I have the dreaded cracks in my piano black waterfall and was planning on pulling it to get Madera to redo it in burl walnut.
I was hoping I could get input from someone who has done this. It appears all the posts on removal are for earlier model vantages. From what I can see from the workshop manual which is also quite vague. On the Garmin nav equipped vantages 2012 and later you need to remove the waterfall as a unit with the navigation screen then remove the nav screen from behind. Also they refer to aston martin special tool 43-28092 to release the 4 clips from to remove the waterfall from the dash. From what I can gather this "special tool" is just a body panel releasing tool. Is that correct?
Thanks for the help.
I plan on videoing the process because in all my searching I can not find a single vid on removal of the unit on the newer vantages.

 

 

I was too scared to do it - I had Aston dealer do the exchange - $80.

 

Thanks for the fast reply dpath Its good to know I'm not missing something.
I would have the dealer do it but Madera needs the piece for 3 wks to refinish so I'd much rather have her safe at home. Love the Tamo Ash but unfortunately they only have the piece for sport shift cars.Seeing your original post is what got me thinking that I need to go with wood in place of the piano black

 

I do this all the time. At first, it would seem the best way to remove the waterfall is with pry tools and all that. However, over time I've learned another way (can't recall which thread I read about it).

The best and safest way to release the water fall from the dash is to open the navigation door and grab the sides of the waterfall via the open interior space and yank up really hard (not so hard that you smash upward into the windscreen though).

It very easy this way, and there's less risk to the interior.

 

Not to highjack the thread, but on my 2015 V12 vantage S, the mounting of the Nav door has changed. There is no longer the little springs on either side that release the door from the nav screen. Does anyone have the removal procedure (hopefully with pics) of how this is done in the later cars?

 

 

Having now just done this remove the waterfall with the nav unit intact unplug key unit and nav from behind are remove the 2 strap securing screws at the top of the unit by the speaker.
The repair manual really helps
http://astonmartin.blob.core.windows...e-s/index.html
r=leftRemove the centre stack assembly (15.01.CB - Centre Stack Assembly).
[Open Workshop Manual Procedure]2.Remove the four screws that attach the mechanism for the navigation display screen to the centre stack assembly.3.Remove the mechanism for the navigation display screen.4.Move the navigation screen into the open position.5.Remove the two screws that attach the holder for the navigation display screen to the mechanism for the navigation display screen.6.Release the two clips that attach the holder for the navigation display screen to the mechanism for the navigation display screen.7.Remove the holder for the navigation display screen.8.Remove the navigation display screen.

 

Thanks, this helps a lot.