C63 VS S5 vs M3 exhaust note - why so different?

[lockeed]

I admit, every time I hear a S5, particularely one with a Sport exhaust, I can't help but wonder...

Don't get me wrong, the M3 produce one of the sweetest mechanical sound any machine can make... but I just feel the exhaust note should've been as great as the engine is. And to me, it isn't...

Yeah you can bold on an aftermarket exhaust which will certainly make it scream, but I still wonder why it sound so different. Yes, in the case of the C63, displacement makes a big difference, but compared to the S5, they're both high reving +/- 4L engines... why does the S5 sound deeper and so different?

[rjd598]

Ill note how you didn't say the s5 exhaust sounds better, but when you say "different" then what do you mean? I've heard s5 exhausts in person and they are weak sauce compared to stock e9x m3 exhausts. As for the c63 well eisenmann makes their exhausts. Have you heard an m3 with eisenmann race? Yea

[lockeed]

By different I meant deeper basically.

No I haven't heard an m3 with Eisenmann race exhaust. Again, I'm not complaining about the M3 OEM exhaust - I own one!

I just think it's funny that 2 engine which have almost the same displacement and config sounds so different...

ex.

[Longwong]

S4 is not a high revving v8 but rather a low revving supercharged 6 cylinder

[LarThaL]

My RS4 exhaust sounded WAY better than the stock M3 exhaust also. This is an apples to apples comparison. However, the fact that it is so easy to change the exhaust sound in the M3 leads me to believe that the stock exhaust was made the way it was on purpose. (I don't know who's purpose or why, but it was obviously intentional). That said, switching to BMW's own MPE, makes the car sound simply awesome.

[JEllis]

You need to hear an M3 with Eisenmann race in person.

S5s with cat deletes and aftermarket rear sections sound great as well.

But, I am not sure I have heard anything quite as gnarly as the Eisenmann race rear section coupled with a catless x-pipe on the M3.

Jason

[FogCityM3]

Agreed...there's an RS4 in the neighborhood (V8) that sounds so awesome....like the engine and exhaust go perfectly together, very hard to describe it in words.

The MPE really should have come with the M3 to begin with.

Originally Posted by LarThaL

My RS4 exhaust sounded WAY better than the stock M3 exhaust also. This is an apples to apples comparison. However, the fact that it is so easy to change the exhaust sound in the M3 leads me to believe that the stock exhaust was made the way it was on purpose. (I don't know who's purpose or why, but it was obviously intentional). That said, switching to BMW's own MPE, makes the car sound simply awesome.

[spool twice]

Some things that will change the sound of the exhaust:

Bore/stroke
Overall displacement
Header design
Cam lobe (lift/duration)
Cylinder head design
Catalytic converter location and spec
X-pipe, H-pipe, or none at all
Firing order (The M3 IIRC doesn't have a traditional V8 firing order, rather it has a similar order of the S85 V10, but without the last pair of cylinders, which gives the M3 a unique sound)

There are more reasons to the differences obviously

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by lockeed

I admit, every time I hear a S5, particularely one with a Sport exhaust, I can't help but wonder...

Don't get me wrong, the M3 produce one of the sweetest mechanical sound any machine can make... but I just feel the exhaust note should've been as great as the engine is. And to me, it isn't...

Yeah you can bold on an aftermarket exhaust which will certainly make it scream, but I still wonder why it sound so different. Yes, in the case of the C63, displacement makes a big difference, but compared to the S5, they're both high reving +/- 4L engines... why does the S5 sound deeper and so different?

It is human nature ... that what others have is always better. I've thought the same too, simply because you don't get to hear your own car. For the first time after a very long time I watched my wife drive off in my ///3 and it sounded pretty special especially with the ///PE. I love it.

[lockeed]

Yeah, I agree... the grass is always greener etc.....

How does the MPE differs from the OEM particularly?

[hawkrak]

This is an apples to apples comparison.

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by lockeed

Yeah, I agree... the grass is always greener etc.....

How does the MPE differs from the OEM particularly?

It sounds a lot more aggressive without the true after market droning. You do get the usual drone wham crushing on high gear at 2500 rpm which is also the case with the OEM. Definitely MPE has more character and complements the car. The sound is unique.

[///Matthew]

Originally Posted by Lute

Uhhh, different engines have different exhaust notes

[Brosef]

I could not disagree more. the S5 motor sounds deep, but deep is not better. I like the M3's exhaust that keeps a higher pitch and screams up top. the higher pitch makes it not as loud around town, and also preserves the amazing induction noise the M3 has that cannot be faked (i.e. an S5 will never sound like it even if it tried).

I think the M3's V8 is one of the best sounding motors of all time, and the best-sounding engine this side of a Ferrari (except for the GT3, perhaps).

[lockeed]

Originally Posted by Brosef

I could not disagree more. the S5 motor sounds deep, but deep is not better. I like the M3's exhaust that keeps a higher pitch and screams up top. the higher pitch makes it not as loud around town, and also preserves the amazing induction noise the M3 has that cannot be faked (i.e. an S5 will never sound like it even if it tried).

I think the M3's V8 is one of the best sounding motors of all time, and the best-sounding engine this side of a Ferrari (except for the GT3, perhaps).

Didn't say "better", I said different!

Again, I agree - even bone stock, the sound is awesome. But personally, I would love if it was a little deeper... and not having to spend 3-4K $ to make it "just right".

As Fogcity said, the RS4 would've been a better example than the S5...