RE: PH Blog: BMW M6 and the art of noise
Thursday 28th June 2012
It says something about the state of the world when the PistonHeads review of the latest BMW M car concludes ... you'd be better off buying the diesel version. It says even more when the majority of replies in the comments thread seem to agree too!
BMW prefers the sound to come from the speakersAnd I can't help but think one of the key contributors to this is that the M6 just doesn't sound good. Or rather, anything like you'd hope a 560hp, V8-powered mega-coupe should. I've wittered about the importance of this before and PH opinion on the fact BMW has resorted to digitally enhancing the noise on both the M5 and M6 has been pretty unequivocal. The outcry has been immense but you know the worst thing? Even with this trickery it still fails to excite.
The best way to enjoy a BMW M V8? Actually no.Trouble is, the answer is rubbish.
Looks mean, goes like stink ... sounds dullAn M engine should be all about drama and emotion, not diesel-like power delivery. But this twin-turbo V8 leaves the hairs on your neck very much unpricked. Sure, the M6's V8 can and will rev out to over 7,000rpm and the engineers are very proud of its ability to do so, referring constantly to its 'high-revving character.' But where's the incentive to do so if it's already delivered its maximum torque and doesn't even sound good with a few more revs on the dial? True, BMW is probably only responding to criticism that the old V10 was too peaky. But it's possibly gone too far the other way.
PH Blog: BMW M6 and the art of noise
A roofless M6 ... all the better to enjoy some epic V8 noise, right? Wrong.
BMW prefers the sound to come from the speakers
I spent most of my time on the M6 launch in the coupe, figuring this was the more manly and PH of the two. But, diligent as ever, I did take the Convertible out too and, in fairness, it's a pretty impressive piece of kit with none of the wobble you might expect of a roofless four-seater. As you might hope, given that the reinforcement required tips it over the two-tonne barrier.
We'll talk about that another time but at least, I thought, without a roof I'll be able to get an honest impression of what that undeniably mighty M twin-turbo V8 really sounds like, rather than rely on some synthesised version playing through the speakers.
The best way to enjoy a BMW M V8? Actually no.
And that's a real problem. If you're paying a £30K premium over the 640d - a car that'll do 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds but also achieve 50mpg - you at least want it to sound like an M car. Instead the M6, bar the odd little upshift parp, sounds like an overboosted, downsized four-cylinder. I knew the answer but I even had to check with the engineers - was it a flat-plane crank? Nope. The guys at AMG must be feeling particularly smug too, having managed to make their equivalent 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 sound nearly as epic as the normally aspirated 6.2 it's steadily replacing.
It's an issue affecting BMWs of all shapes and sizes - the diesels sound and behave more like petrols while the petrols do the opposite. Fine, the M6 delivers its peak torque at 1,500rpm. But so does the 640d, and with 465lb ft it's only 35lb ft down and, coupe for coupe, weighs 135kg less!
Looks mean, goes like stink ... sounds dull
Dan
Discussion
You've got to wonder why it sounds so bad. Surely all cross-plane V8s will produce roughly the same exhaust pulses so, with modifications to the exhaust system, it should be possible to make them sound fairly similar? Is it just a question of BMW being overly conservative with the silencing (which could probably be easily resolved after-market) or is it some strange effect of the turbochargers they've used?
Chatting with the AMG engineers on that CLS63 launch they did explain that it is very difficult to get that authentic V8 burble because, as you describe, the turbos do a good job of ironing out those pulses. Pesky things! They did say it took a lot of effort and exhaust tuning to get it to where they wanted it and while it's not quite as epic as the 6.2 it's not too shabby at all. Which would suggest it is possible to make a turbo V8 sound good through 'authentic' sound tuning... BMW does use a different configuration of course, with the turbos in the vee of the engine, so that may be a factor.
And, yes, no E63 coupe sadly. But the XKR and XKR-S both tick the 'epic V8 noise' box quite nicely!
And, yes, no E63 coupe sadly. But the XKR and XKR-S both tick the 'epic V8 noise' box quite nicely!
Edited by Dan Trent on Thursday 28th June 10:49
PastorOfMuppets said:
ZesPak said:
The conclusion isn't "you should buy the diesel" imho, the conclusion is "get the E63 Amg Coupe" 
Be alright if they did one - probably have to go for the saloon.
k. If it's a non-delete option too, that's even more fail. It's every bit as useful and authentic as a rugby prop hilariously dressed up like a drag queen for a stag do.ZesPak said:
:'( too bad, the E coupe looks terrific (much less "melted" than the 6-er imho), and the V8 in the AMG's sounds
Totally agree!! Seems strange they don't do one. The CLK63 didn't seem to be as popular as other AMGs, but surely the CLK63 Black paved the way for an E63 Coupe!? It'd be a very nice motor, although I actually have a real thing for the current E-class saloon anyway - if only I had a few more pennys...strange thing is, when we were at te ring last year we had some down time as the track was being used as an industry day.
we saw the M5 test mule pounding round & it sounded epic, this was say a year before it came out, you could tell it was turbo'd but it still had the big v8 growl that amg cars do.
wonder what went wrong?
we saw the M5 test mule pounding round & it sounded epic, this was say a year before it came out, you could tell it was turbo'd but it still had the big v8 growl that amg cars do.
wonder what went wrong?
I suppose this debate is getting tired but as everything becomes artificial and automated (electric steering/synthesised engine note/fly-by-wire controls/computer managed handling) won't the appeal and point of 'sports' cars become redundant? There will always remain performance cars, as in modes of transport that get you from A to B as quickly as possible, but won't sports cars just disappear? The sole reason for owning one (for me at least) is to experience the connection with the machine and escape from the mundane act of being a passenger behind a steering wheel. I thought an M car was about these things, hence (in previous models) the non-run flat tyres, the big naturally aspirated engines, the manual gearbox (OK only in the US did the E60 M5 get that!). I think this artificial engine noise thing is just the latest (but admittedly the worst) in a string of replacements/facsimiles for the essential elements of driving involvement.
Saying all that, I don't suppose the average M5/M6 buyer, and who BMW are clearly aiming for, will even notice or care about these things, as it's the package and the prestige that they are buying. It's a damn shame but inevitable and unstoppable, the market will change to adapt to this and young buyers now will not even know what cars used to feel like to drive, unless they are lucky enough to sample a decent classic or modern classic.
The really weird thing is, if they could make the new M5/M6 sound exactly as they wanted, why does it sound so dull? Why didn't they just record the E39 M5 engine sound? That sounded exciting just ticking over. I drove an E63 AMG around Brooklands last week, it sounded incredible when accelerating, like a Messerschitt dive bombing a NASCAR. It had legroom in the back too, unlike the M5!
Saying all that, I don't suppose the average M5/M6 buyer, and who BMW are clearly aiming for, will even notice or care about these things, as it's the package and the prestige that they are buying. It's a damn shame but inevitable and unstoppable, the market will change to adapt to this and young buyers now will not even know what cars used to feel like to drive, unless they are lucky enough to sample a decent classic or modern classic.
The really weird thing is, if they could make the new M5/M6 sound exactly as they wanted, why does it sound so dull? Why didn't they just record the E39 M5 engine sound? That sounded exciting just ticking over. I drove an E63 AMG around Brooklands last week, it sounded incredible when accelerating, like a Messerschitt dive bombing a NASCAR. It had legroom in the back too, unlike the M5!
Edited by MiseryStreak on Thursday 28th June 11:08
It's hard to know. I had an E60 M5 and the sound was the defining aspect of the car. The noise, even on part-throttle, between 3-4000rpm was heavenly from inside. I've been assured that it was even better from the outside. It's that more than anything else that makes me want another one.
However, the fact the new versions don't have any sort of V8 madness is a crying shame. BMW have lost sight of the emotive reason for buying such a car over the diesel equivalent. Roll on the 1 year-old 640d GranCoupe...
However, the fact the new versions don't have any sort of V8 madness is a crying shame. BMW have lost sight of the emotive reason for buying such a car over the diesel equivalent. Roll on the 1 year-old 640d GranCoupe...
MiseryStreak said:
...won't the appeal and point of 'sports' cars become redundant?
MiseryStreak said:
...but won't sports cars just disappear?
I expect that we'll just need to look elsewhere. Look to the more raw, simple but effective offerings from the likes of Caterham and maybe even Lotus depending on what their future holds.MiseryStreak said:
...the manual gearbox (OK only in the US did the E60 M5 get that!).
I never will understand what the hell they were up to with that one. People over here were crying out for a manual and the Americans (who so often can't drive a 'stick shift') got them!?MiseryStreak said:
Saying all that, I don't suppose the average M5/M6 buyer, and who BMW are clearly aiming for, will even notice or care about these things, as it's the package and the prestige that they are buying.
Proper shame this. They really need to stop the rip off expensive CSL and (ridiculously priced) GTS versions and have a CSL as a standard offering beside the regular car - at the same kind of money!! Should think that could / would be quite successful.Edited by PastorOfMuppets on Thursday 28th June 11:18
I wouldn't say no to one. I certainly don't think it sounds bad, sure it's no AMG 6.3, but it's nothing Capristo or Akrapovic couldn't improve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAjJQLn42zc&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAjJQLn42zc&fea...
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