Horrible Experience with MagnaFlow

[Nunyabiz]

FWIW, I had a 14" magnaflow for nearly 3 years and never had a problem with it. However, I ended it's life recently by taking it for a swim. Now I have an 18" and couldn't be happier. Hopefully this one will last me just as long.

Wish mine had lasted, I actually liked the sound and performance of the Magnaflow. I think between it and the new intake that I got somewhere around 1-2mpg better mileage on this trip I just took.
It has been the ONLY thing that has improved my gas mileage and I have tried everything so the Intake ($158) plus the Muffler ($107) was the best $265 I have spent on it as far as performance & mpg.

I am hoping the Borla I just ordered sounds as good with same or better performance.

 

[brian_d]

OK, so after taking it the shop today to get my oil change after the 8000 mile trip (burned maybe 2 tablespoons of oil)I had them check the muffler because of the rattling I have been hearing.

I have to say now that COB is 100% correct the muffler started rattling probably within 1000 miles of straight highway use.

It now, while at a stoplight sounds like a Leprechaun is under the truck shaking a coffee can with several pieces of gold in it.
I actually liked the sound and performance of the Magnaflow, but the rattling while sitting at stoplights has got to go.

I am going to try to get Magnaflow to just give me my money back and I am going to buy a Borla.
I am going to tell them if they refund my money I will get the muffler shop to order a new Magnaflow, then if they send me a shipping label to pay for the return I will return it.
Thinking about the 40665 Turbo XL.
Although it says:
" Borla Turbo XL mufflers are recommended for larger engines."
I can not imagine why.

Any advice on which Borla to buy?

Nunyabiz, sorry to hear about your experience...bad customer service sucks.
When swapping out my stock exhaust, I went with the Borla XR-1 40941 Sportsman and it sounds pretty awesome in my opinion (my wife thinks its too loud, but hey she's not the one who drives it everyday!)
2 years and still sounding good!

LINY4Runner actually inspired me to buy it with the vids he posted
2001 4Runner with Borla XR-1 - YouTube

thread
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/58115-borla-xr-1-a-6.html

 

[Nunyabiz]

Nunyabiz, sorry to hear about your experience...bad customer service sucks.
When swapping out my stock exhaust, I went with the Borla XR-1 40941 Sportsman and it sounds pretty awesome in my opinion (my wife thinks its too loud, but hey she's not the one who drives it everyday!)
2 years and still sounding good!

LINY4Runner actually inspired me to buy it with the vids he posted
2001 4Runner with Borla XR-1 - YouTube

thread
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/58115-borla-xr-1-a-6.html

Thanks.
Although the "Customer Service" since I bought it from Amazon is actually excellent with full refund and pre paid shipping label to send it back, but the product quality from Magnaflow certainly sucks.
I just ordered the Borla ProXS Turbo 40665.
It is larger than the XR1, supposed to be a bit quieter and have about the same flow. The guy from Borla said it would be a better fit HP/Torque wise.

Man that XR1 40491 is tiny (12" x 4.5" x 7.88") I imagine that has to be somewhat loud.
I want something that doesn't drone at highway speeds 55-70.
That would have driven us nuts on this 7700 mile trip.
and we are doing another one hopefully soon.

I have passed my loud stage.
I used to have a Baja Bug with nicely built engine, 1835cc, super case, VW racing heads, built by a guy in Newport Beach that was probably the best VW and Porsche engine builder on the West Coast (Ray Stephens) it was pushing about 220hp and in a Bug that I could lift the front end up by myself very easily, it was mostly fiberglass and stripped inside, full roll cage built by Bill Savage, weighed next to nothing and had a Berg Warner 5 speed close ratio trans. Power to weight was about like a motorcycle.

I could actually keep up with a turbo Porsche 0-80mph then I was in the dust because my top end was about 85 tops but it got to 85 real fast.
I could pull the front end off the ground at take off about a foot or so with just a chirp from the rears which were I think 33" Dick Cepeks that gripped like glue.
That had a straight pipe with a stinger on the end, sounded about like an uncorked Harley, could hear me coming from at least a block or more away.

Now I am old and want quiet.

 

[Nunyabiz]

Adding the video here also.

Video of Magnaflow rattling.

Magnaflow 12286 Muffler rattling on 4Runner - YouTube

 

[Nunyabiz]

OK found out the deal with the Magnaflow.
On the longer mufflers like the 12286 the inner perforated tube especially on the center/off center ones is in at least 2 pieces and they come apart and bang against each other.
Literally designed to fail.

The short Magnaflows do not have this problem nor does the Borla which is about the same size as the Magnaflow.
The Borla uses ONE tube that is bent to fit and has Stainless Steel Wool and Ceramic Batting instead of Fiberglass.

It is also quieter than the Magnaflow at idle, has zero drone and sounds pretty darn good when you get on it.
Cost was $60 more and I should have went with it from the start.

Will try to make a clip of it and also show the Magnaflow.

So for anyone looking a nice quiet muffler that breathes far better than stock and has a nice growl when you are getting on it I would recommend the Borla 40664 (2 1/4") or 40665 (2 1/2").

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Few years later and this thread is still getting attention :biggrin2:

 

[calithirteen]

Wow. first time seeing this thread. When I bought my 4runner in January of this year, it came w/ a magna flow exhaust which had a leak. According to my mechanic it looked like a hack job installation. The thing sounded like an old motorboat struggling in the waves. Had it replaced w/ a new flowmaster exhaust from the cat back w/ the proper hangers. It sounds amazing n returned some of the missing horsepower from the exhaust leak. I've always preferred the sound of flowmaster over magna flow and after seeing this thread I'm more than relieved in the decision I made. sorry for everyone's troubles!

 

[Nunyabiz]

This is a horrible picture unfortunately but it shows the design failure of this particular magnaflow.
The 2 piece inner perforated tube is designed to fail.

So if you buy a Magnaflow and you can actually pick it up and look into it before doing so then I recommend NOT buying it if it has a 2 piece inner tube.
It WILL fail.

 

[dhalsey]

Magnaflow claimed another victim. 2 months and maybe 1500 miles. You would think that they would fix a known design flaw. Nope, it might cut into their bottom line.

 

[downpour11]

Damn! [MENTION=58830]ARKRWLR[/MENTION] and I must have just been lucky. I'm 2 years with mine and no problems. (14")

Ever since I first saw this thread I've been waiting for mine to fail and it's still chuggin' along. (knock on wood)

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Magnaflow claimed another victim. 2 months and maybe 1500 miles. You would think that they would fix a known design flaw. Nope, it might cut into their bottom line.

Sorry to hear about your troubles! What a terrible company to keep selling such a flawed product, I agree.

Could you post a video? The more evidence we have, the stronger the case.

 

[blue dog]

My magnaflow exhaust has been flawless, but i can not stand the sound, it sounds like a tuner car.

 

[Nunyabiz]

Damn! [MENTION=58830]ARKRWLR[/MENTION] and I must have just been lucky. I'm 2 years with mine and no problems. (14")

Ever since I first saw this thread I've been waiting for mine to fail and it's still chuggin' along. (knock on wood)

Your 14" one is probably fine because the inner perforated tube is ONE PIECE.

On the larger 19" one that COB and I had especially the one that fits the 4Runner which is Center/Offset so the tube has to bend and it is 2 Piece in the larger Magnaflow's.

THAT one WILL fail, it is literally designed to fail.

The Borla I just bought is the same size, 19" and it does not have a 2 piece inner perforated pipe, it is one piece. Will probably last me at least 15 years without a problem.

 

[Nunyabiz]

My magnaflow exhaust has been flawless, but i can not stand the sound, it sounds like a tuner car.

Probably a smaller one? 14" or so.

So far I am quite pleased with the Borla XS I got to replace the Magnaflow although have only had it a month and probably about 400 or so miles on it.

It is 19"x4"x9 1/2" and sounds pretty good.

$168 on Amazon with a very nice return policy just in case.

 

[Az4runnin]

Looking for a Muffler and just took MagnaBlow off my list....Sorry to see such B.S. from these Scumbags treating LOYAL CUSTOMERS like SHIT. Get a life and take care of the customers that pay your salaries MagnaBlow. When Nobody buys your SHIT products and the Doors close don't Cry. You had the chance to make good and ya MagnaBlew it.

 

[Bad Obsession]

James- once again...thanks for your informative posts. I am in the market for exhaust for my runner, and was just about to pull the trigger on a Magnaflow exhaust system.....that is, until now. Mr. Vice President of Sales for Magnablow, Larry Norris can go suck it. I will never buy another product from this company, and nor will my buddies if I have anything to do with it. Your situation convinces me that they have no interest in making their wrong, right.....and I don't do business with companies like this. Great thread, man. Thanks for the information!

 

[Tig]

I'll have to chime in & add my 2 penny's worth - we also have Magnaflow exhaust dealer/fitters & they have a right old mixed bag in terms of feedback.

I don't know how it works over there but here in the UK we have approved garages that part-fabricate & fit these pipes.....quality is almost certainly going to come down to the individuals that end up fabricating & although a certain standard has to be acheived, I'm sure that any Joe-shmoe will end up doing the job once the garage is on the approved list.

Common consensus isi to leave well alone.

 

[tatapo]

I would never put any Magnaflow, Flowmaster type stuff on any of my vehicles but I will pass this on to anyone I know thinking of buying Magnaflow. Thanks! :drummer:

I used flowmasters and cherry bomb for years on my jeeps without any failure,yeah they rumble...if you do not want a rumbling v-8 sound,go stock.I put a flowmaster 44 on my '02 a couple of months ago....sounds great,and with off-road driving, canadian winters,and road salt,will probably last around 4-5 years....what more could I want?

 

[pajamawally04]

i got a cat back for my 01 focus about 7yrs ago...the welds on the muffler cracked and sounded really bad..took it to a shop and had them reweld it..20 bucks and its been good sense they....

 

[beer-toe]

Ok im chiming in.... I am a victim of shitty ****in magnaflow. .. I got the xl 18" on my 99 4runner, it only last me a 3 weeks and the damn internals fell apart. ..

What do you guys recommend for a alternative?

I was thinkinkin borla but I hear talk about thrush, any comments?