[wjones14]

Just picked up my M235i yesterday! More about the awesome PCD experience later...

But, after reading so much about the active sound coming through the speakers, I don't hear it at all.

Mine is a manual transmission with port-installed Performance Exhaust and Rear Diffuser. In normal driving, I can hardly hear the exhaust at all, and there doesn't seem to be anything coming from the speakers. Only when I open the window do I hear the great sound coming from that exhaust.

Could it somehow have been programmed out when the MPE was installed? Or is there somewhere in the iDrive where the active sound can be disabled or adjusted for volume?

[Xiaoxi]

Congratulations!

The active sound is not nearly as prominent as people who whine about it make it out to be. It's very subtle. However, you can turn it up a little in iDrive main Settings -> Tone -> Speed

But bear in mind even cranked max it will not sound nearly as loud as your Mustang from inside the cabin. There's too much sound dampening.

[MrBucket]

Its there, its just that seamless that you cant really tell what is the actual exhaust/engine and what is the sound symposer. I have the M Performance exhaust and an intake and the car finally sounds loud enough. I honestly think the intake did more for the sound than the exhaust too.

[overcoil]

Are you sure your in SPORT mode ?

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by Xiaoxi

Congratulations!

The active sound is not nearly as prominent as people who whine about it make it out to be. It's very subtle. However, you can turn it up a little in iDrive main Settings -> Tone -> Speed

But bear in mind even cranked max it will not sound nearly as loud as your Mustang from inside the cabin. There's too much sound dampening.

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Are you sure your in SPORT mode ?

Yep, in Sport mode. Already getting in the habit of turning on the electronics, pressing Sport button, and then starting the engine.

Thanks Xiaoxi for the tip about the iDrive setting! Just went out to the garage and looked at that and AS volume was 1. I changed it to 10. Can't wait to hear it tomorrow.

[Zooks527]

There's another thread that Active Sound may have been removed from the cars of late. It was certainly prominent when I was test driving cars, and very noticeable when you tapped the mode between comfort and sport (even with the gear locked in manual mode).

[Supernaut]

I was told at PCD that the Speed adjustment was to increase stereo volume as the car increased speed, not an Active Sound adjustment.

Our cars were produced at about the same time, and I feel that active sound is pretty prominent. I notice mostly the MP exhaust at startup, but I think, the AS when driving. Hard to say for certain.

The MP exhaust sounded great in the delivery room, didn't it? When the adviser started my car up, it drew a small crowd and made my hair stand up.

And congrats on taking delivery!

[drivethemachine]

Yea that "Speed" setting has nothing to do with ASD. It lets set how much the music volume should be increased as you go faster. (To compensate for wind noise.)

[worktolivelife]

As BMW choose to implement ASD into the cars audio system it would seem logical/ desirable from design point of view to also make it speed related with regards volume? . Curiousity is going to get the better of me gonna have to just see for myself now

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by worktolivelife

As BMW choose to implement ASD into the cars audio system it would seem logical/ desirable from design point of view to also make it speed related with regards volume? . Curiousity is going to get the better of me gonna have to just see for myself now

No. ASD volume is independent of anything you can configure through idrive

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Just picked up my M235i yesterday! More about the awesome PCD experience later...

But, after reading so much about the active sound coming through the speakers, I don't hear it at all.

Mine is a manual transmission with port-installed Performance Exhaust and Rear Diffuser. In normal driving, I can hardly hear the exhaust at all, and there doesn't seem to be anything coming from the speakers. Only when I open the window do I hear the great sound coming from that exhaust.

Could it somehow have been programmed out when the MPE was installed? Or is there somewhere in the iDrive where the active sound can be disabled or adjusted for volume?

Should be really easy to test.

Throttle up to constant 2k rpm and switch from comfort to sport back and forth, you should be able to easily notice the sound going up and down

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

Should be really easy to test.

Throttle up to constant 2k rpm and switch from comfort to sport back and forth, you should be able to easily notice the sound going up and down

If you have an automatic, switch to manual mode and select a gear before doing this, otherwise you'll also get an effect from the RPM changing.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by Zooks527

If you have an automatic, switch to manual mode and select a gear before doing this, otherwise you'll also get an effect from the RPM changing.

I mean do it in neutral or park

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

I mean do it in neutral or park

Ah, makes sense.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

Should be really easy to test.

Throttle up to constant 2k rpm and switch from comfort to sport back and forth, you should be able to easily notice the sound going up and down

Okay, I do hear it. It's very subtle and almost unnoticeable, but I can hear it (barely) when switching between Sport and Comfort mode at 2K rpm in neutral. I was expecting it to be much more pronounced based on what I had read prior to hearing it myself.

Thanks pikcachu for that simple test.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Okay, I do hear it. It's very subtle and almost unnoticeable, but I can hear it (barely) when switching between Sport and Comfort mode at 2K rpm in neutral. I was expecting it to be much more pronounced based on what I had read prior to hearing it myself.

Thanks pikcachu for that simple test.

It's more noticeable also around 3.5-4k rpm also

Ya it's not like it will blow your ears

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by drivethemachine

Yea that "Speed" setting has nothing to do with ASD. It lets set how much the music volume should be increased as you go faster. (To compensate for wind noise.)

I thought the "Speed" setting was to give you an audible "Bling" warning when you exceed the speed you chose. I have mine set at 75 MPH and it "blings" me when I exceed that speed. I good babysitter when booking down the freeway.

[mmmmm235i]

I agree, never really heard the sound that prominently. For this reason, however, I had the active sound coded permanently off. Never really noticed a difference, but I like to know what I'm hearing is actually the car and not the stereo.

[Supernaut]

After driving around today with the windows down, I'm getting more MP exhaust and less Active Sound than I thought.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Just picked up my M235i yesterday! More about the awesome PCD experience later...

But, after reading so much about the active sound coming through the speakers, I don't hear it at all.

Mine is a manual transmission with port-installed Performance Exhaust and Rear Diffuser. In normal driving, I can hardly hear the exhaust at all, and there doesn't seem to be anything coming from the speakers. Only when I open the window do I hear the great sound coming from that exhaust.

Could it somehow have been programmed out when the MPE was installed? Or is there somewhere in the iDrive where the active sound can be disabled or adjusted for volume?

I think that's the whole idea. You're not supposed to hear it directly.

[angler]

Should have bought a convertible then you would hear it!