Aston Martin DBS (07-12) Ownership
Ownership for the Aston Martin DBS (07-12).
Transmissions and body styles to cover: 6‑speed manual and 6‑speed Touchtronic automatic were offered throughout the run; the Coupé launched in 2007 and the Volante (convertible) followed in 2009. Both 2+0 and 2+2 rear layouts were available; 2+2 brings small occasional seats in place of the parcel shelf. Production numbers: Aston Martin did not publish a full official split by seat layout or transmission. The best‑known independent registry tallies indicate roughly mid‑four‑figure production across 2007–2012, with approximately three to three‑and‑a‑half thousand Coupés and around one thousand Volantes. Manuals are a minority across both body styles (commonly quoted as roughly one in five to one in four), and 2+0 cars are appreciably rarer than 2+2. Treat these as informed estimates rather than factory‑certified totals. Servicing notes specific to period cars (2007–2012): factory schedule is annual/10k miles; brake fluid biennially; coolant at 5 years; accessory belt and Touchtronic fluid/filter at 4 years; spark plugs at 30k miles/3–4 years. Carbon‑ceramic braking system (standard on DBS) uses specific pad compounds; mixing road/track pads without correct bedding can glaze discs. Keep a charger connected when stored and cycle the air‑con regularly to preserve seals.
DBS (2007–2012) ownership sits in the “big V12 GT” bracket: annual servicing is straightforward, but carbon‑ceramic brakes, adaptive dampers and carbon bodywork make mistakes expensive. Manuals and Touchtronic autos need different care; Coupé and Volante add differing wear points; 2+0 cars are simpler and a touch lighter than 2+2. Use a recognised Aston specialist and keep to the 10k‑mile/annual schedule.
Carbon‑ceramic brakes: discs can last many years if not tracked, but damage or end‑of‑life replacement is costly (front pair typically £6,000–£8,000; full set can exceed £12,000; pads £600–£1,200 per axle). Adaptive dampers wear (budget £700–£1,200 each; full set £3,000–£4,500 fitted). Manual clutch and concentric slave cylinder: £3,000–£4,500 fitted; check for heavy pedal, slip or low bite. Touchtronic (ZF 6HP26) needs fluid/filter every 4 years; neglect risks a £4,000–£6,000 rebuild. Cooling system: radiators and header tanks age; a radiator swap is commonly £1,200–£1,800 fitted. Coil‑packs/spark plugs on the AM11 V12 can age with heat; a full plug service is £700–£1,200, more if coils are required. Volante roof hydraulics and rams: £1,500–£3,000 if leaking. Carbon fibre panels and trims (bonnet, splitters, mirror caps) are dear to refinish; a scuffed splitter or cracked carbon insert can run £1,000–£2,500. TPMS sensors and battery management are routine consumables on low‑use cars (£400–£600 for a sensor set; a quality AGM battery £250–£400).
Service every 10,000 miles or 12 months. Brake fluid every 2 years, coolant at 5 years, auxiliary belt and Touchtronic fluid/filter at 4 years, and spark plugs at roughly 3–4 years. Keep the car on a conditioner; low‑use DBSs flatten batteries and throw spurious faults. Tyres matter: fit quality 20‑inch rubber in matched pairs and get a four‑wheel alignment; it transforms steering and reduces inner‑edge wear. On a test drive, feel for judder or vibration from the carbon‑ceramic brakes, clunks over sharp bumps (front lower arm bushes/ball joints), and any damper leakage. Manuals should select cleanly without graunch; a high bite point or heavy pedal hints at clutch wear. Touchtronic shifts should be crisp when warm; check there’s an invoice for the last fluid and filter service. Volantes need a full roof cycle without hesitations or hydraulic weeps. Inspect the carbon bonnet and leading edges for stone rash and lacquer lift. Check undertrays and splitters for kerb strikes. Look for coolant staining around the header tank, and oil weeps at cam covers. Windows should drop and raise smoothly on door open/close; slow regulators and misaligned glass are common but fixable. Ensure both glass keys work and there’s a tracker/charger routine in place. In practice, carbon‑ceramic discs last well on road‑only cars; pad choice and careful bedding‑in are key. A well‑maintained car with documented fluids, plugs, brakes and alignment is the one to buy; neglected examples get expensive very quickly. Our view is that a manual Coupé for long‑term keepers, or a Touchtronic Volante for touring, are the sweet spots; 2+0 cars suit those who never carry rear passengers and prefer the simpler shelf.