Took the car off the truck last night. Over to hand car wash today. Drove off and the minute I took out the key i felt the chipped, rough corner. Obviously dropped on the concrete by a car wash moron. I was going to go back but realize it would be one of those hopeless exercises. I'm assuming crystal cannot be polished?

 

One of the reasons I use the plastic key

 

There's a reason the plastic ECU is called the valet ECU....

 

Valet chipped my key long ago, and I've lived with it ever since.

Wifey says I should carry the plastic key for Valet, but I hate having extra stuff in my pockets.

Thankfully, I have a second ECU tucked away in the safe, protected from clumsy hands.

 

Yeh well the next step is to wrap up the entire car and make it a garage queen. I'll use the key and enjoy the patina. It can't get bad enough to equal the experience of wrapping it in baby bunting and putting it away where I will never see it. Life is short and this is not a dress rehearsal. At least I get some joy out of seeing the key. I get no joy out of looking at that plastic thing.

 

I'm so sorry to hear that. That is terrible!

I drove the first few days with the crystal but touched my pocket every minute to see that the ECU won't fall out.
Changed to the plastic version and feel more comfortable now.

Could you share a picture of the broken key?

 

Hi Zett
It is just chipped and scuffed on one corner and edge. No biggy. Is it true these things cost $2,000? Even for AM that sounds a bit crazy.

 

Aston Martin bits dot com has them for about $650 usd

 

There you go. I figure even abusing the crystal jewelry it will last for 48 months while it deteriorates. $650 divided by 48 months is only $13/month. And then I will recycle it for a valet key.

 

Yes it can be polished out, but not to perfection. At least smoothed out. Any jeweler should be able to help, or just ask your dentist if he/she is a nice guy.

Regards

 

The po of my Vantage spend 1400 bucks for a new plastic key since the dealer quoted him 2400 for a crystal.
He wanted a third key somehow.

 

I have a couple chips on mine. Took it to a jeweler and he said go find a local rock/mineral club and see if a member will do it. Great idea but just haven't gotten around to it. Thinking I'll go to the county fair where they have their displays and try to find a chap to give it a shot.

 

Damn. Never occurred to me that crystal should react like any other stone good suggestion from you guys. I happen to be a dentist. Only practiced for 3 years and I'm not a nice guy so I guess that leaves me out.

 

The sharp crystal edges can be smoothed with a Craytex cylinder in a rotary tool or variable speed drill.
Back to my question re: Traditional dash key conversion...Anyone?

 

Why on earth would you even think about doing this?