Sound. Now be honest please...

[dibbly dobbler]

... does your BMW actually sound good ?

OK - diesels or 4 cylinder petrol and your expectations are low but my (otherwise lovely) E90 330i sounds quite frankly cack, a complete non-event

I always laugh when I hear folk bemoaning the diesel noise and eulogising about the 6 cylinder engine note - I genuinely don't think I would notice much difference (at least from the inside with windows up).

Do I need a hearing aid ?!

[ed335d]

Mine sounds ok

[Neil.D]

Hi Dibbly...

The straight 6 cylinder BMW engines have always sounded good IMO.

Yes they are quite muted but thats part of the appeal isnt it?

Although you can buy an after market exhaust I think that can ruin the acoustics. The straight 6 growls at revs but when tinkered with it loses its character and can start to sound coarse + cheap.

I remember hearing a friends 3L M3 with a Scorpion exhaust. It was loud and could be confused with any old 4 cylinder with a massive chavvy exhaust. Awful.

The M cars do have a bassy undertone at low revs which I love. I am tempted to upgrade from the stock one but find the anonymity somewhat alluring

[MattOz]

Mine sounds great. But then you'd probably expect an M5 to sound good

[2 Wycked]

My current 4cyl E30 is a bit lame, but both of my previous E36 320i and E30 320i sounded fantastic at full chat.

[Mark34bn]

My E36 328 sounds good (especially with the flap disconnected). My old 3.0 M3 coupe sounded awesome. Warm summer evenings, country lanes, sunroof open [Fast show Jazz Club] Nice [Fast Show Jazz Club]

[KenD]

As the 6 cylinder passes 4.5k revs and eveything starts to move, vanos kicks in and then you get the shove in the back as it takes off and it sounds really good. The petrol engine delivers the extra bit that can never be gained from a diesel - on a diesel this does not happen as they do not rev past 4.5K

[NickXX]

I've liked the sound of all of my BMWs - e46 330d stock, e46 M3 and my e36 318iS with Eisenmann exhaust.

[T89 Callan]

1992 E36 325i with a knackered exhaust.....

SOUNDS FECKING AWESOME!

Like two 911's racing each other.

[CommanderJameson]

Mine only comes alive about about 4000 RPM.

And then it sings.

[Sods Law]

Driving out of the underground carpark here my E46 330Ci sounds awesome....

[rassi]

Was slightly disappointed with my Z3 M Coupe, and considered a Supersprint or Eisenmann but then sold it on. Quite liked my E39 530d, had character even if slightly agricultural.

Current E36 320i sounds superb, as does the E39 M5, especially after replacing the very muted stock exhaust with an Eisenmann Sport.

[dibbly dobbler]

Neil.D said:

Hi Dibbly...

The straight 6 cylinder BMW engines have always sounded good IMO.

Yes they are quite muted but thats part of the appeal isnt it?

Although you can buy an after market exhaust I think that can ruin the acoustics. The straight 6 growls at revs but when tinkered with it loses its character and can start to sound coarse + cheap.

I remember hearing a friends 3L M3 with a Scorpion exhaust. It was loud and could be confused with any old 4 cylinder with a massive chavvy exhaust. Awful.

The M cars do have a bassy undertone at low revs which I love. I am tempted to upgrade from the stock one but find the anonymity somewhat alluring

Hi Neil.

It's a little bit better with some revs so maybe I just need to drive about in second all the time

Think it's another bad case of V8 lust - the 6 cylinder petrol is so damned efficient though

[5678]

Quite pleased with both of mine, 2.5ltr 6cyl and 4.8ltr 8cyl.

[dibbly dobbler]

5678 said:

Quite pleased with both of mine, 2.5ltr 6cyl and 4.8ltr 8cyl.

How woofly is the v8 ?

[5678]

dibbly dobbler said:

5678 said:

Quite pleased with both of mine, 2.5ltr 6cyl and 4.8ltr 8cyl.

How woofly is the v8 ?

It's fairly muted, especially from inside, the noise is always there though, giving a reassuring rumble. From outside it sounds significantly more substantial, without sounding like it wants attention. I've seen a good few youtube videos with resonators removed or rear boxes changed, I don't think it's the sort of car for that though.

[dibbly dobbler]

5678 said:

dibbly dobbler said:

5678 said:

Quite pleased with both of mine, 2.5ltr 6cyl and 4.8ltr 8cyl.

How woofly is the v8 ?

It's fairly muted, especially from inside, the noise is always there though, giving a reassuring rumble. From outside it sounds significantly more substantial, without sounding like it wants attention. I've seen a good few youtube videos with resonators removed or rear boxes changed, I don't think it's the sort of car for that though.

Hmm - think what I want is a 4 door saloon that sounds like a TVR. It ain't happening

[rassi]

dibbly dobbler said:

5678 said:

dibbly dobbler said:

5678 said:

Quite pleased with both of mine, 2.5ltr 6cyl and 4.8ltr 8cyl.

How woofly is the v8 ?

It's fairly muted, especially from inside, the noise is always there though, giving a reassuring rumble. From outside it sounds significantly more substantial, without sounding like it wants attention. I've seen a good few youtube videos with resonators removed or rear boxes changed, I don't think it's the sort of car for that though.

Hmm - think what I want is a 4 door saloon that sounds like a TVR. It ain't happening

Get an E39 M5, put a SuperSprint X-pipe and an Eisenmann or SuperSprint exhaust on it, and I guarantee you that you wont be disappointed!

[Max M4X WW]

E39 540i - Too quiet really but don't want to mess about with things and make it too loud!

[dibbly dobbler]

rassi said:

dibbly dobbler said:

5678 said:

dibbly dobbler said:

5678 said:

Quite pleased with both of mine, 2.5ltr 6cyl and 4.8ltr 8cyl.

How woofly is the v8 ?

It's fairly muted, especially from inside, the noise is always there though, giving a reassuring rumble. From outside it sounds significantly more substantial, without sounding like it wants attention. I've seen a good few youtube videos with resonators removed or rear boxes changed, I don't think it's the sort of car for that though.

Hmm - think what I want is a 4 door saloon that sounds like a TVR. It ain't happening

Get an E39 M5, put a SuperSprint X-pipe and an Eisenmann or SuperSprint exhaust on it, and I guarantee you that you wont be disappointed!

I'm sure you're right but in reality I probably lack the bottle to fork out on a car of that age which has the potential to be a money pit