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I am a long time BMW fan and have had over 12 in the last 10 years. Last few have been 2005 M3 (e46), 2008 550i, 2016 M4, 2018 M4 Competition and 2014 M5 Comp. I have been looking at Aston Martin's for a very long time. Before purchasing my 2014 M5, I test drove a few Manual DBS's. After having my M5 for about 2.5 years, I decided to make the switch. Purchased a 2014 DB9.
Being from a BMW world, it has always been very easy to find aftermarket parts for my cars. Not as easy for the Aston Martin's, as I have come to find out in the last few days. I have always been a member of the bmw forums and can always find a lot of helpful information on there. Hoping this forum will come in handy in my ownership of the Aston Martin.
One disappointing thing is that I did not get the original Owners Manual for the car. A few things I am trying to figure out are (and would really appreciate any help I can get):
1. What type of oil is needed (OEM Oil) and how many quarts?
2. What is the part # for the oil filter?
3. Air intake filters (is it best to get oem or I saw a few aftermarket companies selling them AFE and BMC)
4. Do any companies make intakes for these cars? I would like to change the air filters anyways, so wanted to check out intakes at the same time, but I am unable to find anything at all.
5. Any Navigation upgrades available for this car? The screen looks like it is from the 70s.
Exhaust already sounds great on the car and I removed the fuse to keep it a bit louder at all times. I am planning on getting the fabspeed x pipe. Any other suggestions? Maybe other pipes are better to change out the secondary catalytic converters.
I have the car for a few days, but it truly is amazing. It is definitely on another level compared to BMWs. Here are a few photos:
Welcome! Stunning DB9 and nice car collection. Excellent color combination and really like the refreshed headlights on the newer db9s!
There's a lot of different information on this forum. Key vendors to buy parts from are velocityap and redpants. They have answers to most of your questions.
I've seen a digital version of the DB9 owners' manual as well as workshop manual floating around here before too.
Welcome Also! I just recently purchased a 2014 DB9 as well. Like you I was a big former Viper owner who worked the boards and had plenty of info and help. I agree I am not seeing as much on here, but what I have found has been helpful. Look on U-tube for ASTON 1936 he has a lot of videos that can help as well. Like you, I also do my own work. I plan on using Mobil One 0-40w oil. There is a vendor "RedPants" on here that sells oil filter change kits that I have found. He also has lots of other stuff. You will find things are a lot more expensive than you BMW stuff. Hopefully you are close to a dealer that may be of help to some things. I did find a service manual on here and pretty sure you get the owners manual as well. Good Luck.
Carguy 54
You can get the owners manual at the iTunes store. Good to have it on your phone in case the battery dies -- can't open the car or the glovebox without power!
I use a Mobil1 0-40 motor oil too. I wasn't sure which Mobil1 product to use, so I wrote Mobil and scanned a copy of the oil specifications from the owner's manual to ask which oil is appropriate. I spoke to someone from Mobil twice and he pointed out the correct product.
DB9 is a not as mod friendly as the German cars. Decats and x-pipe will produce different sounds. Make sure you pick the one for the kind of sound you want. I would buy the remote valve control ASAP instead of just removing the fuse. Red Pants, Aston Bits, Scuderia Parts all offer discounted AM parts. I would confirm the parts are in stock ready to ship before placing an order with any firm. I've seen some good part deals on eBay too.
My suggestion is to temper your desire to mod the car for a little bit and then decide if that's really the way to go. GPS map update does not change the look and you may already have the newest edition. I'd bring the car by your AM dealer and see if there's any software updates or anything else you may want to get in front of. Do you have all the service records?
I use a Mobil1 0-40 motor oil too. I wasn't sure which Mobil1 product to use, so I wrote Mobil and scanned a copy of the oil specifications from the owner's manual to ask which oil is appropriate. I spoke to someone from Mobil twice and he pointed out the correct product.
DB9 is a not as mod friendly as the German cars. Decats and x-pipe will produce different sounds. Make sure you pick the one for the kind of sound you want. I would buy the remote valve control ASAP instead of just removing the fuse. Red Pants, Aston Bits, Scuderia Parts all offer discounted AM parts. I would confirm the parts are in stock ready to ship before placing an order with any firm. I've seen some good part deals on eBay too.
My suggestion is to temper your desire to mod the car for a little bit and then decide if that's really the way to go. GPS map update does not change the look and you may already have the newest edition. I'd bring the car by your AM dealer and see if there's any software updates or anything else you may want to get in front of. Do you have all the service records?
Are there different Mobil1 0-40 oils? I found a 5 quart jug for $22. Let me know if I should get a specific Mobil 1 0-40. Want to make sure I put the correct oil in the car. I found the oil filter for about $49 (not as bad as I thought it would be).
My mod bug bites me very early, with any of my cars that I get. Especially with BMWs, because there are just so many different options for them. I already ordered a FabSpeed X pipe. Will report back on the sound.
I do not have all the Service records. Just what I saw on Carfax. Can I just get that information by calling a local dealer?
Appreciate all the suggestions from everyone. Makes my search a lot easier.
The local dealer won't have any service records unless the car was serviced at that dealer. They may have any recall service done to the car. If you don't have any specific service records, you'll need to re-do those missing services so the car is current. I would do that ahead of spending money on mod's. You know that the x-pipe is going to change the sound of the car? I believe it will make it quieter. I would've went for decat's instead to maintain the Aston pitch.
Here's the Mobil1 they recommended (and what the dealer uses) along with oil for the Vantage V8 I have languishing after Vantage V8 ownership. Now used for the lawn mower :-(
I downloaded in app on my phone that allowed me to download the manual for my Vantage. I am sure this would also be an option. Also like you, long time BMW owner and made the switch to AM in Feb. Completely different animal and ballgame I'd see. I made a post with the history of my BMW ownership under the BMW sub-category if you want to take a look. This forum is definitely not like Bimmerpost on which I am still 'kinda' active. Not as much since getting rid of the Bimmers though.
Feel free to shoot me an email/PM for forum pricing on our Secondary Catbypass X-Pipe. Sounds great on the DB9 and picks up some extra power/tq with no CELs.
Just an update on the car. Have it for just over a month now. Love it! Blacked out all the chrome (window, fender) and blacked out all the red and orange reflectors. Got some matching floor mats (black with yellow outline).
Installed the Fabspeed x pipe. It definitely did not make the car louder, but gave it a bit of a different sound. I like it, but now am looking to also add a muffler. Looking at Quicksilver or Larini. Also saw Borla, but haven't seen any videos on it. Would appreciate some input on what the best rear section is for this car.
Also would like to change out the steering wheel. I am used to my BMW's that come with a much thicker steering wheel. Would like to get something that is thicker and with a yellow 12 oclock line. Let me know if anyone has suggestions on where I can get the wheel from. So far I just found people selling them on eBay. I wrote to a few, waiting to hear back.
The big names for Aston Martin exhausts are Larini, Capristo, VelocityAP, or Bamford Rose. They're all top shelf stuff.
You're right on the xpipe, it does not make it sound louder, but does change the sound. Decats would give you more sound and maintain the sound.
I don't think there is much muffling on OEM exhaust and most of the sound was reduced from the primary cats? It's pretty loud on my Rapide with the valves open. The remote key fob is a must have. Some of the exhaust brands mentioned above have active valve control options, but I don't know what the advantage of theirs is vs. just remote fuse setup?
Last edited by brightoncorgi; Oct 14, 2019 at 03:23 PM.
My wife bought a certified 2015 M235i conv. a year ago. The BMW dealer said download the manual app on her I-Phone - she demanded a printed copy which they eventually supplied. The BMW is a great drivers car, but I find the Aston to be more solid. The Nav System on the 2014 is a ton better than the older versions, but my 2017 Vantage has Apple Car Play which makes it really nice - not sure if that can be retrofitted to the older systems. Sound is an issue, I wish I could hear more from the drivers seat, as it seems the V12S is a lot quieter than the V8 Vantage I had at least from the seat. My buddy who also has a V12S is removing some of the sound insulation on his. We cannot modify the exhaust because both of ours are under warranty. The titanium option is just too pricey (the only option that does not void the warranty) but with the added sound insulation, not sure we would hear it from the drivers seat anyway. The new C8 Vette sound great from the inside - I heard the sound was fake. I'd take fake.
I just check my oil. I have not added any in the past 2,000 miles or so. Still at the same level - so that's a good sign. I do the annual services and the cars (both V12;s and V8's have been dependable. The Aston dealer sues Mobil 1 - so I have a spare gallon in my office on hand.
Aston paint is a bit soft - do you have any protection from chips?
The big names for Aston Martin exhausts are Larini, Capristo, VelocityAP, or Bamford Rose. They're all top shelf stuff.
You're right on the xpipe, it does not make it sound louder, but does change the sound. Decats would give you more sound and maintain the sound.
I don't think there is much muffling on OEM exhaust and most of the sound was reduced from the primary cats? It's pretty loud on my Rapide with the valves open. The remote key fob is a must have. Some of the exhaust brands mentioned above have active valve control options, but I don't know what the advantage of theirs is vs. just remote fuse setup?
I took the fuse out the 2nd day I had the car, so my valves are always open. I am a bit scared of changing out the downpipes, because I do not want it to get too loud. I have heard bimmers with catless downpipes and it was just too much for my taste. I feel that the car sounds great already. Has a nice deep growl to it. I would like to just get it a bit louder. I am hoping that muffler by Larini or some other brand, might get the sound to where I want it, and not be too loud.
