Considering Berk hfc and cbe
 

So I just got my Z and found the exhaust note much milder than a 350z. I want to keep a stock look and drone free. From what I've researched, the Berk seems to have good gains while not being too loud (both sound and visual).

Now my questions-
Some say the tip sticks out a little further than stock. Does anybody have measurements on the difference?

I want a hfc as well, but was really deciding between Berk hfc vs resonated hfc. Anybody have comment on this?

The only other mod I have on the car is the stillen g3 intake.

There is a used berk over in the for sale forums, its the first version which has the oval tips which looks the closest to OEM as you will get. IMO the berk is the mildest CBE for the Z and is the perfect daily driver exhaust. I do not recall the tips sticking out when I had one, but I did not use gaskets, I use RTV, so I saved the collective width of the gaskets the whole way back Im sure that it worth at least a 1/4 inch.

The Berk HFC completely changes the sound of their CBE. It makes a very exotic and unique sound. In my opinion the resonated HFCs sound a bit tame.

I can't say much about the tips sticking out. My Berk CBE is the generation (2nd gen? I dunno) that came with adjustable oval tips. Maybe you can ask Berk if they have more of the adjustable ones so you can make the tips on your new exhaust sit more flush with the bumper?

Edit: There are Berk fitment pics in my user gallery

Thanks! From what I read, it was mainly the first few batches of the version 2 with adjustable tips that had the problem.

A local guys has Brrk CBE and HFC. It sounds clean. More aggressive than stock, not too loud. It's a great sounding combo.

I have the cat back very nice not loud at all, even when you get on it. I do have a set of resonated test pipes that still need to go on. My plan is to keep her very mild.

Sound clip of the exhaust note
 

This is a sound clip of the exhaust note for my 370Z after installing Berk HFCs & CBE. The clip starts off with a cold start then some revs followed by a take-off and slow drive-by.

Sound clip of the exhaust note

Love it! Sounds so sick.

Does the fumes smell any worst compared to stock? (HFC)

Not really. Test pipes smell like death and cancer

My HFC doesn't smell, but i was driving behind a gen 4 F body with test pipes and that gave everyone in our vehicle headaches and nausea. We were in a different car with the windows up. Came through the vents.

Installed the Berk cbe today. Is it common for the tips to stick out about a single finger width? I've seen most pictures are flush with the bumper keeping the stock look.

Took some pictures of the tips.

http://i.imgur.com/afwH6cS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cIyTCr8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WcZ2Udp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rxzJZkX.jpg

I found a shop that could push the tips back in for $85...still trying to see if it grows on me.

Doesn't look bad to me. I've adjusted my tips to sit flush with the bumper, but only because the tips are adjustable on my older Berk cbe.

As a fellow Berk HFC and CBE owner I can say that's the same for me. My tips stick out just like yours. I don't have the 1st Gen oval tips either. I wish I saw this thread sooner cuz I would've let you test drive my Z so you can get a personal experience of Berk HFC/CBE combo. The sound is amazing with the deep tones at early gears.

My question to you is are you sitting on springs or coils? Im on swift springs and my CBE is sitting 2" from the ground. It's a shame since I want to move onto coils soon but I'll have to switch out my Berk CBE for F.I. or something with more ground clearance. I've already scraped the hell out of my CBE going 35-40mph over small dips. It sucks =(

If you're on springs or coils, see if you can get a reading of how much ground clearance you have from your CBE please.

So you're saying that the Berk has less clearance than the FI? I would have thought since the Berk tucks under like stock it would have more. :confused: :confused:

I was under the impression that F.I. has the less clearance out of all brands lol. I'll see if I get snap a pic of how much clearance I have and post it tomorrow after work.

not true. the gen2 has great clearance. I sit 2" lower and have not once hit my exhaust on anything.... front bumper and side shirts a different story:roflpuke2:

U can see how high FI actually sits
 

.......before I start the car, as im setting the camera, u can see there is lots of space below the cans

Yeah looks like BERK sits way lower. I have pics just being lazy posting them. Will be up soon enough. The sound clip is amazing though props to you. Running any headers?

Stock headers. I think that would be a touch too loud for streets with my set up:icon17:

Alright got some pics. This is on swift springs only. If I go coils I think these pipes wont last with Houston roads. If you look closely you can see I already scraped a good amount off, at least a 2" flat span on the lowest part of the CBE going 35-40mph over small dips in a 50mph area. Bleh.

Sorry haven't checked back into this thread in a while. I'm sitting on Swift springs as well and have yet to hit the exhaust pipes on a speed bump. I'll take a look under my car tomorrow and see if it sits as low as yours.

I was also considering the FI cbe with 18" resonator since i still want a flush tip and also since I'm getting the shine rear spats it would compliment it nicely. There is a thread in the Texas section where a few of us might get together to listen to each others exhausts.

Wow that's really low. If your pipes are that low?, how low are the muffler?

Equalme: a comparison of yours and mine would be nice. I was wondering if it was just me that has this issue. As for the rear spats I was thinking the same thing lol. Look for Wiggins Z here on the forum, he has an album up of his Z. My favorite so far.


Luciano: The mufflers are fine, they return to stock clearance, it's just this rear axle section that is low. So yeah looks like I'll be saving up for Gen 2 F.I. CBE's before moving onto coils.

Mine definitely isn't that low. It actually sits uncomfortably close to that cross member above the exhaust. I wonder if they screwed yours up?

Think I'll make a trip to my body shop (not the one that installed it) and have them take a look at it this weekend. Thanks for your input Mandingo.