2011 coupe not as loud as 2008 sedan

Beck · 10-24-2013, 01:31 AM

Just picked up a 2011 coupe with 10k miles (DCT) and traded in a 2008 sedan with 36k miles (manual).

For some reason the engine sounds are more muted on the new car from the inside... noticeably so. Sounds more distant and more muffled. Still sounds good but just not as impressive as on the e90 traded in.

I'm at a loss as to why.

Any theories?

pkimM3r · 10-24-2013, 01:33 AM

Placebo effect?

Beck · 10-24-2013, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Placebo effect?

Serious answers please.

Definitely not placebo effect. It's not like I ever thought the coupe was somehow more luxurious and hence more insulated or something.

Beck · 10-24-2013, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lute

When cars and engines age they get noisier. The pipes, the mufflers, the valve train, the door seals, all break in.

Another theory is the MT just allows the car to be louder and meaner.

Yep thought about this being a possible reason. I didn't think there could be that much more physical 'breaking in" between 11k and 36k though...

So nobody's ever noticed anything similar going from an older M3 to a new one (with similar mileage to my cars), from sedan to coupe, or from MT to DCT?

mdosu · 10-24-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Placebo effect?

Lower fold down rear seat effect?

Edward · 10-24-2013, 11:26 AM

26,000 extra miles on the exhaust as long as both are original. That much driving on an exhaust will break down a good amount of the packing and cause the exhaust to get louder. Ever see an E36 3 series on the road that sounds like its bellowing with its old stock exhaust with 175,000 miles on it? Those cars were never that loud when purchased new in the mid 1990s.

Wolfinwolfsclothing · 10-24-2013, 11:30 AM

I felt the opposite...08 e92 m3 to 11 e92 m3 dct and the 11 is/was louder...has been replaced with various x pipes and axel backs since though.

FogCityM3 · 10-24-2013, 11:31 AM

Was also going to say as someone alluded to above that maybe one had fold down seats and the other one didn't? Other than that, larger/differently shaped cabin so possibly different acoustics (more resonance and sound bouncing in larger cabin)?

Beck · 10-24-2013, 08:09 PM

Thanks guys, I guess it could be from one or multiple reasons you guys have mentioned. Just find it so weird how big of a difference there is.

And some of the theories about the exhaust needing to break in I'm not sure applies because it's the sound coming from the front of the car (engine/induction) that seems to be muted compared to the older car. I feel like I have to drive at 1-2k RPM higher than before to get a similar volume. And even when I get it to the same volume, the sound seems muffled compared to the old car.

If somehow this is because the car has 25k miles less, then hopefully things break in and get louder and more visceral soon cause I miss that the old sound.

Maybe the Active Sound in this new M3 is broken. J/K

Vic311 · 10-24-2013, 09:32 PM

Its not really that weird. No two cars, even identical ones, are exactly alike.

catpat8000 · 10-24-2013, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward

26,000 extra miles on the exhaust as long as both are original. That much driving on an exhaust will break down a good amount of the packing and cause the exhaust to get louder. Ever see an E36 3 series on the road that sounds like its bellowing with its old stock exhaust with 175,000 miles on it? Those cars were never that loud when purchased new in the mid 1990s.

Many times I've thought my e90 M3 is getting louder every year but that's a subjective opinion for which I have no physical evidence.

I do recall being disappointed with the car when I bought it 3 yrs ago because it was too muted and too quiet. Now it seems to be startlingly loud. I can't tell if it's me or the car which is different.

Maybe I'm just older.

Pat

to///m · 10-25-2013, 07:26 AM

My M3 just got louder too, like significantly louder and sounds alot more aggressive, its weird... oo ya, thats right, i put MS test pipes and AE performance exhaust on yesterday...

holy sh*t it sounds like a demon, HIGHLY recommended set up if you want to go louder but still DD-able

M4Now! · 10-25-2013, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lute

When cars and engines age they get noisier. The pipes, the mufflers, the valve train, the door seals, all break in.

WHS^

The muffler breaks in over time, I've noticed my car is a bit louder now then when first purchased.

Cheers

lockeed · 10-25-2013, 03:01 PM

Larger cabin on the sedan, 4 doors/seals could let in more "noise" maybe?

10-24-2013, 01:31 AM	#1
Beck Private First Class 17 Rep 149 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SOCAL iTrader: (2)	2011 coupe not as loud as 2008 sedan Just picked up a 2011 coupe with 10k miles (DCT) and traded in a 2008 sedan with 36k miles (manual). For some reason the engine sounds are more muted on the new car from the inside... noticeably so. Sounds more distant and more muffled. Still sounds good but just not as impressive as on the e90 traded in. I'm at a loss as to why. Any theories? __________________
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10-24-2013, 01:33 AM	#2
pkimM3r Banned 209 Rep 7,298 Posts Drives: m3 saloon in granny mode. Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: lost angeles iTrader: (0)	Placebo effect?
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10-24-2013, 11:26 AM	#6
Edward Colonel 377 Rep 2,982 Posts Drives: 2013.9999 E92 Jerez ZCP Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	26,000 extra miles on the exhaust as long as both are original. That much driving on an exhaust will break down a good amount of the packing and cause the exhaust to get louder. Ever see an E36 3 series on the road that sounds like its bellowing with its old stock exhaust with 175,000 miles on it? Those cars were never that loud when purchased new in the mid 1990s.
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10-24-2013, 11:30 AM	#7
Wolfinwolfsclothing Banned 37 Rep 1,312 Posts Drives: E92 ///M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: B-roads iTrader: (2)	I felt the opposite...08 e92 m3 to 11 e92 m3 dct and the 11 is/was louder...has been replaced with various x pipes and axel backs since though.
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10-24-2013, 11:31 AM	#8
FogCityM3 Colonel 500 Rep 2,400 Posts Drives: M3 (E90) & Porsche GT3 RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Was also going to say as someone alluded to above that maybe one had fold down seats and the other one didn't? Other than that, larger/differently shaped cabin so possibly different acoustics (more resonance and sound bouncing in larger cabin)?
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10-24-2013, 08:09 PM	#9
Beck Private First Class 17 Rep 149 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SOCAL iTrader: (2)	Thanks guys, I guess it could be from one or multiple reasons you guys have mentioned. Just find it so weird how big of a difference there is. And some of the theories about the exhaust needing to break in I'm not sure applies because it's the sound coming from the front of the car (engine/induction) that seems to be muted compared to the older car. I feel like I have to drive at 1-2k RPM higher than before to get a similar volume. And even when I get it to the same volume, the sound seems muffled compared to the old car. If somehow this is because the car has 25k miles less, then hopefully things break in and get louder and more visceral soon cause I miss that the old sound. Maybe the Active Sound in this new M3 is broken. J/K __________________ Last edited by Beck; 10-24-2013 at 08:19 PM..
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10-24-2013, 09:32 PM	#10
Vic311 Banned 42 Rep 1,463 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Its not really that weird. No two cars, even identical ones, are exactly alike.
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10-25-2013, 07:26 AM	#12
to///m Lieutenant 264 Rep 587 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 CX Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (3) Garage List 2023 BMW M3 CX [9.50] 2018 BMW X5 [0.00] 2018 Ford Raptor [0.00]	My M3 just got louder too, like significantly louder and sounds alot more aggressive, its weird... oo ya, thats right, i put MS test pipes and AE performance exhaust on yesterday... holy sht it sounds like a demon, HIGHLY recommended set up if you want to go louder but still DD-able __________________ 2023 BG G80 ///M3 COMP XDRIVE* Dinan CF Intake \| Valvetronic SS Full Exhaust \| AST Adjustable Springs \| UNIT 17 Front Splitter \| UNIT 17 Sideskirts \| BC Forged HSC21 Wheels 20x10 et12 / 20x11 et12
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10-25-2013, 03:01 PM	#14
lockeed Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 266 Posts Drives: E90 & E46 M3 E39 M5 E36 325is Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Quebec iTrader: (0)	Larger cabin on the sedan, 4 doors/seals could let in more "noise" maybe? __________________ ___________________________________ 08' M3 Sedan / 08' M3 Coupe / 06 M5 / 03' 996 Targa / 01' 740i / 02' M3 coupe / 01' M5 / 01' 740i Sport / 00' 740i / 94' 325is / 94' 535i / 93' 735i / 91' 850i / 91 E30 325i / 87' 325is / 85' 325e coupe / 04' E55 AMG / 72' Citroen SM
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