RE: BMW M3: UK Review
Discussion
exceed said:
I don't think it's anything to do with the sound as when you start up an E92 M3 it sounds like somethings fallen apart, I think you'd be surprised how similar the noise levels of the two are. The idea of routing sound into the cabin is to involve the driver more without increasing exhaust noise.
Regarding your first response, reviews suggest the car comes alive at speeds exceeding legal limits on the road. Having driven a 458 Italia, I can assure you it feels exciting going 60mph, so no, its not so much to do with power, but how it is deployed and the set up of the car. As regards your second point, I am wondering whether you are being a devil's advocate here. Unfortunately the TT6 in this car sounds sh*t. Period. The fact they have implemented speakers to 'improve' the sound reinforces this.
The general consensus is the vehicle is simply not that involving to drive, unless you take it out on a track and stretch its chassis. In doing so, you have no option but to listen to a fake engine note...
For me this would be an insurmountable disappointment.
Edited by chelme on Sunday 11th January 18:18
You guys really make me laugh on here! When the E92 first came out it was a bloater of GT car with a torque-light engine when meant in the real world a 320d is quicker. Now, it's sacrilege that one would consider swapping one for the new model...
A boggo E92 doesn't actually sound all that amazing. Yes, people have done wondrous things with exhausts on YouTube, but the same thing will happen with the F80. I for one think the new car makes a lot of good turbo noises which are entertaining. Also have no issue with the whole artificial aspect - whenever i've had a nice car i've wished the exhaust was loud without bothering others. Ultimately, if no one told you it was fake, would you be bothered?
It's all academic, really. Most people who moan about the car aren't even in the target market, and won't go beyond the internet in their decision making process.
A boggo E92 doesn't actually sound all that amazing. Yes, people have done wondrous things with exhausts on YouTube, but the same thing will happen with the F80. I for one think the new car makes a lot of good turbo noises which are entertaining. Also have no issue with the whole artificial aspect - whenever i've had a nice car i've wished the exhaust was loud without bothering others. Ultimately, if no one told you it was fake, would you be bothered?
It's all academic, really. Most people who moan about the car aren't even in the target market, and won't go beyond the internet in their decision making process.
Regarding the engine sound- yes it doesn't really evoke an emotional spine tingling response but it at least does a lot better than most 4 cylinder turbo motors and isn't too bad, with some decent exhaust modifications 135i's can sound excellent so no doubt the same can be achieved with the M3/M4. I'm not sure why they have pursued the electronic audio enhancement route to counter the turbo sound issues though, Mercedes managed to keep that distinctive AMG V8 sound with a bit more effort tuning the mechanical acoustic properties of their exhaust/intake systems despite downsizing and turbocharging.
Very sadly truth be told how many non supercars truly sound amazing these days anyway?
For sure the V8 M3 sounded better (very nice but the C63 sounded even better for a V8) than the S54 Inline 6 which had a very distinctive aggressive raspy sound (much like a biscuit tin full of angry wasps being shook up- any advice for a cost effective solution anyone?) but wasn't as melodious as normal BMW Inline 6's and sound wise doesn't hold a candle to a nicely tuned E36 328i or Busso V6 or even...(hangs head in shame)a Nissan 350Z.
Very sadly truth be told how many non supercars truly sound amazing these days anyway?
For sure the V8 M3 sounded better (very nice but the C63 sounded even better for a V8) than the S54 Inline 6 which had a very distinctive aggressive raspy sound (much like a biscuit tin full of angry wasps being shook up- any advice for a cost effective solution anyone?) but wasn't as melodious as normal BMW Inline 6's and sound wise doesn't hold a candle to a nicely tuned E36 328i or Busso V6 or even...(hangs head in shame)a Nissan 350Z.
Rockstar said:
For sure the V8 M3 sounded better (very nice but the C63 sounded even better for a V8) than the S54 Inline 6 which had a very distinctive aggressive raspy sound (much like a biscuit tin full of angry wasps being shook up- any advice for a cost effective solution anyone?) but wasn't as melodious as normal BMW Inline 6's and sound wise doesn't hold a candle to a nicely tuned E36 328i or Busso V6 or even...(hangs head in shame)a Nissan 350Z.
I'll have a sneeky look exhaust-wise next time I see a local M3 parked - that sounds much better than normal ones
leedsutd1 said:
I agree ,75k for a Bmw 3 series seems mad, my neighbour bought a 2008 M3 when 3.5 years old (convertible) not sure how much new but paid £28k for it with low miles ,think it had around 46,000 on it. unless you are loaded and don't mind blowing 50k in a few years ,does not make sense to buy new .
Once again: a) stop comparing a used 2008 car with a brand new one. b) No one is buying these bloody things with 75k cash. BMW will no doubt be running more than comparative finance packages.
Rockstar said:
For sure the V8 M3 sounded better (very nice but the C63 sounded even better for a V8) than the S54 Inline 6 which had a very distinctive aggressive raspy sound (much like a biscuit tin full of angry wasps being shook up- any advice for a cost effective solution anyone?) but wasn't as melodious as normal BMW Inline 6's and sound wise doesn't hold a candle to a nicely tuned E36 328i or Busso V6 or even...(hangs head in shame)a Nissan 350Z.
We share an identical view and I like your style regards sound and it just mirrors mine. 
Cheers 
After half a dozen occasions squeezing myself under the damn thing to locate the loose heat shield that surely (in my mind) must be be the source of that godamn racket only to find nothing amiss and visiting BMW to be assured "no sir that is the correct sound" it is becoming a bit wearisome to explain to people who ask that it is not actually broken. Can't blame them for asking I thought it was too
thespannerman said:
Brompty said:
If the saloon is cooler than the coupe, why no M estate?
+1 I'd love an M3 wagon!Rockstar said:
Cheers After half a dozen occasions squeezing myself under the damn thing to locate the loose heat shield that surely (in my mind) must be be the source of that godamn racket only to find nothing amiss and visiting BMW to be assured "no sir that is the correct sound" it is becoming a bit wearisome to explain to people who ask that it is not actually broken. Can't blame them for asking I thought it was too
and I appreciate the honesty and you don't seem to get that very much so I really appreciate it. cerb4.5lee said:
I just love the way you describe it! and I appreciate the honesty and you don't seem to get that very much so I really appreciate it.
I agree with you to but there is a nice exhuast note hiding in there once you junk BMW's system on the E9x. After putting an Akropovic(funny they drop the Scorpion name put the price up on all their Exhausts & now after dominating the Motorbike scene they are now the go to people for cars to) on I still find the new M3's exhaust note lacking the artificial noise has been turned off(I really didn't like that) I'm sure my mate will be happy with it when he collects it at the end of the month but my girlfriends new D3 has a nice note(not as loud as the M3 but close) considering it's a Diesel but inside it feels more special & for 90% is the better car but when you really step on the M3 it's a good car not great but good, as I've said before the problem with this M3 is it's not fun a lower speeds therefore it lacks that feel good factor, it's cabin seems noisier & more busy than the D3 neither matches the her previous C63 for putting a smile on your face at any speed but initial impressions (we've had it 3 days) are that after trying to tell her it had to be an M3 (the M5 was better & around the same money but to big) if she was going to get a 3 series she has made the right choice. and I appreciate the honesty and you don't seem to get that very much so I really appreciate it. It's such a pity that people forget where the real pleasure is, not fake farty exhausts but the sound the engine makes.....
The e92 has a wonderfully sounding engine, the noise coming from in front is superb it gives you a tonal range that ends in a mechanical howl as you hit 8.4k and it's real noise: Induction noise.
I put a Tubi on one of my M3's and a Milltek on the other, but I lost something. The Tubi could blow a C63 into the weeds for exhaust noise and bass but you lost the beautiful engine note in the process drowned out by the Italian stainless steel.
I ended up taking them both off in the end as I missed the engine note...
The e92 has a wonderfully sounding engine, the noise coming from in front is superb it gives you a tonal range that ends in a mechanical howl as you hit 8.4k and it's real noise: Induction noise.
I put a Tubi on one of my M3's and a Milltek on the other, but I lost something. The Tubi could blow a C63 into the weeds for exhaust noise and bass but you lost the beautiful engine note in the process drowned out by the Italian stainless steel.
I ended up taking them both off in the end as I missed the engine note...
hondansx said:
You guys really make me laugh on here! When the E92 first came out it was a bloater of GT car with a torque-light engine when meant in the real world a 320d is quicker.
The baseline has been eroded, that is all. P.S. The E9x and F30 are basically the same car - the actual chasiis was just tweaked mainly with lightness in mind. Neil McRae said:
Alot of people comment on the noise but I don't get it. It sound immense in my view especially for a straight 6. I've since put the MPE on as the MPE on the E92 was epic.
short video http://youtu.be/nvOE-SiGJu4
oh and if you are one of those pretend petrol heads the MPG is probably twice as good (bad from my POV
as the car it replaces.
Neil.
Neil your car looks phenomenal and glad your happy with the engine note. Personally I still think it sounds terrible. It has a distinct 'farty' sound reminiscent of an over bored exhaust on a small capacity engine. short video http://youtu.be/nvOE-SiGJu4
oh and if you are one of those pretend petrol heads the MPG is probably twice as good (bad from my POV
as the car it replaces.Neil.
I really wanted to love the m4 - weirdly f1 going turbo opened the door of acceptability for me, but can't help but feel its a miss for the m division.
aeropilot said:
Is that 'just tweeked' as in complete new bodyshell design and floorpan structure, with longer wheelbase, and complete different underpinngs......
Front and rear subframes, suspension arms, struts, hub etc. bolt up between the two. There is very little difference below deck; materials, airflow management, and powertrain seem to be the focus (non perormance aspects aside). I also have interesting data on them both to show how understeer was designed into the F30 rear end in a different way to the E9x, which is at the detriment of handling. It seems like a totally different tack!hondansx said:
You guys really make me laugh on here! When the E92 first came out it was a bloater of GT car with a torque-light engine when meant in the real world a 320d is quicker. Now, it's sacrilege that one would consider swapping one for the new model...
A boggo E92 doesn't actually sound all that amazing. Yes, people have done wondrous things with exhausts on YouTube, but the same thing will happen with the F80. I for one think the new car makes a lot of good turbo noises which are entertaining. Also have no issue with the whole artificial aspect - whenever i've had a nice car i've wished the exhaust was loud without bothering others. Ultimately, if no one told you it was fake, would you be bothered?
It's all academic, really. Most people who moan about the car aren't even in the target market, and won't go beyond the internet in their decision making process.
Well said, I agree.A boggo E92 doesn't actually sound all that amazing. Yes, people have done wondrous things with exhausts on YouTube, but the same thing will happen with the F80. I for one think the new car makes a lot of good turbo noises which are entertaining. Also have no issue with the whole artificial aspect - whenever i've had a nice car i've wished the exhaust was loud without bothering others. Ultimately, if no one told you it was fake, would you be bothered?
It's all academic, really. Most people who moan about the car aren't even in the target market, and won't go beyond the internet in their decision making process.
Guvernator said:
You'd think that with all the techno trickery available these days with 5 different sport modes, multiple suspension modes and even modes for how quickly you want the car to change gear, someone could come up with a way to change the power map so that you could have a low down torque monster for commuting and then with a press of a button, move the power and torque further up the rev range, remove the plateau and make it more linear in it's delivery.
That way you cater for the commuters who just want the no fuss, no drama drive and also for the more enthusiastic driver who likes to work for their driving enjoyment or just those who like to switch between both as the mood dictates. They've made every other mode switchable, just really surprised no one has come up with programmable power map till now. Stuff like this is even available in the tuner aftermarket so not sure why the manufacturers haven't cottoned on. Then cars like M3 really could offer the best of both worlds.
You can control the boost with most modern ECU's, you can have multiple maps but the turbo set up really controls where and how the torque is delivered.That way you cater for the commuters who just want the no fuss, no drama drive and also for the more enthusiastic driver who likes to work for their driving enjoyment or just those who like to switch between both as the mood dictates. They've made every other mode switchable, just really surprised no one has come up with programmable power map till now. Stuff like this is even available in the tuner aftermarket so not sure why the manufacturers haven't cottoned on. Then cars like M3 really could offer the best of both worlds.
How many people commenting have ever driven the damn thing? More to the point how many of the naysayers are actually serious potential purchasers new? Some will be, most won't.
Most cars in this sector are having "enhanced sound" now because turbo engines aren't renowned for sounding great. I don't hear people whinging about the Golf R's enhanced engine noise. No, because that's the current darling of the journos. A new M3 these days gives the journos a chance to rehash a story they trot out each time a new one comes out - slag it off and everyone jumps on the bandwagon and then lo and behold it will probably be Evo COTY in a few years. BMW are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I thought it was a pretty amazing thing when I borrowed one. I'd hazard a guess it will comprehensively beat the competition in sales too.
Most cars in this sector are having "enhanced sound" now because turbo engines aren't renowned for sounding great. I don't hear people whinging about the Golf R's enhanced engine noise. No, because that's the current darling of the journos. A new M3 these days gives the journos a chance to rehash a story they trot out each time a new one comes out - slag it off and everyone jumps on the bandwagon and then lo and behold it will probably be Evo COTY in a few years. BMW are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I thought it was a pretty amazing thing when I borrowed one. I'd hazard a guess it will comprehensively beat the competition in sales too.
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