OT- M3 exhaust note...
#16
Originally Posted by Moogle
the m3 guys call it the 'rasp' heheh
apparently BMW designed it taht way to give the M3 its unique exhaust note.
some don't like it, it is easily resolved by removing a resonator in the exhaust system (or replacing the exhaust with one wtihout said resonator)
apparently BMW designed it taht way to give the M3 its unique exhaust note.
some don't like it, it is easily resolved by removing a resonator in the exhaust system (or replacing the exhaust with one wtihout said resonator)
#17
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Originally Posted by AeroGT3RedWing
No offense, but that's incorrect. I've had an E36 M3 for quite some time, and a good E46 friend of mine will attest to the fact that removing the resonators, will make it worse. I have an AA track pipe on my E36, and it rasps; this coming from a motor that traditionally does not do this. In the E46, the rasp is not from the exhaust system at all can cannot be resolved there - it comes from the engine itself. Valve components oscillating at their natural frequencies. All BMW engines rasp, but the E46 will do it even with resonators. You should hear it without them
matt
#18
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i must add...The exhaust rasp, which sounds like loose heat shields exclusive to north american s54 engines is caused by: the cats being located on the exhaust manifolds rather than further down on the pipe as in the rest of the world. It would seem that our EPA, lawyers etc., have deemed the euro exhaust unsuitable for the US and Canada. Therefore, to supposedly improve cold start emissions, the cat was moved closer to the engine. This is the sole cause of the raspy, falling-apart-engine sound inherent to the north american s54 engine and not heard on any other bmw 6 cylinder. Ironically, the north american cat system results in poorer cold starting, a flat spot in the low RPM torque curve (the euro cars have an additional 20 lb.ft. in the low to mid range, where it is felt the most). The euro cars also run cooler with the cats located further back on the exhaust. For those of you that think the sound is good from the interior, please stand outside and have someone drive your car off, you might let them keep driving.
#19
Rennlist Member
Please post a link to back up your assertion that the European version has 20lb/ft more torque somewhere in the rev band. It's going on four years since I ordered my car and have been following all news and topics regarding it, and this is the first I've heard of any significant difference in power between the US and ROW cat placement (the five peak HP notwithstanding).
Better yet, post it over on http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46m3/ where we can have the discussion in the proper forum.
Better yet, post it over on http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46m3/ where we can have the discussion in the proper forum.
#20
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Originally Posted by Alan Smithee
Please post a link to back up your assertion that the European version has 20lb/ft more torque somewhere in the rev band. It's going on four years since I ordered my car and have been following all news and topics regarding it, and this is the first I've heard of any significant difference in power between the US and ROW cat placement (the five peak HP notwithstanding).
Better yet, post it over on http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46m3/ where we can have the discussion in the proper forum.
Better yet, post it over on http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46m3/ where we can have the discussion in the proper forum.
a costly(for us NA owners), and hands down screw up from the makers of this flagship model.
matt
#23
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Matt, come on. a "hands down screw up"? Your link to TMS clearly states that the modifications are not for street use due to emissions...you can't blame BMW for that.
Also note that TMS is very vague about what part of the package is responsible for the improved numbers. As I stated above, the difference in peak horsepower is five per BMW; TMS states eleven. Therefore you are paying $3,100 for five hp, and $400 for an additional six. For what it's worth, people with "sharked" cars on Roadfly have noticed nothing more than improved throttle response (although to some that alone is worth the $400). So for $3,500 you get the 5 hp back that the EPA robbed, a car that won't pass emissions testing, and a car that is always in 'sport' mode. What a deal.
Also note that TMS is very vague about what part of the package is responsible for the improved numbers. As I stated above, the difference in peak horsepower is five per BMW; TMS states eleven. Therefore you are paying $3,100 for five hp, and $400 for an additional six. For what it's worth, people with "sharked" cars on Roadfly have noticed nothing more than improved throttle response (although to some that alone is worth the $400). So for $3,500 you get the 5 hp back that the EPA robbed, a car that won't pass emissions testing, and a car that is always in 'sport' mode. What a deal.
#24
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Alan, ok, my opinion of the 'screw up' is indeed, mine. But corners were cut, the company didn't bring the car up to the standards of the european model. And in my case, with an m-roadster, a sport mode wasn't even wired, it's all there, it just wasn't bothered with. It's almost a situation where restrictive legislation had set back the engineers at bmw to get to the point where they just said, screw it, ship them out. Not to be off topic on an off topic post, but all i set out to do was explain the "M3 exhaust note..." to the best of my experience.
matt.
matt.
#25
Rennlist Member
Yes, this off-topic thread has become off-topic, so this is the last I'll contribute.
It's been made clear over the last four years that BMW max'ed the S54's performance; none of the many BMW tuners have been able to consistently provide significant improvements. A small loss due to stricter US emissions is therefore expected. Here's a good example of what it takes to get improved performance from the motor in an M3:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums...6229431-1.html
Note that it took SuperSprint headers, race cats, a Borla muffler, a Shark race injector, and AFE intake to achieve 8-10 hp and 13lb/ft torque. That's a whole lot of labor and parts for what is, in reality, an insignificant gain for a street car, and goes to show that TMS's claims are unrealistic.
It's been made clear over the last four years that BMW max'ed the S54's performance; none of the many BMW tuners have been able to consistently provide significant improvements. A small loss due to stricter US emissions is therefore expected. Here's a good example of what it takes to get improved performance from the motor in an M3:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums...6229431-1.html
Note that it took SuperSprint headers, race cats, a Borla muffler, a Shark race injector, and AFE intake to achieve 8-10 hp and 13lb/ft torque. That's a whole lot of labor and parts for what is, in reality, an insignificant gain for a street car, and goes to show that TMS's claims are unrealistic.
#26
Race Car
Originally Posted by Robert Santangelo
Is it me or does the M3 sound like a tin can at high revs? I can't stand that sound ...I tried to get my brother to change his but he won't!
Opinions?
Opinions?
#27
Originally Posted by Alan Smithee
Yes, this off-topic thread has become off-topic, so this is the last I'll contribute.
It's been made clear over the last four years that BMW max'ed the S54's performance; none of the many BMW tuners have been able to consistently provide significant improvements. A small loss due to stricter US emissions is therefore expected. Here's a good example of what it takes to get improved performance from the motor in an M3:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums...6229431-1.html
Note that it took SuperSprint headers, race cats, a Borla muffler, a Shark race injector, and AFE intake to achieve 8-10 hp and 13lb/ft torque. That's a whole lot of labor and parts for what is, in reality, an insignificant gain for a street car, and goes to show that TMS's claims are unrealistic.
It's been made clear over the last four years that BMW max'ed the S54's performance; none of the many BMW tuners have been able to consistently provide significant improvements. A small loss due to stricter US emissions is therefore expected. Here's a good example of what it takes to get improved performance from the motor in an M3:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums...6229431-1.html
Note that it took SuperSprint headers, race cats, a Borla muffler, a Shark race injector, and AFE intake to achieve 8-10 hp and 13lb/ft torque. That's a whole lot of labor and parts for what is, in reality, an insignificant gain for a street car, and goes to show that TMS's claims are unrealistic.
#28
Rennlist Member
50 additional horsepower, to equal 383 in an M3? 120hp per liter? That sounds reasonable