[Rautha]

Hi,
Anybody have any info if the engine noise on the 2014 F30's with the N20/N26 is augmented with some sort of electronic engine sound simulator. I did some searching on these forums and on Google and did find that some BMW models have the "Active Sound Design" that pumps synthetic engine sounds into the cabin.

I ask for two reasons. My 2014 328i Touring sounds very different from my mother's 2013 328i sedan. Under mild acceleration, no difference in sound, but under moderate and heavy accerlation my car (2014) has a distinctive growl not present in the 2013.

Also, under moderate acceleration, there is a dyssynchrony between the sounds I am hearing and the engine speed as indicated on the tachometer. By this I mean that as I accelerate moderately, I hear a nice low growl, I will feel a shift pulse and the tach will indicate a shift, but the change in sound will happen about half a second later. This is noted over 2-3 shifts. Sounds like the sound is synthetic and the change in pitch is not keeping up with what the engine is doing in real life.

I am not saying I dislike the sound. It is nice to have some sort of engine sound (real or fake) versus the lack of any engine sound in my mom's 2013.

At first I thought this may just be a louder exhaust in my car but the sound doesn't seem to be coming just from the rear and this would not explain the sound-tach dyssynchrony.

Thoughts??

[x5mad]

My SA told me that 2014 models come with the active sound.

I prefer real sound even if it's weak, so will code mine off at some point (saw the reference to it in the modules, forget which though but is labeled ASD)

[Bluelondon]

I heard the same happens in the 428 N26 engine. From inside the cabin I hear quite a nice grunt when I press on the gas, much nicer than what I had expected from this engine, but when I open the windows I don't really hear anything like that coming from outside. I'm sure there's some sorcery going on in there somewhere.

[XenaBimmer]

I love it, especially in Sport mode!

[Blubaron79]

I had a F30 loaner 2013 328, and test drove a 2014 F32 328 this summer. The F32 def had more of a growl.

[Falafel Combo]

Interesting. I hope someone can confirm this. So 2014 cars now come with fake orgasms?

[GSAL55]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

Interesting. I hope someone can confirm this. So 2014 cars now come with fake orgasms?

its a love hate relationship imo

[ft1330]

Are you guys really sure about the F30? Seems kinda weird. I don't think the 2014 335i has that, at least I didn't notice anything fake going on here. I heard that about the M cars though. This is unacceptable but I don't think the F30 has this.

[Michael Schott]

I have not read anything that says this is true and certainly cannot tell if there is any fake sound in my 2014 F30 N20.

[XenaBimmer]

Porsche started doing this with the 991, and other manufacturers have followed suit. Personally I don't have a problem with it as long as it doesn't sound "fake".
In the '14 N20, it sounds real, and is a great sound at that, so I'm OK with it even if it is being produced.

[GSAL55]

Originally Posted by XenaBimmer

Porsche started doing this with the 991, and other manufacturers have followed suit. Personally I don't have a problem with it as long as it doesn't sound "fake".
In the '14 N20, it sounds real, and is a great sound at that, so I'm OK with it even if it is being produced.

+1

[ft1330]

HOLY SHIT

Did some research, Looks like there might be some truth to this rumor. If you look on Real OEM and WebETK you will find a part called "Active Sound Design", under "Audio, Navigation, Electronic Systems" > "Amplifier". This is the fake sound module. It's installed near the rear of the car.

For the F30 I found it on the 335i, not on the 328i. What's even more troubling is that it appears to have been present since the 2012 MY.

For the F32, it's on the 435i.

I don't know what's going on but I don't like it.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...90&hg=65&fg=25

[Falafel Combo]

Lol. I wouldn't be too surprised. At least that explains why the 2014 n20 sounds MUCH better than the 12/13 MY.


Honestly, I had this active sound crap in my GTI and did not mind it at all. I could hardly tell it was there. But what little sound it did produce made the driving experience more enjoyable and was not intrusive at all. I just hope if this is the case for the f30, they give us an option to turn it waaaay up in order to drown out the wind noise.

[drob23]

On the B8.5 S4 it is a fucking embarrassment. Night + day difference between stock exhaust with soundaktor and aftermarket exhaust with soundakator disabled. You guys should be able to deactivate it through coding or pulling a fuse. Just look through your manual and see if there's a fuse for "engine noise" or the like. Shouldn't throw any CEL's, but will probably throw a DTC if you run a scan using an OBD2 tool.

[philbake]

This is so ridiculous. It is what it is. It's one thing to do a mod that actually causes the engine/exhaust to behave differently, and another to fake us out (if you're inside the car). On the other hand, I get it. I used to be a jock on the radio, and how our headphones sounded could make or break the show (in our minds). We'd ask the engineers to EQ our headphones so we "thought" we sounded better, even though it made no difference on the air. All in our heads!

2013 F30 328ix

[pz619]

I personally love it. I have a 2013 and the 2014 loaner I had sounds vastly better.

[pocoyo_3]

That explains why the 2014's sound better than the 2013's. Seems to be spreading across the BMW range. I though the M235i, 335i, and 435i already had it but I may be mistaken.

[jacar]

My AH3 has an exhaust sound that is somewhat annoying as the engine shuts on and off-early on I seemed to not quite match the engines speed at times. I traced it to the left rear, figuring the left tailpipe was the source of the sound, and have somewhat quieted it by adding soundproofing in the trunk. The part search shows the amplifier for the AH3 in the left rear quarter panel, which would explain why the sounds seems to come from there and my crude soundproofing helped. I'll see if I can get at the module from inside the trunk, and what the car sounds like if I disconnect it. Will post photo's if I find it.

[jacar]

No luck getting to where the module is shown, found the fuse box, it has a separate sheet which identifies the fuses-but it is an idiot sheet with graphic illustrations-closest thing would be the radio graphic which lists a dozen fuses. Any one know where to find a better fuse identifier?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

So 2014 cars now come with fake orgasms?

Maybe the M sport package will come with an M branded sound generator with an even more intense fake noise

[BMWbill]

Holy shit. I know the automotive press made fun of the M5 because the engine sounds come through the radio but I didn't know its in all the 3 series cars now! This actually explains a lot. I just got my 2014 F31 and the little 4 banger makes a badass low growl when you floor the car, compared to my more powerful E46 M3 which only makes a whiny rasp and low low tones. Yes I loved the new sound but now I feel cheated, as if I bought a super-clear diamond only to find out later it is man-made!

[ft1330]

Just saying but I couldn't find a reference to this fake noise module for anything but the 335i/435i. I found the part for these cars but not the 328i or lower, so I'm not sure that it has it. Plus on the 6 bangers it has been there since introduction in 2011, something that nobody has reported on before.