BMW 1-Series Forum (F20) 135i - 1Addicts.com > Second Generation 1 Series Forum > 2012 BMW 1-Series Sporthatch (F20) Discussion > Video: M135i cabin engine sound is generated / boosted (Active Sound like M5)
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-30-2012, 01:27 PM   #1
TMP
Brigadier General
TMP's Avatar
United Kingdom
357
Rep
3,022
Posts

Drives: M6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (0)

Lightbulb Video: M135i cabin engine sound is generated / boosted (Active Sound like M5)

BIMMERPOST
     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com
It's strange the M135i project manager didn't mention this in his interview, but like the M5 with its Active Sound Design technology, the cabin noise in my M135i is indeed generated as well

I unplugged the sound symposer device (see part below) and the results are astonishing.

First off, the radio sound doesn't work with (same thing happened for the M5 owner who disabled his M5 Active Sound). Car exhaust sounds normal (as you would expect) thank goodness!!

But that low bassy six cylinder thrum, all the way up to the banshee howl is gone from the cabin. Instead, there is a faint choked turbo six with the dump valve being the loudest thing. It's not nice and the car loses that character noise. Really noticeable from 2500 rpm. But really no reason to unplug the symposer device as it disables the car's audio system. This was done just for testing purposes.

Took a video today as hearing is believing!

Symposer Unplugged - I got up to 6-7k revs




Compared to the 'normal' sound...




I plugged it back I as soon as I could and woohoo - had my car back again! Also put the windows down and enjoyed the exhaust note in sport.

Never ever ever unplug this box (on the top shelf, above the audio amplifier)

__________________
M2 Arrived!
Family 5er

Last edited by TMP; 12-31-2012 at 01:30 PM..
Appreciate 0
      12-30-2012, 01:32 PM   #2
GBR1
Captain
338
Rep
674
Posts

Drives: G05 45e on order
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Hampshire

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TMP View Post
I unplugged the Symposer device (below) and the results are astonishing.

First off the radio sound doesn't work with it unplugged. Car exhaust sounds normal (as you would expect) thank goodness!!
So random question, does the sound change with what stereo option you have fitted??
Appreciate 0
      12-30-2012, 02:21 PM   #3
logiclee
Private First Class
14
Rep
188
Posts

Drives: BMW 116i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Notts, UK

iTrader: (0)

Might be why the M135i got a free business speaker upgrade.

Cheers
Lee
Appreciate 0
      12-30-2012, 02:53 PM   #4
TMP
Brigadier General
TMP's Avatar
United Kingdom
357
Rep
3,022
Posts

Drives: M6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by logiclee View Post
Might be why the M135i got a free business speaker upgrade.

Cheers
Lee
Good point - but the ones on sale now dont? I wonder if it does sound worse with the standard stereo then...maybe like a 5pot
__________________
M2 Arrived!
Family 5er
Appreciate 0
      12-30-2012, 04:20 PM   #5
hwelvaar
Major
Belgium
121
Rep
1,140
Posts

Drives: BMW M135i MT
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Belgium

iTrader: (0)

Personally I don't mind, and I wonder if a HK system would even impove the 'sound' ...
Appreciate 0
      12-30-2012, 08:23 PM   #6
donaldt
Private
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

this is hilarious guys
anyway
I have the HK and the car doesnt sound all that great

I am looking to change the exhaust system to get more noise
Appreciate 0
      12-30-2012, 08:41 PM   #7
ozinaldo
Brigadier General
ozinaldo's Avatar
Portugal
121
Rep
3,070
Posts

Drives: 1M
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lisbon, Portugal

iTrader: (0)

This is so interesting! I was finding the stock M135i so much more accomplished compared to 1M, even posted somewhere that it doesn't really need an upgrade like the 1M. So there was a twist to that.
__________________
"The mark of a great car is one whose overall competence exceeds what you should expect from its individual components and the 1M does just that", Chris Harris.
BMW 1M-SOLD-: TECH: Evolve Race+N55mids, Evolve IC, Michelin PSS, ER cp, aFe filter, CDVx, Vorshlag camber plates, BMS OCC EXTERIOR: trunk spoiler, blacklines, black grills, IND goodies INTERIOR: Alcantara steering wheel, steel pedals, custom mats, MPower e-brake.
Appreciate 0
      12-30-2012, 10:05 PM   #8
BM635
Private
1
Rep
49
Posts

Drives: E24 635CSI
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

So will improving the speakers be as important as upgrading the exhaust?
Appreciate 0
      12-31-2012, 04:38 AM   #9
TMP
Brigadier General
TMP's Avatar
United Kingdom
357
Rep
3,022
Posts

Drives: M6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (0)

Guys remember this is the engine noise inside the car - not the exhaust sound being replicated. The car seems well insulated, so a louder exhaust will not make much difference inside the car IMO.

If the drive with the windows down, the exhaust sounds fab - so everybody outside benefits!
__________________
M2 Arrived!
Family 5er
Appreciate 0
      12-31-2012, 05:10 AM   #10
logiclee
Private First Class
14
Rep
188
Posts

Drives: BMW 116i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Notts, UK

iTrader: (0)

From the information available for the M5 it seems the Turbo cuts out both low and high frequencies in the exhaust note and again the induction noise is altered so you don't get as much growl. On top of that the interior cabin is very well insulated to prevent wind and road noise and again the low and high frequencies are what are lost first.

So what you hear in the car without the symposer is just the mid section of what a normally aspirated six would sound like with the windows down.

The sound symposer adds back the frequencies that the M department considers are lost by adding a Turbo and lots of sound insulation. A bit like Simon Cowell using autotune.

Cheers
Lee
Appreciate 0
      12-31-2012, 09:21 PM   #11
donaldt
Private
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

thanks for the video,
actually my car sounds more like yours unplugged...
how could I check if mine is not working?
Appreciate 0
      12-31-2012, 09:50 PM   #12
donaldt
Private
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

I think I have located the box, does it sound different at standstill? gonna try revving later
Appreciate 0
      12-31-2012, 10:56 PM   #13
bimmerjph
Colonel
bimmerjph's Avatar
United_States
123
Rep
2,024
Posts

Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Tennessee

iTrader: (0)

Thats really disappointing that the M135i has it. Why can't they use the generators like in the old Z4 3.0? That way it is actually the sound that YOUR engine is producing.
Appreciate 0
      12-31-2012, 11:42 PM   #14
WeekendDriver
Private
WeekendDriver's Avatar
10
Rep
68
Posts

Drives: M135i Cayman gts
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

I think I read somewhere with a BMW official saying the sound is 90% real and that 10% is to make up for the turbo. Now it definitely sounds like more than 10% is fake. Also why don't they install an induction pipe or something to transmit the sound from the engine compartment instead of generating it digitally?
Appreciate 0
      01-01-2013, 12:41 AM   #15
bimmerjph
Colonel
bimmerjph's Avatar
United_States
123
Rep
2,024
Posts

Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Tennessee

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by WeekendDriver
I think I read somewhere with a BMW official saying the sound is 90% real and that 10% is to make up for the turbo. Now it definitely sounds like more than 10% is fake. Also why don't they install an induction pipe or something to transmit the sound from the engine compartment instead of generating it digitally?
The induction pipe is actuallywhat I was talking about. I don't know why they didn't do that. Space is one possibility I can think of, but its not like the z4 3.0 had oodles of engine bay room either. The most likely reason is cost. Its a lot lot cheaper to program than it is to produce and install a physical part.


One thing I noticed vs the M5 on vs off video is that in addition to making it louder than the M5 it also changes the sound, whereas the M5 does not seem to do this.

Personally I say they should remove some of the sound proofing. Then you eliminate the problem.
Appreciate 0
      01-01-2013, 01:31 AM   #16
donaldt
Private
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

I have just tried unplugging
in fact it doesnt sound all that different on my car (unlike the video posted)
ok the low end growl is cut by about 70%, but thats about it, its slightly not as loud revving up but its not THAT obvious
or do I have a fault unit?
is it possible to volume up the unit or something?

Last edited by donaldt; 01-01-2013 at 01:37 AM..
Appreciate 0
      01-01-2013, 01:32 AM   #17
donaldt
Private
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

yea I missed how they did it on my Z4 3.0, I simply removed some foams in the duct and the car was growling
however I think the problem is that on the Z4, there was some nice engine noise just not enough of it
as for on the M135 there was nothing nice about the engine noise so they had to generate some
but I would expect BMW engineering to come up with a smarter solution than this
Appreciate 0
      01-01-2013, 01:42 PM   #18
TMP
Brigadier General
TMP's Avatar
United Kingdom
357
Rep
3,022
Posts

Drives: M6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by donaldt View Post
I have just tried unplugging
in fact it doesnt sound all that different on my car (unlike the video posted)
ok the low end growl is cut by about 70%, but thats about it, its slightly not as loud revving up but its not THAT obvious
or do I have a fault unit?
is it possible to volume up the unit or something?
What stereo option do you have?

(You cant adjust the symposer)
__________________
M2 Arrived!
Family 5er
Appreciate 0
      01-01-2013, 09:50 PM   #19
donaldt
Private
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

HK
Appreciate 0
      01-03-2013, 12:56 AM   #20
donaldt
Private
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

could there be a fault with the HK system?
I tried again and there really doesnt seem to be much of a difference with and without the unit, only very slightly
Appreciate 0
      01-03-2013, 03:03 AM   #21
TMP
Brigadier General
TMP's Avatar
United Kingdom
357
Rep
3,022
Posts

Drives: M6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by donaldt View Post
could there be a fault with the HK system?
I tried again and there really doesnt seem to be much of a difference with and without the unit, only very slightly
Perhaps you could try another local m135i?
Maybe they are tuned differently for different markets....

I have the business upgrade stereo that was free on UK cars upto Dec
__________________
M2 Arrived!
Family 5er
Appreciate 0
      01-03-2013, 03:46 PM   #22
Karazy
Go Fast And Take Chances
Karazy's Avatar
United_States
50
Rep
261
Posts

Drives: 2020 M2C
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Coeur d' Alene, Idaho

iTrader: (0)

Sure hope this does not end up on the future M4.
__________________
2014 Corvette Z51 Stingray 3LT, 7 M/T
2015 KTM 1290 SA
Retired- 11 BMW 335, 07 BMW R1200GSA, 04 BMW Z4, 01 BMW K1200RS, 00 BMW R1150GS
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
bmw active sound, bmw active sound design, bmw electronic sound, bmw f20 1 series forum, bmw f20 forum, bmw fake engine sound, bmw fake sound, bmw m135i active sound, bmw m135i active sound design, bmw m135i forum, bmw m135i forums, bmw m235i, bmw m235i forum, bmw m235i forums, f20 1 series forum, f20 1-series, f20 1-series forums, m135i active sound, m135i fake engine sound, m135i fake sound, m135i forum, m135i forums, m235i, m235i forum, m235i forums

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:40 AM.




1addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST