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

[SoCalS2k]

Originally Posted by gvega702

Another nail in the coffin for BMW.

Do something right, with purpose and passion BMW Jesus. Remember where you came from and why you got here. I understand that companies must evolve and change but they must do it within there own brand values. It seems as though BMW's only value now is to make a buck.

Overact much??

Somehow this little feature must cancel all the great tech specs listed in the sticky!

The way I see it, confirmation of this feature is just giving the trolls and haters something to hate on.

[xlover]

Overall i dont love the idea, but i also dont mind listening to some engine audio. I wish the engine could do it all on its own but if it cant, it sucks but so be it.

I am curious about the above point about it affecting the performance of the audio system. Maybe this would be a good followup with BMW engineers on this topic, finding out their opinions on active sound degrading performance of the audio.

Any M5/M6 owners notice issues with music with high RPM/load on the engine?

[gymtime]

So there is a microphone near the exhaust and in the engine bay? Anyone have any idea how this works?

[marcva]

Why not just remove some of the sound deadening material that they have packed around the cabin to, you know, let in engine and exhaust noises(?!). It would also further lighten the car a bit.

[jaehshim]

another stupid technology that owners will end up paying $$$ to fix when it obviously goes wron after warranty lol

you can never beat the true sound of S65.

[Murph335]

When you add aftermarket exhaust does it amplify that to a crazy level?

I cant imagine why anyone would buy this boosted m3 and keep it STOCK!

[F1fletch]

I would bet that sooner or later this would be something to disable/enable through the CAN system or disabling the mic system altogether. If braniacs can hack code and figure out how to tune these modern engines and raise boost, I am sure someone will figure out a way to disable without pulling a fuse.

[gymtime]

Originally Posted by Murph335

When you add aftermarket exhaust does it amplify that to a crazy level?

I cant imagine why anyone would buy this boosted m3 and keep it STOCK!

Also when you turn the volume up I wonder if this amplifies the sound through the speakers even more? I'm guessing it has to

[M3Denver]

Originally Posted by signes

Real question for me is why? Totally unnecessary and disappointing. Does the volume vary with speed or the volumes on stereo?

Exactly !why!?! It's such a waste of money and resources. The car makes noise ! They could just as easily piped a hole through the car to the engine bay. The whole idea has no real value. That and if you open the exhaust valves you'll get more noise.

[SoCalS2k]

Originally Posted by Murph335

When you add aftermarket exhaust does it amplify that to a crazy level?

I cant imagine why anyone would buy this boosted m3 and keep it STOCK!

This works with engine noise, not exhaust.

[lux]

I'm having mixed feelings now. The fact that BMW is using live engine sound is good but amplifying it through the speakers suck. In an ideal world I wish it was unnecessary.

Maybe this is more akin to enjoying a concert with an acoustic guitar vs an electric one. At least BMW isn't trying to lip sync this time around.

[duk]

this is stupid

[Edward]

I have not heard this feature yet in the cars that have it. Surface level, sounds laughable. In reality, I would not mind hearing more engine inside the car with windows up. I feel like the E92 M3 is insulated pretty well and the engine noise does not make it in the car when you have EPS going at a reasonable volume. Then you start feeling deaf and numb to your surroundings and that makes me a bit anxious because I like to hear all the things happening around me as a defense mechanism to motorcycles coming up on me, ambulances, pedestrians, etc.
Did BMW do this so they could isolate unwanted road noise while electing to keep engine noise? I don't mind it but I don't love the idea itself.
It seems analogous to being told that from now on, you cannot sit in the recording studio and listen to Led Zeppelin play live. You must listen to it through the wall via very expensive monitors or on vinyl, through a very nice audiophile quality tube amp system.

[gymtime]

Originally Posted by lux

I'm having mixed feelings now. The fact that BMW is using live engine sound is good but amplifying it through the speakers suck. In an ideal world I wish it was unnecessary.

Maybe this is more akin to enjoying a concert with an acoustic guitar vs an electric one. At least BMW isn't trying to lip sync this time around.

I guess this kind of thing is going to become standard on sport/GT cars in the future as engines become smaller and quieter, eventually switching to batteries. It's definitely a new era.

[cambit]

BMW should at least give the option to disable it in iDrive.

[Kuwen]

The fact that its not pre-recorded is huge, I'm glad to see that.

In general I'm having a hard time accepting that its not all natural but at the same time I ask myself the question, do I enjoy a concert less by hearing the music through the speakers and not being literally on the stage and hearing it from the instruments themselves?

I think it's been said at least once on these boards before that it would be silly to add weight via 'mechanical' amplifiers when digital amplification does a superior job for less weight. I find it also hard to argue with that logic.

[stealth.pilot]

Love the active sound. Just wish they amped it up more.

95% of those who complain don't have any experience with it. It's very well done.

[alexmtl_135i]

Originally Posted by gymtime

I'm also wondering exactly how this works...

Originally Posted by gymtime

So there is a microphone near the exhaust and in the engine bay? Anyone have any idea how this works?

Judging by how hard it is to actually record the exhaust sound, I find it very hard to believe that this is a live audio feed from your exhaust. This would be very costly too, as you need an expensive microphone to get quality sound.

I think it's just marketing talk, it's more likely an actual recording of the exhaust made on any M3, and they combine/alter the sound just like they do in video games.

[M-Maika]

Awful to say the least but expected move from BMW since M5 and M6 has them.

[aajami]

That's really disappointing.

[gymtime]

Originally Posted by alexmtl_135i

Judging by how hard it is to actually record the exhaust sound, I find it very hard to believe that this is a live audio feed from your exhaust. This would be very costly too, as you need an expensive microphone to get quality sound.

I think it's just marketing talk, it's more likely an actual recording of the exhaust made on any M3, and they combine/alter the sound just like they do in video games.

That seems much more likely. I find it hard to believe it's a microphone.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by alexmtl_135i

Judging by how hard it is to actually record the exhaust sound, I find it very hard to believe that this is a live audio feed from your exhaust. This would be very costly too, as you need an expensive microphone to get quality sound.

Please read the info carefully folks. The ENGINE'S sounds are amplified, not the exhaust.