[f30nynj]

I switched from a E90 328xi to F30 328i last last month and I find that while idling the sound feel so less of a luxury car. I also noticed the same when taking delivery but shrugged it off thinking it is just new car sound.

I metered 1600miles so far and the sound is still the same.

I don't know if it's my car or just that it is common with everyone.

Should I go to the dealer and have it checked?

[Tsuyoi]

It's the same with everyone, the 4 cylinder turbo sounds like a diesel when idling. But then again, I don't idle much, at most at the lights, and then I'm inside the car so I don't hear it lol.

[BMWinGE]

Leave ASS on and you wont hear it idling so much

[Alpine F31]

That's just the way it sounds.
Just enjoy your increased horsepower, torque and fuel economy!

FWIW I just put a BMW M Performance exhaust system on mine and I LOVE the way the car sounds now. It's not "boy racer" loud, it sounds just right. There are lots of video clips on line of different systems you can check out. Then you wont notice the unpleasant idling sound it makes.

[rconti]

Direct injection engines have that loud clicking noise from the injectors, and of course a 4cyl is less smooth sounding than a 6cyl, all things being equal.

[PK2348]

i hate how it sounds at low speeds, if i did not know any better i would assume its a diesel, its like a lawn mowner

[Amit328]

Originally Posted by Alpine F31

That's just the way it sounds.
Just enjoy your increased horsepower, torque and fuel economy!

FWIW I just put a BMW M Performance exhaust system on mine and I LOVE the way the car sounds now. It's not "boy racer" loud, it sounds just right. There are lots of video clips on line of different systems you can check out. Then you wont notice the unpleasant idling sound it makes.

I did the same and the m performance exhaust sounds great at start up,idle and even when slowing down.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by f30nynj

I switched from a E90 328xi to F30 328i last last month and I find that while idling the sound feel so less of a luxury car. I also noticed the same when taking delivery but shrugged it off thinking it is just new car sound.

I metered 1600miles so far and the sound is still the same.

I don't know if it's my car or just that it is common with everyone.

Should I go to the dealer and have it checked?

I agree. 4 cyl sounds Terrible but its the future. Just rev the sh$) out of it.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by rconti

Direct injection engines have that loud clicking noise from the injectors, and of course a 4cyl is less smooth sounding than a 6cyl, all things being equal.

Ding ding ding.

That is one of the largest factors in the sound of the N20, the DI.

[azzurro]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

I agree. 4 cyl sounds Terrible but its the future. Just rev the sh$) out of it.

Not in MY future.............no 4 bangers for me.

[chriskd]

During a test drive, it was the sound of the F30 328i idling that started making me consider the 335i instead. I'm sure I would've gotten used to it.

[Tsuvoi]

It cracks me up when people buy a 328 and then upgrade the sound with a performance exhaust system... You could have just bought the 335.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by ft1337

It cracks me up when people buy a 328 and then upgrade the sound with a performance exhaust system... You could have just bought the 335.

PE is about $2000 max. 328 sedan is $44,000 and 335 sedan is$51,000ish.

[Shuttlegoose]

Originally Posted by ft1337

It cracks me up when people buy a 328 and then upgrade the sound with a performance exhaust system... You could have just bought the 335.

Yeah I mean I think i would rather have the performance exhaust than dropped a few more Thousand of the 335. I have an e36 m as a weekend track car. I'd rather have both of them than just a 335 that I would be afraid to track in the first place.

[Tsuyoi]

I built a 328 and then a 335. The 335 was 5k more. Performance exhaust is 1.3k, and IMHO the 328 with perf exhaust sounds better than stock 335.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by ft1337

It cracks me up when people buy a 328 and then upgrade the sound with a performance exhaust system... You could have just bought the 335.

I really hate this assumption.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by ft1337

It cracks me up when people buy a 328 and then upgrade the sound with a performance exhaust system... You could have just bought the 335.

Why?

[eric@helix]

My interest in the 328 vs. the 335 was primarily the motor--we needed a platform to develop parts, but it also was for fuel efficiency. I've been fascinated with the idea of a BMW that makes 300hp and gets 30mpg.

With the mild tune that we have on the car now, I am satisfied with the acceleration (although it holds no candle to the shop 135i big turbo FBO with 481 ft/lbs of torque), but I am disappointed with the sound of the four banger under acceleration. It doesn't have the sound of a premium car. I don't mind it at idle, since I can hardly hear it.

[Tsuvoi]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

Why?

Well... You want to save money and you end up negating the difference or most of it, by installing an aftermarket exhaust. You could have ended up with a 6 banger, a nice sound and great performance for just a little more if you had realized your mistake in the first place.

Only thing I can think of outside of the money factor for getting a 328 over a 335:

- Better fuel economy (get a Prius if you're green or a Kia if you're broke)
- Better weight distribution (very slim difference noticeable in racing only)

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by ft1337

Well... You want to save money and you end up negating the difference or most of it, by installing an aftermarket exhaust. You could have ended up with a 6 banger, a nice sound and great performance for just a little more if you had realized your mistake in the first place.

Only thing I can think of outside of the money factor for getting a 328 over a 335:

- Better fuel economy (get a Prius if you're green or a Kia if you're broke)
- Better weight distribution (very slim difference noticeable in racing only)

Difference down there is about $6000 so I agree, I'd go 335 ALL DAY. Its about $10,000 difference up here. Not a fan of 4 cyl sound....cant hear it at idle either. I hate that.

[Tsuvoi]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

Difference down there is about $6000 so I agree, I'd go 335 ALL DAY. Its about $10,000 difference up here. Not a fan of 4 cyl sound....cant hear it at idle either. I hate that.

Understood, $10k difference is considerable.

Here in the US it's not even $5k... Which incidentally is the price of a high-end exhaust system inc. install. And it's not like that's going to fix the noise under the hood, just behind the car (artificially).

[Tsuyoi]

Originally Posted by ft1337

Well... You want to save money and you end up negating the difference or most of it, by installing an aftermarket exhaust. You could have ended up with a 6 banger, a nice sound and great performance for just a little more if you had realized your mistake in the first place.

Only thing I can think of outside of the money factor for getting a 328 over a 335:

- Better fuel economy (get a Prius if you're green or a Kia if you're broke)
- Better weight distribution (very slim difference noticeable in racing only)

This sentiment just oooooooozes snobbery.

What you're saying in other words:

"It's stupid to spend 1.3k to upgrade the sound on your 328i, because for another 4k you could have gotten a 335i. And if that additional 4k actually matters to you, well then you're just a broke person who's reasoning I don't understand".

A) I've heard a 328i with performance exhaust, and a 335 with stock. Personally prefer the 328 with perf exhaust at higher revs. So no, just upgrading to a 335 would not be the same as installing the performance exhaust on a 328.

B) For a lot of us here that additional 4k is a size-able chunk of money. Does that mean we're broke or poorer than you or whatever? No, it just means we have different priorities.