Hey guys,

I've been doing some research on the Berk Metallic HFC for the 08/HR 350z, and thought that it would be good to get a thread started to get the more current/updated pros and cons of the HFC. I tried to find a thread where all of the pros and cons are centralized in one thread so that it would help with my purchasing decision, but found none. Hope this will provide the info that I (and other my350z members looking into getting the Berk HFC) need.

I'll start the list... feel free to add/remove items from the list. (with a good reason/argument of course).

Also please state your setup. Thanks!

PROS:
- OBDII & 49 state compliant
- High quality stainless steel part
- No CEL (Check Engine Light)
- No smell
- No rattle
- +10 hp
- Passes emissions test
- Good customer service from Berk Technology (Bryan) and Kyle (Import Parts Pro)
- Good price (Got it from Kyle at Import Parts Pro [IPP]. Thanks Chef-J! for the recommendation)
- Increases dB (loudness) and adds aggressive tone to exhaust sound
- Good fitment = Quality part (Only the brackets need to be adjusted slightly - almost perfect fitment... 90% there)
- Allows better airflow
- Fast shipment, good product availability

CONS:
- Hissing sound from exhaust
- CEL after 6 months (or after 4K-5K miles)
- Cracking issues (maybe true for the older Berk HFCs, but what about now?)
- Ceramic core/substrate (catalyst) burns out, melts, and/or gets dislodged after 13 months
- Smell/fumes

 

well i don't have a HR, but im totally happy with my berks so far, no cracking, no CEL, no problems knock on wood....they have changed up the bracket and is supposed to prevent from cracking, and have the defoulers built in, i have absolutely no hiss or rasp on my car and it is vortech charged, clean sounding as can be matched with the nismo cat back...good luck im sure ull get some feedback from the HR guys

 

it passes emission?!?! Sweeeeet!

 

why wouldn't it...i don't know about the test pipes, but the high flow cats are good to go

 

You forgot about the their price. Can't beat that.
Berks are really good company but they took so long time to ship mine out so i ended up cancel the order it.

chefj

 

^^^yeah same here

they took a tiny bit longer to ship mine out

so they gave me a bit of a deal. so overall, berks are A+ for me

 

look in for sale section !!!


berk is the best !

 

guess i got lucky receiving mine 3 days after the order...it was right before u ordered chef..

 

No, i was not being sarcastic.... I really thought they would not pass emissions

 

Yea, i ended up order UR HFC. I just checked today morning at IP. Looks good

chefj

 

good to go

 

The downside is that high flow catalytic converters are just like OEM catalytic converters only pretty.

Don't be a wimp. Get some test pipes.

 

Some dyno's for you guys. BERK HFC's vs stock cats. Worst case scenario you're making a solid 10hp+ to the wheel over stock. Best case scenario, the guys with the 370Z's are making close to 20hp to the wheel. With just one bolt on mod of Berk HFC's......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF2JXqzVcfM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic7VsRv8vug

 

Wow...just wow........ No comment

 

agreed

 

I got mine put on about 2 weeks ago and love them. Theyre used but still good of course. I get a slight hissing and slight hesatation as others have reported when stomping on the gas in a high gear. I have an auto but say im in 5th in manual mode or 4th and stomp on it.. it will raise the rpm but for split second they drop. The sound level definetly went up and the exhaust got much bassier in the low rmp. Theres slight rasp around 3-4k somewhere and sometimes during shifts but they are great and no CEL. Only thing that was a pain was finding a place that could put them on.

 

im in ny and would have done them for u...how much u pay to have someone install if u don't mind...i put mine on in about hour and half, took longer to get the stockers out than anything

 

I am very satisfied with my Berk's. Metallic HFCs are awesome compromise of sound, performance, and no CEL.

 

Are the inlets/outlet sizes for these cats same as oem?

 

Stock vs Berk. You tell me Jeff.