Just finished installing my new Borla exhaust and my initial impression is that
"something must be wrong" !!!

I'm getting allot of lift off burble and it seems as if I've lost HP. The car just doesn't seem to be breathing as good as before. Anyone got any advice? Is this normal at first, do I have a bad exhaust or did I screw something up?

BTW, I used Randy's how-to-guide, which is excellent. Kudos to Randy!

 

Nope you didnt do anything wrong. I have the same problem with my magnaflow. Do you have a MC or MCS and is it stick or auto?

 

With less backpressure, you may lose a little bit of low-end power, but the gains would be shown past the mid-range. Is it like that?

 

Yeah thats how mine is...will an intake remedy this problem?

 

Please people, let us know which model Cooper you have so we can better help.

That said, I'm assuming he has an S since his icon is an S. :smile:

I don't think with an S you should lose low-end like that. UNLESS you have the Borla Race exhaust which is probably tuned to high RPM gains....

 

I have a MC CVT.

 

>>Please people, let us know which model Cooper you have so we can better help.
>>
>>That said, I'm assuming he has an S since his icon is an S. :smile:
>>
>>I don't think with an S you should lose low-end like that. UNLESS you have the Borla Race exhaust which is probably tuned to high RPM gains....

I have an S and I have the Madness intake. I've only had a chance to put a few miles on it now, but I notice a difference. I can't say for a fact the car is slower, it just sounds and feel like it's restricted. I apologize for a lack of describing it any better. I was hoping someone had a good explanation for this. there are no leaks and everything looks right. Can a muffler be bad or faulty?

 

I doubt there is a problem, the power will really only be felt higher in the revs. The burbling is normal...Hell you should hear my Magnaflow with the Supersprint header!!! BLAHHH BLAH BLAAA BUP BUP BUP. Lots of CRACKLES! I have the Madness intake and Mania pulley too. This car is way too much fun! ...anyway, back to my CryO2 install....

 

I was told that sometimes it takes the ECU time to adjust to the new exhaust. Does sound possible?

 

>>
>>That said, I'm assuming he has an S since his icon is an S.
>>

Maybe he just wants an S?

:smile:

 

>>I was told that sometimes it takes the ECU time to adjust to the new exhaust. Does sound possible?
Yes - I have done several exhaust swaps - Mangaflow, back to stok and then Borla. In each case the power increase grew over the first week of use.

 

>>>>I was told that sometimes it takes the ECU time to adjust to the new exhaust. Does sound possible?
>>Yes - I have done several exhaust swaps - Mangaflow, back to stok and then Borla. In each case the power increase grew over the first week of use.
>>
Thanks FLKeith--that's reassuring. After another 30 miles or so today, it does seem to be improving. One thing that surprises me though is this exhaust is not that quiet. I can't imagine how loud the Magnaflow is then.

 

Talk about the Emperor's new clothes.....

 

About 40 more miles and it does appear to be improving over the 1st day, although I'm not sure if it's any better than when stock. When I added the intake, I was able to notice a difference much more clearly than the exhaust has proved.
Maybe it will continue to improve over the next week?

One note: the tips of my exhaust have discolored severely since the install? Is this normal?

 

Wow! I can't wait to get a Borla exhaust!!!

 

I have the Borla on my Cooper (not S) and they are right about the mid range power. You will notice a change in the sound as time goes on, when i first put it on i wasn't exactly thrilled but as said on this board and others it takes time to break in. Now i don't know if i just got used to it but after the first few hundred miles it mellowed out a little now i have over a few thousand on it and wow what a nice sound love to open the windows and listen as i drive, interior noise is a little bit more than the stock but does not get in the way of a conversation or the radio and i don't like the radio loud all the time. i think its a great exhaust and would buy it again. Give it a few hndred miles and see.
Ps. it also took some time for the car to adjust.

 

After a week now, the exhaust and car car really seems to be coming around. The power seems to have increased and the sound has improved.

The only real issue I have now, is a very loud droning in 3rd and 4th gear at about 5-6K RPM. When I say loud, I mean "painfully loud". Then it goes away after 6K ??There are no problems at all during 1st and 2nd.

Any thoughts?

 

I can't speak for the street Borla but my Race Borla on MCS with only the Rogue intake (same as Madness) really feels alive...a lot more than with stock exhaust Can't wait for Randy to come to the Michigan area for the pully PLEEEASSSEEE...everyone in the Midwest who wants one....bug Randy

 

For the non-S cooper the best dyno trace I've seen yet is RSPeed's system. They have a printout in their showroom that shows significant torque gains through the low and mid-range. Talking to one of the guys there they apparently spent a lot of time (and many designs) to get what they wanted.

(And IIRC grassroots motorsports did a test of non-S coopers and came to the same conclusion that their system was the best for street/autoX performance.)

HTH,

Jeff