Sports exhaust options for V12V

[lime1]

When I bought my V12V 2 years ago it had secondary decat. Great sound but as the car was getting older I started to consider the risk of misfire and primary cat ingestion / engine failure. So a few months ago I took the car down to BR and had the primary decat done with 200 cell secondary cats and remap. Very happy with the service from Mike and the guys at BR. TBH, I don't think there's much of a difference in the sound between the primary and secondary decats.

I'm now considering changing the OEM back box. The main options seem to be Quicksilver (Sports and Supersports), Larini and Capristo - excluding the AM upgrade option. Larini a little more expensive than QS and the Capristo is a further hike up in price. Always difficult trying to judge by listening to YouTube videos. The QS systems don't have valves so I'd probably discount this option. I already have a 3 way switch and it's useful to be able to turn the noise down a bit on a long motorway cruise or if SHMBO is a passenger. So it comes down to Larini or Capristo, I think. The new Larini ST2 claims to have a new deeper tone which I prefer to high pitch. Interested to know if any of you have fitted an alternative sports exhaust to your V12V and if you have any comments or recommendations.

[AstonV]

I have the Larini ST2 on my V8V with secondary cat delete. It is a beautiful back box, half the size and weight of the factory sports exhaust. Not nearly as expensive as the Capristo, but much nicer than the QS in my opinion. Plus I wanted one with valves.

BR may disagree, I know they prefer factory from watching their videos, so you might want their input. In my opinion it sounds better, the factory always sounded a little restricted or restrained for lack of a better description. I agree that you can’t get a good feel with YouTube videos, I have recorded on my iPhone but doesn’t really sound the same.

With the cat deletes when you get on the throttle it is loud, but nice, similar to a GT8 sound. But I can’t speak to the V12V.

If you don’t like high pitched, stay away from an X pipe. I made that mistake initially, I hated it.

[Dewi 2]

I have read here several times about owners who have changed back boxes, but have then not always been happy.
It does seem as though the sound can change in various ways and as you already have only 200 cell cats, might it be too noisy.

Thinking about the standard back box with valves always open, the exhaust gasses I don't think, would be passing through the silencer anyway. Therefore while the valves are open, would a different back box do much ?

As you will know, the sounds of the V8 and V12 are very different.

Coincidentally, Aston Martin have just released a video featuring the exhaust sounds of their current models.
Now with turbos, particulate filters and the MB V8, what do you think? Valkyrie though, is in a different league at 11,000 rpm !

Edited by Dewi 2 on Saturday 2nd April 07:45

[spareparts]

Dewi 2 said:

Coincidentally, Aston Martin have just released a video featuring the exhaust sounds of their current models.
Now with turbos, particulate filters and the MB V8, what do you think? Valkyrie though, is in a different league at 11,000 rpm !

Wow. Awesome that they even made such a video!

[The V12 Way]

lime1 said:

When I bought my V12V 2 years ago it had secondary decat. Great sound but as the car was getting older I started to consider the risk of misfire and primary cat ingestion / engine failure. So a few months ago I took the car down to BR and had the primary decat done with 200 cell secondary cats and remap. Very happy with the service from Mike and the guys at BR. TBH, I don't think there's much of a difference in the sound between the primary and secondary decats.

I'm now considering changing the OEM back box. The main options seem to be Quicksilver (Sports and Supersports), Larini and Capristo - excluding the AM upgrade option. Larini a little more expensive than QS and the Capristo is a further hike up in price. Always difficult trying to judge by listening to YouTube videos. The QS systems don't have valves so I'd probably discount this option. I already have a 3 way switch and it's useful to be able to turn the noise down a bit on a long motorway cruise or if SHMBO is a passenger. So it comes down to Larini or Capristo, I think. The new Larini ST2 claims to have a new deeper tone which I prefer to high pitch. Interested to know if any of you have fitted an alternative sports exhaust to your V12V and if you have any comments or recommendations.

I Had a 2010 V12V which had a lot of work done from BR, inclduing the manifold change to tubular steel and 200 cell cats. i also had the capristo back box and i loved the noise it made. it was not to everyones taste as more ferrarri like. Link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHzMpdGS-3w

[lime1]

Dewi 2 said:

Coincidentally, Aston Martin have just released a video featuring the exhaust sounds of their current models.
Now with turbos, particulate filters and the MB V8, what do you think? Valkyrie though, is in a different league at 11,000 rpm !

Edited by Dewi 2 on Saturday 2nd April 07:45

Great video. Surprising how good the turbo charged V8 sounds. Some good crackles on the Vantage overrun.

[lime1]

The V12 Way said:

I Had a 2010 V12V which had a lot of work done from BR, inclduing the manifold change to tubular steel and 200 cell cats. i also had the capristo back box and i loved the noise it made. it was not to everyones taste as more ferrarri like. Link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHzMpdGS-3w

Sound a bit more higher pitched than the Larini I think

[Dewi 2]

I have found it quite difficult to record a lifelike exhaust sound, even using an external microphone.
Wind noise is the enemy. My latest experiment is with the microphone inside a large block of sponge, mounted near the rear number plate. That does seem more promising, but cannot record again yet, because the car is still hibernating.

The AML sound video seems fairly realistic (should hope so).

This is where we need a musician.
The MB V8 sound seems almost the same on the V8 Vantage (MB), as the AMG GT. A fairly constant BRRRRRR, with not a great deal of tone variation with different engine speeds.

The V8 Vantage (VH) makes a very different sound. Perhaps might be described as orchestral and the tone does vary with different engine speeds and amount of throttle opening. Of course it is bound to be different, because of no turbos or particulate filters.
My own V8V only has one pair of cats as standard, containing two 'bricks' each, which I think are 400 + 900 cells. They can easily be 'improved', which increases the volume, but not changing the original sound. You sometimes get a slight pop when changing up following full throttle, but not enough to make you think artificial.

I always associated V8 exhaust sounds with the old American V8s, an apparent low revving rumble, whereas the V8V (VH) gives the impression of high revving. Think someone told me that was achieved by a different firing order, but don't know the technicalities.

[lime1]

I test drove the new Vantage V8 recently. Whilst a very nice drive and soundtrack it wasn’t as raw and visceral as my V12V. Nice noise on downshifting if you catch it right.

[Phil57DBS]

Buy second hand V12V S back box, half the size and weight of the factory V12V exhaust !
with valves included

[AdamV12V]

Phil57DBS said:

Buy second hand V12V S back box, half the size and weight of the factory V12V exhaust !
with valves included

This ^^^ Hands down the best option for a V12V.

[Jon39]

Puzzled - Am I thinking correctly about this ?

V12V or V12VS backbox.
Exhaust valves set constantly open.
Exhaust gas is therefore being sent directly to the exhaust outlets, bypassing the backbox.
Backbox is therefore neither in use, nor changing the exhaust sound.

What is the point of fitting an after-market back box, to replace one that is not even doing anything ?

[The V12 Way]

Phil57DBS said:

Buy second hand V12V S back box, half the size and weight of the factory V12V exhaust !
with valves included

if anybody is interested i have one taken off a 2015 plate V12S, changed for a larini, not sure what its worth

[AstonV]

The V12 Way said:

Phil57DBS said:

Buy second hand V12V S back box, half the size and weight of the factory V12V exhaust !
with valves included

if anybody is interested i have one taken off a 2015 plate V12S, changed for a larini, not sure what its worth

Half the weight is a stretch.

Since you have changed out your sports exhaust on your V12 for a Larini back box, do you notice any difference?

[dbs2000]

lime1 said:

Great video. Surprising how good the turbo charged V8 sounds. Some good crackles on the Vantage overrun.

Its funny how we all differ, other than the Valk, I think they all sound pretty dull. I really really don't like all this fake popping and banging that the V8s and AMGs seem to be about these days.

[The V12 Way]

AstonV said:

Half the weight is a stretch.

Since you have changed out your sports exhaust on your V12 for a Larini back box, do you notice any difference?

only the sound from the back is louder

[AstonV]

The V12 Way said:

only the sound from the back is louder

I appreciate it. Same here louder, but in a good way on my V8.

[AstonV]

dbs2000 said:

Its funny how we all differ, other than the Valk, I think they all sound pretty dull. I really really don't like all this fake popping and banging that the V8s and AMGs seem to be about these days.

I agree. I have a neighbor with a new Vantage, the AMG V8 doesn't sound that great. In all fairness most turbos sound like crap.

[Jon39]

dbs2000 said:

Its funny how we all differ, other than the Valk, I think they all sound pretty dull. I really really don't like all this fake popping and banging that the V8s and AMGs seem to be about these days.

Yes, as you say, the AMG V8 engine cars do make a completely different exhaust sound, compared to the Aston Martin V8 (2005 to 2018).
I was not brave enough to be the first to comment on that.

Can anyone please answer my earlier question, about do different backboxes make any difference, when the exhaust valves are permanently open ? I think the exhaust gas is then routed to bypass the backbox.

[AdamV12V]

Jon39 said:

Puzzled - Am I thinking correctly about this ?

V12V or V12VS backbox.
Exhaust valves set constantly open.
Exhaust gas is therefore being sent directly to the exhaust outlets, bypassing the backbox.
Backbox is therefore neither in use, nor changing the exhaust sound.

What is the point of fitting an after-market back box, to replace one that is not even doing anything ?

I think the issue is on the S that the backbox is both smaller, so it sounds noiser when the valves are closed, but the layout of the pipes is such that on the V12V the valves redirect the gasses to take a shorter route through the backbox, whereas on the V12VS the valves cause the gasses to bypass it completely.

There are piccies of both on the likes of ebay if you google them.