The OFFICIAL Berk Technology Exhaust Buy Thread

[vividracing]

You can ONLY get it here from Vivid Racing as we have the exclusive on this awesome product.

The price is $599 shipped. Pre-Order. Available with Chrome Tips. ETA is 3-4 weeks. To Pre-Order please POST HERE and email me your name, address, phone number to dan@vividracing.com so I can save you in the system. They will be first come first server. We will charge once they are ready to ship.

View Sound Clips here - http://www.vividracing.com/blog/proj...-135i-exhaust/

Read Our Review on the Exhaust Below

The next stage in our Project 135I was to add an exhaust system to improve exhaust flow and give the car a more aggressive sound. Since the BMW system is broken down into 3 parts, we decided to start with the muffler portion. In order to keep the sound clean, we retained the factory midpipes and downpipes. We do have plans to change the downpipes with the Agency Power ones at a later date.

Having proven themselves in other tuner car markets, Berk Technology has been doing R&D and showcasing their own Project 135i quite heavily on the 1Addicts.com forums. So as one of their dealers, we reached out to them on this system to use on our promotional car. With only 1 other muffler in existance, Bryan of Berk Technology fired up the welder and produced number 2 exhaust for us at Vivid Racing.

The exhaust piece bolts directly on to the stock midpipes. The piping is kept at a 3inch diameter for optimum flow. He then splits the piping from the 3 inch to twin 2.5 inch piping which eliminates the stock muffler system and exits out the rear valance with beautiful chrome 3 inch slashed and rolled edge tips.

As you can see from the pictures, the stock exhaust is quite hefty. The new Berk system takes off about 25lbs from the rear end. As we all know, any weight savings is good! The exhaust tone is PERFECTION. No drone in the cabin, allows you to hear the turbo spool much more, and when you do put your foot into the throttle, the car comes alive. Even the wife liked it so much, we made a comment on Facebook about how she was "riding in the car with the windows down listening to the 135I's sound". In combination with our Riss Racing Intake & Plenum and the JB3 Piggy Back ECU, this car made a substantial difference.

As tested on our Mustang dyno, the Berk Technology muffler system made HUGE immediate gains. Because turbocharged cars do not need back pressure, this exhaust helped the turbos start spooling much faster. At 2500rpm to 3000rpm the exhaust picked up almost 50 wheel horsepower and 90ft/lbs of torque. This is purely related to back pressure and the stock exhaust systems flap for sound causing the restriction. Once the turbos are spooled up and we hit the mid range power band of around 3500rpm to 5000rpm the exhaust holds a steady 10HP gain while adding about 10ft/lbs of torque. The peak of the RPM band at 6600rpm really did not gain any power. This is related to the downpipes and midpipes. At this point the performance would greatly free up getting the car another 20 horsepower. The peak numbers ended up being 295rwhp and 334ft/lbs of torque. Torque is what gives us the initial rush and push back and we like torque!

Vivid Racing is a distributor for Berk Technology and can supply these exhaust to any interested party. Contact dan@vividracing.com for more info. Stay up to date on our Project 135I mods, pics, and videos here at www.vividracing.com/forums/project-135i

All pictures can be seen here of the installation - http://www.vividracing.com/forums/ga...ages.php?c=403

[Upgrade+]

If this were $499 shipped, I'd be all over it. Too bad, I was hoping that Berk would have stayed with a sub $500 price tag.

[BlackjackMulligan]

I think it looks great, but I'd be interested in a "drive by" video before plunking down cash..

[Johnnyr135]

I agree $499 and they would sell a ton. That would be 2 already

[wnta135]

I think $500 is way out of line for 5 foot of pipe, a couple hangers and a couple of tips.
They can sit on the shelf collecting dust.

[vividracing]

We have 5 orders already thanks guys. If you want cheap quality, I am sure there are other vendors on the board that sell product like that. $599 SHIPPED is not expensive.

[MrRoboto]

I dont get it. Why is this thing so expensive?

[vividracing]

There is probably $350 in material and labor costs. Cost of coating, polishing, boxing, etc. All business things you take into account. Then there is wholesale and retail mark up. The cost of doing business. If you want to make your own, go for it. We have ponied up and ordered 20 so Berk makes these. Yes 20 units, no internet shop dropshipping BS. No making you prepay for an item to be made.

[shawshank772]

Yeup, Ill pass. I was really looking forward to purchasing this, the sound was just what I was looking for. I have money to blow coming back from Iraq, however, the pictures just validate that its not worth 600 bucks. I hate to be negative in posts because this has always (mostly) been a postive message board. But come on 600 bucks! I do understand there are fixed costs of a business as well as the initial R&D costs but. As Peter Griffen would say "come on......come on......come on....."

In any case I wish the best of luck to you and the product and I am sure you will have a market for it. Happy Selling

[vividracing]

The pictures above were the second one made for my car specifically. They are just starting production units now.

[Johnnyr135]

Not to be a jerk I would like you guys to sell a ton and do well. But I just got back from the muffler shop next door to my girl friends apartment. I brought over a picture they are installing the same setup on Thursday in stainless steel so it is not coated I will give you that but it is installed for $150 plus tax. Come on guys I would have bought yours for $499 and I bet you will sell a bunch at $499 but I don't think you will sell one for your price it is just to high for the product.

[MrRoboto]

My advice to vivid it to make you own. For such a simple design you could fab these in no time with minimal cost, sell them for 300, and make yourself a few dollars.

You are struggling to sell a couple here. For 300 I am sure you would sell dozens.

[vividracing]

Thank you for your advice. You should tell Lamborghini the same thing.

[MrRoboto]

Come on man. Dont be a smart a$$. I am just echoing what others have said that this thing appears to be overpriced and if you cant see the opportunity in front of you to address the need for a similar product at a better price point then someone else will.

No harm no foul.

[vividracing]

Product is priced well, made well, performs well. We and Berk appreciate your input. Take the exhaust at $499 and add $40 in shipping, your complaining about $60.

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by vividracing

Product is priced well, made well, performs well. We and Berk appreciate your input. Take the exhaust at $499 and add $40 in shipping, your complaining about $60.

Great customer service.

[vividracing]

Customer service sir is not giving you a price because you want it. If you dont want it, or never intended on buying it, then dont worry and the community members will individually decide what they want to spend or not.

If you would like to get it for $499, but my Agency Power downpipes or a RISS Racing Intake as a package and I will gladly give a discount.

[135i racer]

When can we start ordering the exhaust?

[vividracing]

135I racer - thank you for your post. I will have a link on our site where you can preorder it shortly. Stay tuned.

BTW I will be at the Nurburgring, Stuttgart, then Frankfurt March 25-28 if you want to catch up.

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by vividracing

Customer service sir is not giving you a price because you want it. If you dont want it, or never intended on buying it, then dont worry and the community members will individually decide what they want to spend or not.

If you would like to get it for $499, but my Agency Power downpipes or a RISS Racing Intake as a package and I will gladly give a discount.

What I was referring to was you comment about adding $60 for a complaint charge. Not a prefessional way to treat a potential customer especially in this arena filled with potential customers.

The point is not that you wont give it to me for the price I want. (You lost my business a long time ago). The point sir is that this thing is not worth the price you have on it. End of story. I am not the only one who feels this way.

[vividracing]

I said you were complaining about $60, fact. I was not charging you anything or making any demeaning statements to you. I will gladly pass your dissapointment in the retail price of the product to the manufacturer, Berk Technology. If you feel the product is worth $499, then I am sure sometime down the road, it may hit that price after the initial orders run out. Kinda like buying a car...

For those that are looking for a differently price option, here are some links for you, or please search the commercial threads.

Borla Exhaust with Midpipes $1775 - http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/b...8-p-59477.html

Meisterschaft Muffler Only $1260 - http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/m...8-p-54327.html

Remus Dual Tip Muffler $685 - http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/r...8-p-59529.html

Riss Racing Catback Exhaust $1200 - http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/r...8-p-59478.html

[JiveTurkey]

Originally Posted by vividracing

135I racer - thank you for your post. I will have a link on our site where you can preorder it shortly. Stay tuned.

BTW I will be at the Nurburgring, Stuttgart, then Frankfurt March 25-28 if you want to catch up.

Will you ship to APO? If not, you better bring one with you to Germany. What day are you at Nurburgring? The 25th is open for driving the other days are for the Supermoto series. Check it out: http://www.nuerburgring.de/events.286.0.html