It seems like the Quicksilver and Magnaflow both drone, though on different levels. I have heard the Borla exhaust in person reving up and accelerating, but not inside the car at cruising speeds. It sounds very nice on the outside. The question, though, is does the Borla drone?

Also, on the UUC website, they specifically market their mufflers as being non-droning. QUOTE: "Have you said "I am so sick of that droning muffler system"?" So, I'm assuming that the UUC system will not drone. But, has anyone heard it in person? How does it sound? It sure looks incredible.

See ya,
JS

 

From Borla's website:

"Furthermore, it is the low frequency range that has energy (the sound you can feel inside the car); big pipes increase the low frequencies, making an uncomfortable roaring or droning sound. A BORLA exhaust system, on the other hand, is designed for less restriction, keeping the velocity and frequency high so the main sound is behind the tailpipe."

I haven't heard of any complaints with the Borla system for the Cooper or the S.

 

Chrisnl, thanks for the Borla website and quote.

Greatgro, the UUC website is: http://www.uucmotorworks.com/.

See ya,
JS

 

Nothing listed on the UUC website for MINI's

 

The Borla is raspy - I think that's the best way to put it. It doesn't really drone, but it does have a rumble througout the entire RPM band.

The UUC has been designed not to drone, but I haven't gotten it yet (should be here soon!), so I can't tell you yet.

The QS hasn't until recently been reported as a droning system, and the QS we have installed here does NOT drone.

I think ficcion may be the best guy to ask, as all threee systems have been on his car too.

Randy

 

Borla does not drone. Nope not at all.

It is the nicest approximation to stock from the INTERIOR.


I ran the Quicksilver for a while and never noticed any "annoying drones" (although not claiming drone free). Just a bit louder than the Borla from the interior.


I ended up with the Magnaflow and LOVE IT! At 87-90mph/six gear get some droning sound. Drop it into 5th and it is gone. But hey, it is loud, whether it is droning or not and it makes horsepower.

Simple truth is the Borla and the Quicksilver will meet the needs of most who want a well rounded system that makes power and sounds nice. I highly doubt anyone will find the Quicksilver to be annoying.

The Magnaflow is for those that want some "synthetic testosterone" injected into their MINI. Loud and racey sounding with the horsepower to boot. Not for long family trips mind you :smile:

(Sorry if some of this info is redundant, but not a lot of people have run all three systems so I figure it might be of some use.) :smile:

 

Randy, Ficcion,

Thanks for the input, guys!

It sounds like the Borla may be the muffler for me, and the moderate HP gains are fine with me. I plan to do the intake (early) and pully (later), because I'm more interested in torque in the lower and mid range than simply MAX HP in the upper limits.

Ficcion, can I get your perspective, since you've used the Borla? The Borla I experienced first hand on a MCS sounded great at idle and normal speed, but when the driver "got on it," it did get raspy and pretty loud. It sounds deep and growly and rumbly under normal driving. Is this how you would describe the Borla as well?

Thanks,
JS

 

That's a great summation of the Borla - I had it on the car for about 2000 miles.

I believe ficcion has a Borla still for sale - now that he's made the leap to the dark side (Magnaflow) . You may want to PM him about buying it.

While the Borla doesn't make as much power as some of the other systems out there, it does have very nice tips and a decent sound. It does sound like this (or the upcoming UUC) may be the system that's right for you. If you can get it used from someone that has "upgraded" you could probably get the Borla for a good deal.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Randy

 

What's the story on the Rogue system? I haven't heard anything about them in quite a while. (Personally I'm waiting for info on the UUC as it sounds great. Hoping that it has some matching power gains.)

Jeff

 

The Rogue system makes power and sounds OK, but the fit and finish are sub-par. The tips are also side exit, which doesn't appeal to many people (unless you want to tow with your MINI).

Randy

 

>>Randy, Ficcion,
>>
>>Thanks for the input, guys!
>>
>>It sounds like the Borla may be the muffler for me, and the moderate HP gains are fine with me. I plan to do the intake (early) and pully (later), because I'm more interested in torque in the lower and mid range than simply MAX HP in the upper limits.

I agree, for most people torque is the best pleasure related figure to rely on.

 

>> I agree, for most people torque is the best pleasure related figure to rely on.
>>

Good observation. Unless gearing is changed, any performance improvement that you FEEL is due to increased torque:

:smile:

No offense to those who find the sound objectionable, but the Magnaflow is nowhere near as loud as I expected, based on reading all the posts here. It is definitely louder than stock, but in a good way.

_________________
2003 MCS DS/DS Black Leather Packs: Prem/Sport/Cold, PDC, SatNav
Helix/P&D 15% Pulley, MTH Chip, Magnaflow Exhaust 165.0 whp
My MINI's Little Slice of the Web

 

>>Randy, Ficcion,
>>
>>Thanks for the input, guys!
>>
>>It sounds like the Borla may be the muffler for me, and the moderate HP gains are fine with me. I plan to do the intake (early) and pully (later), because I'm more interested in torque in the lower and mid range than simply MAX HP in the upper limits.
>>
>>Ficcion, can I get your perspective, since you've used the Borla? The Borla I experienced first hand on a MCS sounded great at idle and normal speed, but when the driver "got on it," it did get raspy and pretty loud. It sounds deep and growly and rumbly under normal driving. Is this how you would describe the Borla as well?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>JS
>>



You pretty much hit the nail on the head with your description. Only, the raspy and loud part is pretty subjective. I would say "slightly raspy but with deeper tones than stock" and "somewhat louder than stock".

The exterior sound is better no matter how you look at it and the interior is COMPLETLEY comfortable to the ears. With the Borla it is harder to quantify what you paid for (not a bad thing) because it is "well balanced". A Magnaflow, for example, reminds you everytime you fire the car up that you have an aftermarket exhaust (not a bad thing either depending on what you want). :smile:

 

>>
>>I believe ficcion has a Borla still for sale - now that he's made the leap to the dark side (Magnaflow) :smile:

_________________
<IMG SRC=https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/albums/album04/bvr.thumb.jpg>

Magnaflow Exhaust, Madness Intake and Rear sway bar, Sparco Torino, Rota Circuit 8, Falken Azenis

 

I swappd from a Magnaflow to a Borla - the Borla has ZERO drone. In fact, other than the rumble at idle, it is close to the stock sound from inside the car. The Magnaflow sounds great but the drone is very loud at highway speeds. Based on by GTech measurements of may tests, the Borla gives me 5hp and the Magnaflow gave me 10hp - that's on top of 7hp I measured from the Rogue CAI.

 

Thanks K,
I appreciate your input....
Any install issues w/ the Borla?, as I've heard different ...opinions...regarding fit issues.

Peace,
D

 

No problems. The Borla comes in lots of pieces - two mufflers, tailpipe connecting the mufflers, Y pipe at the other end of the mufflers and two main pipe sections. Some have said this makes things difficult but I found it helped. I loosely assembled the mufflers, tail-pipe and Y to hang the rear section and then connected the main pipes. It helps to take a measurement from the hangers on the car to get the distance between the supports on the mufflers right before installing it. Having all these separate bits makes it easy to adjust the position of the tail-pipe sideways or up/down before tightening everything up.

 

Keith,

Do your Borla tips come straight out the back or tip down slightly?

Thanks,
JS

 

Does anyone know if the Borla or Magnaflow for the Cooper (non S) drone at all? I saw both exhaust systems for sale on EBay at very good prices and I might buy one of them. Thanks

 

I've hesitated to post anything at all about my exhaust because drone, amoung other things, is a matter of taste, perception, personal preferance, etc ...
... but having said that, my cooper (non-S) Borla has a nice hum - i wouldn't call it a drone - not much of the low RPM rumble that's been reported for the S model, and (as has been reported by others before) just helps to make it sound (and feel) more like an Englist Sports Car. I guess the best indicator would be from the comments of others about my car - I haven't got any! No one has said a thing about how it sounds from the outside or the inside ... even though I may be biased about my baby, no one else is and they seem to be able to ignore it ...

 

>>Keith,
>>
>>Do your Borla tips come straight out the back or tip down slightly?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>JS

Straight out. That leaves about 1/4 for closest gap between tips and plastic trim. The angle is adjustable and a larger gap would have them pointing slightly down.

 

>>Does anyone know if the Borla or Magnaflow for the Cooper (non S) drone at all? I saw both exhaust systems for sale on EBay at very good prices and I might buy one of them. Thanks<<

I've had the Borla on my Cooper for a week now, and took a 130-mile highway trip down here to CT today. Definitely no drone. It's more audible at highway speed, but it's just a little bit of extra volume, no resonating. The sound is much deeper than the stock when you start the car and cruise around town, but it's not a huge amount of extra volume. I am very happy with it.

Not sure what price you saw it for on EBay, but I paid $490 plus about $55 for the install at a local BMW shop.
_________________
2003 Cooper, Borla exhaust, Moss intake, Magnecor plug wires - Brookline, MA

 

>>
>>I believe ficcion has a Borla still for sale - now that he's made the leap to the dark side (Magnaflow) . You may want to PM him about buying it.
>>


Actually, the Borla has been sold

Rats! Does anyone else out there have a Borla they're trying to sell? After reading many posts here, this seems like the system best suited for my wants. I'd like something relatively newand would be willing to pay a fair price for it. You can email me at: Moorlockx@aol.com.

Bob

 

>> >>
>>>>I believe ficcion has a Borla still for sale - now that he's made the leap to the dark side (Magnaflow) . You may want to PM him about buying it.
>>>>
>>
>>
>>Actually, the Borla has been sold
>>
>>Rats! Does anyone else out there have a Borla they're trying to sell? After reading many posts here, this seems like the system best suited for my wants. I'd like something relatively newand would be willing to pay a fair price for it. You can email me at: Moorlockx@aol.com.
>>
>>Bob

NEW Borla Exhaust for under $600.00

I bought a new borla exhaust from this place and it is the cheapest price anywhere. New in the box with the full warranty.

 

Give me another couple weeks with the Magnaflow and I may be selling off my Borla.