Aston Martin V8 Vantage

[tai-lun]

What company did you go through or get the update on the infotainment? Is the backup camera a separate unit?

Do you just send them the unit yourself or is there more involved? Aston Martin wants..... way too much to upgrade these garbage Volvo units. Horrible stuff.

[digitalsolo]

The kit is from Aston Installations.   I purchased through Rich at RedPants.

I ship the display to England to get the HD upgrade done.   They send it back with a bunch of wiring and stuff that is all plug and play in the car.   I do have to disassemble a bunch of interior to install, especially since I’m adding a rear camera to the car.

[digitalsolo]

Got a good deal on some later year clear tail lights for the car.   I’m obviously a ricer inside so I had to have them.   

[tai-lun]

Got a good deal on some later year clear tail lights for the car.   I’m obviously a ricer inside so I had to have them.   

Nice, I like them more myself over the red ones. Do you have to replace the 3rd brake light too? Ever since seeing them on the DBS they just give that more modern touch I find.

[digitalsolo]

I got a set of all 3 lights in excellent condition for 600.   It came with the center light. 

I agree in that I think the clears modernize then car a lot.   I guess that makes sense because the later years came with them by default.

From an exterior perspective, the only other things I’d like to do are:

N4xx Carbon rear diffuser blade
V12 side skirts
GT4 hood

Probably the only car where the only “mods” I’d make to appearance are factory options.   I do want to do the carbon center dash/console bits.   We will see if I choose to spend that much money for purely appearance bits though.

[digitalsolo]

I like these much better than the reds.   

[tai-lun]

Yes, small change but updates the car in a big way I think as well.

Just needs a LT4 in there now.... hehe

[digitalsolo]

My wife needed in the attic today, and it was nice and snow free out, so I took the car around the block for a few miles.

I LOVE the new exhaust.  So much.   It’s just loud enough to be audible with the valves closed.   I no longer feel like a tool driving through my neighborhood in it.  .     It still screams with the valves open also.   I ordered up a remote control setup to allow me to run the valves open or closed at will.

Finally, I ordered some front stone guards that sit just behind the front wheels, similar to the FD “spats”.   Aston Martin makes them and they’re supposed to really help with launching rocks at the rear quarter panels, especially when some knob puts wide, sticky tires up front. 

[MPbdy]

Reading how much fun you're having with this thing makes me think these cars will be seriously going up in value.

[digitalsolo]

The CarPlay upgrade kit came in;  impressively quick turnaround considering that screen arrived in England last week.

Anyway, I’ve started on the process of getting it installed.   The instructions are…. Not great.    Definitely wouldn’t recommend for novices, but I think I can sort it out.

Going to add the dash cam hardwire kit at the same time and probably leave a tap for a radar detector.

Once I get that Mustang back together I’ll put it in the high flow filters, redo the cat pipes with flex bellows and install the “rock guards” behind the front wheels.

Then it’s off for tint and should be ready for 2022!   

[digitalsolo]

Need to add some updates here I suppose.    The CarPlay system is all installed, along with the dashcam setup.     I swapped all the interior lights for LED while I was at it.

Thoughts on the CarPlay setup:

The cables could be better fitted;  I’ll probably redo them later to fit perfectly.   Audio is good, but notably quieter than the CD player/FM radio.   It also doesn’t take over immediately on start, so it blasts the FM radio when you turn it on.   I want to talk to the manufacturer about that behavior.

A local high end detailing shop needed a dark car to teach a detailing class on.   I volunteered mine.   Instructor will be using it as an example to teach with, and I get a full paint correction plus professional ceramic coat for half price, which is great.

Since it was there anyway, I’m having them tint it also.   The car had tint at some point in the past, and it was only partially removed.   Something like 50%.   So they’re cleaning the old tint off the hatch glass and then doing the whole car (minus windshield) in 30% ceramic which is the darkest legal here.    They’re going to ask the tint guy about doing the windshield in 90% ceramic also.   Just to cut heat down and keep UV off the leather dash.

Once it gets back I’ll add the last details from my side and it will be ready for the season.

[Venom13132]

I had 5% all around and 30% on  my windshield on my 2010 370z i had a few years back.  Was really hard to see out of haha.    The aston will look sweet with some nice tint on it.

[digitalsolo]

Paint correction and ceramic came out great and I am thrilled with the tint.   I will get some good pictures once the weather improves.   

[Venom13132]

yeah that looks sweet.  Such a sexy car.

[tai-lun]

Looks wicked dude, really brings out those clean lines in the design.