[kevkaz]

Does anyone hear the turbos while driving their 335i?

[Zargon]

Yes

[canuck335i]

no

[Ninjaneer]

Yep. It's not overly loud, but it has a distinct sound with the engine compared to other motors I've heard. I don't notice it normally though, just sometimes at the higher end.

One time I really gunned it to pass someone, just a short burst of speed, and when I slowed down again I could hear them calming down... dunno how to explain the sound but it was sweet - an "oh-wow-those-are-the-turbos!" moment!

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by kevkaz

Does anyone hear the turbos while driving their 335i?

Better not. Whole point the BMW was trying to make was so that you do NOT know there are 2 baby snails sitting in there.

[tokion]

i saw a few video with turbo sound....can't wait to get my car...

[Straz M3]

With the windows down, under load you DEFINATELY hear them scream

[mkoesel]

I think its a little funny that this topic has come up so much, and yet there is no agreement.

You can indeed hear the turbos. But you won't hear them unless you are trying. They aren't audible with the windows up and the radio on. But if you put down the windows and listen, you will hear a faint whine when you hit the accelerator from a stop as they spool up.

And speaking of spooling up, there is a slight discernable turbo lag as well. I felt it most often shortly after cold start when flooring the car from a stop. It seems to subside when the engine warms up.

[Kyoshi71]

I can't hear the turbos but have to say, this thing has a great exhaust note at open throttle. I would actually enjoy a little turbo whistle with the RPMs though.

[sstarch1]

I still need someone to drive the car around me, while i stay there and listen.
So i can hear the sound of the exhaust from a 3rd persons perspective.

BTW, i love going into underpasses and flooring it, the reverberation of the sound is great.

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I think its a little funny that this topic has come up so much, and yet there is no agreement.

You can indeed hear the turbos. But you won't hear them unless you are trying. They aren't audible with the windows up and the radio on. But if you put down the windows and listen, you will hear a faint whine when you hit the accelerator from a stop as they spool up.

And speaking of spooling up, there is a slight discernable turbo lag as well. I felt it most often shortly after cold start when flooring the car from a stop. It seems to subside when the engine warms up.

This seems to be a better explanation, or at least coincides with my experience.

+1 on the 2nd paragraph
As for the 3rd paragraph, I wouldn't know; I don't push it from a cold start.

[RiXst3r]

Yes

[txusa03]

no during my test drive. Frankly, road noise over power eveything else.

[SkipSauls]

I haven't heard them, and I've owned a few turbo cars in the past and this is by far the quietest of the bunch. At the autocross the other day I had the windows down and the engine screaming, but never once did I hear the turbos. Several folks were watching and no one guessed that it was turbocharged, although several commented on the great sound and some even thought it had a V8.

[RiXst3r]

Originally Posted by NaViT

YES AND NO'S... you hear the exhaust and a different engine sound from others, but if u want to hear the Turbos u gotta get a Blow-Off Valve and u'll hear em

You cant just install a blow-off valve, because boost is not controlled like a normal turbo car, shiv from vishnu has gone over this in his thread(s)

[eriks]

Originally Posted by kevkaz

Does anyone hear the turbos while driving their 335i?

This sounds like the same thing as with the bi-turbo S4s (what I currently have). Even after chipped, you almost can't hear the turbos. They're very quiet. However, once you gut the pre-cats, you can really hear the turbos spool. I have a feeling the 335i is going to be the same but no one's done it yet.

[eriks]

Originally Posted by NaViT

YES AND NO'S... you hear the exhaust and a different engine sound from others, but if u want to hear the Turbos u gotta get a Blow-Off Valve and u'll hear em

All you're hearing is the pressurized air being released into the atmosphere instead of back into the intake system.

[conocelo]

YES you can hear it. it is very noticeble

more if you are in an inndor parkinglot you can hear them.

[kevkaz]

I wanted to hear everyone elses experience first - I hear them in mine - they're not very loud, but i do hear a slight whistle. Can't hear them with the radio on, that's for sure. What seems a little strange is that I only seem to hear them in 2nd gear, which seems a little odd. Maybe because road/wind noise is relatively low at that point. I have not gone much past halfway on the throttle so far, nearing 800 miles.

[RJD]

yes. coming from a 2000 S4, which had the Bi-turbos previously mentioned, these turbos are almost completely silent compared to the audi. The only time really that it is evident is when the car is a little colder, and in lower gears. either way, turbo sound or not, it is undeniably one of the best cars to drive. period.

[Driv3r]

who cares if you can or cannot hear the turbos......the car pulls you into the seat...i would do anything for that feeling in my 325...

[OpenFlash]

Originally Posted by RiXst3r

You cant just install a blow-off valve, because boost is not controlled like a normal turbo car, shiv from vishnu has gone over this in his thread(s)

Actually, you can install bov if you wanted to. It's just aftermarket boost controllers which aren't going to work with the BMW's turbo actuation system. As for aftermarket BOVs, the stock ones aren't leaking. We've tested them and they are tight as tigers (austin powers references ) The only thing aftermarket bovs are going to give you is a little underhood flash, extra noise and maybe some partial throttle compressor surge.

-shiv