Cars with engine sound through the speakers

[masraum]

I think the first that I heard about enhanced engine sound was BMW having a pipe from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment to allow sound in, but then eventually, they started faking the sound through the speakers.

What I'm wondering, is what happens to the sound of your car, if you change the head unit. Do you lose the sound?

I think Porsche might do the tube thing, but not the fake sound through the stereo thing. Hopefully, they never do.

[HardDrive]

When I first read your post, I thought 'come one, no way that is true'. Dear Lord....it IS true. In the world of LAME, this takes the cake.

[id10t]

I could see where a "totally silent" car like a Prius running on battery could use something like that... perhaps that anemic tweet sound the Jetsons used ... or maybe like an old VW bus

[pwd72s]

Ford does it too...on the ecoboost Mustang, dunno about the other cars. We're going to see more of it, I'm afraid. Car manufacturers are being forced into small displacement turbo engines in order to meet the ever increasing CAFE standards. I don't know if replacing the head unit of the stereo would do the trick. Hopefully there would be some way to disable this.

[RANDY P]

They should have Top Fuel Dragster .MP3 you can download off iTunes for the BMW.

For the record, that corny as hell they do that. Automotive equivalent of stuffing a potato down your pants, either up front or in back.

rjp

[RANDY P]

PS the tube thing makes me think I have an exhaust leak, seriously. You hear exhaust sounds, but the come from BEHIND THE GLOVEBOX..

My STI does that....

[Jeff Higgins]

We used to just put a card in the spokes.

[schwarz633]

I seem to recall something about ANC (active noise cancellation) on our 2010 Equinox. I think it's the same technology that Bose headphones use. Probably had to do it because the I4 DI engine makes so much noise.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

We used to just put a card in the spokes.

LOL! Yea, all you need is a playing card and a clothespin.

My Volt needs a speaker pointing out the front playing engine noises. Pedestrians walking out in front of me has been a problem.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Ford doesn't use fake sound, they run a tube from the intake to the interior so you can better hear the engine. So at least it's not fake.

On the BMWs if you pull the audio system fuse it disables the fake engine noise. So I suspect replacing the audio system has the same effect. It is the lamest of the lame, especially on an M car.

[island911]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

They should have Top Fuel Dragster .MP3 you can download off iTunes for the BMW.

For the record, that corny as hell they do that. Automotive equivalent of stuffing a potato down your pants, either up front or in back.

rjp

Yeah, I was thinking the theme song to Speed Racer would be popular with that crowd. Does the iphone have an app to Japanimate a users sMug Mug within a speed racer helmet ?

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

We used to just put a card in the spokes.

I cringe at the thought of what some of those 1960's baseball cards I put in the spokes are worth today.

Concerning putting sound through the speakers. Might as well make it like ringtones on the phone. Download and pick the ones you want. Today I want to sound like...

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Concerning putting sound through the speakers. Might as well make it like ringtones on the phone. Download and pick the ones you want. Today I want to sound like...

You may be on to something there... Tesla can offer Ferrari V-12 noises on their S model.

[Tobra]

Rather than a tube, I would prefer an open filter element on the intake.

I think it is a rather silly trend.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

They should have Top Fuel Dragster .MP3 you can download off iTunes for the BMW.

SoundRacer VX: Choose your car’s engine sound on the go
"Since then, SoundRacer has developed a number of other devices to give you different engine sounds to play with. There’s a Mustang V8, a Gallardo V10, a Ferrari V12 and a Lexus LFA V10J. We’ve also played with another unit that had a sound like a Harley."
EV Sounds

About $50. SoundRacer

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Rather than a tube, I would prefer an open filter element on the intake.

I think it is a rather silly trend.

Me too...this is a factory intake...Guys on the Bullitt board have complained that they've had problems convincing the California smog testers that it's factory stock, so no CARB sticker. Luckily, there's a pic hidden in the owner's manual.

[///Criss]

Drove a BMWX6M and it had fake sound. It sounded ok, but i couldnt tell. Anyway if you modify the exhaust the audio is disabled. So if i decide on picking one up I will definitely do that mod immediately!

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Ford doesn't use fake sound, they run a tube from the intake to the interior so you can better hear the engine. So at least it's not fake.

On the BMWs if you pull the audio system fuse it disables the fake engine noise. So I suspect replacing the audio system has the same effect. It is the lamest of the lame, especially on an M car.

Certainly lame to us older drivers but these cars are being bought by "kids" who were raised on PS*and XBox. Is it any wonder?

[aigel]

One thing not mentioned here is that the cars are made quiet on the outside nowadays due to noise restrictions / noise laws. These are pretty stringent in some countries. So, all you really have to do is get some decent aftermarket exhaust, disconnect the electronics and you are on your way.

I was aware of the engine noise "simulator" posted above. That is so funny. I was tempted to buy that before, just for S&Gs.

Whatever floats your boat - I probably won't be buying a modern sports car anytime soon. The older ones are more fun and affordable too!

G

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by aigel

One thing not mentioned here is that the cars are made quiet on the outside nowadays due to noise restrictions / noise laws. These are pretty stringent in some countries. So, all you really have to do is get some decent aftermarket exhaust, disconnect the electronics and you are on your way.

I was aware of the engine noise "simulator" posted above. That is so funny. I was tempted to buy that before, just for S&Gs.

Whatever floats your boat - I probably won't be buying a modern sports car anytime soon. The older ones are more fun and affordable too!

G

There is some truth to that, but go listen to the un-synthesized exhaust on a new Mustang GT. Even a bone stock base model sounds wicked. Or basically anything AMG has made since the mid-2000s, my totally stock C63 is still the best sounding car that I've ever owned.