Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist
Discussion
Whatever anyone's vested interests or opinion (Mike's particularly!) I just absolutely love this level of detail, passion, sharing, depth of knowledge and plain simple ability and desire to have a proper interaction with the clients who choose suppliers to work on their P&J. No well-meaning MD corporation does this - there may always be a 'showroom' type comms air-gap... Certain (high maintenance?) clients may see and feel/it and I do want to know if my air filters were a bit oily etc but will only get a fudged answer end of the day. I think I have made my next servicing decision...
AMDBSNick said:
Ken Figenus said:
level of detail
They noticed the "paint bubbling" issue on Moose's car when it was in for service a week ago. I kid you not, the size of a pin head. The local eastern European car wash would have cleaned it for another 12 months and I would never noticed.
Just a line to say in just over 2 weeks she is back with a brand new engine. No quibbles or even questions, just ripped out the old and dropped in a new one. They tell me it was the primary cats being ingested that caused the failure and they would not rebuild it without installing new cats (I asked them to be removed to stop potential problem happening again). What they have not told me is what caused the cats to be ingested, I have asked, we'll see.
CraigV12V said:
My dealer tells me they have only seen this once before - on a Rapide.
Mike's thoughts on this issue which he has mentioned before on Pistonheads;
"My feeling is that cat failure was sudden exposure to severe exotherm, which can only come from neat fuel which only path to cat is via purge line".
CraigV12V.Mike's thoughts on this issue which he has mentioned before on Pistonheads;
"My feeling is that cat failure was sudden exposure to severe exotherm, which can only come from neat fuel which only path to cat is via purge line".
oh good you have it back! Mine is not fixed yet.
Edited by pete1212 on Wednesday 4th May 21:28
Edited by pete1212 on Friday 6th May 10:06
A couple of years ago I had the Bamford Rose performance exhaust upgrade carried out on my V8 Vantage Roadster, which completely transformed the car (for the better!).
Having seen some comments on Pistonheads I decided that I would investigate the X pipe intermediate section retune, as I felt that the exhaust note was now a little too loud for my taste.
After speaking to Mike he told me that they will supply and fit the X pipe to my car at absolutely no cost to myself.
This should reduce the exhaust noise by some 8db, and give a smoother tone.
Mike explained that this is the normal service that Bamford Rose offer to all their upgrade customers, in order to retune the exhaust note to individual requirements.
Having now had the X pipe fitted I have to say that I am absolutely delighted with the result.
I have to say that I can't recommend Mike and Adrian at Bamford Rose highly enough for their professionalism and ongoing commitment to their customers. Thanks to both of you.
Having seen some comments on Pistonheads I decided that I would investigate the X pipe intermediate section retune, as I felt that the exhaust note was now a little too loud for my taste.
After speaking to Mike he told me that they will supply and fit the X pipe to my car at absolutely no cost to myself.
This should reduce the exhaust noise by some 8db, and give a smoother tone.
Mike explained that this is the normal service that Bamford Rose offer to all their upgrade customers, in order to retune the exhaust note to individual requirements.
Having now had the X pipe fitted I have to say that I am absolutely delighted with the result.
I have to say that I can't recommend Mike and Adrian at Bamford Rose highly enough for their professionalism and ongoing commitment to their customers. Thanks to both of you.
If Mike could respond, after 40 days they re going to change the 4 O2 sensors, I ve been driving it with these bad O2 sensors (1500 km easy), how this can affect the Catalitic converter, and if it was the original problem a bad Cat? will it fail soon after changing the O2 sensors? when I am out of warranty.
Edited by pete1212 on Tuesday 10th May 12:30
Ken Figenus said:
CraigV12V said:
they have not told me is what caused the cats to be ingested, I have asked, we'll see.
Have they let you know anything yet Craig? Its such a catastrophic failure and I'd never heard of such a thing before
Cheers.As for frequency, talking to Mike, I gather its not a once in a blue moon problem, he has seen it regularly and he is one garage. Hagley have seen two before they closed. Man maths of multiplying dealers globally by one or two occurrences will add up to a lot of wrecked engines. As soon as I am out of warranty, out come the primary cats.
Edited by CraigV12V on Tuesday 10th May 13:06
CraigV12V said:
Nope, I have no feedback what so ever and Aston Hagley has now closed for good so if my less than glowing response to the Aston feedback email gets no reply I don't suppose i'll ever know.
As for frequency, talking to Mike, I gather its not a once in a blue moon problem, he has seen it regularly and he is one garage. Hagley have seen two before they closed. Man maths of multiplying dealers globally by one or two occurrences will add up to a lot of wrecked engines. As soon as I am out of warranty, out come the primary cats.
I am out of warranty, but unsure if I will buy one, how much will cost me an exhaust without these primary cats on a rapide modele 2012 but first plate in 2013?As for frequency, talking to Mike, I gather its not a once in a blue moon problem, he has seen it regularly and he is one garage. Hagley have seen two before they closed. Man maths of multiplying dealers globally by one or two occurrences will add up to a lot of wrecked engines. As soon as I am out of warranty, out come the primary cats.
Edited by CraigV12V on Tuesday 10th May 13:06
pete1212 said:
I am out of warranty, but unsure if I will buy one, how much will cost me an exhaust without these primary cats on a rapide modele 2012 but first plate in 2013?
As I understand it, taking the primary cats out is a relatively simple job and not costly. It does not require a new exhaust system although many take the view if you are going to meddle with the exhaust manifold why not put something of better quality in its place as the Aston manifold is a bit agricultural.CraigV12V said:
As I understand it, taking the primary cats out is a relatively simple job and not costly. It does not require a new exhaust system although many take the view if you are going to meddle with the exhaust manifold why not put something of better quality in its place as the Aston manifold is a bit agricultural.
I see thank you CraigV12V, I did not know it could be just removed and adjusted/meddled back.I will have to find a very good muffler shop then.
CraigV12V said:
Nope, I have no feedback what so ever and Aston Hagley has now closed for good so if my less than glowing response to the Aston feedback email gets no reply I don't suppose i'll ever know.
As for frequency, talking to Mike, I gather its not a once in a blue moon problem, he has seen it regularly and he is one garage. Hagley have seen two before they closed. Man maths of multiplying dealers globally by one or two occurrences will add up to a lot of wrecked engines. As soon as I am out of warranty, out come the primary cats.
Have they?! I only drove past the other day, always seemed pretty busy... Any reason?As for frequency, talking to Mike, I gather its not a once in a blue moon problem, he has seen it regularly and he is one garage. Hagley have seen two before they closed. Man maths of multiplying dealers globally by one or two occurrences will add up to a lot of wrecked engines. As soon as I am out of warranty, out come the primary cats.
Edited by CraigV12V on Tuesday 10th May 13:06
I always enjoyed going for a pint and wandering by their stock...
Hope your car gets sorted pronto
Hi chaps, just a few short words of commendation for the extraordinary things Mike and crew have just done to my car 
It is a 2006 4.3 which I have had for two years. I previously had a breathed-on Chimaera, (genuine 300bhp) and always missed the response, noise and grunt, which the Aston couldn't quite match, even with fuse 22 removed .... well on Friday I picked up my car with Bamford Rose's beautifully made exhaust system fitted, induction upgrade and remap, ... plus the subtle little switch by my left knee which does quiet, switcheable or full-on. Well, to say the car is transformed is an understatement- it probably has 50 bhp more and pulls right to the top of the rev range with a ferocious quality that just wasn't there before - but the noise .... on loud setting it now sounds like nothing I have heard before - just OK on a gentle throttle, but as soon as you twitch your big toe, the noise hardens and increases just like the TVR used to do, but with a hard edge that the TVR never had. Then plant your right foot and it sounds like a Nascar racer. Absolutely addictive, had me looking for walls and tunnels to drop a couple of gears and bounce the sound off.
And there is noticeably more torque in the midrange, a decent response where before it was accelerate, pause, two, three. Best money I have spent on a car in some time, and really nice people to do business with. If you have an unmodified Vantage, get down there now would be my advice.
Cheers
Richard
It is a 2006 4.3 which I have had for two years. I previously had a breathed-on Chimaera, (genuine 300bhp) and always missed the response, noise and grunt, which the Aston couldn't quite match, even with fuse 22 removed .... well on Friday I picked up my car with Bamford Rose's beautifully made exhaust system fitted, induction upgrade and remap, ... plus the subtle little switch by my left knee which does quiet, switcheable or full-on. Well, to say the car is transformed is an understatement- it probably has 50 bhp more and pulls right to the top of the rev range with a ferocious quality that just wasn't there before - but the noise .... on loud setting it now sounds like nothing I have heard before - just OK on a gentle throttle, but as soon as you twitch your big toe, the noise hardens and increases just like the TVR used to do, but with a hard edge that the TVR never had. Then plant your right foot and it sounds like a Nascar racer. Absolutely addictive, had me looking for walls and tunnels to drop a couple of gears and bounce the sound off.
And there is noticeably more torque in the midrange, a decent response where before it was accelerate, pause, two, three. Best money I have spent on a car in some time, and really nice people to do business with. If you have an unmodified Vantage, get down there now would be my advice.
Cheers
Richard
"Well, to say the car is transformed is an understatement- it probably has 50 bhp more and pulls right to the top of the rev range with a ferocious quality that just wasn't there before - but the noise .... on loud setting it now sounds like nothing I have heard before - just OK on a gentle throttle, but as soon as you twitch your big toe, the noise hardens and increases just like the TVR used to do, but with a hard edge that the TVR never had."
That's it! You have made my mind up! I have been deliberating between a really good AC Cobra replica, a DB9 or a TVR Chimaera (I had one when I was a batchelor, pre one wife and three kids!)
I didn't think I'd ever match the excitement, seat position, cockpit and pure sound joy of the TVR V8, but with the help of Bamford Rose, an Aston Martin can be noisily exciting, just need a car and then I shall be in touch with them!
Right, classifieds!
Cheers,
Robbo
That's it! You have made my mind up! I have been deliberating between a really good AC Cobra replica, a DB9 or a TVR Chimaera (I had one when I was a batchelor, pre one wife and three kids!)
I didn't think I'd ever match the excitement, seat position, cockpit and pure sound joy of the TVR V8, but with the help of Bamford Rose, an Aston Martin can be noisily exciting, just need a car and then I shall be in touch with them!
Right, classifieds!
Cheers,
Robbo
Ken Figenus said:
Have they let you know anything yet Craig? Its such a catastrophic failure and I'd never heard of such a thing before Cheers.
Dear Ken, Cheers.re the little dip you experience when cold (much smaller than mine), they've changed the 8 air sensors, 2 maf sensors, 12 spark plugs and it still there if i start the car twice when cold. I think its even tough determining if it is normal or not, many cars does it, i saw a db9 in service the guy was there for oil and tires, his car started like it will stalled too but really low and re accelerate.
I think the best to avoid misfiring is to have the coils checked with the amds or other system. You may not need to change any of these i wanted to say. or maybe O2 sensors, after changing those the idle seems much more controlled to lower itself. you may only need the first ones there not even need to change them all. if this can helps.
Burghley House event 2016 was a great success - Well done ED50, Gav and the team for great organisation.
By popular request, here are a few pics of our stand, which included the Stunning V12VZagato Vin#55, GT4 TSPN, cheer girls the lovely Mrs TSPN and Mrs JMC.
I know many of you spotted this, but for clarity the V12 exhaust manifold and cat on the far right in the pic above is of non BR construction used for display / comparison purposes only. We didn't really have to say too much about it - it spoke for itself, but where clarification was needed I tried my best, although if any follow up questions are needed - post up here!
By popular request, here are a few pics of our stand, which included the Stunning V12VZagato Vin#55, GT4 TSPN, cheer girls the lovely Mrs TSPN and Mrs JMC.
I know many of you spotted this, but for clarity the V12 exhaust manifold and cat on the far right in the pic above is of non BR construction used for display / comparison purposes only. We didn't really have to say too much about it - it spoke for itself, but where clarification was needed I tried my best, although if any follow up questions are needed - post up here!
Just picked my Vantage from Bamford Rose after leaving it with Mike last Friday for the exhaust / performance upgrade. Phenomenal. At the flick of a (hidden) switch I can go full stealth mode, factory settings mode or loud. Oh my. I haven't stopped smiling since I got home. A beautiful sunny day, hood down and listen to that engine howl as I took every opportunity to overtake on the A roads back to Cheshire. At steady speeds it's just an unobtrusive burble but hit the throttle...........
Great service and I'll be back for the clutch upgrade when mine gives up the ghost.
Great service and I'll be back for the clutch upgrade when mine gives up the ghost.
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