Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist

[krisdelta]

V8V Pete said:

PorscheGirl said:

Was it a pain to fit the ski slope - from whom did you source the parts?

My original piano black ski slope started cracking (at the corners of the satnav opening) whilst still in warranty so was replaced by the main dealer. I paid about £500 extra to have CF rather than piano black and they fitted it. I don't think it's a particularly tricky job but mind the leather on either side.

I got the door handles from AstonMartinBits.com and they were secondhand so not as crazy expensive as new ones. Beware, the door handle pull on the CF ones is slightly different so you need those too (mine were included as second hand complete units). There are aftermarket vendors of CF bits for Astons such as https://ecpsgroup.com I've not used them but people on here vouch for the quality.

It's not tricky to remove at all - pictorial guide here from when I sorted out some rattles a few years back: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[PorscheGirl]

So I the V8S went off to Nick Mee's for it's annual service last week. As they drove it away, I had the most terrible 'pang' of emotion. I don't want to hang my car for a v12. I love the balance of the V8 and it's less brutal delivery. I'v been lucky enough to own some lovely cars over the years (964 3.8RS clone, 993S, M3 sport Evo, 944 Turbo Silver Rose, 996 Turbo Ruf - with GT3 suspension, Ferrari 360 Stradale clone - to name but a few). The most powerful engine has never made me a happier driver but the best chassis usually has.

My 996 Turbo was the most powerful car I've ever owned with well over 550 PS...and enormous torque. The F360 was the most fun to drive. The Vantage V8S is the nicest car I've every owned (best all round).

So I'm keeping and I'll ask @BamfordMike to complete the mission !!

Best

Porsche Girl.

[EVR]

PorscheGirl said:

So I the V8S went off to Nick Mee's for it's annual service last week. As they drove it away, I had the most terrible 'pang' of emotion. I don't want to hang my car for a v12. I love the balance of the V8 and it's less brutal delivery. I'v been lucky enough to own some lovely cars over the years (964 3.8RS clone, 993S, M3 sport Evo, 944 Turbo Silver Rose, 996 Turbo Ruf - with GT3 suspension, Ferrari 360 Stradale clone - to name but a few). The most powerful engine has never made me a happier driver but the best chassis usually has.

My 996 Turbo was the most powerful car I've ever owned with well over 550 PS...and enormous torque. The F360 was the most fun to drive. The Vantage V8S is the nicest car I've every owned (best all round).

So I'm keeping and I'll ask @BamfordMike to complete the mission !!

Best

Porsche Girl.

Nice! You just need to change your nick in AstonGirl then.

[PorscheGirl]

Spoke to Mike yesterday...So it's gonna be a 'no' on the blueprinting / GT4 build. The price for that is reassuringly expensive. I would like to go for the twin throttle conversion but Mike explained the cost for improvement. The parts costs seem reasonable actually. It's the labour. Still tempted though as it would really make for the ultimate that I could do without messing with engine internals.

Certainly going to do the dampers with the electronic B16 kit and the twin plate clutch and lightweight flywheel

If Domino had done 70k miles then I'd probably seriously consider the GT4 build as it seems that it is to all intents and purposes a fully rebuilt engine (which is nice). I'm going to get the ski slope and console changed (thinking either red or black satin carbon), glass switches and the black pack outside. Gotta pick a brake calliper colour too. Might (my preferred choice seems to be silver, yellow or red)



Still PorscheGirl (you can take the girl out of the Porsche but not the Porsche out of the girl !!

[Mushroom12]

So I've been looking at Vantages on the used market for around 6 months, and pretty much all of the ones I'm finding on mobile.de or Autoscout (EU) up to around 60,000 have massive gaps in their service history (i.e. the owners did it on milage not time, which can mean a 3-4 year gap in service history). Am I being too fussy with this or am I right to walk away. Not ONE SINGLE CAR I've seen seems to have regular servicing!

[Just Is]

Does anyone know if BR sell the v12 manifolds to the US? Like others, I have tried reaching out to them a couple times via email with no reply.

I just want to figure out whether its possible to:

1) send them my OEM manifolds for cat deletion (as a prior post in this thread implies they can do); or

2) order a set of their manifolds and possibly have the ECU flashed remotely?

I am not particularly interested in power or sound gains, just looking to eliminate the cat ingestion possibility.

[Incognegro]

Just Is said:

Does anyone know if BR sell the v12 manifolds to the US? Like others, I have tried reaching out to them a couple times via email with no reply.

I just want to figure out whether its possible to:

1) send them my OEM manifolds for cat deletion (as a prior post in this thread implies they can do); or

2) order a set of their manifolds and possibly have the ECU flashed remotely?

I am not particularly interested in power or sound gains, just looking to eliminate the cat ingestion possibility.

No, they don't supply only.

They are great addition... still waiting to have mine fitted lol

[Jon39]

Just Is said:

I am not particularly interested in power or sound gains, just looking to eliminate the cat ingestion possibility.

In that case, I think one of their videos mentions cutting the cat casing, remove the innards then reweld to restore the casing.
You must have local craftsmen who are capable of that. A much cheaper solution to achieve your requirement.

Need a remap though, otherwise a warning message would appear.

[moveover]

Jon39 said:

In that case, I think one of their videos mentions cutting the cat casing, remove the innards then reweld to restore the casing.
You must have local craftsmen who are capable of that. A much cheaper solution to achieve your requirement.

Need a remap though, otherwise a warning message would appear.

Yep. Mike did this for my Vanquish II. All good and peace of mind now.

[Just Is]

moveover said:

Yep. Mike did this for my Vanquish II. All good and peace of mind now.

That's good to know. Did you notice much change in sound? Did the car also need the ECU tuned?

[moveover]

Just Is said:

moveover said:

Yep. Mike did this for my Vanquish II. All good and peace of mind now.

That's good to know. Did you notice much change in sound? Did the car also need the ECU tuned?

Very little change in sound as far as I can tell. Mike suggested it would give a slight BHP boost, but not that I've noticed. I don't know about ECU tuning, though I presume the O2 sensor warnings needed to be reprogrammed so as not to trigger error codes.

I didn't opt for the replacement manifolds as the car is plenty powerful enough already. I did, however, get these done on my old V8 Vantage, which was a great mod.

[nightflight]

One for Mike. My V12 Vantage which you serviced last year, has developed a slight intermittent fault. It feels a bit like a couple of plugs are breaking down, or possible fuel shortage. It's worse when cold, and noticeable at tickover when cold. As I say, it is intermittent, and seems to vary in severity (it's never really bad). I run it on the Esso fuel that you recommend. Any thoughts.

[Rrrapido]

I have a 2015 Rapide S with 30k miles. Last Saturday after a 2hr run I stopped to fill up. When I tried to restart the car it wouldn't turn over and I got the "engine system service required" message. After the fourth attempt, the car started and seemed fine, with no messages. Booking it into Works for a check-up. In the meantime, should I drive it?

[rex]

Not been an Aston fan particularly as could never imagine myself in one. This has changed with age and I have the opportunity of a sub 5000 mile 2010 DB9. Owner has had it for past 9 years with very little use and has not had a service in a while. Is this the sort of milage that actually detracts from a car rather than enhancing it. I am usually of the belief that a car need to be used regularly.
Any advice on what to look for and where to look for problems. My concern is seals that may have perished with little use

[V8V Pete]

rex said:

Not been an Aston fan particularly as could never imagine myself in one. This has changed with age and I have the opportunity of a sub 5000 mile 2010 DB9. Owner has had it for past 9 years with very little use and has not had a service in a while. Is this the sort of milage that actually detracts from a car rather than enhancing it. I am usually of the belief that a car need to be used regularly.
Any advice on what to look for and where to look for problems. My concern is seals that may have perished with little use

Mike from Bamford Rose tends not to get involved with this page any more, with it being left as a useful source of information.

Huge amount of info available via his youtube channel. Bamford Rose (and other independents) will also be happy to do an inspection of the vehicle for a fee which would tell you everything you need to know.

Personally, I'm not keen on cars that aren't used much at all but there are plenty of opposite opinions on here, as elsewhere, so take your pick on that one.

[rex]

Thanks for the reply. Will give them a call. Also just noticed. Been here for nearly 20 years

[V8V Pete]

rex said:

Been here for nearly 20 years

Wow! I didn't know PH had existed for 20 years.

[Simpo Two]

V8V Pete said:

Wow! I didn't know PH had existed for 20 years.

Before that, if my memory serves me correctly, it was PetrolHeads, and before that (late 90's), a Yahoo group for TVR owners. From little acorns great oak trees grow!

[Finding Neutral]

Every specialist I’ve spoken with, in fact everyone I know who’s respected in the car world says the same about cars with particularly low miles. It doesn’t do them any good.

[AstonZagato]

I bought a 1yo Vanquish with less than 1,000 miles on it. It was a disaster - the check engine light would not stay off and it spent more time with the dealer than it did with me. I think a few thousand miles a year is best for these cars.