Berk or MadDad Mids?

[obiwun]

Hi All,
I live in Western Australia and I am after some exhaust advice, shipping to Aus can be a bit tricky and I am waiting to get a shipping quote from MadDad for a set of Midpipes. I can get hold of Berk Mids for $685 shipped with USPS priority mail international. A MadDad midpipe will cost $690 plus shipping ($?? could be $150-300+ I'm guessing). From what i have read it seems like the MadDad pipes are what I am looking for sound wise, I would like my car to be a bit louder and i like the more characterful and harder edged engine notes, it is a daily driver so i need to be a bit sensible (not too sensible though). Do you think I would be just as happy with the cheaper and easier to obtain Berk Mids?

At the moment the exhaust is standard and I might look at adding a rear section like the Evolve, Eisenmann, Dinan, Remus, Vorsteiner????????
Do you think I'm going about it the right way, should i install a rear section first and then add midpipes if i want even more fun?
Cheers
Toby

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by obiwun

Hi All,
I live in Western Australia and I am after some exhaust advice, shipping to Aus can be a bit tricky and I am waiting to get a shipping quote from MadDad for a set of Midpipes. I can get hold of Berk Mids for $685 shipped with USPS priority mail international. A MadDad midpipe will cost $690 plus shipping ($?? could be $150-300+ I'm guessing). From what i have read it seems like the MadDad pipes are what I am looking for sound wise, I would like my car to be a bit louder and i like the more characterful and harder edged engine notes, it is a daily driver so i need to be a bit sensible (not too sensible though). Do you think I would be just as happy with the cheaper and easier to obtain Berk Mids?

At the moment the exhaust is standard and I might look at adding a rear section like the Evolve, Eisenmann, Dinan, Remus, Vorsteiner????????
Do you think I'm going about it the right way, should i install a rear section first and then add midpipes if i want even more fun?
Cheers
Toby

For your information: Vorsteiner was not selling just the muffler, maybe it is changed in the meantime, that I don't know.

I could not get a reasonable shipping quote for the Maddads in the past to Chile which should be around the same distance/trouble vs. Australia for a shipping company. If you can and even if it will be a bit more expensive than Berk, from what you describe, you should better go with the Maddad.

Finally, Maddad with any rear section will be quite loud but you may like that too

You are doing absolutely in right order imo; first try just Maddads and then if you want more, search something which will fit with Maddad sound; or alternatively if it won't be enough, then sell Maddad to another 1M owner down under (should be easy) and go for a full exhaust.

[Artemis]

Apart from the Berk Technology and Maddad midpipes, there is also that third cat in the bag: the BMW N55 midpipe.

Don't rule that one out a priori. No shipping queries or transportation costs, because available at your BMW dealer for (normally) sub $400.

Soundwise it is the most "domesticated" animal of the three, that much is true, though with the right growl & roar if need be (especially when combined with a decent aftermarket axle back exhaust).

See:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...0&postcount=27 (N55 midpipe)
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=797160 (N55 midpipe DIY installation process)

[Dirk Van Driver]

N55 mids the sensible and easy option, my car feels to be quicker spooling after their fitment.

The other benefit is the well known drone which used to appear between 70-80mph (really annoying because it's a sensible cruising speed on UK motorways) has now been moved up the speed range between 12-14mph

As a result, the actually feels more refined, more of the time.

[robertm]

Berks rock. Won't regret them. Freer flowing than N55s too.

[4thM3]

I have Maddads with stock exhaust. The exhaust note is incredible (lots of compliments) and helped to reduce the turbo lag and drone

Berks probably flow as well as the Maddads but leaves the exhaust note and volume very close to stock so I have heard some say they are a little disappointed. My $.02 worth

[e82m_van]

I've been running with n55 with stock everything for about 5 months. And today, I switched to maddad mids. What an excellent upgrade. Should've went with maddads in the first place.

[MrRoboto]

So in general would you say its better to replace the mids and keep the stock muffler or replace the muffler and keep the stock mids?

[CarJunkie]

Between the two, the performance gain is in the mids.

[obiwun]

These are really helpful comments, thanks guys. Sounds like the N55 and Berks are a the closest to the N54 Mids soundwise but they do give you noticeable improvement in exhaust flow and drone reduction. I guess if i am spending $700-900 then i will get the most noticeable bang for my buck with the MadDad setup.

[CarJunkie]

Install, then test drive, then return and report.

[Smiley1175]

I have the berk mids on mine and there's no way it's quiet like stock.
On cold start up it rumbles the garage and then settles down.
I'm very happy with the sound and going thru tunnels sounds great.