BERK Catback Exhaust System installs/reviews

BOLIO 671 · 11-09-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docaam

thanks man, what I am looking for is same loud as FI along stock but want to add HFCs or TPs, so with HFC as well it sounds like stock below 3k rpms? I am thinking between Berk and Invidia and then might go for ART pipes or Berk HFC

Absolutely correct...I have the Berk HFC/CBE combo and it sounds tame below 3k...has a nice purr below 3-3.5k...and doesn't roar until you get on it..the beauty of it is after 5k...it doesn't get crazy loud, and more so harmonizes with the motor...I have a sound clip on Pg 8 of this thread or u can find it in the last page of the Exhaust Review clip thread...did interior/exterior shots, cold start, windows up/down, cruising/WOT and drivebys.

The Invidia is the closes thing that comes to sounding like a Berk, but love my Berk, and being that its exclusive in comparison to other exhausts is a plus...I believe there is less than 50 world wide..would be interesting to hear the Berk with TP's...no vids presently exist on this combo...I've heard that TP's make aftermarket CBE's sound raspy

Dembflyr · 11-09-2010, 04:24 PM

Here is the launch. Please ignore the noisy CSC.

Rob@BerkTech · 11-09-2010, 04:53 PM

Just noticed my PM box was full, just emptied it out - so if you had tried to PM me, please send again. Sorry!

BOLIO 671 · 11-09-2010, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dembflyr

Here is the launch. Please ignore the noisy CSC.

Sweet addition to the vids Dembflyr...The crazy thing about this exhaust is that from the outside it sounds like a dam beast, but in cabin its not crazy at all...I've said it before and I'll say it again...Great Job Berk...you built a winner with this package!

Rob@BerkTech · 11-11-2010, 01:09 PM

Thanks for the vids!

Holliday · 11-30-2010, 01:44 PM

So, I ordered my Berk CBE back in January of this year and as of 28NOV10, I finally got my complete Berk CBE in my house in Germany. I will install sometime this winter and write my review. As for now, it looks flawless and I can say it was worth the wait

Holliday · 12-12-2010, 05:57 AM

Has anyone had any issues? Any updates for the thread? Thanks guys!

HATED1 · 12-12-2010, 03:49 PM

i have had mine for a few months now, no issues, seems to have settled in and still sounds just as good as the first day it was put on.

Holliday · 12-12-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HATED1

i have had mine for a few months now, no issues, seems to have settled in and still sounds just as good as the first day it was put on.

Thanks for the update! +1 rep

Dembflyr · 12-13-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holliday

Has anyone had any issues? Any updates for the thread? Thanks guys!

I've got nothing new. Still love the sound of the Berk CBE joined with the HFC's. Just waiting for spring. It's killing me to see her in the garage and know that it'll be a few months before I can drive her again.
I've been drowning my sorrows in the "parts for sale" section. I picked up some used spacers and nismo springs and struts.
I wonder what I'll buy next month? Maybe some Eibach sways.

Holliday · 12-13-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dembflyr

I've got nothing new. Still love the sound of the Berk CBE joined with the HFC's. Just waiting for spring. It's killing me to see her in the garage and know that it'll be a few months before I can drive her again.
I've been drowning my sorrows in the "parts for sale" section. I picked up some used spacers and nismo springs and struts.
I wonder what I'll buy next month? Maybe some Eibach sways.

I have been browsing the classifieds myself

Glad to hear you are still happy with your exhaust! +1 rep for the review

Dembflyr · 12-13-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holliday

I have been browsing the classifieds myself

Glad to hear you are still happy with your exhaust! +1 rep for the review

Thanks.

Hey, where Bolio? Oh that's right. He doesn't have to put his car away for the winter. He must be out puttin miles on his Z.

Holliday · 12-13-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dembflyr

Thanks.

Hey, where Bolio? Oh that's right. He doesn't have to put his car away for the winter. He must be out puttin miles on his Z.

That lucky mo fo!

Holliday · 12-16-2010, 11:51 AM

Finally installed my exhaust! updates are at the beginning of this thread. Thanks and happy viewing

JB1 · 12-16-2010, 02:10 PM

I have the Berk exhaust on my car since March this year, so I figured it might be time to contribute this review thread.

First off, it looks like I’m the odd one out here. As instead of adding HFC’s to my CBE, I got rid of them to go back to stock cats.

This what I had: first the Berk HFC's alone, then added the Berk Cat Back Exhaust and now I'm down to just the Berk CBE.

Sound
1. Just HFC: Louder and "rawer" sound then stock, but there also was the rasp and hiss noises. This made it sound a bit "ricy" to me.

2. HFC + CBE: Great sound, sounded like a real race car. Deep, raw and racy (NOT Ricy). But very LOUD, too loud for me. It really attracted attention when you stepped on it, as I found out the hard way, got a ticket for loud exhaust. There was no drone but when accelerating hard the interior panels in the back started vibrating/rattling with the sound, that's how loud it was. Also, there rasp and hiss were still there but not as obvious as with just HFC’s. So with this set up being too loud for my taste and still having the rasp/hiss made me decide to go back to stock cats.

3. Just Berk CBE: Perfect, just right for me, nice deep sound, sounds like a real sports car but no longer an all out race car. No drone and you only really hear it when you step on it. Nice and quiet while highway cruising 50 to 80 mph.

If there was a system where I can switch between HFC + CBE and CBE only, I would get it. HFC + CBE for track work and spirited driving, the CBE only for daily driving and long road trips. Unfortunately that doesn't exist, but I am very happy with the just the Berk CBE.

My car with BCE and HFC can be seen and heard here: Comparison Vid: Stock, Stillen, and Berk :)

Delivery, Install and Fitment
I had some issues with the delivery of the system but that has been discussed before and Berk took care of that, so props to them for the customer service.

Install
Because the weather was still crappy in March and because I didn’t feel like crawling around on a cold garage floor, I had a local shop install the exhaust. There are some pics of the install below (pics by Adalsky, thanks dude!).

Fitment
I believe the issues have been solved with the newer systems, but mine did not fit perfectly. The left hand exhaust tip sat slightly lower then the right hand one. The mechanic at the shop tried his best to align the tips, but he could not get it right without messing around with hangers and adding spacers. So I told him to let it be for now.

However, it kept bugging me that the alignment wasn’t perfect, so when I read Dembflyer’s post (BERK Catback Exhaust System installs/reviews) this summer, I decided to do something about it. And sure enough, when I took a closer look I noticed I had the exact same issues as Dembflyer had with his exhaust: the hanger on the left side mid pipe did not line up with the bracket, even worse; the hanger wasn’t even in the rubber mount any more! I modified the bracket, so I could move it closer to the exhaust hanger by about half an inch. The hanger didn’t come out of the rubber mount since then. (even after a full track day…) I also added a couple of spacers under the right hand muffler bracket to move the right hand tip down a bit, now the tips are even again.

To conclude I can say I’m very happy with the exhaust. The sound is perfect; this is what the car should have sounded like from the factory. I still get compliments on how good it sounds, even from my neighbors. It also looks good, nice stock like but with a little added bling from the stainless muffler peeking out underneath the bumper. Fitment issues are solved now. Yes, these could have been solved by Berk in the first place, but every new product that comes out will have some issues, so I’m not too worried about it. Besides these issues, the quality of the system is good. Nice welds and all flanges line up perfectly.

Pics:

11-09-2010, 04:24 PM	#167 (permalink)
Dembflyr Track Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 886 Drives: G37S Sedan Rep Power: 16	Here is the launch. Please ignore the noisy CSC. __________________ 2012 G37S Sedan 6MT - Project Practicality 2009-6MT-Sport/Touring-Dembflyr's Journal-TT Build Thread-CAR IS SOLD

11-30-2010, 01:44 PM	#171 (permalink)
Holliday Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cache, OK Age: 38 Posts: 916 Drives: in the fast lane.... Rep Power: 16	Finally! So, I ordered my Berk CBE back in January of this year and as of 28NOV10, I finally got my complete Berk CBE in my house in Germany. I will install sometime this winter and write my review. As for now, it looks flawless and I can say it was worth the wait __________________

12-12-2010, 05:57 AM	#172 (permalink)
Holliday Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cache, OK Age: 38 Posts: 916 Drives: in the fast lane.... Rep Power: 16	Has anyone had any issues? Any updates for the thread? Thanks guys! __________________

12-12-2010, 03:49 PM	#173 (permalink)
HATED1 Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: WA Posts: 504 Drives: 2010-370z-Red-6 SPD Rep Power: 17	i have had mine for a few months now, no issues, seems to have settled in and still sounds just as good as the first day it was put on. __________________ If i can't be loved I might as well be hated...

12-16-2010, 11:51 AM	#179 (permalink)
Holliday Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cache, OK Age: 38 Posts: 916 Drives: in the fast lane.... Rep Power: 16	Finally installed my exhaust! updates are at the beginning of this thread. Thanks and happy viewing __________________

11-09-2010, 04:53 PM	#168 (permalink)
Rob@BerkTech Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 63 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 14	Just noticed my PM box was full, just emptied it out - so if you had tried to PM me, please send again. Sorry!

11-11-2010, 01:09 PM	#170 (permalink)
Rob@BerkTech Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 63 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 14	Thanks for the vids!

12-16-2010, 02:10 PM	#180 (permalink)
JB1 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 748 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z sold Rep Power: 17	I have the Berk exhaust on my car since March this year, so I figured it might be time to contribute this review thread. First off, it looks like I’m the odd one out here. As instead of adding HFC’s to my CBE, I got rid of them to go back to stock cats. This what I had: first the Berk HFC's alone, then added the Berk Cat Back Exhaust and now I'm down to just the Berk CBE. Sound 1. Just HFC: Louder and "rawer" sound then stock, but there also was the rasp and hiss noises. This made it sound a bit "ricy" to me. 2. HFC + CBE: Great sound, sounded like a real race car. Deep, raw and racy (NOT Ricy). But very LOUD, too loud for me. It really attracted attention when you stepped on it, as I found out the hard way, got a ticket for loud exhaust. There was no drone but when accelerating hard the interior panels in the back started vibrating/rattling with the sound, that's how loud it was. Also, there rasp and hiss were still there but not as obvious as with just HFC’s. So with this set up being too loud for my taste and still having the rasp/hiss made me decide to go back to stock cats. 3. Just Berk CBE: Perfect, just right for me, nice deep sound, sounds like a real sports car but no longer an all out race car. No drone and you only really hear it when you step on it. Nice and quiet while highway cruising 50 to 80 mph. If there was a system where I can switch between HFC + CBE and CBE only, I would get it. HFC + CBE for track work and spirited driving, the CBE only for daily driving and long road trips. Unfortunately that doesn't exist, but I am very happy with the just the Berk CBE. My car with BCE and HFC can be seen and heard here: Comparison Vid: Stock, Stillen, and Berk :) Delivery, Install and Fitment I had some issues with the delivery of the system but that has been discussed before and Berk took care of that, so props to them for the customer service. Install Because the weather was still crappy in March and because I didn’t feel like crawling around on a cold garage floor, I had a local shop install the exhaust. There are some pics of the install below (pics by Adalsky, thanks dude!). Fitment I believe the issues have been solved with the newer systems, but mine did not fit perfectly. The left hand exhaust tip sat slightly lower then the right hand one. The mechanic at the shop tried his best to align the tips, but he could not get it right without messing around with hangers and adding spacers. So I told him to let it be for now. However, it kept bugging me that the alignment wasn’t perfect, so when I read Dembflyer’s post (BERK Catback Exhaust System installs/reviews) this summer, I decided to do something about it. And sure enough, when I took a closer look I noticed I had the exact same issues as Dembflyer had with his exhaust: the hanger on the left side mid pipe did not line up with the bracket, even worse; the hanger wasn’t even in the rubber mount any more! I modified the bracket, so I could move it closer to the exhaust hanger by about half an inch. The hanger didn’t come out of the rubber mount since then. (even after a full track day…) I also added a couple of spacers under the right hand muffler bracket to move the right hand tip down a bit, now the tips are even again. To conclude I can say I’m very happy with the exhaust. The sound is perfect; this is what the car should have sounded like from the factory. I still get compliments on how good it sounds, even from my neighbors. It also looks good, nice stock like but with a little added bling from the stainless muffler peeking out underneath the bumper. Fitment issues are solved now. Yes, these could have been solved by Berk in the first place, but every new product that comes out will have some issues, so I’m not too worried about it. Besides these issues, the quality of the system is good. Nice welds and all flanges line up perfectly. Pics: __________________ Black Fangs // Black rear Valance // Berk CBE // COBB post MAF tubes // K&N drop in filters // Setrab Oil Cooler // Stillen Sway bars // Z1 SS brake lines // Stillen brake cooling kit // Harness bar //

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