Get Your Estimate Today
Whether it is a minor stone chip or a major accident repair, your Aston Martin repair deserves the best. So much so, why not request a Professional Quote today, and let our dedicated Aston Martin specalist technicans look after your pride and joy today, knowing it will be in the hands that respect your car as much as you do.
Table of Contents
Why Aston Martins Need Specialist Care
One thing that most people do not know is that most everyday cars on British roads are made of steel.
While steel is easy to weld, it is heavy.
So to achieve world-class performance, modern Aston Martins are built using a "space-frame" design made of advanced, lightweight materials.
Due to this, these tend to require a completely different approach to repair.
For instance, this can be because:
Structural Aluminium
Unlike steel, aluminium does not like to be "pulled" back into shape, and if it is bent in an accident, the metal can become brittle and lose its strength.
Due to this, we understand that specialist jigs and cold-shrinking tools need to be used instead to make sure that the metal stays strong and the car's balance remains perfect.
Carbon Fibre & Composites
Used extensively on models like the DBS and Vantage, these materials do not dent - they crack or shatter.
As a result, you cannot "panel beat" carbon fibre, and it just requires specialist bonding and resin repairs that maintain the car's incredible strength-to-weight ratio. This ratio can easily be compromised, making your track day performance something you wouldn't want to shout about as a result.
Advanced Bonding & Riveting
Modern Astons are also often held together with aerospace-grade adhesives (specialist glue) and rivets rather than traditional welds.
Due to this, a standard garage usually will not have the factory-spec bonding kits required to join these panels back together safely.
The Risk of Heat
Traditional body shops often use high heat to pull dents out of steel panels.
However, on an Aston Martin, excessive heat can actually change the molecular structure of the aluminium or ruin the structural glue that holds the chassis together.
Due to this, we understand this, and instead use "cold repair" techniques that are specifically designed to protect your frame, especially here during repairs.
Maintaining Structural Integrity
If a garage uses the wrong tools or temperatures as well, it can easily ruin your car's safety and performance in more ways than one.
That is why here at M.A. Coachworks, you can rest assured that we follow the exact "repair manual" developed by the engineers in Gaydon.
This then makes sure that your car is not just beautiful to look at, but remains as safe as the day it left the factory at the same time.
Get Your Estimate Today
Whether it is a minor stone chip or a major accident repair, your Aston Martin deserves the best. So much so, why not request a Professional Quote today, and let our dedicated Aston Martin specalist technicans look after your pride and joy today, knowing it will be in the hands that respect your car as much as you do.
2. Understanding "Category A" Approval
In the world of Aston Martin, not all garages are equal, as the brand operates a tiered system for repairs, and a Category A Aston Martin Body Repair Centre is the highest possible level of approval.
This status is only awarded to workshops that meet the incredibly strict standards set by the factory in Gaydon, and we are proud to have achieved this status - in fact, we are the only repairer in London and the M25 region to have this hard to acheive accoldae as well.
The Elite Academy Standard
To be able to achieve this, every technician working on your car has been personally trained at the Aston Martin Academy.
They don’t just learn "how to fix cars"; they learn the specific DNA of every model, from the classic DB series to the latest high-performance supercars.
This, in turn, makes sure that every bolt, rivet, and seal is replaced exactly as the manufacturer intended.
Exclusive Specialist Tooling
You also cannot repair an Aston Martin with standard off-the-shelf tools as well - let's face it, these are dedicatred high performance machines.
As a result, Category A centres like ours are required to invest in manufacturer-specific equipment, and we have.
This includes precision laser-alignment systems and bespoke jigs designed specifically for the Aston Martin chassis, as using the wrong equipment can lead to microscopic misalignments that affect how the car handles at high speeds, which you want to avoid, as these can then affect how your car handles on the road.
Structural Chassis Capability
While "Category B" shops are often limited to cosmetic repairs (like paint and minor dents), a Category A centre like ours is authorised to carry out major structural work as well as standard paint repair as well.
We are one of the few places with the technology to repair the aluminium "tub" and chassis, and we use the same aerospace-grade bonding and riveting techniques used on the original production line as well.
Direct Factory Support
As a Category A repairer, we have a direct line to the engineers at Aston Martin, too.
So, if a repair is more complex, we have access to the original blueprints and technical data for your specific vehicle, and this level of detail is simply not available to independent or unapproved garages for obvious reasons.
Get Your Estimate Today
Whether it is a minor stone chip or a major accident repair, your Aston Martin deserves the best. So much so, why not request a Professional Quote today, and let our dedicated Aston Martin specalist technicans look after your pride and joy today, knowing it will be in the hands that respect your car as much as you do.
Comprehensive Aston Martin Repair Services
At M.A. Coachworks, we also provide a full spectrum of restoration services. So, whether your car has suffered a major collision or simply needs a cosmetic refresh, we apply the same "British Standards Certified" (BS10125) level of care to every task.
Accident and Structural Repairs
For instance, after an accident, the damage you cannot see is often more dangerous than the damage you can.
Due to this, we perform a comprehensive inspection using proprietary data directly from Aston Martin.
This then allows us to check the chassis against the original factory blueprints to make sure the structural aluminium and steel are perfectly aligned.
Our Aston Martin workshops are then equipped with specialised tools and advanced diagnostic tools to reset your car’s safety systems and sensors to manufacturer standards, as well as, if needed, to fully complete the whole repair.
Aluminium and Composite Body Structures
Repairing the "skin" of an Aston Martin is a specialist craft, as you can see.
Because these cars use a mix of aluminium and composite body structures, they cannot be treated like a standard steel car, as you have seen.
Due to this, we use specific "cold-repair" techniques to fix panels without compromising the metal’s strength.
Then, for minor dings where the paint is still intact, and this technique is suitable for, we also offer Paintless Dent Removal (PDR), which is a delicate process that massages the metal back to its original shape.
Vehicle Restoration and Refurbishment
However, not every visit to our workshop is due to an accident.
Due to this, we also specialise in full vehicle restoration and refurbishment for owners who want to bring an older model back to "out-of-the-box" condition.
This includes everything from refreshing tired paintwork to fixing those small age-related imperfections that accumulate over years of driving as well.
Alloy Wheel Refurbishment
Then we have the kerbs of the UK, which can be unforgiving to beautiful alloy wheels.
So much so that our alloy wheel refurbishment service goes beyond a simple "touch-up."
For instance, here we can strip the wheels, check for structural cracks or buckles, and use precision lathes to restore the original "diamond-cut" finish or factory paint shade, making sure they look brand new, for example.
Insurance Approved Excellence
We also work alongside your insurance company to make sure that all repairs - no matter how small - are carried out using genuine parts and approved methods.
By choosing a BS10125 certified repairer like us, you have the guarantee that your car has been handled by a workshop that meets the highest safety and quality regulations in the UK, which is great to know.
Pro Tip: With the M.A. Difference, you get a combination of traditional coachbuilding skills with the latest advanced diagnostic tools, all of which make sure that your Aston Martin performs exactly as the engineers intended.
Get Your Estimate Today
Whether it is a minor stone chip or a major accident repair, your Aston Martin deserves the best. So much so, why not request a Professional Quote today, and let our dedicated Aston Martin specalist technicans look after your pride and joy today, knowing it will be in the hands that respect your car as much as you do.
The Art of the Perfect Aston Martin Paint Finish
As we all know, Aston Martin is world-renowned for having some of the finest paint finishes in the automotive industry.
While a standard car might spend a few hours in a paint booth, an Aston Martin finish can take over 50 hours of meticulous labour to apply, flat, and polish to perfection.
As a result, here at M.A. Coachworks, we replicate this factory process exactly and also carry out the same effort as well - no shortcuts or corners cut here.
Advanced Colour Matching Technology
For instance, even with a factory paint code, no two cars are identical after they have spent time on the road.
For instance, here Sunlight (UV rays) and weather can subtly shift the shade of the paint over time.
As a result, we use high-precision spectrometers - specialist digital cameras - to "read" the current state of your paint.
We then mix the pigment in-house to create a bespoke match that accounts for your car's age and character as a result.
Invisible Paint Blending
Then the secret to a perfect repair is "blending."
Due to this, instead of just painting a single door or wing, our master Aston Martin-trained painters extend the new clear coat and pigment into the neighbouring panels.
This then creates a seamless transition that, when finished, means that you get no "hard lines" or visible edges, making sure that the repair is completely invisible even under the harsh, direct light of a showroom or a bright summer day - bringing your car back to its factory level finish.
Multi-Stage Flatting and Polishing
The "depth" you see in Aston Martin paint also comes from multiple layers of clear coat that have been "flatted" (sanded with ultra-fine paper) and polished back.
Due to this, we spend hours removing any microscopic imperfections - often called "orange peel" - to make sure that the surface is as smooth as glass.
This level of finish is what separates a professional specialist Aston Martin repairer like us from a standard body shop.
Fixing Common Paint Issues
One thing that isn't well known is that many Aston Martins, particularly older models, can suffer from "paint blisters" or "bubbling" around wing mirrors, door handles, and wheel arches - especially if the car has been left out in the elements, and hasn't been polished and recoated often.
This is often caused by a reaction between different metals, and you will be glad to hear that we do not just paint over these; we strip the area back to the bare substrate, treat the surface with specialist anti-corrosion primers, and refinish it to ensure the problem never returns for you as well.
Pro Tip: A genuine Aston Martin paint finish is often twice as thick as that of a standard premium car, allowing for that incredible deep-lustre look.
Get Your Estimate Today
Whether it is a minor stone chip or a major accident repair, your Aston Martin deserves the best. So much so, why not request a Professional Quote today, and let our dedicated Aston Martin specalist technicans look after your pride and joy today, knowing it will be in the hands that respect your car as much as you do.
Protecting Your Investment
We know all too well that an Aston Martin is an asset that, if maintained correctly, can hold its value or even appreciate over time.
However, the prestige car market is incredibly sensitive to the quality of repairs, and a "budget" repair can result in a significant loss of value when it comes time to sell or part-exchange.
By using an approved Category A repairer like us, you are effectively "future-proofing" your investment here.
For instance, other areas that help you keep your resale value high include for instance:
The Importance of Genuine Parts
We use nothing but 100% genuine Aston Martin parts, which are sourced directly from the factory itself.
While "aftermarket" panels might look similar, they rarely fit with the millimetre-precision required, and using genuine parts means that the "shut lines" (the gaps between panels) remain uniform and perfect.
In the eyes of a specialist inspector, uneven gaps are a tell-tale sign of a low-quality repair, and that isn't something you need to worry about with us.
Preserving Your Manufacturer’s Warranty
Aston Martins also come with comprehensive warranties covering the paintwork and anti-perforation (rust).
However, if you have your car repaired at a non-approved shop, you risk voiding these protections entirely.
That said, because M.A. Coachworks is a Category A-approved centre, our work is recognised by the factory itself, meaning your remaining manufacturer warranties will stay fully intact after the repair is completed as well.
Maintaining Your Car’s Provenance
In the world of high-end cars, "provenance" is everything.
Due to this, when you sell an Aston Martin, your buyer will look closely at the service history.
As a result, having a stamp from an official Category A Body Repair Centre in your book provides them with that "peace of mind" they need as the next owner.
It also proves that no corners were cut when it was taken in for repair, and that the car was restored to its original safety specifications laid out by Aston Martin themselves as well.
Invisible Repairs for Maximum Value
A poor repair often becomes visible years later - paint might sink, or "sanding marks" might appear under the lacquer, for instance.
These flaws are then picked up instantly by professional car buyers and auction houses.
However, our multi-stage finishing process makes sure that your repair remains invisible for the life of the car, protecting its resale value and your reputation as the owner of it at the same time as well.
Pro Tip: You should always keep your repair invoices alongside your service history, and a "Category A" invoice is a badge of honour in the industry that proves your car has been maintained to the highest possible standard, as if Aston Martin did it themselves.
Modern Protection, With PPF and Ceramic Coatings
Then, once your Aston Martin has been returned to its showroom condition, the next step is keeping it that way.
As you will know all too well, British roads are notorious for loose grit and environmental debris, so much so that we can also offer two primary levels of "armour" to ensure your new paintwork stays flawless.
Paint Protection Film (PPF)
PPF is a high-grade, clear thermoplastic urethane film applied directly to the car's bodywork, for example.
This then acts as a sacrificial layer that absorbs the impact of stone chips, road salt, and bird lime.
Most importantly, though, the films we use are "self-healing"; so if the film gets a light scratch, the heat from the sun or warm water will cause the film to settle back into its original smooth state, making the scratch disappear as a result.
Nano-Ceramic Coatings
Unlike traditional wax, a ceramic coating creates a permanent chemical bond with the paint.
This then creates a "hydrophobic" surface - meaning water and dirt simply slide off. Then not only does this give the car an incredible, deep-glass shine, but it also makes your weekly wash much safer and easier, as dirt cannot "grip" the paintwork and cause swirl marks, for instance.
The Ultimate Combination
However, for the best results, many of our clients choose to apply PPF to the high-impact areas (the front bumper, bonnet, and wings) and a ceramic coating to the rest of the vehicle.
This then provides you with a total shield against both physical impacts and chemical staining at the same time we find.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
One of the most common misconceptions after an accident is that you must use the garage your insurance company suggests.
This is simply not true, as under UK law, specifically the Consumer Rights Act, you have the legal right to choose your own repairer.
Why Insurers Have "Approved" Garages
Insurance companies often direct customers to their own "approved" networks because those garages have agreed to work at lower rates.
In return for maintaining these low-cost deals, those shops may use "non-genuine" parts or skip the complex, time-consuming processes required by Aston Martin to keep your car's resale value high.
For a high-performance vehicle, this is a compromise you cannot afford to make and can easily cost you down the line as a result.
Our Claims Management Service
As a result, we understand that dealing with insurers can be stressful and confusing.
That is why here at M.A. Coachworks, we take that burden off your shoulders, and if needed, we can liaise directly with your insurance provider, submit our expert digital estimates, and handle the technical discussions to make sure they approve the use of genuine parts and factory-standard repair methods as well.
Safety and Value are Just Non-Negotiable
By choosing a Category A repairer like ours over an insurer-suggested garage, you are choosing long-term safety and reliability.
As we make sure that the structural integrity and any advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) of your Aston Martin are perfectly calibrated to how Aston Martin intended them to work from the factory.
We don't work for the insurance company; we work for you and your car.
Pro Tip: It is your car and your choice, and you can simply tell your insurer: "I wish to use M.A. Coachworks, an Aston Martin Category A Approved Centre", at the point of contact as well.
Get Your Estimate Today
Whether it is a minor stone chip or a major accident repair, your Aston Martin deserves the best. So much so, why not request a Professional Quote today, and let our dedicated Aston Martin specalist technicans look after your pride and joy today, knowing it will be in the hands that respect your car as much as you do.
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Who is M&A Coachworks?
Here at M&A Coachworks, we are a high-end, prestigious, manufacturer-approved repair sports car specialist established in 1971 by Michael Dionisiou and Adonis Kyriacou.
Consequently, we have a large number of body repair shops across the UK that specialise in luxury and supercars and are recognised for our expertise in repairing high-end brands, from them being in a car crash to minor detailing repairs, such as Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, or McLaren. as well as a high level of customer satisfaction due to the almost 60 years of experience we have under our belt.
As a result, over the years, we have expanded from a single London location to multiple sites in Hertfordshire, Berkshire, and Snetterton, offering you services that range from accident repairs to detailing and paint protection.
Consequently, our technicians use the latest equipment and techniques, ensuring every vehicle is restored to its pre-accident condition according to manufacturer specifications, and we like to think that our customer care is second to none in the high-end vehicle repair market as well. So contact our customer service team today if you want a professional car repair service and or a detailed finish to your car with a great experience overall.