Cars that sound as good as M135i but with smaller engine?

[Whitefall]

Hi guys,

I’m considering my next car purchase and have come here for some advice, if you’d be so kind!

I got driven by a friend in their M135i and I fell in love with the sound (I think it sounds better than M140i). I’ve been debating purchasing it ever since.

I think a 3L engine would be wasted on me to be honest. I enjoy the acceleration sure, but I’m not going to be hooning it around. So I thought I’d check in with the experts here and see if there are some cars with smaller engines that compete on the sound front.

Many thanks,
Whitefall

[anonymous-user]

You'll struggle to find something that sounds as good as the straight 6 in the BMW but then noise is subjective. I've always liked the noise the Abarth 500 makes if thats more your bag?

[anonymous-user]

Whitefall said:

Hi guys,

I’m considering my next car purchase and have come here for some advice, if you’d be so kind!

I got driven by a friend in their M135i and I fell in love with the sound (I think it sounds better than M140i). I’ve been debating purchasing it ever since.

I think a 3L engine would be wasted on me to be honest. I enjoy the acceleration sure, but I’m not going to be hooning it around. So I thought I’d check in with the experts here and see if there are some cars with smaller engines that compete on the sound front.

Many thanks,
Whitefall

Wasn't there a 130i with the I6 and no turbos? That has the potential to sound even better!

[Jimmy Recard]

dme123 said:

Wasn't there a 130i with the I6 and no turbos? That has the potential to sound even better!

If it's got to be a straight six, forget the 3 litre motors and get the lesser-spotted Chevrolet Epica 2.0

[TooMany2cvs]

Jimmy Recard said:

If it's got to be a straight six, forget the 3 litre motors and get the lesser-spotted Chevrolet Epica 2.0

Oh, c'mon...

<chorus>
MX5 umm, 3

[Jimmy Recard]

TooMany2cvs said:

Oh, c'mon...

<chorus>
MX5 umm, 3

According to Autocar, writing about the Epica 2.0:
"The performance isn’t mind blowing and the engine does feel a little gutless at low revs, but once you wind it up past 4000rpm, there’s and almost-sporty growl and a surprising amount of shove."

If that's not what the OP is looking for, I don't know what is

This might be the first time ever that the Epica has been the solution to a problem, but it seems to be tailored to the requirements of the OP

Edited by Jimmy Recard on Sunday 21st January 14:47

[GroundEffect]

The M54 2.2 straight six is lovely and creamy and with 170PS, it's not going to make you lose your license.

It was available in:

2000-2006 E46 320i, 320Ci
2000-2003 E39 520i
2000-2002 E36/7 Z3 2.2i
2003-2005 E85 Z4 2.2i
2003-2005 E60/E61 520i

Or if you want something newer, the N52 2.5i:

130 kW Applications:
2006 E90 323i (Canada only)
2005-2007 E60/E61 523i
2006-2008 E85 Z4 2.5i

150 kW Applications:
2007-2011 E90 323i (Canada only)
2010-2011 F10 523i
2009-2011 E89 Z4 sDrive23i

160 kW Applications:
2005-2010 E83 X3 2.5si, xDrive25i
2005-2010 E60/E61 525i, 525xi (except United States and Canada)
2005-2011 E90/E91/E92/E93 325i, 325xi (except United States and Canada)
2005-2008 E85 Z4 2.5si

There's not many inline 6 engines any more, especially non-turbocharged since they're worse on fuel than an i4, and harder to package.

[Whitefall]

The BMW straight 6 just sounds incredible, but I have to admit - I’m YouTubing videos of the Abarth exhaust sound and I’m impressed. That’s definitely the right territory

Edit: I’ll check out the M54 now

[ghost83]

Slighter smaller engine but I love the sound of Audi’s 2.5 5cyl

I Admit though BMW’s straight 6 is lovely

[Whitefall]

The 595 competizione sounds great! Crazily good for a 1.4 litre, I'm not entirely sure how they managed to get that sound out of the engine but it gives me hope that there may be some other suggestions out there!

[morgrp]

volvo 5 banger - if you want dirt cheap and sound of an audi Quattro a naturally aspirated 20v Volvo 850 is the one - the later ones aremore muted but still sound great

[s m]

GroundEffect said:

The M54 2.2 straight six is lovely and creamy and with 170PS, it's not going to make you lose your license.

It was available in:

2000-2006 E46 320i, 320Ci
2000-2003 E39 520i
2000-2002 E36/7 Z3 2.2i
2003-2005 E85 Z4 2.2i
2003-2005 E60/E61 520i

Or still smaller than 3 litres and available for SOTW money

[ZX10R NIN]

RS3/TT RS or a last of the line Focus ST which with a bit of exhaust work will release a lovely 5 cylinder warble.

[IntriguedUser]

325ti
Mazda mx6
Focus ST 5 CYCLINDWE
Volvo c30 t5
High revving honda of some sort

[NDNDNDND]

Why not just plug in one of those Soundracer things?

I mean, that's roughly how the M135i does it anyway...

[Toed64]

NDNDNDND said:

Why not just plug in one of those Soundracer things?

I mean, that's roughly how the M135i does it anyway...

Really? Does the M135i use piped noise?

Neither my 130i nor my 135i do and their exhaust note is utterly simple to turn up slightly by blocking the vacuum line to the exhasut flap actuator. I wouldn't want the exhaust noise any louder.

[culpz]

IntriguedUser said:

325ti

I'm surprised that this wasn't mentioned sooner. Cheap as chips to buy and is a small, compact, BMW-badged hatchback with an 190bhp 2.5 6-cylinder engine.

I suppose it was a baby M135i back in the day. Failing that, a 130i for a bit more cash, as already stated.

[Joeguard1990]

Decat pipe with no silencers and a titanium exhaust.

Put that on any card of your choice and hey presto!

Just remember to swap it out come MOT time.

[dobster68]

Anyone know where I can buy a decat pipe for a 55 plate X3 3.0D Motorsport?! Tried the usual auction site but these are rarer than t*ts on a fish! Many thanks! Andy &#128077;

[Truckosaurus]

Does this fit the bill => https://www.wagner-tuning.uk/500001009.html