Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Listen to BMW's new M5 with its Active Sound system enabled vs. disabled

Pushrods and overhead valves or dual overhead cams; naturally aspirated, turbocharged or supercharged; it simply doesn't matter – there's nothing quite like the sound of a powerful V8 engine. Or is there?

The engineers from BMW have been known to make some beautifully melodic powerplants over the years, but the Bavarian automaker has more recently taken a decidedly different approach to tingling the eardrums of Ultimate Driving Enthusiasts: pumping engine sounds through the internal stereo system of its latest M5 sedan.

This technique, not surprisingly, has proven controversial. We can't grant you the opportunity to drive one yourself so that you can hear it with your own ears, but, thanks to the boys and girls from Bimmerpost, we can offer the next best thing. Listen to one member's 2012 M5 with BMW's Active Sound system turned on, followed by a run of the same car with the system disabled via a pulled fuse in the video below.

VIDEO and Source
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/l...em-enabled-vs/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Ok so what I've got from this whole exhaust note coming from the speakers is that its based on a pre-programmed recording? If that's so what happens when you put an aftermarket exhaust on the car? The fact that BMW did this is blah in my book. The fact that BMW did this on an M car is even more ridonkulous

rominl

iTrader: (4)

so besides the volume, doesn't seem like that much difference? with it enabled it's deeper?

ARISTOh

iTrader: (3)

the low db tones are amplified with the recording active...cool, but this is just plain tacky.. i was shocked to hear of BMW doing this..

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

i didn't watch video yet, but perhaps instead of a recording it's more like an 'equalizer/enhancer' that takes the sound (microphone) and modifies it, so if you had aftermarket exhaust it would enhance that too.

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

Nope, it's been all over the trade mags and forums. It's a recording of the engine in a laboratory setting. Stays on even when stereo is off, obviously. How they couldn't pipe an acoustic tube or something into the cabin us beyond me. Very sad. One really bad blemish on an otherwise exemplary vehicle.

edgeucated

iTrader: (4)

i wonder what happens when something goes wrong with the car. Like if the engine started sputtering but you kept on flooring the car, would the speakers play a different tune?

I8ABMR

weak............and shameful . They do not need to do this. Its like a hot chick with an amazing body but yet she feels the need to stuff her bra................weak

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

this made me laugh. nice metaphor

I8ABMR

aftermarket exhaust is the boob job. The BS system they are using is stuffing the bra. LMAO

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

I hate BMW for doing this. Seriously? The car sounded fine without the sound effects....

I8ABMR

I agree. Its a high performance V8. It doesnt need this fake BS. If they are concerned with ride comfort and a quiet interior then simply create a sports mode that controls an exhaust system that is valved so ti can get insanely loud when the driver wants to hear it. Seems much more natural, engaging,and desired

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

I don't know about M5, but the 550 and 750 has one of the exhaust tip on each side is closed by a valve, and it opens when needed, but when I floored my car, I don't really hear any exhuast sound changing. So they are mainly for release the pressure instead of making sound. I guess the engine itself is too quiet.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yup that's what i think as well. i don't think anything is "wrong" with the system off, why not just let it be

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

i think this is the future. say in 5 years the M5 is all electric. want it to sound like a golf cart? what if you can select presets for the sound? F1? Rolls Royce? Golf Cart? Flintstones car?