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BMW’s M5 soundtrack… you decide

Car Magazine By:
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 09:14 am GMT +2

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cheating the system, or clever innovation?

Much has been said about BMW’s M5, lots of it good and some bad. One area that the M5 doesn’t quite excel is that of its vocal abilities. For those of you that don’t know, BMW pipe the sound of the engine through the car’s sound system for added effect.

A reader sent the link to this site demonstrating differences between the amplified and natural sounds. What do you think? Is BMW “cheating” with this system?

Source: Autoblog


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PLEASE NOTE: The opinion expressed in this article is the author's own and publication does not mean it is endorsed by the CAR magazine editorial staff or RamsayMedia, publishers of CAR magazine.
  • Andre

    *cough*penis-extension*cough*

  • Leezozo

    A truly magnificent car with an magnificent engine. Amplifying the car sound via the cars acoustics definitely adds to driver involvement but i find it rather disappointing. Has the future dawned on us with digital enhanced car sounds? Hybrid-or-not, maybe the day of downloading car sounds may be sooner than expected.

  • JS

    I mean really. What’s next? BMW obviously not the real thing. The great pretender – perhaps for posers.. Although the non turbo 300i straight six in its day had a glorious sound. Sad to see BMW going downhill. Once upon a time BMW were known for their engines.

    • Jeff

      I see your point JS, fair shout on this particular car.
      I’m a huge BMW fan and personally drive an E39 M5 – stunning car. Yes this particular M5 may very well be “cheating the system” a bit – however there is a fairly reasonable explanation for this.

      The F30 is a bi-turbo V8. Because the way a turbo works with exhaust gasses a compromise in sound will be seen – but wasn’t this forced onto BMW by all these new fancy emission regulations? I don’t think it’s fair to comment that BMW engines (or even the cars themselves) have gone downhill. There have been so many iconic motors in BMW’s history – from the 2000, E12, E24, E36, E39, E46, E90′s – the list can go on and on.

      What I can tell you, any ///M powered BMW is definitely not for posers – this thing is the real deal with you hit that ///M button and get DSC off. Go check out some reviews and see if you change your mind ;)

      • JS

        You are right Jeff. I’m being a bit harsh. In the 70′s I had a E12 528i and a 530i and with the twin tailpipes in the centre of the rear valence and they had a glorious sound all of their own from the fuel injected 3.0l straight 6. And wonderful cruisers from JHB to CT fully loaded with the family going on holiday to Hermanus. And reliable as all hell. Wonderful overtaking acceleration and good handling. Somehow for me the new turbo BMW stuff is a bit sterile and lacks the soul of the lets call them “real BMW’s” like the E12 and E28 of the 70′s and 80′s!!

      • Tango

        It ranks right there with the Autostyle “turbo sound” device for GOLF 1

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