E92 M3 sounds crap at idle...

[panic]

Today i went over the BMW dealer to have a look at a new M3 just arrived for another customer, (mine is due for the first week of feb)...the seller switched the engine on and let it idle a bit...what a great disillution!! the engine sounded CRAP to me, no rumble, no depth, no nothing...Could be that I'm used to my griffith 500 and to a C3 vette (with a 570hp SB), but i'm also used to the Cayenne S idle for example (my previous daily driver) which was somehow low but had feeling...but this car sounds like a summer breath!!

Edited by panic on Wednesday 2nd January 19:50

[DoctorD]

Don't worry, it sounds much better when underway. It doesn't sound crap at idle though, not like an M5/M6, the M3 in fact sounds similar to the old E46 M3 (how did BMW engineer a V8 to sound like a straight 6?). I was at the launch event last summer and we compared the M3 to an RS4, which sounded much better at lower speeds but the M3 sounded much better than the RS4 at higher speeds. It's swings and roundabouts.

[edb49]

I think it sounds quite nice from cold if you stand at the front of the car. Agreed that it isn't exactly an exciting sound at idle though.

But then, if you're buying a car for how it sounds idling, then I'd say you've got bigger problems...

[panic]

edb49 said:

But then, if you're buying a car for how it sounds idling, then I'd say you've got bigger problems...

Well, of course i dont buy a car for how it idles but for all other kind of performances...i have quite some experience of sport (and race) cars, an engine shows its character not only at full open throttle but also at idle, if you've got right hears to listen....This engine seems to be too much 'addomesticated', maybe has been forced to too many compromises...

Dont take me wrong, i bought my M3 (white) and i'm glad i did, only that maybe the car must be open up to more politically UN-correct territories.

Edited by panic on Wednesday 2nd January 22:37

Edited by panic on Wednesday 2nd January 22:37

Edited by panic on Wednesday 2nd January 22:38

[macca]

A tinker with the grif exhaust and a transplant should do the trick. Or just cut the exhaust box out, it's unsightly anyway

[edb49]

panic said:

i have quite some experience of sport (and race) cars, an engine shows its character not only at full open throttle but also at idle, if you've got right hears to listen....This engine seems to be too much 'addomesticated', maybe has been forced to too many compromises...

Absolutely - it is trying very hard to be all things to all men. Lots of M3 owners probably don't want the same rawness you do, but it's nothing that can't be fixed with an aftermarket zorst.

[Neil.D]

Beleive me, nearly ALL M cars sound rabbish at idle.
My M3 Evo sounded shiet, as does my 2000 M5. On these cars its to do with the VANOS system which is a little noisy so its probably just the same thing with the new ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W66tiyjhjM

Edited by Neil.D on Thursday 3rd January 10:46

[Pugsey]

As I watched my mates 997S slowly (but surely) dissappear in my M3s rear view mirror the other day all I could think was "bugger, this car sounds shite at tickover!"....................

Just joking btw Mr panic

[panic]

...Not offence taken pugsey
I'm sure the M3 is going to be a blast...only please indult my sudden disillution for its 'sound' at idle...i'm not used anymore with hard fist into a velvet glove cars, lately i've just beeing playing around with streight bad boys, that's all

Edited by panic on Thursday 3rd January 15:56

[sjp63]

Pugsey said:

As I watched my mates 997S slowly (but surely) dissappear in my M3s rear view mirror the other day all I could think was "bugger, this car sounds shite at tickover!"....................

Just joking btw Mr panic

Did he pull into spearmint rhino's?

[Pugsey]

sjp63 said:

Pugsey said:

As I watched my mates 997S slowly (but surely) dissappear in my M3s rear view mirror the other day all I could think was "bugger, this car sounds shite at tickover!"....................

Just joking btw Mr panic

Did he pull into spearmint rhino's?

[martinnitram]

There is one sure-fire way of changing the sound coming from your M3, it wont cost a penny, is easy to do, and will impress small boys............................JUST REV IT ..........HARD!!

[panic]

martinnitram said:

There is one sure-fire way of changing the sound coming from your M3, it wont cost a penny, is easy to do, and will impress small boys............................JUST REV IT ..........HARD!!

I will for sure!!
(the one that i saw at the dealer and heard at idle wasnt mine...)

[Zod]

So does the M5 V10. Who cares? It sounds utterly manic above 4k rpm.

[C5L]

BMW got the V8 to sound like the old Straight sixes by modifying the firing order of the V8. They said it was a unique firing order for a V8 engine. its also the reason that the DME cannot be programmed for high gains of power (also no spare memory or some rubbish).

M3s have always sounded crap on stock exhausts , supersprint it !! Or Eisenmann if you want to be a gent.

Also at idle most M cars sound like a diesel. under load however you'd be hard pressed to hear better .

[DoctorD]

C5L said:

BMW got the V8 to sound like the old Straight sixes by modifying the firing order of the V8. They said it was a unique firing order for a V8 engine. its also the reason that the DME cannot be programmed for high gains of power (also no spare memory or some rubbish).

And yet so far it seems to have been possible to remap it for 445bhp (up from 414) and 330lb/ft (up from 295), which seems a decent enough gain from a remap.

[panic]

DoctorD said:

C5L said:

BMW got the V8 to sound like the old Straight sixes by modifying the firing order of the V8. They said it was a unique firing order for a V8 engine. its also the reason that the DME cannot be programmed for high gains of power (also no spare memory or some rubbish).

And yet so far it seems to have been possible to remap it for 445bhp (up from 414) and 330lb/ft (up from 295), which seems a decent enough gain from a remap.

Who has achieved this results?

[DoctorD]

DMS. There is a short article in the current edition of BMW Car, and I spoke to the owner a few days ago who now described it as scarily quick. (and it certainly wasn't slow before). It now seems that with a bit of work on the exhaust and intake, plus further work on the ECU that 460 bhp would be eminently possible from this engine.

Edited by DoctorD on Thursday 10th January 10:39

[derestrictor]

DoctorD said:

It now seems that with a bit of work on the exhaust and intake, plus further work on the ECU that 460 bhp would be eminently possible from this engine.

That'll be favourite.

[edb49]

DoctorD said:

C5L said:

BMW got the V8 to sound like the old Straight sixes by modifying the firing order of the V8. They said it was a unique firing order for a V8 engine. its also the reason that the DME cannot be programmed for high gains of power (also no spare memory or some rubbish).

And yet so far it seems to have been possible to remap it for 445bhp (up from 414) and 330lb/ft (up from 295), which seems a decent enough gain from a remap.

Is that on different octane fuel? (E.G. more than 95)