Discussion
I have managed to aquire a small dent on the bonnet of my AMV8 (item dropped on it), what are my options for getting this repaired, the dent is tiny but big enough for me to see nothing else. Don't necessarily want to get the AM dealer standard response which probablty is 'will need a new bonnet' anyone know any good secondary market AM body specialists, very wary about anyone other than an AM specialist considering the 'handpainted' nature of the finish...
Thanks...
Thanks...
I am sorry for passing on this message but I have been there and here is the take. It is very difficult to repair even a stone chip on that bonnet so unless you have only dented it needing no paint match you are most probably looking at a full re-spray. I had my bonnet re-sprayed on warranty following a paint error from new. It took HWM 3 trials to get it right, as the paint reacted with the aluminum and the car was away for 3 weeks. Just back I drove on the M25 and a lorry threw a stone up which hit the lip of the bonnet - back to square 1. I had it at Works Service for a front spoiler re spray due to chipping and asked them whether they could do the stone chip on the bonnet and they said "no" as they would not be able to match the colour and recommended a full re-spray. I then contacted Chips-Away and they came and inspected it and said the same - colour matching too difficult. I left it there and now my bonnet has a tiny chip and I see it as the mole on Cindy Crawfords lip - I suggest you do the same.
Have to agree on the paint matching difficulties.
For some reason the colours stated by AM are no where near whats on the car.
3 cars, DB9 racing green, AMR green and yellow. All of them have needed paint and not 1 of them using Dupont and paint codes directly from the factory were close.
1 ended up with a bottom half respray, another is now 4 colours (!) and the 3rd, well Im waiting for when it needs more work to do it right!
Its almost like they take an off the shelf colour and then add some b
d tint to put it off. Then give you the original code!
For some reason the colours stated by AM are no where near whats on the car.
3 cars, DB9 racing green, AMR green and yellow. All of them have needed paint and not 1 of them using Dupont and paint codes directly from the factory were close.
1 ended up with a bottom half respray, another is now 4 colours (!) and the 3rd, well Im waiting for when it needs more work to do it right!
Its almost like they take an off the shelf colour and then add some b
d tint to put it off. Then give you the original code!
The colour is Tungsten. You will probably have the paint matching issue with all metallic colours, however, they are the nicest colours available for Astons. If you look at the paint you will see that there is a multitude of small reflecting items in the paint and that is what makes it difficult to match.
Guys - not being funny, but it's just paint on a car. I'm sure a lot of this is bs. Prep and expertise are paramount in a good finish.
A number of mates in Ferrari circles have been using a guy based in Wales and the results are outstanding. He has a ton of experience with ali' (where I understand a lot of shops go wrong) and to cap the quality of results, his rates are very good.
Worth having a chat with him IMO...full re-sprays to address stone chips seems excessive to me. But even if not, I'd wager his rates would make him worth a punt anyway.
Chap's called Al and can be found at:
http://www.alsaautomotive.org.uk/
Usual form applies - no connection other than from a customer's perspective.
A number of mates in Ferrari circles have been using a guy based in Wales and the results are outstanding. He has a ton of experience with ali' (where I understand a lot of shops go wrong) and to cap the quality of results, his rates are very good.
Worth having a chat with him IMO...full re-sprays to address stone chips seems excessive to me. But even if not, I'd wager his rates would make him worth a punt anyway.
Chap's called Al and can be found at:
http://www.alsaautomotive.org.uk/
Usual form applies - no connection other than from a customer's perspective.
Tungsten and Meteorite are the nicest Aston colours IMO. Tungsten being the lighter of the two shows the chips less than Meteorite but if a car gets stone chips its because it gets driven - nothing wrong in that.
Repairing stone chips is Sods Law. Soon thereafter you get a new one...
Repairing stone chips is Sods Law. Soon thereafter you get a new one...
Edited by clorenzen on Saturday 3rd January 23:49
Has anyone had stone chips repaired on a Tungsten or Meteorite car, and been happy with the results? I emailed Chips Away and they replied: “Given the value and prestige of the vehicle, we would have to advise that the only way to achieve a 100% repair with bonnet stone chipping is to have the panel resprayed in its entirety.” A full respray seems overkill for two stone chips.
My local coachworks did some paint for me absolutely perfectly matching it using paint codes (lightning silver metallic) the flick in the paint someone mentioned was matched with ease too!
Going to be going back to them again when the stone chips get bad enough and have them do it again!
Going to be going back to them again when the stone chips get bad enough and have them do it again!
Another option would be to just touch in the offending area, then (as long as its the front!) get the edge of the bonnet/wings coated with ventureshield or similar. Because the covering will be flat it would take your eye off the chip anyway. Just depends if you like the vinyl on the car or not....
I had the front spoiler resprayed after its second curbside grounding tungsten paint by local guy spot on match first go.had a very bad experience with chips away on my previous 911 when two small scatches ended up as a rear quarter respray,the agent told me they have trouble with water based paints which were new to them at the time
My car is tungsten too. Before I bought it I had the dealer (a ferrari dealer) repair a couple of marks on the rear arch before I bought it. The guy they had in to do it matched the paint exactly including clear coat, unless you're up close with a magnifying glass you can't see it.. so it can be done.
CatalystV8V said:
unless you're up close with a magnifying glass you can't see it..
And therein lies the problem. It's not an invisible repair, and a very particular owner will reject it as unsatisfactory. Chip repairs short of a full respray of the affected area (in the case of a bonnet - the whole panel) are not a 100% repair, and shouldn't be presented to the car owner as such. If the car owner is happy to contract for a repair on that basis, that's fine, but the difference between a complete repair and an 'improvement only' repair should be made explicitly clear to them - anything else is unprofessional.
Tol
Zod said:
My car is being repaired at M+A Coachworks in Kentish Town. Stratstone use it as their bodyshop it seems.
(repair is because some lowlife keyed the bonnet - see thread in GG)
Just read the thread on GG... I hope your car looks like new after it’s repaired.(repair is because some lowlife keyed the bonnet - see thread in GG)
UH-Matt said:
My local coachworks did some paint for me absolutely perfectly matching it using paint codes (lightning silver metallic) the flick in the paint someone mentioned was matched with ease too!
Going to be going back to them again when the stone chips get bad enough and have them do it again!
What’s their name? Is lightning silver metallic for Meteorite or Tungsten?Going to be going back to them again when the stone chips get bad enough and have them do it again!
russdunkin said:
Zod said:
My car is being repaired at M+A Coachworks in Kentish Town. Stratstone use it as their bodyshop it seems.
(repair is because some lowlife keyed the bonnet - see thread in GG)
Just read the thread on GG... I hope your car looks like new after it’s repaired.(repair is because some lowlife keyed the bonnet - see thread in GG)
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