Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist

[Seakingsam]

Thanks Nick, much appreciated. Doing this stuff from across the planet, involving big licks of cash, rests, simply, on complete trust and confidence. Mike, Adrian and the team are superb. Without their approach and consistency, and best-in-class technical competence, I could not have considered such a project.

[cornershop]

Hello folks

Collecting my 2010 V12V on Saturday and already contemplating some mods.

Primary decat and maybe 200 cell secondary cats are on my radar. I’m looking to improve sounds and bump up the low-midrange. Coming from an old 911 on ITBs, I found the sounds fairly muted during the test drive. Admittedly, it was not lacking in torque.

From what I’ve heard on various vids, i don’t like the sound of the secondary decat alone - most seem to have a harsh edge which doesn’t appeal.

I have the all clear from HWM that the warranty won’t be invalidated; next to gauge the response from the insurance co. (Zurich PC).

To those that have undertaken this conversion by BR - are there any downsides? Unwanted noise, drone etc? Reduced top-end?

Is the ECU remapped?

Thanks all

[bogie]

Ive only changed the secondary cats out, no need to remap . I think having primary sports cat and secondary decat could be a bit close to setting off the MIL and/or passing emissions. Bamford will no doubt advise.

Probably wouldnt remap unless manifolds n backbox done as well. Sounds great, just gives a bit more volume overall and much more when valves are open.

[cornershop]

bogie said:

Ive only changed the secondary cats out, no need to remap . I think having primary sports cat and secondary decat could be a bit close to setting off the MIL and/or passing emissions. Bamford will no doubt advise.

Probably wouldnt remap unless manifolds n backbox done as well. Sounds great, just gives a bit more volume overall and much more when valves are open.

Thanks - I’m not really after more power/torque, just the sounds. Don’t get me wrong, its nice to have, but on the journey home today, even with sport button, I could only really hear the exhaust and even then with the windows down.

I’m hoping the primary decat will help with improving the sounds.

Can the induction noise be improved?

[bogie]

cornershop said:

bogie said:

Ive only changed the secondary cats out, no need to remap . I think having primary sports cat and secondary decat could be a bit close to setting off the MIL and/or passing emissions. Bamford will no doubt advise.

Probably wouldnt remap unless manifolds n backbox done as well. Sounds great, just gives a bit more volume overall and much more when valves are open.

Thanks - I’m not really after more power/torque, just the sounds. Don’t get me wrong, its nice to have, but on the journey home today, even with sport button, I could only really hear the exhaust and even then with the windows down.

I’m hoping the primary decat will help with improving the sounds.

Can the induction noise be improved?

Its the secondary cats that dont have sensors and you can replace with straight through pipe, no issues, £500 ish

yes you can get an open K&N style cone kit, pair of em in place of the factory filters, will make it growl a bit more, not too expense either http://www.velocityap.com/product-p/vel-amintakeki...

Not sure you will hear them over the engine once you decat though, they are right up front and low down rather than under the bonnet

[cornershop]

Thanks again - sounds like have a phone call to make.

I’m not a fan of the K&N style kits, plus they just don’t look right either under the bonnet of an Aston.

[bentley01]

I had a secondary CAT delete and the sound was fantastic. I then decided to go to BR and have the primary CAT delete and put the normal secondary CATs back on. If anything I think it sounds even better but it is a very similar sound. The largest difference is the engine pick up and how freely it seems to rev. I noticed it straight away and it is certainly quicker and I also have the added peace of mind regarding the whole primary CAT ingestion issue.

[Bobajobbob]

I’d love to see a BR YouTube video where all the different exhaust options on both the 4.3 and 4.7 are demonstrated side by side. For me the sound of the 4.3 with fuse pulled was pretty much perfect. When I bought my 2013 4.7 I was pretty disappointed with the stock sound even with fuse pulled. I have subsequently removed the secondary cats however the exhaust note now ,though excellent at low revs, is overly metallic and angry as the revs rise. I would love to be able to get the note back to something closer to the original 4.3 with fuse out.

Any pointers very welcome.

[cornershop]

I sense I have the same opinion re the V12V with secondary car delete. I think a baffled secondary 200 cpi is the answer to soften the tone slightly but will confirm with BR directly m. One of their YouTube vids discusses this.

Bobajobbob said:

I’d love to see a BR YouTube video where all the different exhaust options on both the 4.3 and 4.7 are demonstrated side by side. For me the sound of the 4.3 with fuse pulled was pretty much perfect. When I bought my 2013 4.7 I was pretty disappointed with the stock sound even with fuse pulled. I have subsequently removed the secondary cats however the exhaust note now ,though excellent at low revs, is overly metallic and angry as the revs rise. I would love to be able to get the note back to something closer to the original 4.3 with fuse out.

Any pointers very welcome.

[Bobajobbob]

cornershop said:

I sense I have the same opinion re the V12V with secondary car delete. I think a baffled secondary 200 cpi is the answer to soften the tone slightly but will confirm with BR directly m. One of their YouTube vids discusses this.

Bobajobbob said:

I’d love to see a BR YouTube video where all the different exhaust options on both the 4.3 and 4.7 are demonstrated side by side. For me the sound of the 4.3 with fuse pulled was pretty much perfect. When I bought my 2013 4.7 I was pretty disappointed with the stock sound even with fuse pulled. I have subsequently removed the secondary cats however the exhaust note now ,though excellent at low revs, is overly metallic and angry as the revs rise. I would love to be able to get the note back to something closer to the original 4.3 with fuse out.

Any pointers very welcome.

Thanks I'll dig that one out.

[JohnG1]

cornershop said:

Hello folks

Collecting my 2010 V12V on Saturday and already contemplating some mods.

Primary decat and maybe 200 cell secondary cats are on my radar. I’m looking to improve sounds and bump up the low-midrange. Coming from an old 911 on ITBs, I found the sounds fairly muted during the test drive. Admittedly, it was not lacking in torque.

From what I’ve heard on various vids, i don’t like the sound of the secondary decat alone - most seem to have a harsh edge which doesn’t appeal.

I have the all clear from HWM that the warranty won’t be invalidated; next to gauge the response from the insurance co. (Zurich PC).

To those that have undertaken this conversion by BR - are there any downsides? Unwanted noise, drone etc? Reduced top-end?

Is the ECU remapped?

Thanks all

Zurich private clients are a great insurer. I had them quote me for different levels of mechanical changes to a V12V from trifling exhaust changes all the way to custom built 7.0 litre V12. All very reasonable - I think the most they wanted was £150 more per year than standard.

Good luck with the new car.

There are a lot of options, I'd recommend listening in person to as many as you can, I've heard on DB9 that was louder than war. Owner had barely any sound deadening in the exhaust so was pretty much straight through. But it droned at the right point in the rev range and was obnoxious...

Horses for courses!

[cornershop]

Thanks for the good wishes - have covered 159 miles since collection on Saturday, which is more than it has done since servicing in July 2019.

I don’t want to, but guess i should service it in July regardless to keep the chronology of the service stamps in the book.

What a car though....minimal understeer, minimal roll, sharp throttle response, and a lovely exhaust note. Lots to like

[zepe]

For those that have done it, what is involved in a primary decat vs new headers? specifically the am11 v12 engine.

[NickXX]

zepe said:

For those that have done it, what is involved in a primary decat vs new headers? specifically the am11 v12 engine.

I’ve not done it, but believe you have a couple of options with the V12 primary decat. The primary cats are part of the manifold, so the cheap way of doing it would be to take the manifolds off, bash out the catalyst material, then refit.

The other way is to fit the BR equal length manifolds and refit secondary cats.

[NickXX]

Seakingsam said:

Thanks Nick, much appreciated. Doing this stuff from across the planet, involving big licks of cash, rests, simply, on complete trust and confidence. Mike, Adrian and the team are superb. Without their approach and consistency, and best-in-class technical competence, I could not have considered such a project.

I thought it was a great story - hope that you enjoy it when you get it back to NZ!

[zepe]

NickXX said:

I’ve not done it, but believe you have a couple of options with the V12 primary decat. The primary cats are part of the manifold, so the cheap way of doing it would be to take the manifolds off, bash out the catalyst material, then refit.

The other way is to fit the BR equal length manifolds and refit secondary cats.

I'm wondering what the cost difference is? My preference would be to keep original manifolds intact so I can refit or pass on to next owner. Comes down to wether there is a large delta in cost. I'm assuming manifolds have to come out either way.

[NickXX]

zepe said:

I'm wondering what the cost difference is? My preference would be to keep original manifolds intact so I can refit or pass on to next owner. Comes down to wether there is a large delta in cost. I'm assuming manifolds have to come out either way.

I imagine the difference in price would be significant (£5k+ at a guess) as the fabrication of the new manifolds is not cheap - I'd drop Bamford Rose an email.

[ds666]

NickXX said:

zepe said:

I'm wondering what the cost difference is? My preference would be to keep original manifolds intact so I can refit or pass on to next owner. Comes down to wether there is a large delta in cost. I'm assuming manifolds have to come out either way.

I imagine the difference in price would be significant (£5k+ at a guess) as the fabrication of the new manifolds is not cheap - I'd drop Bamford Rose an email.

Not sure just bashing out the primary cats would work - you'd have a massive expansion chamber in the middle of the manifolds with nothing in it - think the choice is new manifolds and BR's look "loverly" .

[zepe]

NickXX said:

I imagine the difference in price would be significant (£5k+ at a guess) as the fabrication of the new manifolds is not cheap - I'd drop Bamford Rose an email.

I have a call into their U.S distributor, we will see what they say.

[cornershop]

zepe said:

NickXX said:

I imagine the difference in price would be significant (£5k+ at a guess) as the fabrication of the new manifolds is not cheap - I'd drop Bamford Rose an email.

I have a call into their U.S distributor, we will see what they say.

I think a few ears ago it was 5500 + vat for headers, secondary 200 cats and remap. Add 1200 for new inlet cams.

Personally, I just want to improve the sounds, it absolutely doesn’t need any extra bhp-tq