So what have you done with your Aston today? (Vol. 2)

[LTP]

Took my 2015 Vantage down to Bamford Rose for a new set of Continental ContactSport 6's to be fitted - the old Brickstones were the original tyres and were starting to crack in the treads, as a recent MOT Advisory informed me




Mike's team did a great job.

Edited by LTP on Tuesday 27th October 16:42

[matrignano]

That front plate plinth needs to go, IMHO!

[LTP]

matrignano said:

That front plate plinth needs to go, IMHO!

I know where you're coming from, but it looks like it may have marked the paint so I may be stuck with it. Plus I'd have to have the front-end PPF partially redone

[matrignano]

LTP said:

I know where you're coming from, but it looks like it may have marked the paint so I may be stuck with it. Plus I'd have to have the front-end PPF partially redone

I had my paint marked when some tts reversed into my car getting in/out of a parking space, pushed and cracked the plinth into he bumper...

[V8V Pete]

Changed this because my car was telling me it was 32 degrees outside which unfortunately is not true:

[EVR]

Nice it's also the first thing I fixed on mine.

Sort of related, anyone knows if there is a way through a software update on older cars to have the time and temp in the dashboard screen like Pete's?

[V8V Pete]

EVR said:

Sort of related, anyone knows if there is a way through a software update on older cars to have the time and temp in the dashboard screen like Pete's?

I have no idea but I know a man who would know. I'll try to remember to ask for you when mine goes in for its service in 3 weeks time.

Having had both versions of the display (in my 2009 & 2014 MY Vantages) I agree that it is more usable always having the speed on the left hand display and toggling through everything else on the right hand one.

[EVR]

V8V Pete said:

I have no idea but I know a man who would know. I'll try to remember to ask for you when mine goes in for its service in 3 weeks time.

Having had both versions of the display (in my 2009 & 2014 MY Vantages) I agree that it is more usable always having the speed on the left hand display and toggling through everything else on the right hand one.

Cheers!

[LTP]

EVR said:

Sort of related, anyone knows if there is a way through a software update on older cars to have the time and temp in the dashboard screen like Pete's?

I assume from your question that the older cars don't have this as an option in the car's menus? I've tried mine in both right and left position on my 2015 V8V and I've gone back to digital speed on the left.

[bullet7]

BIG DUNC said:

Jon39 said:

PMKeates said:

bullet7 said:

It seems the tester allowed the car to idle for more than 20 minutes stationary, which is what caused the light to come on. The garage will not change the result, in fact they can't. Whilst I am still infuriated (mildly), I am composing a complaint to the DVSA. It's worth a try.....

What on Earth is there to be infuriated about?

I would make a fuss about these circumstances. It is the principal.

A complaint would obviously be to DVSA. I normally would not bother tackling a government agency, but the negligence in this case was not DVSA, but the MoT tester. The handbook entry which you found is interesting confirmation. The MoT stations should have sufficient knowledge about the cars which they are testing. Your description now indicates that the MoT tester caused the advisory fault.

My MoT tester does not idle the engine for 20 minutes. Why did they do that?

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 30th September 19:48

The MOT station cannot be expected to know the ins and outs of every specialist car in the land. Astons have their quirks, as do TVRs, Lotuses, even my Mazda MPS and old Land Rover (Tester was very keen I didn’t “help or intervene “, but until I did he was using a piece of 2x4 to hold the bonnet up as he hadn’t worked it out.)

Why leave it idling? They have to for the first ten minutes while they do lights / washers other trivial stuff. Then they put it in the air and need it running while they check for leaks, check steering movement etc....

I am not a tester but have watched many tests and a 15 minute idle is not uncommon. If the car is roadworthy I don’t have an issue. I don’t see 20 minutes as being excessive. A few years ago I took a car to a test which I knew had an over heating issue and I asked they kept engine running time to an absolute minimum and the tester was very happy to do so.

For anyone interested, the DVSA have agreed to remove the advisory from the car's record.

[Jon39]

bullet7 said:

For anyone interested, the DVSA have agreed to remove the advisory from the car's record.

Well done bullet7.
I was pleased to read that. Common sense prevailed.

[EVR]

LTP said:

I assume from your question that the older cars don't have this as an option in the car's menus? I've tried mine in both right and left position on my 2015 V8V and I've gone back to digital speed on the left.

Nope, you can just press the left stalk to cycle through digital speed, avg MPG, actual MPG, avg speed, the little diagram with the car & relative tires pressure and off. While the left display does not budge, always showing the gear you are in (or D if automatic), Sport mode or not, total kms, trip 1 & 2 kms, cruise control on or off.

The only places showing time & temp are the central console, with the analog clock and in the radio display corner with the little mountains.

[LTP]

EVR said:

Nope, you can just press the left stalk to cycle through digital speed, avg MPG, actual MPG, avg speed, the little diagram with the car & relative tires pressure and off. While the left display does not budge, always showing the gear you are in (or D if automatic), Sport mode or not, total kms, trip 1 & 2 kms, cruise control on or off.

The only places showing time & temp are the central console, with the analog clock and in the radio display corner with the little mountains.

Can you change them in the vehicle settings in the menus? I don't know if earlier cars are the same, but on my 2015 car, you do the following:

1. With ignition on, press "Menu" on the centre stack (Top right of the six buttons either side of the joystick)
2. Navigate to "Car Settings" by using the joystick and press "Enter"
3. Navigate to "Digital Speedometer" and press "Enter"
4. Select "Left" or "Right" and press "Enter"

Navigate out with the "Back" button

If your car can't do this then apologies

[EVR]

LTP said:

Can you change them in the vehicle settings in the menus? I don't know if earlier cars are the same, but on my 2015 car, you do the following:

1. With ignition on, press "Menu" on the centre stack (Top right of the six buttons either side of the joystick)
2. Navigate to "Car Settings" by using the joystick and press "Enter"
3. Navigate to "Digital Speedometer" and press "Enter"
4. Select "Left" or "Right" and press "Enter"

Navigate out with the "Back" button

If your car can't do this then apologies

No need to apologise, I actually thank you for the input and the time you took to suggest it. I will check next time! I don't think it will work though, since I played with all the settings when I bought it and the manual reports the following, but you never know.

[macdeb]

Alas, watched the new owner drive it away, although I'm sure it's gone to the right owner, a real nice guy of whom I'm sure will appreciate it.

Edited by macdeb on Friday 30th October 20:45

[xstaticx]

A recent 2009 4.7 Roadster purchase so I have been doing all of the usual suspects;

Rusty Cam Cover bolts
Fuel Flap Strut
De-gingered repeaters
Removed sprayed and replaced rusty EGR Valve
Rebuilt back end with new CF Diffuser (2013 type)
Removed, refurbished & refitted undertrays
Gumi Pfleged all rubber seals

Removed centre stack in search of horrendous chirping noise when warm, but failed miserably...

[V8V Pete]

Mine had a big birthday today! Must be almost valueless now so I suppose I'll just have to keep on driving it

[EVR]

LTP said:

Can you change them in the vehicle settings in the menus? I don't know if earlier cars are the same, but on my 2015 car, you do the following:

1. With ignition on, press "Menu" on the centre stack (Top right of the six buttons either side of the joystick)
2. Navigate to "Car Settings" by using the joystick and press "Enter"
3. Navigate to "Digital Speedometer" and press "Enter"
4. Select "Left" or "Right" and press "Enter"

Navigate out with the "Back" button

If your car can't do this then apologies

I confirm I do not have such an option in the menus.

[DAVIDOXE]

V8V Pete said:

Mine had a big birthday today! Must be almost valueless now so I suppose I'll just have to keep on driving it

That original dash is still the best in my opinion.

[morty1961]

xstaticx said:

A recent 2009 4.7 Roadster purchase so I have been doing all of the usual suspects;

Removed centre stack in search of horrendous chirping noise when warm, but failed miserably...

I have exactly the same bird stuck behind my centre stack ... if I press hard on the top left next to the sound system on/volume knob it stops !!!