Unplanned Cat Replacement at Bamford Rose..

[marceltay]

Last week I took my DB9 to Bamford Rose to get the wing mirrors replaced with the later MY09 version (Thanks jamesc12 and petecowie for posting your mods) but left with more than just a better looking car..

While I was waiting for the work to be completed, I noticed a pair of very shiny 200 cell cat's in the corner of the office…

|http://thumbsnap.com/vS8VidHH[/url]

Now I've always loved the way the DB9 sounds and the only complaint I ever had, was that it could have done with being just a little louder. In the past I did consider replacing the silencer with a quicksilver or Larini unit, but was concerned that the constant noise on long distance runs would most likely irritate me.. After discussions with Adrian and Mike, they recommended replacing the secondary cat's while keeping the original silencer with a BR exhaust switch installation.

An hour later, all I can say is WOW!! The car has been transformed. I was initially interested in just the improvements to the exhaust note, but it seems the car is more torquey than it was before, and the sound of the exhaust is just EPIC!

Here are some videos that were taken..

Pre Cat Replacement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f564laQjunQ

Post Cat Replacement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgPqPEY0WEg

BR Exhaust Switch Off then On:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jChdcAy_PTI

And Pictures:

|http://thumbsnap.com/doCrLyKR[/url]

[url]

[yeti]

Well done Marcel - they do make a significant difference to the performance of the car as well

Can't access the Youtube clips, seems they are 'private'..?

[marceltay]

yeti said:

Well done Marcel - they do make a significant difference to the performance of the car as well

Can't access the Youtube clips, seems they are 'private'..?

It has made a big difference. Can't wait to take the car out again..

The clips should now be working.. First time uploading to youtube..

[tonyhall38]

sounds good mate...you need clear rear lenses now then.....you going to Trinity meet?

[marceltay]

Hi Tony.. That's the plan. Clear lenses, BR Adaptive Suspension, Vantage Collection Carbon Fibre Splitter, etc..

Have put my name down for trinity so hopefully can make it.

BTW, the AMOC area 7 trip on the weekend was great..

[ds2000]

Exhaust switch is impressive, the new sound is definitely more grunty. I wonder if Mike randomly leaves interesting parts around for such unsuspecting customers...... Kind of a shiny mouse trap

[marceltay]

That's might very well be the case, although on past visits there was nothing available for immediate install.

Apparently, it was another customers unwanted order. So my wallet is hurting, but I have no regrets. Car sounds perfect :-)

[paddy328]

I was there with marcel when he got the cats fitted and they do sound much better now. Amazing what a quick change can do.

[jonby]

I'll have to try it on my speakers at home later - I think it's incredibly difficult to capture exhausts on these types of videos so interested to find out later

Funnily enough I was chatting to Mike earlier in the week about this very subject. Planning on swapping the cats as you have when V12VR arrives, leaving it say just a week or so after delivery to be sure everything's running fine, but I think I need to leave it until at least the following year before I even think about manifolds (and just maybe inlets & cams) as I'd be uncomfortable doing it on a brand new car

Nice thing is by then, there will be plenty of feedback about the various options that are being tried out on other people's cars so it will make it much easier to decide which route to go down

[marceltay]

Unfortunately the camera phones don't do it too much justice.

For me the most important attribute was that we maintained the deep/low tone of the standard exhaust, just increasing the volume a little at idle and allowing it to be ferocious higher up in the rev range (above 3500rpm).

It is exactly as I'd hoped, and I think yeti may have summed it up perfectly in another post. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at a flip of a switch... Or something to that effect.

[johng39]

jonby said:

Nice thing is by then, there will be plenty of feedback about the various options that are being tried out on other people's cars so it will make it much easier to decide which route to go down

And sooner than you think

[jonby]

johng39 said:

And sooner than you think

i've a feeling you're not going to make it an easy decision

[jonby]

marceltay said:

For me the most important attribute was that we maintained the deep/low tone of the standard exhaust, just increasing the volume a little at idle and allowing it to be ferocious higher up in the rev range (above 3500rpm).

.

sounds perfect. does the switch act like an on/off for fuse 22 ? So the valves are never completely closed in the 'off' position, just operating as standard to open higher up the rev range ? And in the 'on' position, open all the time?

[marceltay]

jonby said:

sounds perfect. does the switch act like an on/off for fuse 22 ? So the valves are never completely closed in the 'off' position, just operating as standard to open higher up the rev range ? And in the 'on' position, open all the time?

Yes, that's exactly how it works. When on it leaves the valves operating as per normal (Fuse 22 left alone), and when off, the valves are left open (Fuse 22 pulled).

[johng39]

jonby said:

johng39 said:

And sooner than you think

i've a feeling you're not going to make it an easy decision

Guilty as charged..