Why does the M3 CS sound so good in these videos?

[DanMpower]

I didn't think I would ever see the day where I would hear an S55 sound genuinely good.

Background: I run an MPE exhaust and will be installing an AA mid-pipe to see if it will clean up the sound.


After watching these videos, I'm SO IN LOVE. So what kind of magic did BMW do to the M3 CS? The engine note/exhaust sounds so good, like shockingly, genuinely good! So beastly and charismatic at the same time. Will adding the CS exhaust make my car sound like the video? Oh my lawd!

[washm3]

Believe the cs also has different tune/burble, so probably not. I put a bm3 on mine with cs map and love the sound!

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by washm3

Believe the cs also has different tune/burble, so probably not. I put a bm3 on mine with cs map and love the sound!

washm3, do your burbles on the CS map with BM3 sound like in the video?

I'm running Stage 1 BM3 and the burbles sound a bit weird, like drums beating with a slight delay in-between, not machine gun rapid fire style like in the video, which sounds more natural.

[docalex1]

I think the wastegates are NOT fully closed at acceleration. So noise doesn't mean performance;-)

[uniqueMR]

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by LloydChristmas

washm3, do your burbles on the CS map with BM3 sound like in the video?

I'm running Stage 1 BM3 and the burbles sound a bit weird, like drums beating with a slight delay in-between, not machine gun rapid fire style like in the video, which sounds more natural.

I think the BM3 burbles sounds a bit different than the CS ones but not too far off if you s t it right. Also keep in mind that the sound is completely different inside vs outside; they mention that in the video as well. Who ever captured the audio on that video did a great job. I suspect that if you recorded your BM3 burbles with the same set up, it'd sound great as well.

[dubsesd]

i have mpe, fabspeed catless mid, eventuri and BM3....absolutely love the sound on the s55

[Mp3Supply]

OP, i was watching videos last night/today and i thought the same exact thing. I have a 2018 CP and i do enjoy the sound, but i was curious to see if the 2018 CS was using a CP exhaust or something else...

I've been searching google throughout the day and then i stumbled across this thread...

[khanyam4]

maybe it's the competition package tune with the m performance exhaust

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Does sound different and better compared to my stock ZCP. Definitely more blurbles. I wonder how much of it is due to where the microphone is recording versus actual differences. Also wonder what mode they're in, probably Sport+.

[shortseller]

FWIW, the CS video above sounds a lot like my 2018 CP when in sport+. Maybe BMW got it right with this last batch?

[melvyn]

CS uses the CP exhaust with a different tune ,it’s deeper and specific to M3/4 CS

[Ghosn]

Originally Posted by melvyn

CS uses the CP exhaust with a different tune ,it’s deeper and specific to M3/4 CS

So are u saying the tune alone is giving a deeper tone compared to a CP?

[melvyn]

Originally Posted by Ghosn

So are u saying the tune alone is giving a deeper tone compared to a CP?

Yes, that's correct.If BM can put burbles electronically into an exhaust , they can also make it with a deeper sound.

[domino_z]

good mic placement

irl they sound no different to a stock zcp, both in exhaust noise and burble

the only difference i can hear is a slight brap on upshift, but i think this is because of how close the mic is to the exhaust - i hear the same brap 1-2 but not higher gears prob because road noise is drowning it out

[mechanic75]

Originally Posted by melvyn

Yes, that's correct.If BM can put burbles electronically into an exhaust , they can also make it with a deeper sound.

Melv, exhaust is different. Not much but enough.

The mic placement must be perfect in that vid as my car doesn’t sound like that! Must try harder!

[melvyn]

Originally Posted by mechanic75

Melv, exhaust is different. Not much but enough.

The mic placement must be perfect in that vid as my car doesn’t sound like that! Must try harder!

Didn't think it was Mike.
I can't get anyone to take it off me hands for four hundred quid, I think I may take the disc cutter to it and open it up .
What's this "mic placement " thought there was no ASD in the CS

[KZEVO]

Is it possible to confirm this with the part numbers? I always thought the exhaust was different on the CS vs CP.

Originally Posted by melvyn

CS uses the CP exhaust with a different tune ,it’s deeper and specific to M3/4 CS

[Speedwell-Industries]

Loving the review! It sounds AWESOME!

Thank you for sharing!

[Srac]

Sounds exactly the same as the CP.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by KZEVO

Is it possible to confirm this with the part numbers? I always thought the exhaust was different on the CS vs CP.

Different part#... CS exhaust tips are a part of the can same as on the GTS.

[jdhiro]

Originally Posted by domino_z

good mic placement

irl they sound no different to a stock zcp, both in exhaust noise and burble

the only difference i can hear is a slight brap on upshift, but i think this is because of how close the mic is to the exhaust - i hear the same brap 1-2 but not higher gears prob because road noise is drowning it out

I traded my ZCP for a CS yesterday, and I can say authoritatively this is not true. Here are the differences in sound to me:

- The CS is MUCH more quiet on startup/idle. I do kind of miss the super loud thrums starting up the ZCP.
- The overrun pops are much less aggressive on the CS compared to the ZCP.
- The overrun on the CS is much more of a purrrrrr, and it's very very pleasing.
- The overrun is almost constant on the CS - it happens with almost all deceleration, not just the higher rev deceleration of the ZCP.
- The CS has a bit more cruising speed drone than the ZCP.
- The interior of the CS is overall a bit more quiet, likely because of no active sound.

Overall, I think the CS sounds better across the range and in overrun than the ZCP, but I do with that I could crank up the volume just a little bit!