What is the verdict on the Borla UEL?
 

I have another thread on here asking about the Tsudo header because I am trying to choose between the Borla and the Tsudo. I want the lifetime warranty they offer and like their prices. I just don't know which to buy. I know the Borla has been out for a while so I would really like to know what it has proven to be. Is the Borla a good choice? Is it proven to perform or should I look at the tsudo or other affordable options? Any constructive help is appreciated.

Don't buy either. Go with OFH or Revworks if you want catless UEL. You get what you pay for.

Buy both.

Dont buy Tsudo, Borla, OFH, or Revworks. Buy the best designed UEL header with the best quality with the best warranty: JDL Auto Design.

Borla may have a lifetime warranty but they have the highest failure rates (warped flanges, rattling flex joints, and weld failures) due to their extremely low quality. I had three warranty replacements due to defects before I gave up on Borla, got a refund and moved on to JDL.

Borla reps don't have a clue about their own products, either. Here's an example of what I mean: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...29#post1624829

Judging by his first two options, I doubt he wants to drop almost a grand on a header.

Well as what's been said before, you get what you pay for.

Save up and get something with good quality that you know will last

It's honestly hit or miss, but with my borlas I haven't had a single issue.

Why do people crap on the OFH header so much? Can someone explain to me what's so bad about the collector?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1391359873

Also, a couple of dynos. First one is OFH, OFT E85 tune. Second is JDL header, full exhaust, E85 tune, pic from from JDL's facebook

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k4...kvsstg2e85.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sTC5O97.jpg

the revworks is marginally more than the borla and is a better product.

if you're just going to toss the header on and not get a dyno tune, it wont matter what you get honestly though...it'll juts be for noise at that point.

There's a post by drift-office that is a shoot out between uel headers, while the numbers will change look at the difference in increase (gap between lines) you'll have a good idea of gains etc.

Eh, i've had my borla for about 5k miles now. No issues whatsoever. All the welds are solid, flanges thick and straight. Based off of my personal experience, i would totally recommend it.

Heard lots of issues with Borla back when they came out, but as you can see from this thread atleast a few people have had no problems with them.

I have the RevWorks which did not cost much more than the Borla and is a great part.

I havent seen anything about the Tsudo on this car, but I bought a Tsudo for my VW a few years ago and it was the biggest pile of trash I had ever owned. Leaks galore and really shitty craftsmanship, so stay away from them IMO.

Does the undertray go back on with the borla header?

Yes, the skid plate/ undertray goes back on with the borla uel. I have the borla uel and cat back system. I love 'em!

Because some people like to convince themselves that spending more money makes them faster :)

Thanks man. I ordered the borla, so let's see how it goes.

The Borla now has an updated design:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...34416503_n.jpg

JDL fixed there's after a month. It took Borla over a year to figure that braided flex joints are the way to go? I hope they are warranty replacing all previous ones.

Well i did get the borla and am satisfied thus far. Fitment was great. Love that it brought out the boxer rumble. I've owned two STI's and am quite familiar with the rumble. Also the power bump is very nice. I have the OFT so i maximized the gains obviously. So to any potential buyers i say do it.

When did they change the design? I didn't see anything on this

Mine was a warrantly replacement, and I had to wait for it since they wanted to send the redesigned one. I think these are the first ones to be sent out, so the change is very recent.

What about the Tomei UEL? It looks pretty good and not too expensive.

I can confirm this also. Borla is sending me the updated replacement header

Right on, I'm real interested in how these turn out! Let me know what you guys think after awhile with em if you can. I'll pull the trigger on these if they have cleaned up the issues.

dont listen to the negative about the borla. they had some issues earlier but never left anyone hanging. they replaced all of the products and now make a better product. i dont have the newer version but i love mine. its light and sounds better than any others out there. and its affordable.

I thought about getting one to have a full tomei setup later down the track but gave up since it can't be ceramic coated properly.

Considering there has been zero fitment/quality issues with the OFH and can be 100% coated for best temp management in addition to power gains, I am staying with the OFH.

SO I noticed the OFH doesn't have the flex joints like the new Borla, and apparently that was the problem with the old Borla. Anyone having issues with the OFH header? I like the price of the OFH w/ the OFT discount. I'm well aware of "get what you pay for," I've put a lot of money into my other car, an FJ Cruiser. But I've also learned that it isn't always necessary to get the most expensive part offered. I don't plan on racing my BRZ, maybe a few weekend track days and just looking for more power on the road. May do FI in the future, but that's a ways down the road.

People can say what they like about Borla, but their customer service is second to none. I made an inquiry on July 29/14 and had a replacement set of headers on my doorstep Aug 5/2014 today! Can any vendor or company match that ?


Here's a couple side by side shots of the old and the new :thumbsup:


http://imageshack.com/a/img673/3917/hQiSbD.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/7494/LQ2lqm.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img631/4214/ig2XQW.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img910/5960/d1X7a5.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/2721/1TZ1bD.jpg

That is the first i have read about not being able to coat them. Do you know why they can't?

The slip joint in the middle plus the hinged bar and the locknuts.

I like to coat my headers inside out and it adds quite a bit of a layer so the slip joint pose an issue. The hinged bar is also the same. And the locknuts would have issues at the heat required to bake it on if I am not mistaken.

So the new one seems less noisy than the old one. I still hear some hissing/air noise under load but it's more in line with "aftermarket header noise" versus the "there's definitely a leak" noise I had before. The frustrating this is I can't really verify leaks without pulling the header and checking flanges/gaskets, but then I would need new gaskets :bonk:

So I've noticed my exhaust temps seem lower - or whatever that "Cat1BS1" temperature that torque reports is.

I bought a used Borla UEL header for $300 off of a member on this forum.
All three flanges had a little bit of warping on them, so I took it a machine shop.
$40 later and I have 3 flat flanges that mated perfectly with no leaks.

The rumble is amazing, no problems at all.