Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist
Discussion
Hi Mike, would be v grateful for your thoughts on the below.
I had a (free) health check on my V8 from one of the Aston Martin service garages.
They found that the exhaust bypass valves have seized - and have quoted £1800 to fix it. I have removed fuse 22 a year ago. I understand that this is what causes seizing and it is totally unnecessary to get it fixed as it does not inhibit performance - is this right?
Also they have reported the PAS pump to be noisy and have quoted £1200 to fix. I have not heard any squeaking from the steering. Is this a necessary repair?
To repair corrosion to wiper arms they have put as £440 - that seems v high.
They have said front pads 50% worn/discs lipped and quoted £905.22. Rear Pads/Discs Rear pads 60% worn/ discs lipped, quoted £832. Again seems high.
Thanks so much in advance.
I had a (free) health check on my V8 from one of the Aston Martin service garages.
They found that the exhaust bypass valves have seized - and have quoted £1800 to fix it. I have removed fuse 22 a year ago. I understand that this is what causes seizing and it is totally unnecessary to get it fixed as it does not inhibit performance - is this right?
Also they have reported the PAS pump to be noisy and have quoted £1200 to fix. I have not heard any squeaking from the steering. Is this a necessary repair?
To repair corrosion to wiper arms they have put as £440 - that seems v high.
They have said front pads 50% worn/discs lipped and quoted £905.22. Rear Pads/Discs Rear pads 60% worn/ discs lipped, quoted £832. Again seems high.
Thanks so much in advance.
monsterfish said:
Hi Mike, would be v grateful for your thoughts on the below.
I had a (free) health check on my V8 from one of the Aston Martin service garages.
They found that the exhaust bypass valves have seized - and have quoted £1800 to fix it. I have removed fuse 22 a year ago. I understand that this is what causes seizing and it is totally unnecessary to get it fixed as it does not inhibit performance - is this right?
Also they have reported the PAS pump to be noisy and have quoted £1200 to fix. I have not heard any squeaking from the steering. Is this a necessary repair?
To repair corrosion to wiper arms they have put as £440 - that seems v high.
They have said front pads 50% worn/discs lipped and quoted £905.22. Rear Pads/Discs Rear pads 60% worn/ discs lipped, quoted £832. Again seems high.
Thanks so much in advance.
Hello..!I had a (free) health check on my V8 from one of the Aston Martin service garages.
They found that the exhaust bypass valves have seized - and have quoted £1800 to fix it. I have removed fuse 22 a year ago. I understand that this is what causes seizing and it is totally unnecessary to get it fixed as it does not inhibit performance - is this right?
Also they have reported the PAS pump to be noisy and have quoted £1200 to fix. I have not heard any squeaking from the steering. Is this a necessary repair?
To repair corrosion to wiper arms they have put as £440 - that seems v high.
They have said front pads 50% worn/discs lipped and quoted £905.22. Rear Pads/Discs Rear pads 60% worn/ discs lipped, quoted £832. Again seems high.
Thanks so much in advance.
If the valves are seized then removal of box and some TLC to valves / housing should free them off and get them working - difficult to imagine the valves are beyond repair and a new box is needed?? Should this be the case 3 hrs labour is all that is needed to remedy, with BR £200 should cover that activity. Totally unnecessary to have valves fixed unless you want the valves to function - causes no adverse running conditions or risk to engine or electrical system left seized / open.
If you are not complaining / hearing noises from steering or heavy / notchy steering feel then yes, is a new pump really necessary? How did they arrive at the conclusion a new pump is required?? If this job was in our workshop the pump is about £500, £15 fluid and 2 hours labour at ~£150 meaning a total of £665
The brakes sound like they have got lots of life left in them, especially if you feel no judder of vibrations when brake is applied which if you did would indicate ridging or warp of discs. Even at point of wear lead indicator light illuminating, driven 'normally' there is still about 500 - 1000 miles left before metal to metal contact. With BR front brakes supplied and fitted £760 rear brakes £700
regarding corrosion of wiper arm, what parts are they saying they will renew.
All in all seems very expensive - worth a second opinion / shopping around
Good luck....
AstonZagato said:
Beautiful. What are the weight/power benefits? (and cost?)
thanks..!We will be releasing all those details when we finish Yeti's project....Not long now...!
The weight reduction will be significantly more than what was achieved on our V8 system, which was ~11 kilos for manifolds and catalysts. On the BR open days held recently many folk were able to hold OE and improved parts and feel that weight save as well as being able to see the fantastic manufacturing quality of the BR exhausts.
The performance target is for 450 BHP DB9 to start with a 5... and 510 BHP DBS and maybe 470BHP DB9 too, to Vanquish new DBS at 550BHP - The high lift cams we offer in combination to exhaust will see to that 'Vanquising'. The really neat thing would be if somebody bought a new DBS at 550 BHP and brought it straight to BR for improving - 600 BHP will be on the cards for that one. Of course lucky Yeti will reach that dizzy height with his 6.5L thumper we are currently building for him.
Price - same time to fit as V8 kit so will be cost of V8 kit + the extra manufacturing cost from the 4 extra cylinders.
Full outline to follow....
BamfordMike said:
We will be releasing all those details when we finish Yeti's project....Not long now...!
Price - same time to fit as V8 kit so will be cost of V8 kit + the extra manufacturing cost from the 4 extra cylinders.
Full outline to follow....
Mike, does the £4,200 plus VAT price on your website for the V8 system assume the existing box at the back is kept or replaced ? If the box is replaced with say a Quicksilver, is there any way of keeping/putting in valves or does it become permanently very loud ? I seem to recall you saying that if the complete manifold system is put in with the new cats etc, it was best not to replace the box at the rear because the overall system would become too loud for many ? Price - same time to fit as V8 kit so will be cost of V8 kit + the extra manufacturing cost from the 4 extra cylinders.
Full outline to follow....
jonby said:
Mike, does the £4,200 plus VAT price on your website for the V8 system assume the existing box at the back is kept or replaced ? If the box is replaced with say a Quicksilver, is there any way of keeping/putting in valves or does it become permanently very loud ? I seem to recall you saying that if the complete manifold system is put in with the new cats etc, it was best not to replace the box at the rear because the overall system would become too loud for many ?
Wow, that's one I can answer 
The oprice is without a backbox, and no you can't put valves into a QS system, we looked at it briefly on my car to keep the weight saving, but putting the valves back in would make it the same weght as OEM again - that's why they're lighter, there is nothing in them...Apparently it would be too loud, Pommehogsters was measured with a SQ box and full system and was over 120dB I think... although that isn't necesarily a bad thing if you're me... But the option to turn down the noise when in town, on long morotway drives at constant revs or late at night was too good an opportunity to miss. Just makes the car more practical again!
BamfordMike said:
monsterfish said:
Hi Mike, would be v grateful for your thoughts on the below.
I had a (free) health check on my V8 from one of the Aston Martin service garages.
They found that the exhaust bypass valves have seized - and have quoted £1800 to fix it. I have removed fuse 22 a year ago. I understand that this is what causes seizing and it is totally unnecessary to get it fixed as it does not inhibit performance - is this right?
Also they have reported the PAS pump to be noisy and have quoted £1200 to fix. I have not heard any squeaking from the steering. Is this a necessary repair?
To repair corrosion to wiper arms they have put as £440 - that seems v high.
They have said front pads 50% worn/discs lipped and quoted £905.22. Rear Pads/Discs Rear pads 60% worn/ discs lipped, quoted £832. Again seems high.
Thanks so much in advance.
Hello..!I had a (free) health check on my V8 from one of the Aston Martin service garages.
They found that the exhaust bypass valves have seized - and have quoted £1800 to fix it. I have removed fuse 22 a year ago. I understand that this is what causes seizing and it is totally unnecessary to get it fixed as it does not inhibit performance - is this right?
Also they have reported the PAS pump to be noisy and have quoted £1200 to fix. I have not heard any squeaking from the steering. Is this a necessary repair?
To repair corrosion to wiper arms they have put as £440 - that seems v high.
They have said front pads 50% worn/discs lipped and quoted £905.22. Rear Pads/Discs Rear pads 60% worn/ discs lipped, quoted £832. Again seems high.
Thanks so much in advance.
If the valves are seized then removal of box and some TLC to valves / housing should free them off and get them working - difficult to imagine the valves are beyond repair and a new box is needed?? Should this be the case 3 hrs labour is all that is needed to remedy, with BR £200 should cover that activity. Totally unnecessary to have valves fixed unless you want the valves to function - causes no adverse running conditions or risk to engine or electrical system left seized / open.
If you are not complaining / hearing noises from steering or heavy / notchy steering feel then yes, is a new pump really necessary? How did they arrive at the conclusion a new pump is required?? If this job was in our workshop the pump is about £500, £15 fluid and 2 hours labour at ~£150 meaning a total of £665
The brakes sound like they have got lots of life left in them, especially if you feel no judder of vibrations when brake is applied which if you did would indicate ridging or warp of discs. Even at point of wear lead indicator light illuminating, driven 'normally' there is still about 500 - 1000 miles left before metal to metal contact. With BR front brakes supplied and fitted £760 rear brakes £700
regarding corrosion of wiper arm, what parts are they saying they will renew.
All in all seems very expensive - worth a second opinion / shopping around
Good luck....
Re the wipers - I assume they mean replacement of the arms?
yeti said:
jonby said:
Mike, does the £4,200 plus VAT price on your website for the V8 system assume the existing box at the back is kept or replaced ? If the box is replaced with say a Quicksilver, is there any way of keeping/putting in valves or does it become permanently very loud ? I seem to recall you saying that if the complete manifold system is put in with the new cats etc, it was best not to replace the box at the rear because the overall system would become too loud for many ?
Wow, that's one I can answer The oprice is without a backbox, and no you can't put valves into a QS system, we looked at it briefly on my car to keep the weight saving, but putting the valves back in would make it the same weght as OEM again - that's why they're lighter, there is nothing in them...Apparently it would be too loud, Pommehogsters was measured with a SQ box and full system and was over 120dB I think... although that isn't necesarily a bad thing if you're me... But the option to turn down the noise when in town, on long morotway drives at constant revs or late at night was too good an opportunity to miss. Just makes the car more practical again!
jonby said:
So with valves set on open, OEM exhaust & BR manifolds/cats it sounds like the system would still be considerably louder than factory standard (even with F22 pulled) and perhaps at least as loud as putting in a QS exhaust would be if you kept the rest of the car standard OEM ? Another words the 'benefit' of putting in a conventional louder exhaust but also having a better weight saving and tangibly more power, rather than what I think is only a nominal power increase if you just swap the backbox
Nail hit on head there - the manifolds, sports catalysts and bigger diameter pipework all contribute to giving the engine a lot more power = a lot more noise! The original plan was to get the extra 3-5bhp (all that they give - tested!) from the backbox but it's small fry compared to the gains elsewhere so the OEM backbox is not the preferred option unles you're a lunatic like Burntout 
Yes it's more expensive but you get all the benefits of the backbox including weight saving; but it's saved from the FRONT of the car rather than the rear (where you need it!) and 10 times more power than a backbox alone. I am hoping my V12 system is MUCH louder than standard when on the OEM box and then switches to an as-yet unknown level of quietness. Logically even with the valves closed, it's going to be louder than the car with Fuse 22 installed... my guess would be as loud as Fuse 22 pulled, as 'quiet mode' and then something special when they're open
Counting down the days...
yeti said:
jonby said:
So with valves set on open, OEM exhaust & BR manifolds/cats it sounds like the system would still be considerably louder than factory standard (even with F22 pulled) and perhaps at least as loud as putting in a QS exhaust would be if you kept the rest of the car standard OEM ? Another words the 'benefit' of putting in a conventional louder exhaust but also having a better weight saving and tangibly more power, rather than what I think is only a nominal power increase if you just swap the backbox
Nail hit on head there - the manifolds, sports catalysts and bigger diameter pipework all contribute to giving the engine a lot more power = a lot more noise! The original plan was to get the extra 3-5bhp (all that they give - tested!) from the backbox but it's small fry compared to the gains elsewhere so the OEM backbox is not the preferred option unles you're a lunatic like Burntout Yes it's more expensive but you get all the benefits of the backbox including weight saving; but it's saved from the FRONT of the car rather than the rear (where you need it!) and 10 times more power than a backbox alone. I am hoping my V12 system is MUCH louder than standard when on the OEM box and then switches to an as-yet unknown level of quietness. Logically even with the valves closed, it's going to be louder than the car with Fuse 22 installed... my guess would be as loud as Fuse 22 pulled, as 'quiet mode' and then something special when they're open
Counting down the days...
I just have to wait now to see if I'm keeping my V8SR or getting V12VR before getting it done !!! But unless the factory change their minds on price, I'm in for V12R .....
I previously had a 4.7 V8R and swapped the exhaust box out for the loud Tubi (they do a mid & a loud version) - it was truly amazing but whilst I was quite happy to motorway cruise in it, it's fair to say there was some drone & of course no valves. It was worth it for the tunnels and I'm not sure the BR system with OEM box would be quite as loud as that but I'm sensing it would be loud enough ! :-)
yeti said:
jonby said:
So with valves set on open, OEM exhaust & BR manifolds/cats it sounds like the system would still be considerably louder than factory standard (even with F22 pulled) and perhaps at least as loud as putting in a QS exhaust would be if you kept the rest of the car standard OEM ? Another words the 'benefit' of putting in a conventional louder exhaust but also having a better weight saving and tangibly more power, rather than what I think is only a nominal power increase if you just swap the backbox
Nail hit on head there - the manifolds, sports catalysts and bigger diameter pipework all contribute to giving the engine a lot more power = a lot more noise! The original plan was to get the extra 3-5bhp (all that they give - tested!) from the backbox but it's small fry compared to the gains elsewhere so the OEM backbox is not the preferred option unles you're a lunatic like Burntout Yes it's more expensive but you get all the benefits of the backbox including weight saving; but it's saved from the FRONT of the car rather than the rear (where you need it!) and 10 times more power than a backbox alone. I am hoping my V12 system is MUCH louder than standard when on the OEM box and then switches to an as-yet unknown level of quietness. Logically even with the valves closed, it's going to be louder than the car with Fuse 22 installed... my guess would be as loud as Fuse 22 pulled, as 'quiet mode' and then something special when they're open
Counting down the days...
Jockman said:
yeti said:
Only the SAGA version - the TouchTronic! My manual car has a Sports button now... which will control the exhaust valves, naturally
TBH le Yeti, I've never used mine with any real purpose as it just tends to increase the revs and fuel consumption.Fuel costs money ye know
Vanquish Buyers Guide - type thing. Mike, there's a thread running on whether the Vanquish is a good buy and questions for buyers to ask. We have Grant's book which a huge help for Gaydon cars but there is nothing similar for Vanquish prospective buyers.
Any chance you can do a quick (or long) guide to what should have been done, what needs to be done, checked, sorted out with replacement parts and so on! Judging by the amount of Vanquishes you have had through your doors over the past few months, BR has a speciality in their service and maintenance, would that be fair to say? They're a niche market due to their rarity I guess but all of you guys must have worked on their design at the factory?
Any chance you can do a quick (or long) guide to what should have been done, what needs to be done, checked, sorted out with replacement parts and so on! Judging by the amount of Vanquishes you have had through your doors over the past few months, BR has a speciality in their service and maintenance, would that be fair to say? They're a niche market due to their rarity I guess but all of you guys must have worked on their design at the factory?
What time do BR open on a weekday?
I only ask as I will be killing a couple hours probably very soon on their doorstep.
I need to be somewhere for 9am though.. but to miss traffic congestion I will be down there in good time.
If they open at say.. 8am,, I could pop in for 10 minutes ;-)
In saying that I can pass bay again in the afternoon.
Be nice to see what they think of my "tap", the one that's always there until you try to demonstrate it, and then it's gone. However by pressing a finger on the first injector the tap returns, but it doesn't appear to be the injector... tis' a mystery.
I only ask as I will be killing a couple hours probably very soon on their doorstep.
I need to be somewhere for 9am though.. but to miss traffic congestion I will be down there in good time.
If they open at say.. 8am,, I could pop in for 10 minutes ;-)
In saying that I can pass bay again in the afternoon.
Be nice to see what they think of my "tap", the one that's always there until you try to demonstrate it, and then it's gone. However by pressing a finger on the first injector the tap returns, but it doesn't appear to be the injector... tis' a mystery.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff