My upgrade plans - any advice welcomed
Discussion
So after reading as much as I can and speaking to various people I have deciced that I would like to do the following to my 4.3 V8V over the next few months:
1. Geometry set-up at TDI
2. BR exhaust system retaining OEM back box
3. Sports Pack upgrade
It is on the third element that I am seeking more knowledge. I see Mikey K mentioned the Nitron upgrade to provide Sports Pack handling at a lower cost. Given that the AM factory Sports Pack is £4,400 ex VAT, is the Nitron upgrade just part of the process (the AM upgrade includes wheels of course) or is the factory upgrade springs, dampers and wheels only.
I saw these on the Nitron website:
Aston Martin V8 Vantage - NTR R1+
Has anyone had the Nitron fitted and if so which ones? Are they reasonably priced?
1. Geometry set-up at TDI
2. BR exhaust system retaining OEM back box
3. Sports Pack upgrade
It is on the third element that I am seeking more knowledge. I see Mikey K mentioned the Nitron upgrade to provide Sports Pack handling at a lower cost. Given that the AM factory Sports Pack is £4,400 ex VAT, is the Nitron upgrade just part of the process (the AM upgrade includes wheels of course) or is the factory upgrade springs, dampers and wheels only.
I saw these on the Nitron website:
Aston Martin V8 Vantage - NTR R1+
Has anyone had the Nitron fitted and if so which ones? Are they reasonably priced?
AM us Bilstein dampers with matched valves and srpings for each set up - they are not adjustable in anyway.
You need to do some checks on the aftermarket cost of the Sports Pack
The Nitron NTR R1+ are adjustable for height and rebound so would enable you to run a track, fast road or cruising set up.
They also give an unsprung weight reduction.
I had the R1+'s on an S2000 and the Lotus boys swear by them.
The Sport is equivalent to the Bilstiens.
You can go even further with track and race versions as well.
You will need to do the geometry AFTER the suspension mods.
Talk to Ben at Nitron he is a complete suspension geek
On the BR set up the biggest gains come from the manifold and cats (assuming you don't want to strip the engine )
You need to do some checks on the aftermarket cost of the Sports Pack
The Nitron NTR R1+ are adjustable for height and rebound so would enable you to run a track, fast road or cruising set up.
They also give an unsprung weight reduction.
I had the R1+'s on an S2000 and the Lotus boys swear by them.
The Sport is equivalent to the Bilstiens.
You can go even further with track and race versions as well.
You will need to do the geometry AFTER the suspension mods.
Talk to Ben at Nitron he is a complete suspension geek
On the BR set up the biggest gains come from the manifold and cats (assuming you don't want to strip the engine
)Thanks for the information. What do you mean by checking the aftermarket cost of the Sport Pack upgrade? I got the price from AM Works.
Do Nitron do the fitment and geometry set-up or do I get the fitting done and then take the car back to TDI or CG for the geometry afterwards.
I am not intending to do any track days so ultimately I am seeking the best handling and peformance for road use. As I mentoned in another thread I am booked in at TDI for the geometry and will see how positive the impact of that is before doing any more on the handling side. I will be at BR this Friday and will discuss the exhaust replacement. I am assuming that this alone will release some much needed lower end torque (the graphs for the 4.3 seem to show a positive increase from 2000 RPM upwards) plus some additional BHP.
This does all get complex when there is also the Prodrive package at less cost where they claim big BHP and torque increases, and of course they have a history with Aston Martin Racing, but I sense that to see all that increase means using Shell petrol to match with the ECU re-mapping.
Do Nitron do the fitment and geometry set-up or do I get the fitting done and then take the car back to TDI or CG for the geometry afterwards.
I am not intending to do any track days so ultimately I am seeking the best handling and peformance for road use. As I mentoned in another thread I am booked in at TDI for the geometry and will see how positive the impact of that is before doing any more on the handling side. I will be at BR this Friday and will discuss the exhaust replacement. I am assuming that this alone will release some much needed lower end torque (the graphs for the 4.3 seem to show a positive increase from 2000 RPM upwards) plus some additional BHP.
This does all get complex when there is also the Prodrive package at less cost where they claim big BHP and torque increases, and of course they have a history with Aston Martin Racing, but I sense that to see all that increase means using Shell petrol to match with the ECU re-mapping.
I tried a vantage with the sports pack and found when switched to the firm setting it was far to hard, only suitable to fast track work so that was a no go.
So Obviously I went to Bamford Rose and they have developed their system which I think is realy good. I first got to use it at goodwood which is a fast track with some uneven corners which really unsettles the car but the confidence I got was amazing, realy grounded and makes the driving experience.
When you leave it on the firm setting its still more than compliant on normal roads.
The upside to the BR system is its fully elctronic so its a flick of a switch. unlike some other systems.
If you are coming to their open day I can always give you a run out in Jessica so you can sample the difference.
So Obviously I went to Bamford Rose and they have developed their system which I think is realy good. I first got to use it at goodwood which is a fast track with some uneven corners which really unsettles the car but the confidence I got was amazing, realy grounded and makes the driving experience.
When you leave it on the firm setting its still more than compliant on normal roads.
The upside to the BR system is its fully elctronic so its a flick of a switch. unlike some other systems.
If you are coming to their open day I can always give you a run out in Jessica so you can sample the difference.
I would (predictably) echo what Ben says. Having switchable suspension is brilliant, I really missed it out on the Porsche yesterday, the ability to flick between a harder setting for smooth roads / interesting corners to softer for crap road surfaces or a motorway blast is a truly amazing thing. I have no idea how I managed without it beforehand!! 
I doubt the switchable set costs much more than the Sports Pack. SP is also a steering rack (same as DBS), at least on the DB9 - don't know about Vantage?
A BR suspension and exhaust car would be a formidible weapon.
I doubt the switchable set costs much more than the Sports Pack. SP is also a steering rack (same as DBS), at least on the DB9 - don't know about Vantage?
A BR suspension and exhaust car would be a formidible weapon.
Woollie - just make sure that price is ALL IN On the Nitrons I's say they are far better than the Sport Pack dampers I fiddle with mine on the S2000 until I found a setting that worked for A-B blast, Euro Hoons and trackdays and left them there! The beauty is if you want it rock hard for a track day you can then turng it back down to comfor mode for a crusie home
On the tuning the consensus is there is little to be done on the ECU as it has knock control for the higher RON fuel, many ECU tuners simply take out the manufacturers safety magin for lower RON fuels to claim gains. Which you lose and risk the engine as soon as you put lower RON fuel in.
The best gains seem to be "breathing" mods (cats, header & intake) Talk to BR on Friday
Pomme - the Vantage Sport Pack suspension is not switchable so it wasn't an AM kit on a Vantage. Who's dampers are BR using?
Edit - just checked the BR thread - I think they are Nitron
On the Nitrons I's say they are far better than the Sport Pack dampers I fiddle with mine on the S2000 until I found a setting that worked for A-B blast, Euro Hoons and trackdays and left them there! The beauty is if you want it rock hard for a track day you can then turng it back down to comfor mode for a crusie home On the tuning the consensus is there is little to be done on the ECU as it has knock control for the higher RON fuel, many ECU tuners simply take out the manufacturers safety magin for lower RON fuels to claim gains. Which you lose and risk the engine as soon as you put lower RON fuel in.
The best gains seem to be "breathing" mods (cats, header & intake) Talk to BR on Friday
Pomme - the Vantage Sport Pack suspension is not switchable so it wasn't an AM kit on a Vantage. Who's dampers are BR using?
Edit - just checked the BR thread - I think they are Nitron
Edited by mikey k on Monday 23 April 13:30
yeti said:
I would (predictably) echo what Ben says. Having switchable suspension is brilliant, I really missed it out on the Porsche yesterday, the ability to flick between a harder setting for smooth roads / interesting corners to softer for crap road surfaces or a motorway blast is a truly amazing thing. I have no idea how I managed without it beforehand!!
I doubt the switchable set costs much more than the Sports Pack. SP is also a steering rack (same as DBS), at least on the DB9 - don't know about Vantage?
A BR suspension and exhaust car would be a formidible weapon.
The Sports Pack is apparently only springs, dampers and wheels. It doesn't mention the rack, although the price I was quoted was preceded by 'estimated cost' so I guess they allow some leeway for difficult to remove parts as opposed to other replacement parts.I doubt the switchable set costs much more than the Sports Pack. SP is also a steering rack (same as DBS), at least on the DB9 - don't know about Vantage?
A BR suspension and exhaust car would be a formidible weapon.
I think a good long chat with Mike at BR is on the cards for Friday
mikey k said:
Woollie - just make sure that price is ALL IN On the Nitrons I's say they are far better than the Sport Pack dampers I fiddle with mine on the S2000 until I found a setting that worked for A-B blast, Euro Hoons and trackdays and left them there! The beauty is if you want it rock hard for a track day you can then turng it back down to comfor mode for a crusie home
On the tuning the consensus is there is little to be done on the ECU as it has knock control for the higher RON fuel, many ECU tuners simply take out the manufacturers safety magin for lower RON fuels to claim gains. Which you lose and risk the engine as soon as you put lower RON fuel in.
The best gains seem to be "breathing" mods (cats, header & intake) Talk to BR on Friday
Pomme - the Vantage Sport Pack suspension is not switchable so it wasn't an AM kit on a Vantage. Who's dampers are BR using?
Edit - just checked the BR thread - I think they are Nitron
Thanks again. I will have a good chat with BR and let them guide me once I tell them what I am trying to achieve. Hopefully it will be within my budget, although the beauty is that I can do things a bit at a time over a period of time. On the Nitrons I's say they are far better than the Sport Pack dampers I fiddle with mine on the S2000 until I found a setting that worked for A-B blast, Euro Hoons and trackdays and left them there! The beauty is if you want it rock hard for a track day you can then turng it back down to comfor mode for a crusie home On the tuning the consensus is there is little to be done on the ECU as it has knock control for the higher RON fuel, many ECU tuners simply take out the manufacturers safety magin for lower RON fuels to claim gains. Which you lose and risk the engine as soon as you put lower RON fuel in.
The best gains seem to be "breathing" mods (cats, header & intake) Talk to BR on Friday
Pomme - the Vantage Sport Pack suspension is not switchable so it wasn't an AM kit on a Vantage. Who's dampers are BR using?
Edit - just checked the BR thread - I think they are Nitron
Edited by mikey k on Monday 23 April 13:30
yeti said:
I doubt the switchable set costs much more than the Sports Pack. SP is also a steering rack (same as DBS), at least on the DB9 - don't know about Vantage?
Only switchable bits on Vantage are throttle map (comfort/normal/sport) which also switches exhaust valves at differernt points.Steering rack is quicker on the S and is a big improvement over the other Vantages (including V12
)yeti said:
I thought they were Bilstein... We'll ask on Friday!
From further talks with BR I believe that they use Bilstein developed to their own specification and then add on their own in-house electronics.In the course of my discussion with BR I have learned that what lead to development of their own kit was the remarks by many PistonHead forum members that the sports pack was too stiff when sedate driving was required. What lead to developing their own electronic kit was nobody on the market including Nitron offered an electronic solution.
I am at a loss as to why some think the sports pack rides harshly.
My 2011 V8 Roadter with sports pack rides incredibly comfortably.
Did they change something on the later cars?
It is way better at smoothing out rough roads than my daily drive 335BMW
Even my wife finds it very smooth.
Maybe I should check that they actually fitted the sports springs!
Alan
My 2011 V8 Roadter with sports pack rides incredibly comfortably.
Did they change something on the later cars?
It is way better at smoothing out rough roads than my daily drive 335BMW
Even my wife finds it very smooth.
Maybe I should check that they actually fitted the sports springs!
Alan
Mac355 said:
I am at a loss as to why some think the sports pack rides harshly.
My 2011 V8 Roadter with sports pack rides incredibly comfortably.
Did they change something on the later cars?
It is way better at smoothing out rough roads than my daily drive 335BMW
Even my wife finds it very smooth.
Maybe I should check that they actually fitted the sports springs!
Alan
It was never an issue on mine either.My 2011 V8 Roadter with sports pack rides incredibly comfortably.
Did they change something on the later cars?
It is way better at smoothing out rough roads than my daily drive 335BMW
Even my wife finds it very smooth.
Maybe I should check that they actually fitted the sports springs!
Alan
whoami said:
It was never an issue on mine either.
I doubt it's an >issue< on any car. But one man's harsh ride is anothers delightful one. We all like diferent things, some like their Astons snmooth and wafty, smoe like them firm and sporty.Me, I like to press a button and switch between the two. Very relaxing going round the South Circular and over the London speed bumps today.
When I meet Pommehogster tonight on the A43 and have the 17mile blat to Silverstone around endless roundabouts and fast dual carriageways, rest assured my suspension will be set to firm
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