MarkCSC

I've heard a few from the outside accelerating hard and they sound really metallic and tinny. Nasty harsh sound. Nothing like the old straight 6 from the E36 which had a nice burbbly sound.
Do they sound the same inside?

Mark

SKYMAN

Depends what you like. WRC burble or F1-style roar. I know which one is for me.

SKYMAN ('02 E46 M3 SMGII)

Dark Blue Mark

They do sound **** when just rolling along, but opened up I imagine they sound a bit rude!

MB

BOB.T

It's prolly to do with all the noise emission bollox[img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Ricky

I thought you could buy an after market exhaust from BMW themselves to improve it. Might be wrong though. Having said that, I would tend to agree they sound s****.

Only my pennies worth.

Ricky !

dfullerton

Come off it they sound the nuts

Bombjack

Low-down they're nondescript at best. At the top of the rev-range the sound's electrifying.

Skittles

When the car is new it sounds tinny at 3k-4k revs. I took mine back for a check as I thought there was something wrong.

Basically, when the engine is cold, it sounds like a Corolla with a knackered exhaust. When it is up top full temp, it sounds very different, still a little tinny tho' - It imporves a lot as the miles come on.

HOWEVER, from 6k upwards, it sounds awesome - every journo who has reviewed it comments on the electrifying noise.

MarkCSC

Ah ha. That could be it. Both times I've heard them being thrapped was in town and I imagine the engines were cold. Bloke came out of a shop got in his car and booted it down the road. I though he was going to bin it but I imagine the traction control kicked in. Total knobber but the engine sounded awful(maybe because he thraps it when cold? )
Anyway thanks for clearing that up. I wondered why everybody raved about the engine sound.
Anybody want to give me a ride so I can hear for myself?

Mark