m5 v. m3 exhaust note

[birdbrain]

I must admit I am kind of surprised that the exhaust notes of the e60 M5 and the current m3 differ so much. Considering it truly is the same engine with 2 cylinders lopped off but at the same time it revs higher which often adds a more high-pitch f1 note on some cars.

Obviously most of you know what the m5 sounds like. Much more F1 style high pitch screamer compared to the relatively "growly" sound of the m3, especially with aftermarket exhausts.

My question is: Is this simply from having two less cylinders or is there something I am missing. I am confident its not simply in the exhaust design because every aftermarket exhaust cannot come close to matching the note of the M5 stock or with an exhaust. M3 can be just as loud but continues to have a lower pitch "american V8" sound (for lack of a better term).

Thought I may be missing something?

[spoonf20c]

i've always wondered the same thing... m5/6's sound pretty exotic, guess that bump in displacement makes a world of a difference in sound? yeah i gotta say, our 3's have that american rumble to it. its not bad but it'd be nice if it had a slightly higher pitch to it.

[Rshane]

cylınder fırıng sequence.

[Best-rider-77]

^ +1 A V10 engine will never sound like a V8 engine !

[Omerta]

Judge for your self. The M5 has a slightly higher pitch and tame idol compared to an American V10 also.

[TK-421]

The E60's S85 doesn't sound all too different from the Viper ^^ although it is higher pitched like you said. A V8 will never sound like a V10, which will never sound like a V12, and so on.

Behold - the sound of God (watch til 0:10 then skip to 0:30)

[gthal]

^---- that sounds like tin cans. Maybe just my speakers but not nice at all. If that is what an M5 sounds like then I'm disappointed.

[JCtx]

I've never liked how V10s sound, but it's even worse with open exhaust; that M5 above sounds like crap IMO. V12s are better than V10s, but not V8s IMO; I've always liked and will always like the V8 sound the best. And nothing like the high-revving V8 on the M3. Pretty close is the Aston Martin V8, although it only revs to 7,200 rpm, but the mechanical noise is also incredible.

[birdbrain]

Guys I have to disagree that it is cylinder number. Ferrari's and prior lambo's used V8's and sound just like an m5 only that much higher and better. So the high pitch wale is definetly not a pure cylinder number issue.

What makes more sense is the firing order explaining the difference. I can see how that would definetly effect harmonics.

[1MORELAP]

Look for discussions and explanation on Flat Plane Vs Cross Plane V8. I do think that the V10 sounds better, but that is the number of cylinders.

[Wes Howell]

I loved my AA exhaust on my M5. I think it sounds wayyyy better than the Eisenmann stuff. Wish my M3 sounded more like the M5, but I like the akra setup.

[jonasaurus]

AA exhaust on the M5 sounds good, def has more of an exotic sound than the M3

[SlammedR8]

the above video is the crappy meisterchaft bs exhaust

i have the Eisenmann and its the most exotic sounding exhaust, I get compliments EVERY single day on the sound of my car, both from friends and people I know and from random people at stoplights

[IFX]

M5/M6 Stock have one of the best exhaust notes imo.

M3 cannot compare.

[mdosu]

if simply changing the pipes would change the sound significantly, I woudl say the difference is attributed to difference in the design of headers all the way down to the muffler.

[cwidjojo]

how would you compare an eisenmann race m3 and eisenmann race m5 in terms of dB level?

[ooowowizstev]

The videos don't do justice. I've heard an E60 M5 w/ Eis exhaust, closest thing that I've heard to an exotic.

[TRY...M3]

i know first hand everyday how much better the V10 sounds...IMO the M3 with the (V10) M5 or M6 motor would be the perfect car... besides a lambo of course

[SlammedR8]

Originally Posted by cwidjojo

how would you compare an eisenmann race m3 and eisenmann race m5 in terms of dB level?

I had an E93 M3 with the Eisenmann Race and now I now have the E63 M6 (coupe) and its not even in the same league in DB level. It is super loud, and keep in mind, I had a convertible M3, so if anything, that should have been much louder because of the open roof.

My M6 is so loud, you can hear me get off the highway which is about 1/2-1 mile from my house

[Omerta]

I had a M5 with Eisenmann race and secondary cats and resonators removed. Now I have a M3 with challenge race x-pipe and Akrapovic. The M3 exhaust is definitely louder in the car. The M5 was better insulated. They have completely different sounds but both are awesome in there own way. Owning American hot rods my whole life I guess I would lean towards the M3's note but I also loved the E-race on the M5. On the other hand this is very cool too...

[dhoggm3]

The AA exhaust on my E93 M3 sounds awesome, nearly Ferrari-like. The stock M5 sounds surprisingly good, but I'd wager that with an AA exhaust it would be awesome as well.

[birdbrain]

Guys thinking about this today after hearing a really nice sounding G37, I realized cylinder count really has nothing to do with this sound, there is much more important factors at work. Firing order perhaps, manifold/headers is a big one. Any of you who are familiar with the M5 options for headers know that a couple of the options turn the sound into a "muscular v8" rather than the high pitch sound.

This made me think of the G37. 6 cylinders but its a screamer, very high pitch and more exotic than the m3. I wish the m3 had a bit of the similar tone as the G37 with a little bit deeper pitch perhaps. But either way there is no reason a small displacement V8 revving to 8400 shouldn't be able to produce the m5 sound. My vote after thinking about this is in the headers.

Wonder why nobody has come out with headers (or have they?) for the m3.