Active Sound delete impressions

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

More than anything it's just an awful marketing decision

How they didn't realize that this would be poorly received is beyond me...

But it's not poorly received: if you take a look at the responses here - and these are enthusiasts - only a handful of us care.

I'd speculate that those of us who care probably spent the first 10 years of our driving lives working on cars either out of necessity or interest, but just a guess.

The whole idea is still stunning to me, but clearly BMW has focus-grouped this and figured out most people don't care and this thread proves their hypothesis.

[dclowd9901]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

But it's not poorly received: if you take a look at the responses here - and these are enthusiasts - only a handful of us care.

I'd speculate that those of us who care probably spent the first 10 years of our driving lives working on cars either out of necessity or interest, but just a guess.

The whole idea is still stunning to me, but clearly BMW has focus-grouped this and figured out most people don't care and this thread proves their hypothesis.

I wouldn't make any generalizations about people based on such a trifling feature. I've spent quite a bit of time in an engine bay and under a car, and I love the sound of a roaring engine.

But I also like talking to my fiancee. And I also like listening to music. And I also like quiet from time to time. If someone asked me, "Would you like your car to be whisper quiet when you're not driving hard, and sound powerful and angry and you are?" I wouldn't be able to get "YES" out fast enough. I think their decision makes the car a better all-rounder. If you wanted something more harsh, maybe an Alfa 4c was a missed opportunity? This is a road car, after all.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by dclowd9901

If you wanted something more harsh, maybe an Alfa 4c was a missed opportunity? This is a road car, after all.

It's not about harsh / not harsh, it's about fake. I buy the car for the mechanicals and I want to hear them as they are for better or worse. Besides, cars are for driving, not talking j/k

I was also gonna say: "Don't worry, wanting to talk to your fiance will go away soon enough" ... but I didn't think it would be appropriate.

[Lups]

Cant we get over this?

They could've recorded kittens playing and put it on the speakers, the point is still this this car goes well, and with the soundtrack, or without it, I love it.

Mine got a new boost today, so I just need to get all the details in (fucking translations and not knowing any of this shit in this language) and I will laugh with you all for thinking a bit of sound matters, when there could be a lot more!

[dclowd9901]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I was also gonna say: "Don't worry, wanting to talk to your fiance will go away soon enough" ... but I didn't think it would be appropriate.

Credit where credit's due: that was funny. I am a divorcee, after all. If you can't grow a sense of humor after that joyride...

Re: ASD -- Agree to disagree. I just don't like being grouped up with civilians when it comes to cars, as I'm sure anyone with a sufficiently extensive history of tool time would agree

[M3guy3]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

More than anything it's just an awful marketing decision

How they didn't realize that this would be poorly received is beyond me...

its almost unbelievable that BMW put this into the cars. i would love to hear the behind closed doors part from the employees. a lot of people must have been against this and the renaming of the M3 coupe.

overall i think its clear that active sound is not the deal breaker. but its still just super funny concept. I think its funny more than anything else. i remember telling my friend about active sound, we had a good laugh. Yet he still wants a F80 regardless.

[Deviant]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

hmmm I also have the Eisn full system coming and thought about how the AS would be influenced by the eisn but figured I would just leave the AS on and see what it sounds like. Since I am still waiting for my Eisn (black series) to get shipped ill get to hear your feedback OP before I make the trek down to EAS to have it installed.

Def report back once you install it tomorrow if you can on the AS etc.. it would be much appreciated!

I'm in the exact same boat as you brotha. Same system and same concerns. My hope was that the full Eisenmann with DP's that I wouldn't need any AS as it would be loud enough in Sport+ and quiet enough in Comfort. I can't decide if I want to code it out while I'm down there as I'm already doing coding. :/

PM me when you think you'll be going to EAS maybe we can do it at the same time and compare. Are you getting DP's as well?

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

But it's not poorly received: if you take a look at the responses here - and these are enthusiasts - only a handful of us care.

I'd speculate that those of us who care probably spent the first 10 years of our driving lives working on cars either out of necessity or interest, but just a guess.

The whole idea is still stunning to me, but clearly BMW has focus-grouped this and figured out most people don't care and this thread proves their hypothesis.

I don't agree. I think if they didn't do there would be no complaints about it. there are many comments made by basically every single publication that has reviewed this car, and it is a talking point, and imo a controversial one at that.

I had a 1m, and the sound in stock form was fine to me, it dint need any sound enhancement. this car, with windows down has a lot of turbo noise which IMO sounds good. with a more open aftermarket exhaust system and intake system, that noise will be amplified, which is ideal.

the synthetic and overly enhanced sound is IMO not necessary, and is either something that people don't care about or don't like. essentially no one, and no reviewer likes the idea of the active sound. that is why I think it was a mistake.

:twocents:

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

I don't agree. I think if they didn't do there would be no complaints about it. there are many comments made by basically every single publication that has reviewed this car, and it is a talking point, and imo a controversial one at that.

I had a 1m, and the sound in stock form was fine to me, it dint need any sound enhancement. this car, with windows down has a lot of turbo noise which IMO sounds good. with a more open aftermarket exhaust system and intake system, that noise will be amplified, which is ideal.

the synthetic and overly enhanced sound is IMO not necessary, and is either something that people don't care about or don't like. essentially no one, and no reviewer likes the idea of the active sound. that is why I think it was a mistake.

:twocents:

I strongly believe the sound track was an attempt by BMW to appeal to the NAV8 guys that had it in the previous S65.

Myself and I suspect others coming from the N54/55 motors would have had no problem with the note characteristics of the current S55 un-amplified, as was the case for the T6. And yes, with the right aftermarket exhaust the natural sound of the turbos became enhanced to which was well received.

But BMW is smart, they put it back on us to buy an 8K MPE if we were not happy with the current sound track, and even then a delete sound button is still not an option I believe.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Deviant

I'm in the exact same boat as you brotha. Same system and same concerns. My hope was that the full Eisenmann with DP's that I wouldn't need any AS as it would be loud enough in Sport+ and quiet enough in Comfort. I can't decide if I want to code it out while I'm down there as I'm already doing coding. :/

PM me when you think you'll be going to EAS maybe we can do it at the same time and compare. Are you getting DP's as well?

ok awesome lets do that. I plan on "fingers crossed" getting my system installed next friday. It ships this friday so that should be enough time. I would be in first thing friday morning 9am.

I went no downpipes at this time bc I want to hear how loud the system is first before I add more to the volume

but we could do a side by side vid if you have DPs so we can show the difference to the community

[Deviant]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

ok awesome lets do that. I plan on "fingers crossed" getting my system installed next friday. It ships this friday so that should be enough time. I would be in first thing friday morning 9am.

I went no downpipes at this time bc I want to hear how loud the system is first before I add more to the volume

but we could do a side by side vid if you have DPs so we can show the difference to the community

Ok cool. My plan is to hopefully get a GoPro along with external mic and SPL meter to do some before/after vids of stock vs full Eisenmann. My only concern, if it can really be called a concern, is that I've heard the sound characteristics of these aftermarket exhausts really change after being broken in. This would still be a ton of fun though. Could get some good photo ops too.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Deviant

Ok cool. My plan is to hopefully get a GoPro along with external mic and SPL meter to do some before/after vids of stock vs full Eisenmann. My only concern, if it can really be called a concern, is that I've heard the sound characteristics of these aftermarket exhausts really change after being broken in. This would still be a ton of fun though. Could get some good photo ops too.

No doubt! Let's try and work it out then. Plus toms photographer is amazing he can take pics as well I'll know more this Friday when I get the tracking #

[Deviant]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

No doubt! Let's try and work it out then. Plus toms photographer is amazing he can take pics as well I'll know more this Friday when I get the tracking #

Cool, yeah I'm awaiting the same from Nate as we have the same exhausts coming to the same place. They can be riding partners on the UPS plane/truck.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Deviant

Cool, yeah I'm awaiting the same from Nate as we have the same exhausts coming to the same place. They can be riding partners on the UPS plane/truck.

lol awesome! did you go with black series as well?

do you know if Tom@EAS can even code off the AS? I might have to shoot him a text and ask

[Deviant]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

lol awesome! did you go with black series as well?

do you know if Tom@EAS can even code off the AS? I might have to shoot him a text and ask

I don't see why not. They do all the other coding which I'm getting done at the same time. I still can't decide if I want it on or off. It's driving me nuts. I wish I could flip it on and off and test it out for a bit.

And yes, black series as well. We'll have to fight once we get there to see who gets the prettiest one. I got the resonated pipes since I'm doing the Eisenmann downpipes as well. Oh and then getting the JB4 done as well.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Deviant

I don't see why not. They do all the other coding which I'm getting done at the same time. I still can't decide if I want it on or off. It's driving me nuts. I wish I could flip it on and off and test it out for a bit.

And yes, black series as well. We'll have to fight once we get there to see who gets the prettiest one. I got the resonated pipes since I'm doing the Eisenmann downpipes as well. Oh and then getting the JB4 done as well.

haha nice! I went with ESS. so lets get together friday via pm once we get shipping confirmation

[Deviant]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

haha nice! I went with ESS. so lets get together friday via pm once we get shipping confirmation

Cool, I just PM'd you my contact info.

[purdyawesome]

Just for the record- there are owners that disagree with most of the comments here- I happen to be one of them. I think the F80 sounds ridiculously awesome. I think the active sound is actually very quiet. When I roll down the windows, I don't hear any sort of different tone. Nor does it bother me that BMW chose to use it in this iteration. I believe the M engineers to be exceedingly good at their craft and am not going to question anything they chose to do in the design process. There's almost nothing I dislike on the vehicle as delivered in stock form (I wish the front end was dropped more evenly with the rear but that's it). I have owned V8 cars- yes they sound good- but I like my F80 better. It sounds "fake"? Or does it sound "different"? I say "different". I've driven E92's and yeah they sound good. Again, I like this better. I wish there was more focus on people enjoying their new M3's/M4's and less people whining about reviews written by idiotic journalists, and complaining about little creaking noises and exhaust notes. Call me devils advocate- or paint me crazy- but my single favorite thing about my car is how goddam beautiful it sounds.

[purdyawesome]

If someone wants to code my M3 to crank up the active sound blasting out of my HK stereo, perhaps I'll ditch my Spotify acct and listen to some "real music".

[AreOut]

Originally Posted by purdyawesome

"real music".

well I'm not sure if it's really real...

[StealYourFace]

I think AS will have a cool future once it gets refined further.

One thing it is missing, is a mechanical aspect. BMW NA 6s, especially M engines with their noisier solid lifter cams have a very satisfying mechanical sound as engine speed increases. Even my n52 has quite a bit that can be heard above 3500 rpm. If that can get that valvetrain sound incorporated it would be awesome.

[8600RPM]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

More than anything it's just an awful marketing decision

How they didn't realize that this would be poorly received is beyond me...

It sounds like you don't understand marketing at all.

1. Enthusiasts like many on here , myself included, balk at the tech but in the end nobody (or so few) will proceed to not purchase an f80 due to the active sound. So it's a wash in terms of how it effects their core enthusiast buyers.

2. More importantly are non enthusiasts who test drive a car or who don't care abut why it sounds good..they are drawn to the aggressive sound that sounds sporty. These are buyers that may shy from an m if it's too quiet or if it doesn't sound like a 80k sports car to their ears. Active sounds attracts buyers here who never will know the sound is fake or won't care.
.
so frankly it's brilliant marketing, as is turbo technology but that's a different yet related arguement.

In end active sound only increased buyers and did nothing to ultimately drive buyers away. Hypothetically some may say it was a deal breaker but I doubt it truly drove anyone away from buying if they were legit buyers in first place