BMW M3 M4 Active Sound: the Good and the Bad News

[DASHOCKER]

who need to listen to their ipod when we have this?

[///Mposter]

Every time I drive my Acura I listen to a looped audio of a V8 M3 downshift and upshift through gears on my iPod .

[gblansten]

I'm disappointed but I really appreciate the attention by Bimmerpost/Jason in bringing us up to date info.

I would rather have my stereo not play engine noise while I have selected something else with which to listen.

I can't believe how the engine will sound will need to be part of the ordering calculus when we select a stereo option/upgrade.

[SoCalS2k]

Originally Posted by gblansten

I can't believe how the engine will sound will need to be part of the ordering calculus when we select a stereo option/upgrade.

I'm sure it will sound the same on all M3/M4 regardless of audio system chosen.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by SoCalS2k

I'm sure it will sound the same on all M3/M4 regardless of audio system chosen.

That make no sense. All stereos are not the same.

[Neil McRae]

I own a ///M135i an E92 ///M3 and a F10M M5. got and order in for an ///M4 (which I will rebadge M3

all I can say is that you'll never notice this issue at all. all cars both the ones with the engine sound amplification and without are noticeable. infact the M3 I put on the performance exhaust as it was too quiet.

I really suggest you wait until you experience it before you give it the thumbs down. I. know there will be a bunch of whinging fcukwits that will whinge all the same and then be first to post how they love the new car and the sound system is awesome.

I personally can't wait for the new motor.

[gymtime]

Originally Posted by gblansten

That make no sense. All stereos are not the same.

It should not be that noticeable but there should be a difference in quality on a better speaker

[SoCalS2k]

Originally Posted by gblansten

That make no sense. All stereos are not the same.

So? You don't think BMW would program it so that it sounds the same in all cars. Of course they will.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by SoCalS2k

So? You don't think BMW would program it so that it sounds the same in all cars. Of course they will.

Programming doesn't negate the inherent capability differences of stereo systems.

You can't make your Bose Acoustic Wave radio sound like a $10000 surround system.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by gblansten

Programming doesn't negate the inherent capability differences of stereo systems.

You can't make your Bose Acoustic Wave radio sound like a $10000 surround system.

I've driven M5 and M6 models with and without the B&O system and there's no perceptible difference.

Stop making such a huge deal of it folks. It's seamless. Nearly all of us would never even know the amplification was happening if we didn't know about this particular feature.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by Jason

I've driven M5 and M6 models with and without the B&O system and there's no perceptible difference.

Stop making such a huge deal of it folks. It's seamless. Nearly all of us would never even know the amplification was happening if we didn't know about this particular feature.

Then why did they bother to even offer it?

I don't mind if others disagree on this. I do not care for it and hope it is okay to post that.

[HaNg_MaN]

Sigh....Chevy limited the speakers on Z28 for good...what BMW did...where is the true M car

[Bigiggs]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Are they saying there are microphones somewhere on the car actively picking up an input for the stereo?

Is it just me that finds that hard to believe?

Agreed!

[Race_Doc11]

Test drove M6 last year when it first came out. Right away I noticed the active sound and I even told the sales guy who denied that there is an active sound: lol: To be honest it was not that bad but the concept feels fake and not real.
When I buy a performance car I want to hear real engine sound that comes from the engine not from the side doors or the back seat otherwise why the headache!!! I should go get a hybrid and play a Ferrari engine sound track and forget all about performance cars...For me fake is pathetic.

[Bemo]

Volume knob engine revs will be sick!
All teasing aside, cabins are so well insulated that one can barely hear the engine. You can have a mechanical ON/OFF flap that could feed/cancel out more noise from the engine compartment but that would be cheese. Suddenly the stereo approach starts to make sense (as in a "live" concert) but it does make one feel weird about it.
I'm more bummed out about the 3.0 litre inline six not being a dedicated, grounds up, engine for the new M3/M4, but rather a "modular" configuration, slapped with a twin turbo. Margins and maximizing corporate profits have indeed taken over! Then there's the supposedly redesigned electric steering and impossible to get over atrocious hood line.

Flip side, increased power and lightweight. Suppose we'll have to wait and start getting the driving impression reports and drive these new beasts personally to give the cars a chance. If it's good, I'm game. If not, I'll pick a depreciated M3, slap an Akrapovic on it, and call it a good day. Either way, we win!

[cc3]

Originally Posted by Jason

I've driven M5 and M6 models with and without the B&O system and there's no perceptible difference.

Stop making such a huge deal of it folks. It's seamless. Nearly all of us would never even know the amplification was happening if we didn't know about this particular feature.

So why bother??? BMW still have time to put this right? It's nonsense making M cars that have this rubbish. It's a bit like buying the car and the salesman says you will have to get your 8 year old to make the performance car noises

[BMV///M3]

May not be a huge deal, but the idea seems artificial. The perception of the S65 note was natural and raw, uncut; so to speak.

I'm not sure if it was answered, but when one plays their ipod, Pandora ect, will the amplified engine sound compete with the music during spirited driving? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

A supervisor once told me the following...."perception is reality." In this case it may not even be noticable during real time driving. But it will effect the way people compare the E90/92 to the F80/82.

Won't stop me from buying one though if I love the car overall, and BMW knows that. Wish it came with an auto/off switch just in case I wasn't a fan.

[Edward]

Before F10 fans and M4 fans get even more pissy, I just want to point out that for decades, performance cars made from all over the world have been making engine sounds just fine all this time. Is it not a compromise that we have to hear engine sounds through our audio systems now? Again why is it that we had to get to active sound? Did they install more sound deadening material to mitigate road noise and in doing so cut engine noise? Are the engines just getting quieter? If so is it forced by some unknown decibel lowering requirement by dot? What is so wrong with spending some time on sound engineering on the actual engine/manifold/exhaust assembly than creating some patch solution to let us hear an engine through speakers? I'm SURE it sounds good guys, but what made this come to fruition?

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by Bemo

I'm more bummed out about the 3.0 litre inline six not being a dedicated, grounds up, engine for the new M3/M4, but rather a "modular" configuration, slapped with a twin turbo. Margins and maximizing corporate profits have indeed taken over! Then there's the supposedly redesigned electric steering and impossible to get over atrocious hood line.

If you feel the engine is just a mildly reworked 335i engine you should read this thread: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=893611

If info is correct, we are looking at a engine with different bore spacing (meaning a very extensive retooling process), a oversquare bore/stroke, and a completely new block (as can be seen in the pictures in the thread I linked to above).

It doesn't share any parts with the N55 apart from ancilliaries. New block, new cyl head and internals, new rotating assembly etc.

To me, that is sufficient to say that the S55 is a dedicated M engine (again, based on current info).

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by gaz26

So why bother??? BMW still have time to put this right? It's nonsense making M cars that have this rubbish. It's a bit like buying the car and the salesman says you will have to get your 8 year old to make the performance car noises

Agree

[BMW M Power Mexico]

I am amazed by how this little thing has most here with your panties in a bunch.

I have owned an E46 M3, now E90 M3 & 1M.

I recently drove both the M135i and the M5 and they sound fantastic. Who gives a damn about this as long as the sound is believable and great.

Get a life people. I wish my 1M had this system. It needs it.

[Mako]

Originally Posted by racedoc11

Test drove M6 last year when it first came out. Right away I noticed the active sound and I even told the sales guy who denied that there is an active sound: lol: To be honest it was not that bad but the concept feels fake and not real.
When I buy a performance car I want to hear real engine sound that comes from the engine not from the side doors or the back seat otherwise why the headache!!! I should go get a hybrid and play a Ferrari engine sound track and forget all about performance cars...For me fake is pathetic.

I love people who call it "fake", as others have pointed out thats like saying when you listen to music that isn't live then that is FAKE music...

The sounds (recorded or actual) are from that engine, not "fake". If they are indeed amped in from your actual engine, how is that fake? Those are very real engine sounds

If you simply don't want the engine sounds in your cabin that is a different argument, but to say they aren't real sounds is simply not true.