Alpine A110 induction pipe noise

Alpine A110 induction pipe noise

Author
Discussion

rosedavid

Original Poster:

7 posts

1 month

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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I am considering buying an Alpine. After initially enjoying a test drive in a Pure without sports exhaust, in a second car (a Legende) I found the noise too intrusive just running along at 50 mph. I understand this is because of the sports exhaust fitted to most cars. However it has been suggested you can disconnect the pipe (induction pipe?) that leads to the bulkhead and someone has helpfully posted some pictures showing he did this and it really helped to reduce the general background noise. Have other people done this to their sports exhaust? What is your experience if you have done this. If I had to limit my search to cars without the sports exhaust I would have a very limited number of cars to choose from, but if I can disconnect that pipe without it affecting the engine and the warranty then perhaps I can consider cars with the sports exhaust. It is all a bit confusing because some people say it is not noisy in normal mode, only in sport or track mode but I found it noisy in normal. I am a GT type driver who likes a quiet car when cruising and only wants an interesting noise when coming off the motorway onto a B road.

fossett

42 posts

75 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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rosedavid

Original Poster:

7 posts

1 month

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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Looks ideal. Many thanks.

tony993

361 posts

224 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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There's no text explaining what's going on there, but it looks like a bung will insert into the hole, at about shoulder height, behind the passenger seat (for RHD) so you'll be able to pull it out for more noise when you want it & put it back in for some quiet motorway cruising.

THP150

338 posts

160 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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rosedavid

Original Poster:

7 posts

1 month

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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Many thanks folks. The bung behind the seat is so cheap and simple I could buy one, try it out on a car before purchase and then if it did not do the job I have not spent zillions on a car that I do not enjoy. The one that affects the intake might put it out of warranty so that might need more thought but thanks for that option/idea too.

7en

296 posts

20 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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It's strange there was such a difference cruising at 50mph, I think I can only hear noise from the sound pipe on or off the throttle. Would be interesting to try both to see.


rosedavid

Original Poster:

7 posts

1 month

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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Interesting. Could be I was going up something of an incline. It was not flat where I was testing. I might need to check things out with another dealer. I do also wonder if there is more noise when it is the uprated engine, 300 hp rather than the 248 hp. Could that be part of the issue?

k_m

130 posts

11 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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rosedavid said:
Many thanks folks. The bung behind the seat is so cheap and simple I could buy one, try it out on a car before purchase and then if it did not do the job I have not spent zillions on a car that I do not enjoy. The one that affects the intake might put it out of warranty so that might need more thought but thanks for that option/idea too.
Not sure what you are talking about!?!
The artificial intake noise is made by that small bypass hose starting at the intake towards intercooler hose and ending at the rear bulkhead. There is no other thing affecting the intake noise. And that "bung" is not an ON/OFF solution when going on a ride, installation takes a while... removing the engine cover, replacing the plastic cup thingy at the bulkhead, loosening the hose clamps and replacing it with the little tube... no pleasure with a hot engine.

rosedavid

Original Poster:

7 posts

1 month

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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Ok, thanks very much for explaining that.

neil-g8km6

203 posts

32 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Posted this a long time ago a simple piece of high density foam does the job. It won't effect your warranty, it does nothing but stop the intrusive noise.

rosedavid

Original Poster:

7 posts

1 month

Thursday 5th December 2024
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Hi Neil, I am going to risk sounding really thick. The simple mod you suggest is on an intake pipe, the induction? Surely that is how the engine breathes so how can it be right to block off that intake? I guess you have done it and had no issues but it does seem odd to me. David

timbo999

1,369 posts

264 months

Thursday 5th December 2024
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I think it just blocks off a sound tube between engine and cabin - not the engine air inlet.

Soloman Dodd

361 posts

51 months

Thursday 5th December 2024
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neil-g8km6 said:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Posted this a long time ago a simple piece of high density foam does the job. It won't effect your warranty, it does nothing but stop the intrusive noise.
I've done that on mine, it works. I've also placed a couple of garden furniture seat cushions behind the seats as well.


rosedavid

Original Poster:

7 posts

1 month

Thursday 5th December 2024
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Thanks. Nice to know others prefer peace when cruising. Chance to listen to Radio 3. Whoops, really given the game away now.

tony993

361 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th December 2024
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Radio 3 is great - until someone starts singing.

neil-g8km6

203 posts

32 months

Thursday 5th December 2024
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Fear not, the intake air filter box is a large black plastic object to the left of the cooling fans. The sound resonator just ports intake noise into the cab and doesn't effect the performance of your car at all, it's all phycological, to some noise=an increase in performance, strange.

tony993

361 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th December 2024
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Perhaps, but if you can hardly hear the engine, it’s one less clue about what the car is doing or is about to do. Already, I’m very short on steering feel, compared to many cars I’ve owned & not being able to hear the engine doesn’t help either. If you can hear the revs jump a tiny fraction, as you accelerate off a wet roundabout, that’s a clue that you’re getting close to a situation you may not want to be in. Hearing it as well as feeling it, or just before you start feeling it is very useful. I’ve got the standard exhaust & no sound pipe, & when I’m not so busy, I’ll be doing something to improve this situation.

I have an aftermarket sports exhaust, with valve, still in its box. I hope to fit it & rig up the valve, so I decide when the valve is open/closed, rather than the car deciding for me.

neil-g8km6

203 posts

32 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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I have a 2018 PE, comes standard with the sports exhaust and internally piped sound resonator,
you would have to be profoundly deaf not to hear the engine. The fitting of high density foam helped to reduce the induction noise but I also disconnected the sports exhaust actuator, simple really as it's electrically operated and just needed disconnecting. It's found behind the off side rear wheel arch, I did a write up. Yes it reduced the drone at motorway speeds but reduced the cars performance so I reconnected it. I presume it plays an important part in the cars mapping of the ECU, performance tailed off higher up the rev range.
I do track the car regularly where noise is not an issue, it's the boaring motorway driving that annoys me.
Good luck with hitting your sports exhaust, hope you enjoy it.