Aston Martin DBS Superleggera 5.2 V12

The DBS Superleggera is equipped with Brembo carbon ceramic matrix (CCM) brakes as standard. While these discs last significantly longer than conventional iron discs under normal use — typically 80,000 to 150,000 km depending on driving style — when they do wear out, the replacement cost is staggering. A full set of OEM carbon ceramic discs and pads from Aston Martin costs approximately £19,000-20,000 (around €22,000). Aftermarket alternatives from companies like RacingBrake offer iron rotor conversion kits for significantly less (approximately €5,000-7,000 for a full set), but this changes the car's braking character and adds unsprung weight. Brake pads alone cost approximately €800-1,200 per axle from Aston Martin. Track use dramatically accelerates disc wear. For normal road driving, expect pad changes every 30,000-50,000 km and disc replacement somewhere between 80,000 and 150,000 km.

This is a known design issue shared with the DB11 V12. Water from heavy rain or car washing can enter through the inner bonnet vents and collect around the spark plug cavities and coil packs. When water contacts the HT leads or coil packs, it causes misfires and an engine management light. Aston Martin acknowledged the problem and issued Service Action SA-03-1159V2 in May 2019, providing water shield modification plates that fit over the bonnet vents. On cars where this modification has been performed, the issue is largely resolved. On unmodified cars, the risk remains. In mild cases, drying the affected area and replacing fouled spark plugs resolves the issue for around €500-800. In severe cases where sustained water exposure has damaged the ECU or wiring loom, repair costs can reach €5,000-6,000. Always verify whether the bonnet vent water shields have been fitted before purchasing.

The headlight switch is a known weak point on the DBS Superleggera and related models. The switch is secured by only two small plastic pins, and the weight of the chromed inner section gradually stresses these pins until they snap. Once broken, the inner section detaches and the switch becomes non-functional — some owners only discover this when the car fails its annual inspection. Aston Martin sources the switch from Valeo, who has never revised the design to address the underlying fragility. Replacement switches cost approximately €600-700 each and are frequently on backorder, with the bright chrome variant being particularly scarce. A repair kit exists that should be tried first. Later production DBS models (approximately 2021+) switched to a Mercedes-sourced switch with integrated electronic parking brake, which is more durable.

Several owners of the 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 have reported gradual coolant consumption requiring top-ups every 600 to 2,000 km, depending on ambient temperature and driving style. Authorized dealers performing pressure tests have found no external leaks, and head gasket tests come back negative. The issue appears to be related to the turbocharger system where small amounts of coolant can be consumed through the turbo seals under certain operating conditions. In most cases, regular monitoring and topping up is sufficient. If the consumption rate increases significantly, turbo seal replacement may be required, with costs of €2,000-3,000 due to the labor-intensive access required. Not all cars are affected — this appears to occur on a minority of examples.

Some DBS Superleggera owners report a noticeable differential whine, particularly during deceleration between 110 and 140 km/h. Aston Martin dealers have acknowledged that some degree of differential noise is present across DBS and DB11 models. However, off-throttle whine that is clearly audible in the cabin is symptomatic of incorrect pinion preload or differential gear adjustment from the factory. In cases where the noise is excessive, Aston Martin has replaced the electronic differential assembly under warranty. Outside warranty, differential replacement or rebuild costs €2,000-5,000 depending on whether the unit can be recalibrated or needs full replacement. This issue affects a relatively small proportion of cars.

A small number of DBS Superleggera owners have reported windscreen seal failures that allow water to leak behind the dashboard and reach the engine control unit. In mild cases, resealing the windscreen costs approximately €800-1,200. In severe cases where the ECU has sustained water damage, the repair bill can reach €5,000-6,000 including ECU replacement and dashboard removal. This is not a widespread issue but is worth inspecting carefully, particularly on cars that have been parked outdoors or in regions with heavy rainfall. Check for any signs of moisture, water staining, or musty smell around the dashboard area during inspection.

The DBS Superleggera uses a Mercedes-Benz COMAND-derived infotainment system with a rotary controller. The system is prone to software bugs including frozen menus, unresponsive Bluetooth connectivity, and a particularly alarming fault where the volume increases to maximum on its own and resists manual adjustment. Steering wheel button inputs can also be intermittent. Software updates from Aston Martin dealers occasionally improve stability (€200-400 for a diagnostic session and update). In cases where the centre stack assembly itself has failed, replacement under warranty has been the fix. Outside warranty, a centre stack replacement costs approximately €1,500-2,000. This system was considered outdated even when the DBS was new, and is one area where the successor DB12 represents a significant improvement.

Like most modern Aston Martins, the DBS Superleggera has significant parasitic battery drain from its numerous electronic systems that never fully shut down. If the car is left undriven for 7-14 days, the battery can drain completely, requiring a jump start or battery replacement. The tracker system, if fitted, can worsen the drain when its internal battery deteriorates. The solution is straightforward: always keep the car connected to a quality battery conditioner (CTEK MXS 5.0 or 7.0 recommended) when not in use. The DBS has a charging socket in the boot for this purpose. Budget €150-350 for a quality charger if the car does not come with one, or €300-500 for a battery replacement if an existing battery has been damaged by deep discharge cycles.