[Viffermike]

There's a thread on the F30 section on a competing forum that indicates that Active Sound has been discontinued on 2015 BMWs except for M models, effective with 03/15 builds.

Apparently the Hi-Fi amp in 2015 models is a new design (and one that is quite woeful looking, IMHO: see this link), and the conjecture by Technic and others is that ASD was eliminated either as a cost-saving measure or because enough people have complained about its function -- particularly in the U.S. -- and how difficult it is to remove or deactivate.

(Apparently there are a few minor changes effective with 03/15 builds: this, center A/C vents with silver aluminum accent brackets to match the radio/HVAC pods below it on the center dash, and a 4G cellular radio)

After installing aftermarket speakers in my 02/15-build 228i M Sport and noting no discernible change in engine-sound volume -- and noting no louder engine sounds in Sport mode -- I'm wondering if some builds earlier than 03/15 had AS left off. (I don't have the aluminum vent trim; not sure about the 4G radio). Hmmm ...

[Zooks527]

Please. Oh, please!

Mine went on the line 3/27 and comes off Wednesday. It will save me the trouble of getting the cable/software and investing the time in learning to code it off.

[bimmercar]

my m235i started build around 3/13 and finished production 3/20, i wonder if it has ASD or not

[bimmercar]

do you have link to the original F30 forum thread on ASD being discontinued?

[German1967]

I thought the 4G/LTE is limited to verts and enables OTA map updates- solo for verts though.
I heard about the chrome accent but the active sound deactivation seems more a rumor than a confirmed fact at this point.
I am sure we hear more once March production vehicles arrive state side.
Mine will be part of that ...

[Ramathorn]

Having not spent much time with ASD outside of the test drives, I am not sure whether I like this possible change or not.

My m235i finished production on March 5th. It's ship is pulling into Baltimore harbor now, so I should be able to report back next week when it gets delivered.

[semclane]

I like the ASD in my M235i, but then I am easily amused

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by bimmercar

do you have link to the original F30 forum thread on ASD being discontinued?

This is the link.

Discussion on it begins at Post #4.

A note: it's very possible that, since the Hi-Fi amplifier is a new design for MY2015, ASD is now integrated into the new amp just as DSP is. If that's the case, it would be even better for some since by upgrading the OEM amp, you theoretically eliminate both DSP and ASD.

Second note: It's also possible (but unlikely) that the ASD is now part of the head unit. That would be worse ...

[bimmercar]

from my understanding and best guess after reading your link, the m-performance model, M235, should still have the ASD....

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by bimmercar

from my understanding and best guess after reading your link, the m-performance model, M235, should still have the ASD....

Possibly. It depends on what is defined as an M car for this purpose. Heck: is ASD part of the M Sport package on the N20/228i? Or is this just a neat-n-natty way to eliminate it for N20 engines across the marque?

(And the flip side: does this mean that 228i and the M235 are using different amps in the Hi-Fi system right now?)

Lots of unanswered questions ...

[akuan99]

I checked part number from real OEM and for 12/2014 build cars 228i and m235i use same HIFI amp and ASD

M235i 12/2014
65129322686 HIFI Amp
65129367812 ASD

228i 12/2014
65129322686 HIFI Amp
65129367812 ASD

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by akuan99

I checked part number from real OEM and for 12/2014 build cars 228i and m235i use same HIFI amp and ASD

M235i 12/2014
65129322686 HIFI Amp
65129367812 ASD

228i 12/2014
65129322686 HIFI Amp
65129367812 ASD

So as of 12/14, the separate ASD unit was still part of F22 builds. The switchover reportedly started with 03/15 builds on the 228i (and possibly earlier, but probably not). I'm sure RealOEM won't be updated with the 03/15 changes until early summer at the earliest.

[huma]

I have a vehicle built in 1/2015 and I don't think it has the ASD. The car is pretty quiet in every transmission mode. The only time I notice any sound from the exhaust is from a cold start and I have to be outside the vehicle to hear it.

[BMW GENIUS]

I work at a BMW dealership and the M235i and the rest of the M cars are the only vehicles I have ever noticed ASD to be active on. I have never heard it on any 335i or 435i?

[drivethemachine]

I guess I feel lucky because my 228i was built in February and has ASD. I'm in minority with this opinion but I love it. Did Euro Delivery in March and currently waiting for the ship to bring it over.
ASD augments the sound in a nice way, and I love how it starts to growl in Sport mode. It feels like driving an older classic car, like an old Alfa Romeo.
But that's just my own opinion, I can perfectly understand if others don't like this feature. It's all good...

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by drivethemachine

I guess I feel lucky because my 228i was built in February and has ASD. I'm in minority with this opinion but I love it. Did Euro Delivery in March and currently waiting for the ship to bring it over.
ASD augments the sound in a nice way, and I love how it starts to growl in Sport mode. It feels like driving an older classic car, like an old Alfa Romeo.
But that's just my own opinion, I can perfectly understand if others don't like this feature. It's all good...

My car's an 02/15 build as well (early in the month, natch). I haven't driven it in Sport enough yet to be able to tell much of a difference in the volume of the exhaust. I suspect that I don't have it ...

... that said, it's not so much ASD itself as the way it's implemented relative to the sound system. It can't be turned down or defeated, and the sound system (either the Hi-Fi or the HK) can't be modified in any appreciable way without drastically affecting its volume. Even just adding aftermarket speakers can have an adverse affect because of sensitivity differences between stock and whatever someone plops in as an upgrade.

IMHO, it's a poorly thought-out system with nearly no user friendliness. By contrast, the one VW uses in many of its models (I'm specifically thinking VW Golf GTi) is a stand-alone transducer mounted in the passenger-side firewall; all one really has to do to disengage it is either snip its wires, pull its fuse, or remove it entirely.

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

IMHO, it's a poorly thought-out system with nearly no user friendliness. By contrast, the one VW uses in many of its models (I'm specifically thinking VW Golf GTi) is a stand-alone transducer mounted in the passenger-side firewall; all one really has to do to disengage it is either snip its wires, pull its fuse, or remove it entirely.

Even more significant, it sounds as though that's a transducer pulling the sound of YOUR engine into YOUR car. That's far different from generating a synthetic engine sound for your model (at least, it's different to me).

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by BMW GENIUS

I work at a BMW dealership and the M235i and the rest of the M cars are the only vehicles I have ever noticed ASD to be active on. I have never heard it on any 335i or 435i?

335 and 435 don't have ASD...

only 328 and 428 have it... i guess to give the I4 a little bit more soul

[allthatisntnow]

The fact that you have to have a discussion wondering as to whether your car has it or not shows how unobtrusive it actually is. If it was 'as bad as all that' everyone would be like "yup, my car has it for sure because of the blood running out of my ears!".

[crbalch]

Just ordered a 2016 M235i xDrive, can anyone confirm if I will have the Active Sound in it or not?

Thanks

[IDBMW]

I can’t tell if I have ASD. It seems there is no engine sound from the speakers. Perhaps it is so good I can’t tell. Is there a way to tell if you have it?

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by IDBMW

I can’t tell if I have ASD. It seems there is no engine sound from the speakers. Perhaps it is so good I can’t tell. Is there a way to tell if you have it?

yes pretty easy.... rev to 2.5krpm while parked or neutral and switch from comfort to sport mode and you will notice the difference