S body rubber armor coming off easily?

[Paul0303]

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Just handed my my 007 to go back to Germany for new rubber armour. I understand that Leica have made it a requirement for all S body armour replacements to be done in Germany, unfortunately that means time away and transport costs. I would have thought (and hoped) this is a lower level technical job that would be able to be actioned locally.

[bilbrown]

I sent my 007 in for a rubber body armor replacement and they told me that my "body was broken" and more... they certainly want to charge me for it. Waiting for pictures from what they have, but needless to say I don't think this well known issue of the body armor coming undone should described as some of the verbiage they have said. including "deformed" and "broken". Maybe when the camera was sent the post banged it around. I am hoping that is the case, otherwise I will be very angry at what they want to charge me.

[bilbrown]

On 12/14/2022 at 12:56 PM, Paul0303 said:

Just handed my my 007 to go back to Germany for new rubber armour. I understand that Leica have made it a requirement for all S body armour replacements to be done in Germany, unfortunately that means time away and transport costs. I would have thought (and hoped) this is a lower level technical job that would be able to be actioned locally.

I would be interested in what they tell you is wrong with the camera. I sent mine to Germany in November and just got back my repair assessment. It doesn't even sound like the camera I sent them.

 

 

 

[mgrayson3]

I used Gorilla Glue. Much cheaper than a trip to Wetzlar.

[Paul0303]

On 1/6/2023 at 4:49 PM, bilbrown said:

I would be interested in what they tell you is wrong with the camera. I sent mine to Germany in November and just got back my repair assessment. It doesn't even sound like the camera I sent them.

 

 

 

Just received my 007 back from Leica Germany (it took a little while from Australia and back and Christmas in the middle). In terms of what they found it was only the stretched rubber armour which they replaced along with the media door. Apart from that they cleaned focussing screen and sensor. It looks like new.

[Pieter12]

The rubber/armor on the media door seems to be a weak point. I don't know why Leica insists on having the camera go back to the factory for what seems to be such a minor bit of work (I hesitate to even call it a repair). I would think any number of independent repair technicians could do the work if the armor is still intact, just coming off. Or even DIY. Are the materials used so exotic that only a particular adhesive can be used? Does the armor distort once it is removed and need some sort of jig or special tool to be re-adhered or replaced?

[Paul0303]

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If you think we have some challenges with our armour spare a thought for those that have the "Sandro Miller" S3 special edition.

https://fotohennyhoogeveen.com/leica-s3-red-edition-sandro-miller

The spec says leatherette covering but zooming in onto the images of the camera it looks like standard armour in red, I would presume that Leica will keep a small stock of the red covering for the 10 x S3 (and one 007) cameras made + doors. Anyone out there got one? I see there is the last one for sale from the Leica Store Lisse who I believe commissioned it.  

[yoshi]

Hello everyone. I am an S user living in Japan. The rubber on the memory card slot cover of my Typ006 has come off. I contacted Leica Japan in Ginza, and they replied that they would replace the part instead of reattaching the rubber. I asked them to clean the sensor as well, and the result was ¥6,000 for sensor cleaning and ¥3,700 for replacing the card cover. The cost was about 10,000JPY, so the sensor cleaning and card slot cover replacement cost us about 700 EUR. We are satisfied with the result.
 

[yoshi]

I made a mistake in converting to EUR. Correction. Approximately 71EUR.

 

[Ken Abrahams]

A friend who may or may not be on this forum has an S2 that has been to Germany twice for the peeling rubber. The latest trip took some months and returned a few weeks ago. I can't speak for him about what he was billed for the work. In the past when I have had repairs out of warranty it doesn't hurt to write about the issue genuinely and appeal for an "extended cover" to such a consistent and repeating issue.   

[yoshi]

Ken is right, this recurring card cover problem is serious. It should be a maintenance that Leica store can do to make it more affordable and repairable.

Maybe the parts happened to be in Japan this time.
Leica Japan has a minimum 3 - 6 month timeframe for repair if it cannot be repaired in Japan. Moreover, the repair cost is very expensive. It bothers me.