Borla exhaust for the 135i

Night1 · 12-22-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronnyek

eff me in the goat arse... wow... I need to get in the business of making exhaust systems.

Papethova · 12-28-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardianangel3290

I LOVE borla, but $1000 for an axelback is outrageous.
I agree with the poster above me. Just because we drive bimmers doesnt mean the prices should be jacked up. I realize its an economy of scale, but be reasonable. If it were priced somewhere closer to $600 i would definitely be inclined to buy, but unless this thing makes our cars sound like pissed off Dodge Vipers, 1k is unreasonable.

I should have the rest of the Borla exhaust this week or next. Ill be out of town so installing it will have to wait.

Funny enough I do own a Dodge Viper and no the Borla on the 135 isnt similar. Its a deep throaty tone on the axle back. I like it, but no Viper let alone a pissed off one. Try removing the axle back on your OEM and drive around, its like that but quieter. Ill know what the full system sounds like in the next few weeks.

I cant comment on pricing, I dont know what its going to be or what similar systems are out there. I do remember paying over 5k for headers for a Viper and we used to call it the Viper tax.

Sorry haven't updated anything in months, honestly I haven't had time to sign into this site and frankly there was nothing to report.

Papethova · 01-08-2009, 11:43 PM

OK I have both systems now. Have tried them on the car.

The axle back I believe I have already commented on how it sounds previously in this thread. The racing system.... is just that much better.

I installed it myself in under 30 mins. Anyone with an average familiarity of basic tools should be able to also. Fit and finish is top notch, I didnt expect anything less from Borla. The thing bolted right up using the stock bracket and hangers. There is a rattle and I think its touching the crossbar I will work out the clearance in that area this weekend. Its not a big deal, just two couplings and a twist of the center section. That should do it.

The axleback system bolts directly to the resonator as a single pipe. The racing system is 3 sections. Two straight pipes that bolt to the downpipes, that couples with two more straight pipes, which ultimately couple with two pipes that are welded to the muffler. All in all deleting those secondary "cats" (I wouldnt call them cats since they dont have O2 sensors) and the resonator. The muffler looks the same as the one off the axle back which is about a 1/3 of the size of the stock muffler. I didnt weigh the system, but the stock pieces I removed were substantially heavier. My guess would be 20-30 pounds. I can weigh the stock components and post their weight, and I can post the weight of the axle back.

The axle back takes the stock system and gives it a deeper throaty growl type sound. The full system ROARS. Its a different sound, you can hear the turbos. The thing sounds like a race car. IMO they are two distinctly different sounds.

All my comments here are based on being the driver in the cabin, I haven't had a chance to follow the car yet. There is no drone IMO. In 6th gear cruising 70-90mph its almost as if the system is stock (again this is being in the cabin), get on it a lil and you can hear it. There is a "drone" at 60-70ish in 6th but if you downshift that takes care of that. Street driving you can hear it, again its nothing I would call loud, but its noticeable over stock and even the axleback. It seems to really bite at about 4k in 2nd gear with 30-50% throttle. After installation I did notice that traction control was assisting on my 1-2 shift, that had never happened before. Since that initial "test" I haven't been able to open her up so I can't really be sure if it was tire/road conditions or the exhaust itself. I am inclined to think it was the exhaust. Hopefully this weekend I can re-test that assumption and get some sound clips to post.

Everyone who has heard it has been amazed and commented on how great it sounds. My father who is a huge believer of maintaining factory specs couldn't get the grin off his face and agreed it sounded like a race car. He was in a car behind me on the on ramp.

I can't comment enough how impressed I am with both the fabrication and performance of the system. I really do believe the full set up is the way to go and it was definitely worth the wait. I've never really owned smaller engine cars so I didn't know what to expect, I just can't emphasize how satisfied I am.

Ill try to answer as many questions as I can so start posting guys.

dim135 · 01-09-2009, 09:22 AM

pics????

JohnnyTT · 01-09-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

Thanks for the review. Has Borla released info on power gains?

You'll never get more than 5-10 hp from any exhaust. Unless the stock one is as thin as a straw.

OAKOS Automotive · 01-09-2009, 01:22 PM

Look what just showed up on Borla's web site......

http://www.borla.com/products/produc...prod_sku=11763

Papethova · 01-09-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyTT

You'll never get more than 5-10 hp from any exhaust. Unless the stock one is as thin as a straw.

When I first took my car to Borla they gave me a dyno sheet showing a peak gain of (I think) 7rwhp and the largest delta was 12rwhp lower in the power band. I do not know which of the 2 systems that dyno was from but that was back in June when they were only working on the axleback section.

My135 · 01-09-2009, 01:49 PM

Even 7 rwhp is very good gain on cat back exhaust. Do you have any picture and price information? How does it compare to RR and CPE? Any one know? Thanks.

Papethova · 01-09-2009, 01:53 PM

Im going to confirm with R&D what system the gain was with.

I cant compare to other systems because I haven't heard the other systems in person.

Anyone in the Los Angeles area that wants to meet up to hear it PM me and we can make arrangements.

I will get pics and sound clips hopefully this weekend.

ChrisK · 01-09-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OAKOS Automotive

Look what just showed up on Borla's web site......

http://www.borla.com/products/produc...prod_sku=11763

$1450.99 better be the Suggested Retail Price.

...but I don't think so.

ChrisK · 01-09-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papethova

Im going to confirm with R&D what system the gain was with.

I cant compare to other systems because I haven't heard the other systems in person.

Anyone in the Los Angeles area that wants to meet up to hear it PM me and we can make arrangements.

I will get pics and sound clips hopefully this weekend.

If I remember the pictures that got posted a while back, the muffler was hacked into the bottom of the car. It wasn't a clean fit.

Oh well, I can't wait to see the pictures.

JohnnyTT · 01-09-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisK

$1450.99 better be the Suggested Retail Price.

...but I don't think so.

I think it's the "Suggested we bend you over and laugh at you if you pay that price..... price".

HP Autosport · 01-09-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisK

$1450.99 better be the Suggested Retail Price.

...but I don't think so.

That is the suggested retail.

HP Autosport · 01-09-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OAKOS Automotive

Look what just showed up on Borla's web site......

http://www.borla.com/products/produc...prod_sku=11763

The axle back has been available for several weeks now.

Papethova · 01-09-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisK

If I remember the pictures that got posted a while back, the muffler was hacked into the bottom of the car. It wasn't a clean fit.

Oh well, I can't wait to see the pictures.

Hacked? What do you mean by hacked?

I never posted pics before. The thing bolts right on to where the stock one bolts off and hangs from the same hangers in the same space, just much smaller and lighter than the OEM muffler.

ChrisK · 01-09-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papethova

Hacked? What do you mean by hacked?

I never posted pics before. The thing bolts right on to where the stock one bolts off and hangs from the same hangers in the same space, just much smaller and lighter than the OEM muffler.

Hacked is harsh. Sorry.

Does it look like this:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8162

Papethova · 01-09-2009, 03:01 PM

I want to say no, the tips dont extend that far from the muffler as I remember. I dont have that resonator either. Its a straight dual pipe from the downpipes to the muffler.

guardianangel3290 · 01-09-2009, 03:11 PM

if $1500 is the price of the full race exhaust i might be able to keep from breaking something, but if its the axelback. . .

Papethova · 01-09-2009, 04:35 PM

Here is the word from R&D....

p# 11763 rear section = +8 hp/ +11 torque (my actual numbers were 7/12)
p# 12655 race system which deletes cats & therefore not "street legal" =
+24 hp/ +20 torque (I dont have personal numbers on this) Honestly to me the cats are those things in the downpipes that have O2 sensors, but according to Borla it is a cat delete and not considered street legal. Potatoe potatow.

Also, here are the weight savings:
Borla p#11763 saves 15.5 lbs (Borla 14.5 lbs vs. 30 lbs OE)
Borla p#12655 saves 25.6 lbs (Borla 33.4 lbs vs. 59 lbs OE)

MadMan77 · 01-09-2009, 05:14 PM

$1,450 for an axle back is just ridiculous. I know that is "suggested retail" but I cannot wait for the day when parts for this car are actually in a reasonable price range.

Hell I paid $1,200 for a catted down-pipe and a resonated mid-pipe with axle back for my STi. It was from B&B and they are not exactly cheap either.

ronnyek · 01-09-2009, 06:34 PM

again not to hijack again, but why does german car exhaust generally look like arse... I mean I get the dual pipe, but they never seem to look as good as even the same manufacturers exhaust for a diff car. I am sorry there is no way in heck that exhaust is worth the kinda money they want for it. All it has is the name...

MastaMind · 01-10-2009, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardianangel3290

if $1500 is the price of the full race exhaust i might be able to keep from breaking something, but if its the axelback. . .

Get ready to Hulk smash some ish.

$1500 for an axle back is pretty steep, and I'm not sure where this would fit in the market, unless the street price will be several hundred lower.

01-08-2009, 11:43 PM	#113
Papethova Banned 225 Rep 3,094 Posts Drives: '08 135/ '11 1M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: at Death Valley 127 iTrader: (1)	OK I have both systems now. Have tried them on the car. The axle back I believe I have already commented on how it sounds previously in this thread. The racing system.... is just that much better. I installed it myself in under 30 mins. Anyone with an average familiarity of basic tools should be able to also. Fit and finish is top notch, I didnt expect anything less from Borla. The thing bolted right up using the stock bracket and hangers. There is a rattle and I think its touching the crossbar I will work out the clearance in that area this weekend. Its not a big deal, just two couplings and a twist of the center section. That should do it. The axleback system bolts directly to the resonator as a single pipe. The racing system is 3 sections. Two straight pipes that bolt to the downpipes, that couples with two more straight pipes, which ultimately couple with two pipes that are welded to the muffler. All in all deleting those secondary "cats" (I wouldnt call them cats since they dont have O2 sensors) and the resonator. The muffler looks the same as the one off the axle back which is about a 1/3 of the size of the stock muffler. I didnt weigh the system, but the stock pieces I removed were substantially heavier. My guess would be 20-30 pounds. I can weigh the stock components and post their weight, and I can post the weight of the axle back. The axle back takes the stock system and gives it a deeper throaty growl type sound. The full system ROARS. Its a different sound, you can hear the turbos. The thing sounds like a race car. IMO they are two distinctly different sounds. All my comments here are based on being the driver in the cabin, I haven't had a chance to follow the car yet. There is no drone IMO. In 6th gear cruising 70-90mph its almost as if the system is stock (again this is being in the cabin), get on it a lil and you can hear it. There is a "drone" at 60-70ish in 6th but if you downshift that takes care of that. Street driving you can hear it, again its nothing I would call loud, but its noticeable over stock and even the axleback. It seems to really bite at about 4k in 2nd gear with 30-50% throttle. After installation I did notice that traction control was assisting on my 1-2 shift, that had never happened before. Since that initial "test" I haven't been able to open her up so I can't really be sure if it was tire/road conditions or the exhaust itself. I am inclined to think it was the exhaust. Hopefully this weekend I can re-test that assumption and get some sound clips to post. Everyone who has heard it has been amazed and commented on how great it sounds. My father who is a huge believer of maintaining factory specs couldn't get the grin off his face and agreed it sounded like a race car. He was in a car behind me on the on ramp. I can't comment enough how impressed I am with both the fabrication and performance of the system. I really do believe the full set up is the way to go and it was definitely worth the wait. I've never really owned smaller engine cars so I didn't know what to expect, I just can't emphasize how satisfied I am. Ill try to answer as many questions as I can so start posting guys.
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01-09-2009, 09:22 AM	#114
dim135 Private 0 Rep 56 Posts Drives: bmw 135 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: greece iTrader: (1)	pics????
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01-09-2009, 01:22 PM	#116
OAKOS Automotive www.OAKOS.com 8 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2008 AW 135i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sterling Heights, MI iTrader: (0)	Look what just showed up on Borla's web site...... http://www.borla.com/products/produc...prod_sku=11763
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01-09-2009, 01:49 PM	#118
My135 Lieutenant Colonel 85 Rep 1,609 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	Even 7 rwhp is very good gain on cat back exhaust. Do you have any picture and price information? How does it compare to RR and CPE? Any one know? Thanks. __________________ 7/08 135 Coupe, Crimson Red, 6 SP, Sport, Taupe Lette/Aluminum. Performance Mods: JB4 on Map 5, BMS DP Fix V3, Injen polished intake, AR Catless DP, Maddad resonated mid-pipes, aFe exhaust polished tips, ST Suspension Coil Over and Hotchkis front sway bar. Others: BMS OCC, BT Scanner, Mud Flap. Next Mods: AA Front Strut Brace.
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01-09-2009, 01:53 PM	#119
Papethova Banned 225 Rep 3,094 Posts Drives: '08 135/ '11 1M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: at Death Valley 127 iTrader: (1)	Im going to confirm with R&D what system the gain was with. I cant compare to other systems because I haven't heard the other systems in person. Anyone in the Los Angeles area that wants to meet up to hear it PM me and we can make arrangements. I will get pics and sound clips hopefully this weekend.
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01-09-2009, 03:01 PM	#127
Papethova Banned 225 Rep 3,094 Posts Drives: '08 135/ '11 1M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: at Death Valley 127 iTrader: (1)	I want to say no, the tips dont extend that far from the muffler as I remember. I dont have that resonator either. Its a straight dual pipe from the downpipes to the muffler.
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01-09-2009, 03:11 PM	#128
guardianangel3290 Free at last 287 Rep 986 Posts Drives: 2006 Audi S-line Quattro Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico iTrader: (0)	if $1500 is the price of the full race exhaust i might be able to keep from breaking something, but if its the axelback. . . __________________ If the possibility exists that you may have "failed" in either a normal or "epic" fashion, please follow this link.
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01-09-2009, 04:35 PM	#129
Papethova Banned 225 Rep 3,094 Posts Drives: '08 135/ '11 1M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: at Death Valley 127 iTrader: (1)	Here is the word from R&D.... p# 11763 rear section = +8 hp/ +11 torque (my actual numbers were 7/12) p# 12655 race system which deletes cats & therefore not "street legal" = +24 hp/ +20 torque (I dont have personal numbers on this) Honestly to me the cats are those things in the downpipes that have O2 sensors, but according to Borla it is a cat delete and not considered street legal. Potatoe potatow. Also, here are the weight savings: Borla p#11763 saves 15.5 lbs (Borla 14.5 lbs vs. 30 lbs OE) Borla p#12655 saves 25.6 lbs (Borla 33.4 lbs vs. 59 lbs OE)
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01-09-2009, 05:14 PM	#130
MadMan77 ↓↓↓ Ex-Con ↓↓↓ 34 Rep 1,874 Posts Drives: Jet Black '08 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Yigo iTrader: (1)	$1,450 for an axle back is just ridiculous. I know that is "suggested retail" but I cannot wait for the day when parts for this car are actually in a reasonable price range. Hell I paid $1,200 for a catted down-pipe and a resonated mid-pipe with axle back for my STi. It was from B&B and they are not exactly cheap either. __________________
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01-09-2009, 06:34 PM	#131
ronnyek Captain 24 Rep 682 Posts Drives: 2010 Evo MR Touring Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: space iTrader: (1)	again not to hijack again, but why does german car exhaust generally look like arse... I mean I get the dual pipe, but they never seem to look as good as even the same manufacturers exhaust for a diff car. I am sorry there is no way in heck that exhaust is worth the kinda money they want for it. All it has is the name...
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