Oh...my...god! 2nd foam bit removed.

C

Chris_D

Elite
 Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.
Removed the 2nd bit of squishy foam stuff from the sound generator pipe on Betty today.
What can I say!? Wish I'd have done this on the first day of ownership- it sounds amaaaaazing! Not too noisy at all imo and definitely very addictive when even only feathering the throttle. This just keeps getting better!
What gives the 3.0l it's throaty growl? Is it the throttle bodies opening up? Induction? My old 323i (m52 engine) didnt sound anything like as sporty as this.
Happy days.
:)
 
The foam is still in the air filter side on mine might just try it with none in
 
Hilly30si said:
The foam is still in the air filter side on mine might just try it with none in
Click to expand...

It's ridiculously loud inside on full throttle.

I always liked it until I sat in the passenger seat and someone else drove it. I couldn't hear a word they were saying.
 
Plus I found when it was too loud on my e85 that it became the sound rather than augmenting the engine noise. It sounded wrong with no foam, when you let off the throttle all sound just vanishes. When it's more subtle as a sound it works with the engine noise and doesn't seem to abrupt.
 
Foam out is the way ahead... But I never took mine all the way out, I left about 2/3 of one bit in. All out made my ears bleed :lol:
 
Drove with the second one removed for a couple of weeks but the roar when flat out was an assault on the ear drums - more like a metallic scream. So second foam now back in.
 
Anyone tried chopping the smaller bit in half? Agree that it's a bit offensive at high revs with none in but with just the smaller bit you lose the bark in the mid range which i really like.
 
I dunno. I might get bored of the novelty value at some point, but for now it's putting a BIG smile on my ugly face! Lol
 
Chris_D said:
I dunno. I might get bored of the novelty value at some point, but for now it's putting a BIG smile on my ugly face! Lol
Click to expand...

Agree lots of smiles

And it's not that noticeable when taking it easy - Mrs Spikey is never in the car unless I'm sub 3k revs - she would have a ceasure at 6k mind :rofl:
 
JimBob78 said:
Anyone tried chopping the smaller bit in half? Agree that it's a bit offensive at high revs with none in but with just the smaller bit you lose the bark in the mid range which i really like.
Click to expand...
Yep although i went a tad further and took out 2/3rds leaving just a third in which sounded great...eventually went for a new sports back box and induction kit which together sounds pretty fab :D
 
Chris_D said:
What gives the 3.0l it's throaty growl? Is it the throttle bodies opening up? Induction? My old 323i (m52 engine) didnt sound anything like as sporty as this.
Happy days.
:)
Click to expand...

Probably the sound generator. It was designed to give a more V8 like sound.
 
DPG said:
Chris_D said:
What gives the 3.0l it's throaty growl? Is it the throttle bodies opening up? Induction? My old 323i (m52 engine) didnt sound anything like as sporty as this.
Happy days.
:)
Click to expand...

Probably the sound generator. It was designed to give a more V8 like sound.
Click to expand...

It does have that V8-like growl to it.
Intrigued to find out how it works. Is it electronic jiggery pokery, or some sort of mechanical acoustic tomfoolery?
 
To much noise in the cabin for my liking with both bits of foam out. But if only the pipe could be extended somewhere so it could be heard from the outside! Now thats a sound I could live with :evil:


Paul
 
Chris_D said:
DPG said:
Chris_D said:
What gives the 3.0l it's throaty growl? Is it the throttle bodies opening up? Induction? My old 323i (m52 engine) didnt sound anything like as sporty as this.
Happy days.
:)
Click to expand...

Probably the sound generator. It was designed to give a more V8 like sound.
Click to expand...

It does have that V8-like growl to it.
Intrigued to find out how it works. Is it electronic jiggery pokery, or some sort of mechanical acoustic tomfoolery?
Click to expand...

Z4 doesn't have bonnet sound insulation and the bonnet itself is Aluminium, so that'll mean a bit more volume vs the E46, for starters. The sound generator will add to that, plus it looks like it's got some kind of resonator chamber, which is probably what brings out the harmonics in the engine noise, giving it that 6 cyl "motorsports" sound. I retrofitted it to my si and really liked it, but removing both pieces of foam was too much - just a lot of ugly noise at the top end which hurts your ears and makes the engine feel like it's running out of poke above 5k.

No V8/V10 warble, either way. The S54 has this crazy metallic chatter at low rpm, which has a similar effect, and then the top end is just mad. No sound generator required!
 
Ahh, that figures. Was wondering what the black box bit that clips onto the cam cover was- resonator chamber. All makes sense now. Interesting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom