Hi guys,

I'm visiting from the 996TT board. My wife just backed into my mates DB7 Vantage and cracked the rear bumper cover. Where located in Charlottesville VA, can anybody recommend somebody to replace the cover and paint it?

Thanks,

Mark

 

you could always get a new wife???

 

,

ouch, i'm sure someone here will know of a good place.

 

You can always count on things like this from the missus. Sorry no help for ya.

 

Call your local dealer or AM directly and find out who in your area is Aston Martin certified

 

Regrettably, if the cover is cracked, the owner would be more than justified in asking that it be replaced. That's expensive. Parts are only through dealers, ebay (random selection), and possibly one or two independent parts sources (can't recommend anyone, so contact the dealer(s) to find out who might have parts). You might possibly consider contacting folks that part out insurance claim cars. It's entirely possible that AMs go through their shops. However, I would expect, if I were the owner that this matter would be handled immediately and with the least inconvenience to me as possible. I'd expect a rental while my car was in the shop, too. Knowing what I know about bumper covers, expect this to cost several thousand (removal of damaged cover, new cover, preparation and painting, install new cover, rental car). Those are the hard costs. Would this be subject to a diminished value claim? Probably not, but people are squirrely about buying used cars with paint work. Obviously. The owner might be justified in asking for it. Add that to the list.

However, if the owner is comfortable with having it repaired (as opposed to replaced...it is only a car, after all), contact the local dealer and let them contract it out if they don't do the work in-house. There can be no issue that way. The work was performed/authorized by a certified AM dealer. They will ensure that the work is performed to AM's satisfaction. This ought to be enough to satisfy the owner. This route will likely cost north of a thousand, but probably not terribly much more. I just had the rear bumper cover refinished for a scratch on my audi and that was $750. However, there was no damage to the cover itself. Just the paint. That included the removal, prep, painting and reinstallation. Dealer rates are fairly high, but in the end you're not really in a position to argue with the owner.

Sorry it happened. It can be fixed. Take the lead from the Owner. Give him the option of repair v. replace. It's the gentlemanly thing to do.

FYI, the nearest factory dealer is probably in Tyson's Corner, VA (HBL) or possibly North Carolina. You should factor in and pay for the cost of transportation to and from, if any, too. If you'd like the contacts at HBL, PM me. I know them.

CW

 

Divorce her?

 

tell me she did not go to school at UVA. they are bad drivers. lol