Berk CBE VS FI CBE
 

I am thinking between these two brands. I know that FI is well known for customer service, product and all. I just don't have any patient to wait for it. The Berk is on sale for $995. Would FI worth the wait or should I go for Berk? I need some advice FI and Berk owners!

You're worried about the F.I. wait, and you're still thinking about choosing Berk? :icon18:

Berk has people waiting several months currently, and possibly even longer, to get their exhausts. They don't even have a proper ETA when it's being produced, let alone shipped or delivered. Berk is absolutely silent about the whole ordeal, unless they've come out recently and tried to fix the situation.

F.I. has a wait, but nowhere near several months and Tony comes out every week and updates which exhausts are being produced, shipped, and even installed in most cases.

All that being said, Berk and F.I. both produce incredibly sexy sounds. We had a dyno day at Z1 this weekend, and both companies were represented. I had the Berk and NewlyImported had the F.I.. Both sounded amazing, not gonna lie, and there was little difference at 7k RPMs.

Styling is completely different. F.I. has a unmistakenly tuner look, while Berk looks more stock than stock, haha.

If you can't bear to wait, F.I. and Berk may both be bad choices. Stillen, HKS, Invidia, etc. all may be better options.

If you can stand the wait, personally, I think Berk is the best CBE out there. Of course, customer service is dreadful currently.

Fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi

Is that the noise an oscillating fan makes? :happydance:

Yeah dude, save yourself the headache and stay away from Berk. They've disappeared from the forums and people with outstanding orders have no idea when they are supposed to receive their exhausts.

I was thinking about ordering the Berk system back in April. I was after a more stock looking system. Also the video on you tube of the Berk system sounds great!

However fitment issues, postal issues and a lack of communication reported by other forum members turned me right off. Don't mean to Berk bash, just calling it as reported by all.

There is a reason why everyone picks F.I ( including myself #167).

I'm sure others will post about the premium customer service and the excellent product F.I is known for.

Stillen...


:)

thank you gentlemen! I really appreciate all your advice! I'm just gonna wait for Tony. I guess it's worth waiting. Drive safe guys!

In Berk's defense (why am I still defending them????):

Fitment issues: 1 member got shipped 2 of the same side midpipes and another member had some bent hangers. That's it for fitment issues. A couple people reported misaligned tips, but that can be caused by many things including issues during installation and is easily fixed.

Postal issues: The first couple units that went out were shipped in a manner that can only be repeated by a blindfolded 5 year old with no hands. After that, shipping was well done and seamless.


Once they get their production issues fixed (and communication issues), Berk will still be one of the best sounding exhausts out there while retaining the stock look that so many people pursue.

Another A vs B. Aren't there several threads like this? I'm not trying to be a negasaurus here...just sayin.

Bottom line.....as far as numbers go, BERK and F.I. (or even STILLEN) produce roughly the same performance gains. It's all personal preference from there (i.e. sound, aesthetics, customer service, and one's 'willingness to wait' threshold).

Have at it...

Though I think the Berks are slightly heavier than stock.

No the noise my HFCs make coming out my FI CBE. lol.

Stillen is heavier than stock

I am one of those waiting for the Berk CBE. I placed my order in mid April and was told 40 days.

With little to no communication from Berk, the only way to get info was to call and bother them then post on here to let others know what you had been told. Several of us have been communicating on here through PM and post's. We have found out that the production problems have been corrected and we should start to see some systems being shipped out. One member has been told that all in the second group buy should have their systems shipped by the end of July. We will see.

With all of that said, the reason that I am being patient is because the Berk CBE has exactly the sound and look that I want. I also have to respect that once they realized there was an issue they stopped production right away. But even getting this information was like pulling teeth.

It boggles the mind as to why Berk would ruin its reputation with 370z owners by not even trying to fix their customer service issues. Actually their customer service is nonexistent.

I have no doubt that I will be happy with my purchase. However, as I have said before, I will not be purchasing any future products from Berk.

:iagree:

Firstly I 100% agree with you regarding sound. Berk CBE + HFC's sounds amazing!

However I think anyone thinking Berk CBE should wait to see how the next lot of orders turn out.

All I know is Fi customer service is amazing and I have mine on order, cant wait till September!!

Both Stillen and Berk are heavier than stock...

It seems that you've made up your mind already..but it all comes down to what you want...

If you want something quick, then I will tell you that FI and Berk aren't for you..You're better off going off with another brand...If you're willing to wait for a customed exhaust then you would have to ask yourself how long you're willing to wait...If time is an issue for you, then you are better going with FI...If Customer Service is important to you, then you are better going off with FI...Their looks and sound is nice and I like it compared to others out there, their great communication and customer service adds the icing on the cake...

I however could not forget about the stock/sleeper look and sound of the Berks..Therefore I went for Berks...I ordered since early March this year and had my order pushed back several times...There are others that ordered since January of this year that are in the same boat as me...New word is that we're going to be getting them this month...As far as the exhaust goes, Berk's did it for me as far as sound and performance...but this is a personal preference....Their customer service is bad and their communication with their customers is even worse...They have totally cut themselves from the forum so I really don't know what's going on with Berks...I've accepted these facts and just can't wait to get my exhaust...Especially after hearing one in person...I've also heard the FI in person...and both are just as good...Berks just had a better tone that suited my preference, but not by much....Matt posted a good point, if they improved ont their customer service and communication then they would be up there...

The Boombop Shop Exhaust is pretty nice. Matt is right, the Berk sounds great. However, customer service is non-existent. As far as FI goes, Viera got an increase of 13 hp with just the CBE. Below is the exhaust I decided to go with. Production should begin in 2-4 weeks. That's what I've been told. They are much more responsive then Berk. I'm still waiting to hear back from Berk from when I was interested in their CBE.


http://www.the370z.com/members/z1804...e17885-cbe.jpg



I'm supposed to receive mine in a couple of weeks. We'll see.......

If you want to keep a low profile go with the CF mufflers from FI. You wont see the big shiny canisters from behind the car. Just the real nice tips on the exhaust. You cant go wrong with the Customer service tony provides along with the quality and sound of the exhaust.

I'm wondering why the warranty on F.I.'s Carbon Fiber mufflers is only 1 year vs the 3 year warranty for the Stainless Mufflers. Are the Carbon Fiber's expected to not last as long? I like the look of them but stuff like that on the website makes me question why they specify the difference. I'm sure the piping would be fine for the life of the car, just the mufflers I wonder. Anyone have input on the warranty difference (not bashing, just curious)?

I just ordered the Berk CBE and high flow cats through Fail Safe Performance last week. I was told the exhaust was a 3 - 4 week wait but I can honestly say if my order goes beyond that I will cancel it. Even at $995, the great price won't justify garbage customer service but I remain optimistic and willing to give Berk a chance.

I waited a little over 2 months for a FI CBE for my G sedan. I do not regret it. Not one bit.

Its not that the CF wont last as long, It should last the life of the vehicle if you clean it and take care of it. Its just more sensitive than the SS thats all.

:rofl2:

Daishi, do you have a sound clip of your exhaust setup? Would love to hear the FI carbon fiber exhaust with the longtubes!

+1!!! LoL :iagree: :tup: