Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist

Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist

Author
Discussion

cornershop

2,136 posts

196 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
quotequote all

zepe

78 posts

182 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
quotequote all
cornershop said:
Personally, I just want to improve the sounds, it absolutely doesn’t need any extra bhp-tq
My car is absolutely ballistic from 2nd gear on, first gear the engine feels like it’s held back so I wonder if freer breathing would improve that. As for noise I’m vary happy with it, the only thing I would do if it was available (and I never even heard of such a thing) would be a system where you could switch between H pipe and X pipe exhaust sound on the fly. That would be epic.

cornershop

2,136 posts

196 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
quotequote all
zepe said:
cornershop said:
Personally, I just want to improve the sounds, it absolutely doesn’t need any extra bhp-tq
My car is absolutely ballistic from 2nd gear on, first gear the engine feels like it’s held back so I wonder if freer breathing would improve that. As for noise I’m vary happy with it, the only thing I would do if it was available (and I never even heard of such a thing) would be a system where you could switch between H pipe and X pipe exhaust sound on the fly. That would be epic.
First gear is just wheelspin for me - i wonder if there is some limiter to safeguard the gearbox?


cornershop

2,136 posts

196 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
quotequote all

zepe

78 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
cornershop said:
First gear is just wheelspin for me - i wonder if there is some limiter to safeguard the gearbox?
That's exactly what it feels like, I know it has some sort of software "torque demand" limit compared with vanquish or v12s so that might be it. Second gear on it feels just as fast as those cars to me.

zepe

78 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
cornershop said:
That is insane. Love it.

ds666

2,631 posts

179 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
cornershop said:
zepe said:
cornershop said:
Personally, I just want to improve the sounds, it absolutely doesn’t need any extra bhp-tq
My car is absolutely ballistic from 2nd gear on, first gear the engine feels like it’s held back so I wonder if freer breathing would improve that. As for noise I’m vary happy with it, the only thing I would do if it was available (and I never even heard of such a thing) would be a system where you could switch between H pipe and X pipe exhaust sound on the fly. That would be epic.
First gear is just wheelspin for me - i wonder if there is some limiter to safeguard the gearbox?
The wheelspin does limit the torque ....

cornershop

2,136 posts

196 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
So I’ve been exchanging emails with Mike over the past week, focusing on exhaust level changes; the content I thought worth sharing as it may answer queries for other owners

My main focus is to improve the sound quality of my 2010 V12V -

No, I’ve not yet tried the fuse pull (coming soon), and yes, I felt there were minor improvements by removing the parcel shelf.

Power and torque is more than acceptable as it is, but I’m happy for these to be improved as a ‘by-product’ of sound improvement.

Q - me asking for supply only quote for secondary cats

A: “ The supply of the 200 cell cats incorporating baffle is £1750 inc vat (Fixed price), inc gaskets and shipping.

Although I’d not recommend that upgrade in isolation. The std secondary catalyst is a 400 cell per square inch density and going to 200 cell isn’t a) going to return any tangible power / engine responsiveness increase and b) because of the baffle, won’t return much in the way of noise increase.

The first step for V12Vantage is a copy of OEM GT12 - straight through secondary cat delete pipe @ £500 inc vat and shipping.

However, and as a second stage mod. It’s far better to remove the primary cats and fit the 200 cell secondary cats at supplied / fitted / inc vat £2750. There will be a circa 30bhp power gain, a slight / nice noise increase and remove the risk of this.....

(Link to BR decat / cat particle ingestion vid): https://youtu.be/kiCerrUQRGM

Or the third stage / the Bamford Rose headline modification of high-lift inlet cams, bespoke made exhaust manifolds, 200 cell cats which is circa +80 BHP @ £8000* inc vat and fitting.”

  • Or, £6500 fitted inc vat without cams (manifolds, 200 cpi secondaries, ECU tweak) - with AM warranty, I’m only looking at bolt on mods.

Q: me asking about changes to improve sound quality via primary decat

A: “If the primary goal is a minor increase in sound, the secondary decat pipe is the way to go. We install a 3-way switch to control the exhaust silencer valves in permanent loud mode / permanent silent mode / OEM switching (as it currently works). The switch is hidden from view but easily accessible.

The primary decat is a breathing mod, so it won’t turn beneficial until about 4000 rpm, so whilst there is a notable power increase, torque increase is slight. However, the most notable improvement regardless of the peak power improvement / numbers improvement is from 1000 rpm to the redline the engine is more urgent / throttle responsiveness is improved.
To be clear about my previous quote, if doing the primary cat delete I’d actually advise the 200 cell cats are without the baffle. The baffle cats are only needed for the headline mod, and if doing a primary decat with 200 cell cats with baffle, I’m sure you’d be disappointed with the noise level.”

Q: me asking about duration and apologising for number of Qs being asked!
A: “ No probs, ask as many questions as needed.
Primary cat removal and installation of high flow secondary cats is 2 clear days.

BR manifolds, highflow cats is 3 clear days”


Q: asking whether BR modify existing or a spare manifold when decating (latter preferred for me so I can’t revert to standard at resale / if needed)

A: “We decat your existing manifold.

From 2004 DB9 to V12VS the manifolds were all the same, so plenty on the secondhand market, but for originality, it’s going to look totally OEM from the outside so I’d not worry about that”


Q: asking about induction noise improvements

A: “No, we don’t do anything which increases induction noise because the clean side of the air inlet is very short distance from the filter and the filter sits in the inner wheel arch meaning anything done on the dirty side won’t really be that noticeable”

Happy with Mike’s responses, and coincidentally, all received very promptly (same day or better).

I plan a visit to BR in the next few weeks, and will progress with secondary cat mod and if funds allow, investigate the BR manifold.

Insurance have said there will be no changes to the premium with any of these changes and HWM have confirmed they see no issues with the warranty if I keep it regularly serviced.

The V12 Way

894 posts

84 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Hi Cornershop, i went for the exhaust manifolds, cam change etc with BR and the sound was just something else, the secondary decat was also put on and 200 cell primary. i also went for a capristo back box but then i wanted a different sound, and that was like a v12 ferrari sound

cornershop

2,136 posts

196 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
The V12 Way said:
Hi Cornershop, i went for the exhaust manifolds, cam change etc with BR and the sound was just something else, the secondary decat was also put on and 200 cell primary. i also went for a capristo back box but then i wanted a different sound, and that was like a v12 ferrari sound
Nice - i think I’ve seen your video somewhere.

For clarity, you mention 200 cell *Primary* cats - typo or did you have these added to the BR manifolds?

I thought their recommendation was to decat primary cats and add a 200 cpi secondary.

ds666

2,631 posts

179 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
My 2012 v12 has the secondary cat removal . I had the bypass vales reinstated and have added a cc remote switch . On "open " it is quite loud and I do prefer closed for motorways /cruising and when not " on it " .
I'd try that first - for £80 odd worth a go ...

The V12 Way

894 posts

84 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
cornershop said:
Nice - i think I’ve seen your video somewhere.

For clarity, you mention 200 cell *Primary* cats - typo or did you have these added to the BR manifolds?

I thought their recommendation was to decat primary cats and add a 200 cpi secondary.
Yep the 200 cell were fitted near the manifolds

steve

cornershop

2,136 posts

196 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
The V12 Way said:
cornershop said:
Nice - i think I’ve seen your video somewhere.

For clarity, you mention 200 cell *Primary* cats - typo or did you have these added to the BR manifolds?

I thought their recommendation was to decat primary cats and add a 200 cpi secondary.
Yep the 200 cell were fitted near the manifolds

steve
Interesting thanks - was that a sound based decision?

zepe

78 posts

182 months

Saturday 7th March 2020
quotequote all
cornershop said:
So I’ve been exchanging emails with Mike over the past week, focusing on exhaust level changes; the content I thought worth sharing as it may answer queries for other owners

My main focus is to improve the sound quality of my 2010 V12V -

No, I’ve not yet tried the fuse pull (coming soon), and yes, I felt there were minor improvements by removing the parcel shelf.

Power and torque is more than acceptable as it is, but I’m happy for these to be improved as a ‘by-product’ of sound improvement.

Q - me asking for supply only quote for secondary cats

A: “ The supply of the 200 cell cats incorporating baffle is £1750 inc vat (Fixed price), inc gaskets and shipping.

Although I’d not recommend that upgrade in isolation. The std secondary catalyst is a 400 cell per square inch density and going to 200 cell isn’t a) going to return any tangible power / engine responsiveness increase and b) because of the baffle, won’t return much in the way of noise increase.

The first step for V12Vantage is a copy of OEM GT12 - straight through secondary cat delete pipe @ £500 inc vat and shipping.

However, and as a second stage mod. It’s far better to remove the primary cats and fit the 200 cell secondary cats at supplied / fitted / inc vat £2750. There will be a circa 30bhp power gain, a slight / nice noise increase and remove the risk of this.....

(Link to BR decat / cat particle ingestion vid): https://youtu.be/kiCerrUQRGM

Or the third stage / the Bamford Rose headline modification of high-lift inlet cams, bespoke made exhaust manifolds, 200 cell cats which is circa +80 BHP @ £8000* inc vat and fitting.”

  • Or, £6500 fitted inc vat without cams (manifolds, 200 cpi secondaries, ECU tweak) - with AM warranty, I’m only looking at bolt on mods.

Q: me asking about changes to improve sound quality via primary decat

A: “If the primary goal is a minor increase in sound, the secondary decat pipe is the way to go. We install a 3-way switch to control the exhaust silencer valves in permanent loud mode / permanent silent mode / OEM switching (as it currently works). The switch is hidden from view but easily accessible.

The primary decat is a breathing mod, so it won’t turn beneficial until about 4000 rpm, so whilst there is a notable power increase, torque increase is slight. However, the most notable improvement regardless of the peak power improvement / numbers improvement is from 1000 rpm to the redline the engine is more urgent / throttle responsiveness is improved.
To be clear about my previous quote, if doing the primary cat delete I’d actually advise the 200 cell cats are without the baffle. The baffle cats are only needed for the headline mod, and if doing a primary decat with 200 cell cats with baffle, I’m sure you’d be disappointed with the noise level.”

Q: me asking about duration and apologising for number of Qs being asked!
A: “ No probs, ask as many questions as needed.
Primary cat removal and installation of high flow secondary cats is 2 clear days.

BR manifolds, highflow cats is 3 clear days”


Q: asking whether BR modify existing or a spare manifold when decating (latter preferred for me so I can’t revert to standard at resale / if needed)

A: “We decat your existing manifold.

From 2004 DB9 to V12VS the manifolds were all the same, so plenty on the secondhand market, but for originality, it’s going to look totally OEM from the outside so I’d not worry about that”


Q: asking about induction noise improvements

A: “No, we don’t do anything which increases induction noise because the clean side of the air inlet is very short distance from the filter and the filter sits in the inner wheel arch meaning anything done on the dirty side won’t really be that noticeable”

Happy with Mike’s responses, and coincidentally, all received very promptly (same day or better).

I plan a visit to BR in the next few weeks, and will progress with secondary cat mod and if funds allow, investigate the BR manifold.

Insurance have said there will be no changes to the premium with any of these changes and HWM have confirmed they see no issues with the warranty if I keep it regularly serviced.
Great info, thanks. I asked the USA supplier about these Packages and they looked at me like I was from Mars, had no clue what I was talking about.

cornershop

2,136 posts

196 months

Saturday 7th March 2020
quotequote all
Me thinking an XPipe is the way forward (but don’t want it any quieter in the cabin when gunning it.

BR: “We do offer the X-pipe if customers want it. The best spec for achieving the noise you are after would therefore be; primary catalyst delete, high flow 200 cell cats with no baffle and X-pipe, which would take the all up price of that spec from the previously quoted £2750 inc vat to £3k”

lefranc

2 posts

49 months

Monday 9th March 2020
quotequote all
Hello, my 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage battery went dead and after I replaced it I got a "gear display position not available" message, so the car will not go into neutral (sportshift) and will not start. I have tried using the paddles, pushing the gear buttons, resetting the battery saver mode, checked all the fuses on the trunk fuse box, and even opened the gas cap. Does anybody knows what the problem is?

finlop

7 posts

50 months

Wednesday 11th March 2020
quotequote all
HI Mike,

Is the V12 in the Rapide able to fit a DB9 V12 manual box, or is that a complete rengineering job.

It is either that, or sell the kids and buy a DB9 manual I think wink

Neil.LK

21 posts

71 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
I have a 2015 DB9 with around 13k miles.
I recently tried to build the oil pressure in the engine before starting after a period of storage. I followed the method in the handbook I.e. press accelerator to the floor, crank engine until oil light goes out...
When I tried this the oil light would not go out, even after 10- 15 seconds of cranking, I checked oil level and there was plenty of oil in engine.
I then started the engine, the oil light went out straight away so I know the oil pressure light works.
I then tried the post storage pressure build again, same process and this time the oil light went out after about 3 seconds.
Any ideas why it didn’t work first time?
Hope someone can help.

Neil.LK

21 posts

71 months

Saturday 25th April 2020
quotequote all
Hello all, is this site still open or has it died?
I suppose if I don’t get a response it is dead?

JohnG1

3,471 posts

205 months

Sunday 26th April 2020
quotequote all
Neil.LK said:
Hello all, is this site still open or has it died?
I suppose if I don’t get a response it is dead?
Could be. Or maybe it's a weekend and, like a lot of companies, they are running a reduced service...