

Thanks for the info.

Also have a V12 vantage sterring wheels (without airbag) which I'm struggling to get someone to fit, sure would have been no problem for DMS! Bought becasue I wan tthe cruise control option added to my car for long/average speed camera journeys.

I guess I could give it a go myself and take some photos, it's suppossed to be reasonable weather this weekend.

[yeti]

sportie said:

Yes, DB9 clear rear kit

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320796352774?ssPageName=...

I did a deal to include the postage

That's amazing, good find that man!! Bit gutted I paid nearly 3 times that including fitting just over a year ago. That was the going rate back then

[sportie]

yeti said:

That's amazing, good find that man!! Bit gutted I paid nearly 3 times that including fitting just over a year ago. That was the going rate back then

Nobody bid on then so I contacted the seller after the auction and did the deal,

They are easy to fit, you just remove the carpet trim behind the lights. They are held in place with three fixings and one multi plug. The three mountings can be adjusted to ensure a smooth flush fitting. It took around 45 minutes for both. You do need to be careful removing the colour code trim as its stuck down and need to be heated up with a hairdryer and very gently levered off. The new lights come with new glue trims.

[gheimann0]

sportie said:

Nobody bid on then so I contacted the seller after the auction and did the deal,

They are easy to fit, you just remove the carpet trim behind the lights. They are held in place with three fixings and one multi plug. The three mountings can be adjusted to ensure a smooth flush fitting. It took around 45 minutes for both. You do need to be careful removing the colour code trim as its stuck down and need to be heated up with a hairdryer and very gently levered off. The new lights come with new glue trims.

Hi Sportie

Thanks for the info, but perhaps you could elaborate on the removal f the inside trim. Looking in the boot of my DB, it is not possible to just remove the interior trim rounds the lights and on checking the Aston Tech Info page, there is a very specific order to remove the trim- removing six parts of the trim before you get to that covering the light pods?

Thanks

[gheimann0]

petecowie said:

Thanks for the info.

Also have a V12 vantage sterring wheels (without airbag) which I'm struggling to get someone to fit, sure would have been no problem for DMS! Bought becasue I wan tthe cruise control option added to my car for long/average speed camera journeys.

I guess I could give it a go myself and take some photos, it's suppossed to be reasonable weather this weekend.

Good luck!! just out of interest, wouldn't it have been easier to find a DB9 wheel with the cruise control module built in? I didn't think that the cruise control fitted to the Vantage was compatible? I have a vague recollection that the software for V8 cruise was Volvo based, but for the DB9, something that AM developed themselves....maybe wrong, but somewhere in the dim and distant past, I remember.....

[V8 Animal]

sportie said:

Nobody bid on then so I contacted the seller after the auction and did the deal,

They are easy to fit, you just remove the carpet trim behind the lights. They are held in place with three fixings and one multi plug. The three mountings can be adjusted to ensure a smooth flush fitting. It took around 45 minutes for both. You do need to be careful removing the colour code trim as its stuck down and need to be heated up with a hairdryer and very gently levered off. The new lights come with new glue trims.

Looks like they were listed under replacement lamps rather that AM for example so a lucky find if im right.

[sportie]

gheimann0 said:

Hi Sportie

Thanks for the info, but perhaps you could elaborate on the removal f the inside trim. Looking in the boot of my DB, it is not possible to just remove the interior trim rounds the lights and on checking the Aston Tech Info page, there is a very specific order to remove the trim- removing six parts of the trim before you get to that covering the light pods?

Thanks

Ignore the manual.... Simple remove the rubber boot trim on the left and righthand side of the boot. Then pull back the carpet trim to reveale the mounting fixtures. If you look closely 2 of the 3 fixings are visable through holes in the trim, however to get to the 3rd one you will need to remove the trim. Hope this helps?