Drivetrain (Cooper S) MINI Cooper S (R53) intakes, exhausts, pulleys, headers, throttle bodies, and any other modifications to the Cooper S drivetrain.

Drivetrain BORLA do or don't????

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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 04:06 PM
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I am ready to go for an exhaust and the "Seven" guys have the Borla for the right price.My question is,street or sport/race? I had a Vette with a Borla cat back system (my cats fell out
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 04:12 PM
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I've been thru a coouple of exhausts on my MCS.
stock..... mangaflow...quicksilver... and settled on the Borla Street.
I like the sound (no drone) and have had no problems with it....@all.

Recently the Miltek and UUC have benn released and people are saying good things about both in regards to sound and performance

Do yourself a big favor and listen to the ones ur interested in...up close & personal

Only you can decide what is right for U

Peace,
D
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 04:13 PM
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The Borla Race sounds great - and is not all that loud (not as loud as Magnaflow). I feel the Borla Street is a bit too tame in amplitude, however both offer simiar sound, which is very nice - not "rice" one bit.

my vote: If you're coming from 'Vette-world, do the Borla Race
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 05:04 PM
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Make it ROAR!
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 05:26 PM
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D, do youknow of anyone in the NY Rockland/Bergen county area that has a Borla system?I am Exit 7 off the Palisades Parkway. KOOLMINI is a mile or so from me and he is running the Magnaflow,which is nice, just like the look of the Borla tips.I am hoping for a little more bass out of my exhaust.Anyone that has any aftermarket system in my area,and can spare a couple of minutes to show off your system let me know. Thanks, Shawn
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 05:31 PM
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I totally agree with everything Ryephile said. Get the Borla Race - no doubt about it. My brother (RaceCarDriver) has it. He also had a Vette with a Borla exhaust. It's not that loud at all. Actually my UUC is much louder than the RACE. But the RACE sounds pretty good, gives good power and has a million mile warranty. Plus the price is great. Oh yeah - and it's a very easy install. Go for it! You'll definitely love it.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 05:33 PM
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Hey Greatgro are you in Bergen county? care to share some of your exhaust notes?

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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 05:43 PM
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What impressed me about the Borla 'sport' was the deep sound. No ricer sound with this system. Last Friday at our monthly MINi club meeting a bunch of the gang commented on the great sound it made.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 05:48 PM
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If you are on the East Coast (sorry I do not follow the board enough to know where people live) you may consider either going to MINIs on Top or to the Dragon. You would likely be able to talk to people with the different systems and listen to them side by side (almost). Additionally they may be able to give you a ride so you could get a feel if you liked the sound from inside (where it is most important - where will you be when you hear the note on your car).

Just a thought
John
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 06:15 PM
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The Borla Race is too loud for stealth driving. If you want to draw attention to yourself, sometimes unwanted like police and upset neighbors, then the Borla Sport is for you.

I like the Borla Street as it sounds nice, and is easier to live with.

 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 06:17 PM
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From: Olney, MD Crossroads of the World ! ! !
I went with a Borla on my Cooper. Opened up the Pipercross CAI and now when I hit about 4250 rpm and above, there is just a nice mellow note. Cruising out on the highway the sound of the exhaust is not really any louder than the OE exhaust. I have had the exhaust on since 12/02 and still love it, would not change it. THis is from last April, take a listen here http://www.megapop.us/movies/mini/


 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 06:39 PM
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Hey motormad, I am not worried about the fuzz(I am one ),neighbors ......I'll deal with there kids screaming and they can deal with my new exhaust
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 10:35 PM
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I have had the Devil system ( way too quiet ) the Borla sport /street system ( nice sound but too quiet ) and now the Bborla race. I also have a jackson racing header with the stock cat added inline. The borla race was to quiet for me so I took the inline resonator out and to me is sounds just rite. I can set off car alarms at will and no one next to me can use a cell phone which is also a plus.Even the magnaflow boys run and hide. I think that the stock Borla race system will work for you . The sound is amazing and not in a " ricey " way. Of course taking the resonator out might be a bit extreme but my other toys are a 1972K5 Blazer with a big block chevy with vacume assist exhaust cut outs for the headers so I am used to a bit of volume. Email me some time and I will call you and let you listen over the phone :smile: Randy
randy30@hotmail.com
 
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 10:49 PM
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maxmini...
how do you get away with such a loud exhaust in CA?
 
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:02 AM
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After driving Big Red ( the blazer ) for 10 years with mostly open headers you learn to know when to coast :smile: To be honest I am expecting to get picked up over it some time but have a friend that should be able to help me out of that type of ticket. The same thing goes for my window and tail light tint and no front license plate. The nitrous might be another situation all together and I will keep you posted on that account. In all honesty as loud as mine is it still isnt as loud as some of the Harleys that blast around here .
 
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:47 AM
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Hey DOGHOUSE, So you subscribe to the "loud pipes saves lives" line that many ABATE riders believe in. :smile:

 
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 01:14 AM
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I have the Borla Sport on a 2003 MCS and I think it sounds great. At idle is very quiet. Has a nice deep sound. Not very much louder at cruising speeds than the stock exhaust. Has a nice burbble when you get out of the throttle. I was worried when I first put it on that it would be too loud, but I have been told by everyone I have asked that it sounds great, both inside and outside the car. I think it really adds some bad attitude to the car. GO WITH THE SPORT
 
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 04:12 AM
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>>I have the Borla Sport on a 2003 MCS and I think it sounds great. At idle is very quiet. Has a nice deep sound. Not very much louder at cruising speeds than the stock exhaust. Has a nice burbble when you get out of the throttle. I was worried when I first put it on that it would be too loud, but I have been told by everyone I have asked that it sounds great, both inside and outside the car. I think it really adds some bad attitude to the car. GO WITH THE SPORT
 
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 05:54 AM
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I will let you guys know how it sounds on MY car in about a week
 
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 08:54 AM
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Borla Race has been ordered from Seven! I will have it in about two weeks due to delivery to Seven then to me (CA to NY 5 days). Thanks for your help everyone!
 
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 04:22 PM
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Good choice you are going to love it. Randy
 
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Old Feb 18, 2004 | 06:19 AM
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>>I am ready to go for an exhaust and the "Seven" guys have the Borla for the right price.My question is,street or sport/race? I had a Vette with a Borla cat back system (my cats fell out )and that car sounded awsome! I bring this up because I dont mind a little boost in the sound level but .......

I had a 95 Corvette with a Borla exhaust and headers and it was LOUD! and sounded AWESOME. I now have a stock 405 hp Z06 Corvette and it too sounds AWESOME. So I decided to go with the Borla Race for my MCS. It sounds great but my only complaint is that it is too quiet. Definitely go for the Borla Race. The Borla Race will still seem extremely quiet compared to your Corvette. The Borla Street will be way too quiet, you won't even hear the exhaust at all.

RaceCarDriver
 
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Old Feb 18, 2004 | 08:11 AM
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RaceCarDriver wrote:

I had a 95 Corvette with a Borla exhaust and headers and it was LOUD! and sounded AWESOME. I now have a stock 405 hp Z06 Corvette and it too sounds AWESOME. So I decided to go with the Borla Race for my MCS. It sounds great but my only complaint is that it is too quiet. Definitely go for the Borla Race. The Borla Race will still seem extremely quiet compared to your Corvette. The Borla Street will be way too quiet, you won't even hear the exhaust at all.
If you are interested, I'd like to hear the Borla Race. I currently have the Magnaflow and would be receptive to a swap of some sort if you like the sound of the Magnaflow better than the Borla and vice-versa.
 
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Old Feb 18, 2004 | 10:14 AM
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If anybody would like to hear the borla race in its most open form I am all over the SO.Cal Area. Would be happy to meet up with you. Email is randy30@hotmail.com
 
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Old Feb 18, 2004 | 09:28 PM
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From: Eugene
This is a long post and touches on some hotly debated topics. In an earlier post I used a few trigger words that are open to interpretation. This response is to help clarify my views.

DOGHOUSE, The meanings of words, and feelings they evoke, may be different for me than for you because differences in our life experiences. I will attempt to eliminate the trigger words and still communicate my concern. :smile:

The point I would like to make is that our freedoms are continuously being eroded by the extreme actions of a few people who disturb enough other people that perceive those actions as being intrusive or dangerous. When enough of these other irritated folks get together and pass laws that attempt to stop "fill in the blank" intrusion or danger, the laws they pass usually impact many others than just those few who actually caused the "problem". The result is an overall loss of freedom. :evil: Going fast in a reasonable situation is one of my favorite freedoms that have bit the dust.

I don’t like snobs who live in "exclusive neighborhoods" with very restrictive conveniences. I was in California on my BMW K1100RS and I could not drive into certain neighborhoods because “motorcycles” were not allowed. When I ask why, they said too many of the motorcycles were too loud. It didn't matter that my motorcycle wasn't too loud. I missed some sights that I wanted to see because enough people in those neighborhoods found motorcycle noise intrusive. Police will ticket cars that are too loud, but they will ban my “whole motorcycle community” from areas rather than ticketing those who are excessively loud. My freedom bit the dust because some in my motorcycle community over-exercised their right to "be loud as they damn well please because they like the way it sounds and after all “Loud Pipes Saves Lives."

So back to the Borla Sport exhaust, I like the sound, but I personally would not choose it for my car for street use because it is too loud for me. I was outside an industrial area while a MCS equipped with a Borla Sport was testing some modifications. I could clearly hear them over 6 blocks away. This might cause problems and I suggest that the application of gas be used judiciously so those who don’t like the sound will not have to “deal with it” by passing more laws. If I moved in next to an existing race track, or an airport, then I had better not complain about the noise. If a neighbor has a VERY loud car, and gets up at 4 am each day to go to work, and he warms up his car right next to my bedroom window, then you bet I will be talking to him to complain about the noise.

The more people we cram into our cities the harder it is to do anything without offending someone. If you live in a city, you have to learn how to deal with it. I like quieter places so I choose to live in a smaller community. I have visited NY and loved it as a place to visit. From my limited NY experience, and with all the noise in the city, your Borla Street exhausts probably will not be too loud.

Regarding “Loud pipes Saves Lives,” I can't remember where I saw the most scientific study, but I think it may have been in one of the motorcycle magazines a few months back. ABATE is all about limited government intervention. What they fail to realize is that in a society, the best way to avoid government intervention is through consideration for others. One issue ABATE is really pushing is the right to ride without having to wear a helmet. I also think helmet laws should be repealed. I also don’t believe in seat belt laws. However, you will not catch me riding without my helmet (and protective gear) and I will not drive without a seat belt. If someone wants to put their own life at risk, then I believe that is their right. I also believe in gene pool improvement.

Here are some links to “Loud pipes Saves Lives,” perspectives that give food for thought.
http://www.i-bike.org/prob_loud.cfm

http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/safety/safety40.htm

http://www.virginiawind.com/byways/l...save_lives.asp

http://daytonabeach.com/FePublicSafetyInfo.asp

http://www.seacoastonline.com/2001news/8_10c.htm

http://www.personalsafetysite.com/webcontent37.htm

To quote one of my favorite NAM moderators “Peace”


 
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