[DrivingPassion]

The sound of my M235i is music to my ears compared to my M3 inside in the cabin. It felt like there is significantly less artificial sound piped through the speakers compared to the M3. Perhaps, there's none at all, which is a wonderful thing.

[pz619]

The M235i sounds pretty close to natural to me. Whereas the M3 is much louder in ASD. It wouldn't be so bad if the ASD sounded remotely like the actual exhaust/motor sounds from outside the car.

[3.0L]

I occasionally used SoundRacer in my RX-8:

http://www.soundracer.se/?p=98

[RoundelM3]

I coded out the ASD in my 228i - now I can hear the actual car exhaust with the windows open.

[1FUNCAR]

Dumb question: What's ASD?

I'm still pretty new here and there a several acronyms I'm not familiar with. Is there perhaps a guide somewhere?

[VPB74]

ASD stands for Active Sound Design. It is fake engine sounds piped in through the speakers. The sound varies based on various engine parameters like speed and throttle input.

[DrivingPassion]

Originally Posted by VPB74

ASD stands for Active Sound Design. It is fake engine sounds piped in through the speakers. The sound varies based on various engine parameters like speed and throttle input.

Doesn't ASD also include negative sound cancelling out road noise and tire humming sound?

So, if you code out ASD, you will get more road noise.

[1FUNCAR]

Originally Posted by VPB74

ASD stands for Active Sound Design. It is fake engine sounds piped in through the speakers. The sound varies based on various engine parameters like speed and throttle input.

Thanks for the info. I'm new to BMW (still waiting for mine to arrive) and can't imagine why anyone would want this. When I want music, I play the radio. When I want to hear the engine, I turn off the radio. Or am I looking at this the wrong way?

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by DrivingPassion

The sound of my M235i is music to my ears compared to my M3 inside in the cabin. It felt like there is significantly less artificial sound piped through the speakers compared to the M3. Perhaps, there's none at all, which is a wonderful thing.

Op I'm interested in your thoughts on the M3. My lease is up next March and debating whether to keep the M235i or buy a used M3/M4.

[Luddy]

I will probably get crucified for this but I don't mind the Active Sound. I mean I feel like it lets me hear the engine sound better if I am in sport on a spirited drive.

Most funny thing is people who ride in the car and say this sounds great. When they find out it has active sound the derogatory comments flow. It is almost all psychological. They love it till they find out their is an artificial component.

I would prefer an all natural sound but I also understand they are wrestling with a consumer base that wants a quiet ride sometimes and a louder performance sounding ride sometimes.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Luddy

I will probably get crucified for this but I don't mind the Active Sound. I mean I feel like it lets me hear the engine

You will get nailed to a cross for admitting it; last time I expressed my appreciation for this feature, some a-hold on here told me I'm lacking something in my life, hence the need for ASD.

I have a Dinan intake but I still like the fact that I could get an aural feedback from the ASD, without attracting attention to my vehicle; especially when I am driving like a bat out of hell.. And it is only really pronounced (pre-LCI) when in Sport + mode.

My friend who is big on loud exhaust didn't even know the sound is pre-recorded until I reveled it to him; it's really indiscernible in relation to actual exhaust sound.

I still appreciate a good sounding exhaust but nowadays it's pointless since it adds no performance value to the vehicle, just noise pollution or to attract attention for '(People) who is lacking something in their life.'

[morphomeman]

And then there are the folks who spend large sums of money on an MPE exhaust, which makes lots of noise but gives you little or no additional power.
Go figure!

[Ron Jeffries]

I like the noise. My wife likes it too. We liked the noise from the 135is much more. I'd pay some more bucks to get that noise. Power's fine.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

I like the noise. My wife likes it too. We liked the noise from the 135is much more. I'd pay some more bucks to get that noise. Power's fine.

Yes, the 2013 135 "is" had that well-received performance exhaust (Wasn't 'M Performance' yet) stock. It sounded like closest thing in BMW world to a Porsche. I don't think any current BMW comes close to that sound. 1+

[Luddy]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

And then there are the folks who spend large sums of money on an MPE exhaust, which makes lots of noise but gives you little or no additional power.
Go figure!

I paid for for MPE :\ I like it though. Living in a climate where I can't have windows down year round it lets me hear the downshift and lift off pops inside the car when everything is closed.

[DrivingPassion]

Originally Posted by xantdieselx

Op I'm interested in your thoughts on the M3. My lease is up next March and debating whether to keep the M235i or buy a used M3/M4.

My 2018 M3 MT with Comp Pkg felt like a monster on the road ... in a good way. The Active Suspension made the car felt like it's glued to the floor even at high speeds and making curves. Torque is more readily available than the M235i and the car felt stiffer, too. Performance wise, the M3 will dominate.

Comfort Mode is not like the Comfort Mode in M235i. It felt like the Sports+ in M235i in terms of the road feel and stiffness of the suspension. Sports+ in M3 is like the suspension felt in the Corvette with bone-jarring "springs". Bottomline: comfort in terms of feeling the road is very much out of the equation. You will feel every bump on the road.

Road noise enters into the cabin quite a bit more than the M235i. I guess the ASD did not do its job very well in cancelling out with negative sounds. But, again, this is a design objective and sportiness is higher up on the priority. So, it's not faulty per se.

[Denk]

I don't notice any artificial sound pumped into mine. When I put the MPE on, I noticed a touch more noise in the cabin...all natural. ASD must be so subtle because I just don't notice it.

[DrivingPassion]

It looks like my M235xi has a chrome tail-pipe that has a laser-engraved M logo on it. Does it mean the car has MPE installed?

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by DrivingPassion

My 2018 M3 MT with Comp Pkg felt like a monster on the road ... in a good way. The Active Suspension made the car felt like it's glued to the floor even at high speeds and making curves. Torque is more readily available than the M235i and the car felt stiffer, too. Performance wise, the M3 will dominate.

Comfort Mode is not like the Comfort Mode in M235i. It felt like the Sports+ in M235i in terms of the road feel and stiffness of the suspension. Sports+ in M3 is like the suspension felt in the Corvette with bone-jarring "springs". Bottomline: comfort in terms of feeling the road is very much out of the equation. You will feel every bump on the road.

Road noise enters into the cabin quite a bit more than the M235i. I guess the ASD did not do its job very well in cancelling out with negative sounds. But, again, this is a design objective and sportiness is higher up on the priority. So, it's not faulty per se.

Thanks for the feedback it's in line with what I figured. I drive my car in sport+ in the city and comfort on the highway. My commute is mostly highway and I average about 24-25 mpg. Problem is the tank in the 2er is fricken tiny. I'm assuming the mpg's on the M3/M4 would be slightly worse but at least I'd get more range.

[Denk]

Originally Posted by DrivingPassion

It looks like my M235xi has a chrome tail-pipe that has a laser-engraved M logo on it. Does it mean the car has MPE installed?

Most likely but tips are interchangeable. You gotta look closer...

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by DrivingPassion

My 2018 M3 MT with Comp Pkg felt like a monster on the road ... in a good way. The Active Suspension made the car felt like it's glued to the floor even at high speeds and making curves. Torque is more readily available than the M235i and the car felt stiffer, too. Performance wise, the M3 will dominate.

Comfort Mode is not like the Comfort Mode in M235i. It felt like the Sports+ in M235i in terms of the road feel and stiffness of the suspension. Sports+ in M3 is like the suspension felt in the Corvette with bone-jarring "springs". Bottomline: comfort in terms of feeling the road is very much out of the equation. You will feel every bump on the road.

Road noise enters into the cabin quite a bit more than the M235i. I guess the ASD did not do its job very well in cancelling out with negative sounds. But, again, this is a design objective and sportiness is higher up on the priority. So, it's not faulty per se.

BMW removal of the sound insulation is the reason why the 235i is quieter than the M3.

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1228618

[Rayscott]

Originally Posted by 1FUNCAR

Thanks for the info. I'm new to BMW (still waiting for mine to arrive) and can't imagine why anyone would want this. When I want music, I play the radio. When I want to hear the engine, I turn off the radio. Or am I looking at this the wrong way?

Nope, I agree. Now, I'm an older guy who loved hearing engine sounds when I owned my GTO and other muscle cars. Even my S2000's with super sprint exhausts and the high revving engine were music to my ears. Things change so you have to decide on what makes you happy. After all, it is YOUR vehicle.