Its Bamford Rose quality and transformation but for less !!
Discussion
Hello fello Aston enthusiasts. I'd like to start by saying just how helpful this forum is on decision making when it comes to car upgrades.
I Purchased my 4.3 v8 vantage 3 years ago, just after the 4.7 was released, and like many on this forum had started to get bored with the power output from the car after only a short while. After spending money on the am power upgrade and various cosmetic touches i suddenly found myself at a wall as i did not want to buy a newer one to only foot the depreciation bill for little more then slightly more horsepower.
Step in Bamford Rose. I had been tempted by Bamford Rose’s modifications for a while after reading the many good reports on here from owners who have had projects completed by BR and appearing overjoyed by the transformation, and the fantastic write-ups of their project cars in Aston Martin Vantage and Evo magazines (RIP Purdey :-( ).
I was even more tempted after I read comments from AMPilote and Araantonak that BR was developing a cost down exhaust system to deliver a bit less performance but for less whilst keeping legendary BR quality. Not that I don’t mind paying for quality, which BR’s exhaust systems look like they are the very best, but I also wanted their lightweight flywheel and twinplate clutch package, meaning that the all up price in one hit was a bit of a ‘gulper’. So I saw my chance and went for it…..
Preop pic's
I phoned Mike and after a chat uncovered that BR had modified a 4-1 manifold mated with their 200 cell density catalysts, I knew BR had a pressed collector as their standard manifold system upgrade and a merged collector as their ‘pinnacle’ package, the former kit returns approx. 38/40 BHP with the later returning approx 45/48BHP (as fitted to project ‘Alan’). The cost-down option has a completely different primary pipe into the downpipe design, Mike said development tests on ‘Jessica’ returned exactly a 30BHP increase and informed me that I would be the first paying customer for this package and although my engine is 4.3L, Mike guaranteed the same carryover of 30BHP gain for my car.
Pre-modification Dyno
My beloved Vantage is AM power upgrade spec already, which is why I was a little upset with the std dyno result Mike recorded, shown in the graph here at 378BHP.
Modified parts and final Dyno
The Bamford Rose Exhaust upgrade applied to my car, as Mike said it would, dyno’d at 408BHP, and shows a consistent low speed torque increase of 25 LBFT / 35Nm too !!
I am expecting my car back tomorrow, and I can’t wait for a test drive..! just looking at the pics of the booty going onto my car made me want to post up and share my experience. No doubt I will be smiling tomorrow and saying thank you Bamford Rose for another project successfully delivered..! I also have to thank all you regular posters for discussing your Bamford Rose projects on here too, it takes a lot of faith to give a company your pride and joy, and for the company to return it safely, the parts do what they say it will and be reliable too. All BR’s projects blogged on here gave me that confidence to go for it – I still missed her like crazy whilst she was away though, and now I am like an expectant father waiting for my first drive..! Like many, I am now a happily signed up member of the BR club and that’s before I drive it..!
So what a result, looks like I have Bamford Rose quality but for less outlay, my sacrifice is 10-15BHP above 5000 rpm. Mike informs me that BR will now have a strategy change in their product line up. This cost down system will be their entry level delivering 30BHP increase and the pinnacle system will be their upper end product to return approx. 45BHP. It would only be proper to say if you want to know the price of the cost-down system either PM me or ask Mike.
Next update – after the test drive..!
Regards, Nik
I Purchased my 4.3 v8 vantage 3 years ago, just after the 4.7 was released, and like many on this forum had started to get bored with the power output from the car after only a short while. After spending money on the am power upgrade and various cosmetic touches i suddenly found myself at a wall as i did not want to buy a newer one to only foot the depreciation bill for little more then slightly more horsepower.
Step in Bamford Rose. I had been tempted by Bamford Rose’s modifications for a while after reading the many good reports on here from owners who have had projects completed by BR and appearing overjoyed by the transformation, and the fantastic write-ups of their project cars in Aston Martin Vantage and Evo magazines (RIP Purdey :-( ).
I was even more tempted after I read comments from AMPilote and Araantonak that BR was developing a cost down exhaust system to deliver a bit less performance but for less whilst keeping legendary BR quality. Not that I don’t mind paying for quality, which BR’s exhaust systems look like they are the very best, but I also wanted their lightweight flywheel and twinplate clutch package, meaning that the all up price in one hit was a bit of a ‘gulper’. So I saw my chance and went for it…..
Preop pic's
I phoned Mike and after a chat uncovered that BR had modified a 4-1 manifold mated with their 200 cell density catalysts, I knew BR had a pressed collector as their standard manifold system upgrade and a merged collector as their ‘pinnacle’ package, the former kit returns approx. 38/40 BHP with the later returning approx 45/48BHP (as fitted to project ‘Alan’). The cost-down option has a completely different primary pipe into the downpipe design, Mike said development tests on ‘Jessica’ returned exactly a 30BHP increase and informed me that I would be the first paying customer for this package and although my engine is 4.3L, Mike guaranteed the same carryover of 30BHP gain for my car.
Pre-modification Dyno
My beloved Vantage is AM power upgrade spec already, which is why I was a little upset with the std dyno result Mike recorded, shown in the graph here at 378BHP.
Modified parts and final Dyno
The Bamford Rose Exhaust upgrade applied to my car, as Mike said it would, dyno’d at 408BHP, and shows a consistent low speed torque increase of 25 LBFT / 35Nm too !!
I am expecting my car back tomorrow, and I can’t wait for a test drive..! just looking at the pics of the booty going onto my car made me want to post up and share my experience. No doubt I will be smiling tomorrow and saying thank you Bamford Rose for another project successfully delivered..! I also have to thank all you regular posters for discussing your Bamford Rose projects on here too, it takes a lot of faith to give a company your pride and joy, and for the company to return it safely, the parts do what they say it will and be reliable too. All BR’s projects blogged on here gave me that confidence to go for it – I still missed her like crazy whilst she was away though, and now I am like an expectant father waiting for my first drive..! Like many, I am now a happily signed up member of the BR club and that’s before I drive it..!
So what a result, looks like I have Bamford Rose quality but for less outlay, my sacrifice is 10-15BHP above 5000 rpm. Mike informs me that BR will now have a strategy change in their product line up. This cost down system will be their entry level delivering 30BHP increase and the pinnacle system will be their upper end product to return approx. 45BHP. It would only be proper to say if you want to know the price of the cost-down system either PM me or ask Mike.
Next update – after the test drive..!
Regards, Nik
Cheers guys !! just to update I got the car back and took it for a blast down Bristols finest B roads !!
What can I say... Feels like a completely different car, you can definitely feel the torque increase and the noise is verging on demonic !! Coupled with the flywheel clutch combo, I couldn't be happier.
Looks like I'm going to be picking up a lot of v power points this month....
What can I say... Feels like a completely different car, you can definitely feel the torque increase and the noise is verging on demonic !! Coupled with the flywheel clutch combo, I couldn't be happier.
Looks like I'm going to be picking up a lot of v power points this month....
gibbon said:
snuffy said:
I've wondered about that I could do to mine, but decided I do not want to spend £6k on the BR stuff. And I still don't want to spend £5k. Okay, £1000 is better than a poke in the eye with Jockman's dick, but £6k or £5k, there's not much in it to make any odds to me.
I am the same. For me, i would rather invest the 6k at some point in the trade up to a 4.7 as the price differential closes.gibbon said:
So can we have a genuine price v gain list for all three options now then?
Genuine question; as you don't actually care, why do you... errr, care? 
yeti said:
Genuine question; as you don't actually care, why do you... errr, care?
I care!! In fact, I'm tempted. All the speedy goodness without the bling and price tag. Might make it easier to 'man maths' the switchable dampers!!Or wait and to the lot to the next one and make it a keeper.....
I think BR are on to a winner with this product structure.
gibbon said:
yeti said:
Genuine question; as you don't actually care, why do you... errr, care?
Where did I say i didnt care Yeti?gibbon said:
I am the same. For me, i would rather invest the 6k at some point in the trade up to a 4.7 as the price differential closes.
Edited by Bravo73 on Wednesday 19th June 20:38
Bravo73 said:
Edited by Bravo73 on Wednesday 19th June 20:38
No disrespect to BR, but "gains" are meaningless if the measurement is done in the control of the vendor of the upgrades.
Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
And to the OP - why worry about a figure of "378bhp" that is only an estimate in itself? You will almost certainly get quite a substantial variation just by going to different rolling roads...the key thing is the seat of the pants feeling. BUT...be wary of being seduced by the sound. It can make you feel like you're massively faster, even when you're not really. Especially when that heady feeling of lightened wallet kicks in
Nice manifolds though. Presumably the manufacturing costs are substantially less? What sort of %age drop in price is there?
Also, will be very interested to see how you get on with the flywheel/clutch. Especially in terms of (a) throttle response/speed of rev gain/drop and (b) drivability around town.
Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
And to the OP - why worry about a figure of "378bhp" that is only an estimate in itself? You will almost certainly get quite a substantial variation just by going to different rolling roads...the key thing is the seat of the pants feeling. BUT...be wary of being seduced by the sound. It can make you feel like you're massively faster, even when you're not really. Especially when that heady feeling of lightened wallet kicks in
Nice manifolds though. Presumably the manufacturing costs are substantially less? What sort of %age drop in price is there?
Also, will be very interested to see how you get on with the flywheel/clutch. Especially in terms of (a) throttle response/speed of rev gain/drop and (b) drivability around town.
Edited by Murph7355 on Wednesday 19th June 21:45
Murph7355 said:
No disrespect to BR, but "gains" are meaningless if the measurement is done in the control of the vendor of the upgrades.
Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Yes, completely agree. My car was dyno'd independently on Tuesday last week, mods installed wednesday and car back for 2nd rolling road on Thursday. People can feel free to call the rolling road operator to verify the results. That is obviously not possible in this case!!Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Edited by Murph7355 on Wednesday 19th June 21:45
scotpak said:
Murph7355 said:
No disrespect to BR, but "gains" are meaningless if the measurement is done in the control of the vendor of the upgrades.
Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Yes, completely agree. My car was dyno'd independently on Tuesday last week, mods installed wednesday and car back for 2nd rolling road on Thursday. People can feel free to call the rolling road operator to verify the results. That is obviously not possible in this case!!Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Edited by Murph7355 on Wednesday 19th June 21:45
Never allow someone to mark their own homework!
Maybe that is just my IT testing background. Developers are rubbish testers!
Gerry
Murph7355 said:
No disrespect to BR, but "gains" are meaningless if the measurement is done in the control of the vendor of the upgrades.
Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
No offence taken sir, so long as you swiftly retract your incorrect remarks. Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Edited by Murph7355 on Wednesday 19th June 21:45
The test was totally under the control of the dyno vendor, and the service provided I paid the going rate for, and is a process i could not influence in any way. Ring them direct if you want to follow up, in fact please do, then your appology will be more meaningful to me.
How on earth have you come to this conclusion??? Not least I question here because my company name and the dyno company name (that could not have been made more clearly written on the test sheet) are not the same or linked businesses in any way shape or form.
Without any research into the matter, what a bizzare comment to make.
scotpak said:
Murph7355 said:
No disrespect to BR, but "gains" are meaningless if the measurement is done in the control of the vendor of the upgrades.
Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Yes, completely agree. My car was dyno'd independently on Tuesday last week, mods installed wednesday and car back for 2nd rolling road on Thursday. People can feel free to call the rolling road operator to verify the results. That is obviously not possible in this case!!Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Edited by Murph7355 on Wednesday 19th June 21:45
It is possible to ring the dyno company that conducted this test, their name is in big black bold letters in the middle of the page. Perhaps you need help? type B T E C r a c i n g into google, find the number, give them a call - try thinking before posting next time.
I admit this is a company I do lots of dyno testing at, yes, the same as your kit vendor being 31.7 miles from where your car was dyno'd also must test lots at? But that wouldnt prompt me to accuse any 'friendly' relationship existed. On that note, you said on another forum it was impractical to send the car back and forth between mods to dyno test at each stage.. 31 miles... Interesting.
Edited by BamfordMike on Wednesday 19th June 23:59
V8VGerry said:
scotpak said:
Murph7355 said:
No disrespect to BR, but "gains" are meaningless if the measurement is done in the control of the vendor of the upgrades.
Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Yes, completely agree. My car was dyno'd independently on Tuesday last week, mods installed wednesday and car back for 2nd rolling road on Thursday. People can feel free to call the rolling road operator to verify the results. That is obviously not possible in this case!!Test it before and after at an independent place and then you have a better test.
Edited by Murph7355 on Wednesday 19th June 21:45
Never allow someone to mark their own homework!
Maybe that is just my IT testing background. Developers are rubbish testers!
Gerry
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