From MBRP to Borla

[87and66]

I know there have been plenty of threads on these 2 exhausts, but I wanted to give my perspective as someone who has owned both (and some others). Maybe I can help those who are cross-shopping, or someone like me, who owns one and is considering switching to the other.

I've had the following setups:
1. stock - 9 months
2. muffler delete - 2 days
3. MBRP (with and without tips) - over 2 years
4. MBRP w/ downpipes (with and without tips) - 3 days
5. Borla - current

Here's how the MBRP and Borla compare:

sound level: I'd say the borla is 50% louder than the MBRP. The MBRP with downpipes was louder than the borla.

sound quality/tone: They both sound pretty good for a TTV6, but they are different sounds.
-The MBRP is like a "hum" at low to mid RPM and then screams at high RPM. You get a few subtle burbles every time you let off the throttle. Also get burbles while coasting at certain RPM.
-The Borla is much deeper and is more of a growl at low to mid, and sounds very similar to the MBRP scream at high RPM, but louder. You get the same burbles as the MBRP, but much louder, especially while coasting. In my opinion, the Borla sounds better.

Need for Tips:
-The MBRP, in my opinion is much better without tips. When I tried it with tips, I couldn't hear the exhaust in the car. It sounded stock. It was actually taking away from the experience of having an aftermarket exhaust. I promptly removed them.
-Borla: I've seen so many people say you NEED tips with the Borla... I flat out disagree. In my experience, there is no drone, no vibration in the car, and it's not anywhere near being too loud inside the car.

Compatibility with downpipes: Here is a big drawback of the MBRP. If you combine it with downpipes (I had SSR downpipes, but I believe this applies to all), at certain RPMs, it has an awful loud tinny buzzing sound that absolutely ruins the sound of the car. I've seen quite a few other people say this and I found it to be true. Tips did not help. When it wasn't doing that, it sounded exotic. But because of that major flaw, I ditched that setup after a few days. I haven't tried the Borla with downpipes and I have no plans to, so I can't comment on that.

Overall, I like the Borla more, but it all depends on what level of sound you're looking for

 

[SIMONGUEY]

getting myself a borla fs. i want it mean and i want it loud!

 

[DekCan]

Which tips did you have with the MBRP? I'm getting downpipes install soon and worried about the droning.

 

[AtomicGTL]

Happy with the MBRP without the tips.

Borla seems too loud for my taste. MBRP is a good median for me.

 

[Boogetsbizzy]

I definitely hear my mbrp exhaust with downpipes and tips. I wouldn’t want what I’m hearing to be any louder to be honest.

 

[Snowwhite]

the MBRP with tips removes that booming sound around 2k rpms. you still hear the brattier sound of the exhaust, just not the headache-inducing part of it. My MBRP with tips is notably louder in the car than stock was.

 

[ChaneRZ]

Great comparison. For me, Borla is just too loud.

 

[87and66]

Which tips did you have with the MBRP? I'm getting downpipes install soon and worried about the droning.

I had a set of clamp on tips from aliexpress. I actually have a set of tips for the MBRP that I was going to post on the classifieds. If you're interested, shoot me a PM!

 

[87and66]

Borla seems too loud for my taste. MBRP is a good median for me.

Great comparison. For me, Borla is just too loud.

Yeah the Borla isn't for everyone. The MBRP is a good volume level for every day driving. I had it for over 2 years and no complaints. Eventually just wanted more volume.

I definitely hear my mbrp exhaust with downpipes and tips. I wouldn’t want what I’m hearing to be any louder to be honest.

Do you every get any buzzing? seems like a 50/50 issue. Some get it, some don't. I unfortunately did.

the MBRP with tips removes that booming sound around 2k rpms. you still hear the brattier sound of the exhaust, just not the headache-inducing part of it. My MBRP with tips is notably louder in the car than stock was.

I know exactly what sound you're describing. It's definitely there with any aftermarket exhaust, but not enough to bother me personally. After trying a muffler delete, nothing phases me . THAT was headache inducing. Truly.

 

[Maljey]

Thanks so much for this thread. I am patiently awaiting MBRP and Borla to release exhausts compatible with 2022 Stingers.

From recent reports it sounds like MBRP's exhaust will come to market sooner, but I may end up holding out for Borla because I do want a louder sound.

Whenever I get the exhaust I'm going to skip the extra cost of the tips. Will see if I get annoyed by any drone. I dunno why MBRP/Borla/etc don't make their exhaust pipes long enough, so that they fit inside the stock tips? I guess they don't want to do that, so they can charge you for aftermarket tips, lol.

 

[87and66]

Thanks so much for this thread. I am patiently awaiting MBRP and Borla to release exhausts compatible with 2022 Stingers.

From recent reports it sounds like MBRP's exhaust will come to market sooner, but I may end up holding out for Borla because I do want a louder sound.

Whenever I get the exhaust I'm going to skip the extra cost of the tips. Will see if I get annoyed by any drone. I dunno why MBRP/Borla/etc don't make their exhaust pipes long enough, so that they fit inside the stock tips? I guess they don't want to do that, so they can charge you for aftermarket tips, lol.

Glad I could help! I think I have my Borla (and MBRP when I had it) adjusted in a way that the outlets are slightly inside the stock tips. So that may be helping to decrease drone that others have experienced. Also made sure no part of the exhaust is touching the car, therefore not transferring any vibration/resonance into the car through physical contact.

 

[DekCan]

I had a set of clamp on tips from aliexpress. I actually have a set of tips for the MBRP that I was going to post on the classifieds. If you're interested, shoot me a PM!

PM sent

 

[Boogetsbizzy]

Yeah the Borla isn't for everyone. The MBRP is a good volume level for every day driving. I had it for over 2 years and no complaints. Eventually just wanted more volume.


Do you every get any buzzing? seems like a 50/50 issue. Some get it, some don't. I unfortunately did.


I know exactly what sound you're describing. It's definitely there with any aftermarket exhaust, but not enough to bother me personally. After trying a muffler delete, nothing phases me . THAT was headache inducing. Truly.

I did get the buzzing sound, then I told my mechanic to tighten everything up and now it’s basically got. The only buzzing I hear is for a few seconds in the cold weather then it’s gone but overall tightening up the exhaust after some miles dramatically helped for me.

 

[rpoffen]

I did get the buzzing sound, then I told my mechanic to tighten everything up and now it’s basically got. The only buzzing I hear is for a few seconds in the cold weather then it’s gone but overall tightening up the exhaust after some miles dramatically helped for me.

When I put the MBRP on, before I took the car off the jackstands, I started it and crawled back underneath to check for leaks. Good thing, I thought I had tightened up the clamps pretty good, but I heard a leak. The moral of the story here is if you think you have them tight enough, think again, especially the top ones that connect to the downpipe that are hard to get too. I tightened them up a bunch more, and the leak I heard went away.

 

[Plakchup]

Funny I came across this as I went through a very similar experience as you but with the active versions of both with ark dp and exhaust tips.

The mbrp pro active with that booming tinning buzzing sound in kinda mid to high rpm range was giving me a damn headache. As you said, it just ruins the experience. I hear that far more than the damn exhaust. I have the borla active and i totally loved it. Just wanted to try something different but unfortunately am left disappointed. The mbrp sounds pretty damn nice when that booming/tinning sound is not there.

One thing that is pretty noticable to me is how much better borla is with the ark dp. I have none of that drone/tinning/booming sound in any rpms even on freeway. With valves closed the borla is more quiet. With valves open the borla is waaaayyy more noticable and you can hear it much more outside of the car. I think it has to do with how much bigger the mufflers are on the borla compared to the tiny ones on the mbrp. Also the borla just regular idling and driving with valves closed is definitely quieter from inside. Like that was really noticable to me immediately.

So yeah I am putting back the borla active back on with exhaust tips. Absolutely the perfect setup for tone, super minimal drone and much nicer low/mid rpm sounds. I will give it to the mbrp for that wot high rpm tone. It sounds really nice there but I am not gunning my car every minute. I think the borla active with ark dp is pure perfection to me.