Buying / improving used V8V 4.3 – what I’ve learned:
Discussion
my buttons on the front dash at thr bottom is easy...just remove the centre console....bottom panel and excess to buttons easy....the seats however i was quoted 4 hours labour by a dealer...took me 10 minutes with a hammer and a socket the same size as the old switches...just bashed them through , swapped wires and slotted back into place...
My impression was they REALLY don't do discounts - this was a convertible car the week before Xmas. But they can fix things which are 'wrong' and were pretty generous there. I wasn't as pushy as some, but I felt a really nice buying experience and superb after sales/warranty service were more important to me than every last pound- I need to love the car and the purchase is where that affair begins for me.
As a separate issue, the service dept price-matched on the mods which was a surprise. And the service was flawless.
As a separate issue, the service dept price-matched on the mods which was a surprise. And the service was flawless.
NealCS said:
My impression was they REALLY don't do discounts - this was a convertible car the week before Xmas. But they can fix things which are 'wrong' and were pretty generous there. I wasn't as pushy as some, but I felt a really nice buying experience and superb after sales/warranty service were more important to me than every last pound- I need to love the car and the purchase is where that affair begins for me.
As a separate issue, the service dept price-matched on the mods which was a surprise. And the service was flawless.
A pragmatic and sensible way to look at it. As a separate issue, the service dept price-matched on the mods which was a surprise. And the service was flawless.
My problem (is it a problem?) is that I am right on the cusp of a 4.7 with what I can stretch to £. So do I buy a good 4.3....or wait a few more months? (I'm not renowned for my patience-head says yes, heart and everything else says NOW NOW NOW)
Performance wise not that bothered- I dont expect to be pushing the envelope on the A1 every day- more the interior I think is vastly better, and I will be keeping it a few years.
Yes, I know, obviously-wait for the right one. But.........the voices, the voices
Performance wise not that bothered- I dont expect to be pushing the envelope on the A1 every day- more the interior I think is vastly better, and I will be keeping it a few years.
Yes, I know, obviously-wait for the right one. But.........the voices, the voices
OP how about wind deflector? I've one and it does certainly help. +1 on the cruise too, that avoids the creep up I speed which is common with wanting to hear more growls.
Also...how about a cheap mod.... New sat nav disks? Got mine from Italy eBay for the latest set for the price of a fe pizzas
Also...how about a cheap mod.... New sat nav disks? Got mine from Italy eBay for the latest set for the price of a fe pizzas
Bigone: my choice would be to go with the heart! Go with the head and you could end up in a Skoda? Every day spent searching for the perfect 4.7 is a day you're not driving an amazing 4.3! Unless you're planning to sell it only you will know the difference- for me the £10k difference wasn't worth it. Buy the first one you fall in love with and the money you save can be in reserve for when the clutch goes! (Oh plus shiny buttons!)
Edited by NealCS on Tuesday 25th February 21:29
NealCS,
I have a Dension connector fitted by James and want to get bluetooth music streaming. I had bought another brand 30 pin bluetooth adapter and the dension could not see it when connected. I want to order one like yours but don't want to spaff the money and find it doesn't work either. How did you come about the tune2air? Did it actively state Dension 500 compatibility? ( I can't figure out why my Layen 30 pin bluetooth adapter isn't seen as connected - when plugged in to the connector the head unit just says something like aux/gw)
Thanks,
Mark
I have a Dension connector fitted by James and want to get bluetooth music streaming. I had bought another brand 30 pin bluetooth adapter and the dension could not see it when connected. I want to order one like yours but don't want to spaff the money and find it doesn't work either. How did you come about the tune2air? Did it actively state Dension 500 compatibility? ( I can't figure out why my Layen 30 pin bluetooth adapter isn't seen as connected - when plugged in to the connector the head unit just says something like aux/gw)
Thanks,
Mark
djmac56 said:
How did you come about the tune2air? Did it actively state Dension 500 compatibility? ( I can't figure out why my Layen 30 pin bluetooth adapter isn't seen as connected - when plugged in to the connector the head unit just says something like aux/gw)
I found it somewhere on this forum and took a punt - elsewhere online there are claims it works with "any 30pin iPod connector which displays track names" - I've since upgraded from iPhone to iPhone 5s and it still works. Nothing fiddly - just plug in, connect with Bluetooth code 0000 and that was it. In some ways better than the iPod since you can still control music from the phone - whereas with the iPod I had to unplug it to manually select tracks then plug back in to play (Denison controls too limited/fiddly for my 4000 tracks). Good luck - let us know how you get on?Woohoo! It works with the Dension! I now can stream spotify with track names to my 2007MY vantage and use Copilot for sat nav. I also bought a charger thingy but opted for this Belkin as it has a removable wire on the lightning cable :
Belkin 2.1A Micro Car Charger with Removable Charge/Sync Lightning Cable for iPhone 5, 5c and 5s, ipad Mini, ipad 4th Generation by Belkin http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AIQHQZS/ref=cm_sw_r_...
Belkin 2.1A Micro Car Charger with Removable Charge/Sync Lightning Cable for iPhone 5, 5c and 5s, ipad Mini, ipad 4th Generation by Belkin http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AIQHQZS/ref=cm_sw_r_...
NealCS said:
Thanks. Brilliant idea on Satnav disks- how did you go about finding them/ordering? And did it change the graphics or just
Aha. I trawled around armed with the Volvo part number until I found it, then looked further....cos when I found them on uk sites they were all the HDD version and the 3 disk versions seemed a tad expensive...so I happened to find on eBay from Italy for 50. Euros new in packing. Haven't had time to load yet...but suspect it'll not make massive difference as really the best upgrade for the satnav would be to start again....but newer disks a better than older.Also had the dension fitted.... Can't say it is the easiest to master on the move, but if you make good use of playlists it can be easier.
Windymiller said:
Have you got any instructions on the Dension? Mine has one fitted, and although I had one in my 997, it doesn't seem to work in the same way? Can't seem to access any way to alter the source, etc
Yeap, pm your email and ill photo and send u. They are a bit thin...as in there's a sheet of paper that is generic and not specific to the AM unit. I found you adjust source by choosing CD6 to switch between aux , and Gateway. 
For anyone following this thread I can share my solutions to the backache and my clutch upgrade experience below : (originally posted in the main forum under the heading: "I have a new car":
THANKS Bamford Rose for giving me a new car!
Well - it’s the same car, (V8 Vantage Roadster 2007/4.3 with Sportshift) but new modifications have utterly transformed it. I had not dared hope for such a big effect on what is already a breathtaking machine.
In essence, it still has loads of ‘personality’ but the bad edges have been knocked off.
I had the Bamford Rose twinplate clutch, lightweight flywheel and switchable suspension done, plus added new slightly wider Michelin Super Sports all at once.
(Also a mod to the Catalyst and ECU remap for a small increase in power and a decent noise change from BURBLE to ROAR, and a three-way switch so I can decide to blast it out or choose stealth mode, or have it as per factory. Finally cruise-control added.)
First impressions:
The steering felt lighter and more responsive. Surprise number One.
D mode has become totally fluid. Surprise number Two
Backache gone - six hours hard driving today. Surprise number Three!
Comfort button - now does something useful. Surprise number Four!
Here's a pic - though to be honest it looks the same as before!
I promised to feed back in detail: (It's rather thorough.. see towards end of post for "watch-outs")
Results of Twinplate clutch / flywheel:
Nodding-dog effect has gone. Creep mode smooth (still can judder slightly if you don’t put any gas in) - reverses up steep hills without barbecue smell.
If I just put my foot flat to the floor in D (and hang on tight), it surges forward with beautiful flow. Surpassed 140mph on the straight before my nerve/the road ran out but each gear change was a smooth blip rather than a great jolt with a clunk from the transmission.
On really windy roads in D mode I barely noticed the gears - just point and squirt. Anyone who has felt the 4.3 in original guise will know that’s a revelation.
As a passenger, in Bamford-Mike’s capable hands, I saw how smooth the gear change can be manually too. If you change at the right time it slips in beautifully - no need to lift off the gas or finesse it - just watch the rev counter and click- new redline slightly higher RPM too.
Comfort button really annoyed me when I got the car as it just made it jerky and uncomfy - I felt a bit let down. Now it does what you'd expect, in D mode it makes the gears change at lower revs for a smoother ride. Good in heavy/queing traffic.
Instruction:
Mike was kind enough to take me to try all the new mods at Millbrook proving ground. I am very grateful for his patient tuition in terms of how to get the best from my car, and how to get the best from a corner, many corners, over and over and over. I feel much more "at one" with the car now.
I would show pictures but they covered my iPhone cameras with these stickers which is a shame since they were filming an episode of Silent Witness there with "dead" bodies and Police with guns all over the place!
Swithchable suspension:
Two modes - soft or hard. Hard mode felt similar to the original in terms of feeling the road (and the spine jangling over bumps) though in terms of grip, the car seemed if possible more planted and responsive - which I am guessing is what made the steering feel so much lighter - very subjective as I’m no rally driver and already found it pretty good. Certainly negligible body roll even at high speed and on sharp steering inputs - it darts impressively rather than wallowing - there's no ‘rebound'.
Soft mode - Incredible difference. Even on the track, including the deliberately bumpy bits, a push of the switch takes all the pain away - I wouldn’t say it floats like a modern Jag - the closest comparison I can offer from my experience is the smooth comfort of a BMW - still absolutely in touch with the road and sporty, but polite and forgiving on the spine. I’m sure others with wider driving experience could come up with a better/posher comparison, but I expect you get the idea.
Motorway:
Got stuck in traffic on the way home. Cruise control obviously a bonus, but the smoothness down to very low speeds put a smile on my face... Though not as much as departing the M4 for three hours on twisty A-roads - every tractor overtaken was another chance to hear that joyous noise.
Tyres:
Bamford put slightly wider Michelin Super Sports on.
Rear 275/35 ZR19
Front 245/40 ZR19
Can’t say how these contributed to the extraordinary grip etc as the other mods were simultaneous. But in contrast to the Bridgestones they do project beyond the rims and already saved my alloys when I very gently scraped the kerb pulling over in a too-narrow village high-street -that’s a bonus.
Watch outs:
You can tell that I’ve become a Bamford Rose disciple overnight, and probably feel my excitement from this post - no apologies as thats exactly what the Aston Martin experience SHOULD be for me, and they’ve added massively to that by taking away my nagging doubts about keeping the car as a daily driver long-term.
However let’s be clear - they don’t have a call-centre, a receptionist, a team of email-answerers or their own parts production facility.
My project was delayed weeks by a parts supply issue (giving them time to fix a couple of things without charging me labour), and though I always heard back from Mike, and with very reassuring, sound, economical advice, it was generally later rather than sooner (and sometimes late at night -which says a lot about commitment).
So those with a control-freak disposition (most people who can afford an AM?) may have to grit their teeth a little. I guessed this from the forums already - IMHO its better to have less immediate contact from the guy who actually understands the engineering, than an instant response from a telephone operator. But forewarned is forearmed.
Insurance - Some companies avoid modified cars - my company Sainsbury's are not increasing my premium nor charging me an admin fee. I cannot commend them highly enough for this,
Odd noises - the Aston emits various noises, and one of them was, at first, more noticeable than before. Mike explained, I think it was something to do with the transmission, but I can’t remember and I’ve got used to it. Some of the old noises have gone! I suppose what I’m saying is, it’s like night-and-day compared to my ‘old’ car, but its still not a mass-produced silent-gliding Mercedes.
Afternoon tea:
After all that hair-raising, it was a joy to sweep up the majestic gravel of Cliveden House for afternoon tea. It’s a credit to the original designers that this Aston can be as at home on the track as the most impressive forecourts in the land. I’m sure they’re charming to everyone there, but I like to think we got a slightly extra-special Aston Martin welcome. We got a prime parking spot that’s for sure!
Which used AM to buy?
My choice: a cheap one, and have the mods.
I was feeling red-faced about getting a car which didn’t quite fulfil my daily missions. When I realised I was about to spend £10k modding it I kept wondering, in hindsight, if I wouldn’t have been better buying a £53k -4.7? (Putting aside that I would have never got that past the other half).
I’m comfortable now that I’ve got a car better for my needs than even a sports-pack 4.7, it’s low mileage, new tyres, under warranty and it isn’t going to need a(nother) new clutch!
But I wouldn’t advise this if you like to change cars often as the value of the mods will probably not come back to you if you sell the car. For me, I’m pretty sure I’ve now got a 'keeper'.
And they lived happily ever after (etc…)
Hope to meet some of you at PH events this Summer.
THANKS Bamford Rose for giving me a new car!
Well - it’s the same car, (V8 Vantage Roadster 2007/4.3 with Sportshift) but new modifications have utterly transformed it. I had not dared hope for such a big effect on what is already a breathtaking machine.
In essence, it still has loads of ‘personality’ but the bad edges have been knocked off.
I had the Bamford Rose twinplate clutch, lightweight flywheel and switchable suspension done, plus added new slightly wider Michelin Super Sports all at once.
(Also a mod to the Catalyst and ECU remap for a small increase in power and a decent noise change from BURBLE to ROAR, and a three-way switch so I can decide to blast it out or choose stealth mode, or have it as per factory. Finally cruise-control added.)
First impressions:
The steering felt lighter and more responsive. Surprise number One.
D mode has become totally fluid. Surprise number Two
Backache gone - six hours hard driving today. Surprise number Three!
Comfort button - now does something useful. Surprise number Four!
Here's a pic - though to be honest it looks the same as before!
I promised to feed back in detail: (It's rather thorough.. see towards end of post for "watch-outs")
Results of Twinplate clutch / flywheel:
Nodding-dog effect has gone. Creep mode smooth (still can judder slightly if you don’t put any gas in) - reverses up steep hills without barbecue smell.
If I just put my foot flat to the floor in D (and hang on tight), it surges forward with beautiful flow. Surpassed 140mph on the straight before my nerve/the road ran out but each gear change was a smooth blip rather than a great jolt with a clunk from the transmission.
On really windy roads in D mode I barely noticed the gears - just point and squirt. Anyone who has felt the 4.3 in original guise will know that’s a revelation.
As a passenger, in Bamford-Mike’s capable hands, I saw how smooth the gear change can be manually too. If you change at the right time it slips in beautifully - no need to lift off the gas or finesse it - just watch the rev counter and click- new redline slightly higher RPM too.
Comfort button really annoyed me when I got the car as it just made it jerky and uncomfy - I felt a bit let down. Now it does what you'd expect, in D mode it makes the gears change at lower revs for a smoother ride. Good in heavy/queing traffic.
Instruction:
Mike was kind enough to take me to try all the new mods at Millbrook proving ground. I am very grateful for his patient tuition in terms of how to get the best from my car, and how to get the best from a corner, many corners, over and over and over. I feel much more "at one" with the car now.
I would show pictures but they covered my iPhone cameras with these stickers which is a shame since they were filming an episode of Silent Witness there with "dead" bodies and Police with guns all over the place!
Swithchable suspension:
Two modes - soft or hard. Hard mode felt similar to the original in terms of feeling the road (and the spine jangling over bumps) though in terms of grip, the car seemed if possible more planted and responsive - which I am guessing is what made the steering feel so much lighter - very subjective as I’m no rally driver and already found it pretty good. Certainly negligible body roll even at high speed and on sharp steering inputs - it darts impressively rather than wallowing - there's no ‘rebound'.
Soft mode - Incredible difference. Even on the track, including the deliberately bumpy bits, a push of the switch takes all the pain away - I wouldn’t say it floats like a modern Jag - the closest comparison I can offer from my experience is the smooth comfort of a BMW - still absolutely in touch with the road and sporty, but polite and forgiving on the spine. I’m sure others with wider driving experience could come up with a better/posher comparison, but I expect you get the idea.
Motorway:
Got stuck in traffic on the way home. Cruise control obviously a bonus, but the smoothness down to very low speeds put a smile on my face... Though not as much as departing the M4 for three hours on twisty A-roads - every tractor overtaken was another chance to hear that joyous noise.
Tyres:
Bamford put slightly wider Michelin Super Sports on.
Rear 275/35 ZR19
Front 245/40 ZR19
Can’t say how these contributed to the extraordinary grip etc as the other mods were simultaneous. But in contrast to the Bridgestones they do project beyond the rims and already saved my alloys when I very gently scraped the kerb pulling over in a too-narrow village high-street -that’s a bonus.
Watch outs:
You can tell that I’ve become a Bamford Rose disciple overnight, and probably feel my excitement from this post - no apologies as thats exactly what the Aston Martin experience SHOULD be for me, and they’ve added massively to that by taking away my nagging doubts about keeping the car as a daily driver long-term.
However let’s be clear - they don’t have a call-centre, a receptionist, a team of email-answerers or their own parts production facility.
My project was delayed weeks by a parts supply issue (giving them time to fix a couple of things without charging me labour), and though I always heard back from Mike, and with very reassuring, sound, economical advice, it was generally later rather than sooner (and sometimes late at night -which says a lot about commitment).
So those with a control-freak disposition (most people who can afford an AM?) may have to grit their teeth a little. I guessed this from the forums already - IMHO its better to have less immediate contact from the guy who actually understands the engineering, than an instant response from a telephone operator. But forewarned is forearmed.
Insurance - Some companies avoid modified cars - my company Sainsbury's are not increasing my premium nor charging me an admin fee. I cannot commend them highly enough for this,
Odd noises - the Aston emits various noises, and one of them was, at first, more noticeable than before. Mike explained, I think it was something to do with the transmission, but I can’t remember and I’ve got used to it. Some of the old noises have gone! I suppose what I’m saying is, it’s like night-and-day compared to my ‘old’ car, but its still not a mass-produced silent-gliding Mercedes.
Afternoon tea:
After all that hair-raising, it was a joy to sweep up the majestic gravel of Cliveden House for afternoon tea. It’s a credit to the original designers that this Aston can be as at home on the track as the most impressive forecourts in the land. I’m sure they’re charming to everyone there, but I like to think we got a slightly extra-special Aston Martin welcome. We got a prime parking spot that’s for sure!
Which used AM to buy?
My choice: a cheap one, and have the mods.
I was feeling red-faced about getting a car which didn’t quite fulfil my daily missions. When I realised I was about to spend £10k modding it I kept wondering, in hindsight, if I wouldn’t have been better buying a £53k -4.7? (Putting aside that I would have never got that past the other half).
I’m comfortable now that I’ve got a car better for my needs than even a sports-pack 4.7, it’s low mileage, new tyres, under warranty and it isn’t going to need a(nother) new clutch!
But I wouldn’t advise this if you like to change cars often as the value of the mods will probably not come back to you if you sell the car. For me, I’m pretty sure I’ve now got a 'keeper'.
And they lived happily ever after (etc…)
Hope to meet some of you at PH events this Summer.
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