[Jeff01234567]

Simply put, the cabin is too quiet. Even with the performance exhaust on. When the radio is on, it gets a bit difficult to drive MT since I like to rely on sound to know when to change gears. It also makes for smoothly getting into 1st gear.

Any ideas on cheap/easy ways to get more sound into the cabin?

[Wires]

Did you buy this car used? BMW (and pretty much all other brands) use something they call "Active Sound" There is a module that pipes "fake" engine sound/drone into the speakers so you can get some perception of the engine revs.

I know what you mean though, I have a 8AT and paddle shift it. With zero active sound (like in comfort mode), you have no perception of engine noise. If you use "sport" mode, it becomes pronounced.

If you hear no difference between comfort and sport mode, then someone coded out the active sound or unplugged the module in the trunk.

[canman111]

Not all years/models (i think)will have ASD though.
Maybe it comes up in VIN decoder?

[danjjacob]

Swap the muffler from a M2. You will have to trim the rear valance but it's totally worth it. Sounds great.

[Jeff01234567]

Originally Posted by Wires

Did you buy this car used? BMW (and pretty much all other brands) use something they call "Active Sound" There is a module that pipes "fake" engine sound/drone into the speakers so you can get some perception of the engine revs.

I know what you mean though, I have a 8AT and paddle shift it. With zero active sound (like in comfort mode), you have no perception of engine noise. If you use "sport" mode, it becomes pronounced.

If you hear no difference between comfort and sport mode, then someone coded out the active sound or unplugged the module in the trunk.

I did buy this car used. I also tried out 3 different 2-series and 2 different 4-series and one of the 4-series had a really digitized sound that gave me a headache within minutes of sitting in the car. In my car I hear no differences in the cabin, but I do notice the exhaust outside getting louder.

[Wires]

It sounds the active sound model was either disconnected in the drunk, or the previous user coded it out (or lowered the volume).

I like a bit of that sound so I can hear shift points, but 100% agree that it really wears on you after a while. The 340 defaults to "mid" volume ASD. I dropped mine to "low" which makes it still noticeable, but not so painful from the drone.


The only other option is changing out the exhaust to MPE or aftermarket if you want to gain true exhaust sound. Nice thing about the "fake" sound is you can cruise on the highway in "comfort" and its dead quiet. Putting it to sport "sounds aggressive" in the cabin (even though it's fake).

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by canman111

Not all years/models (i think)will have ASD though.
Maybe it comes up in VIN decoder?

OP's '15 would have this. I did not think ASD is listed in VIN decoders.

[Gen13 F36]

BMW quite?...wow. I can hear my engine through close window and radio. They need more sound deadening material to make this a quite cabin

[lemonchicken]

Roll the window down?