M5 sound - how disappointing!

Hi guys,

saw my first E60 M5 this afternoon in the city traffic. I was very
disappointed by the sound. The engine sounds like a mixture between a Mazda
Rotary and a mixer. I have read that it sounds more dramatic at higher
speeds, but that was definitely not a good show:-(

Frank

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Citroën Xantia - Made in Trance

"Frank Kemper" > wrote in message
...
> Hi guys,
>
> saw my first E60 M5 this afternoon in the city traffic. I was very
> disappointed by the sound. The engine sounds like a mixture between a
> Mazda
> Rotary and a mixer. I have read that it sounds more dramatic at higher
> speeds, but that was definitely not a good show:-(
>
> Frank
>
> --
> please replace spam-muelleimer with fk-newsgroups for e-mail contact
>
> Citroën Xantia - Made in Trance


I have video of M5 doing 270km/h ... if there is enough interest
I can post is somewhere on the web and provide url.

Alex

Frank Kemper > wrote in message >...
> Hi guys,
>
> saw my first E60 M5 this afternoon in the city traffic. I was very
> disappointed by the sound. The engine sounds like a mixture between a Mazda
> Rotary and a mixer. I have read that it sounds more dramatic at higher
> speeds, but that was definitely not a good show:-(

A bit like the Jag XJ220, then. A couple of UK-based reports have
said that at idle the engine sounds rough, but improves off-idle to
something that sounds like a steroidal Gallardo from 6,000 rpm up to
8,250. But then if a cool idle sound quality whilst sitting in
traffic is more important to you, I don't think BMW could care less if
it didn't get your business

(Andrew Thomas) haute in die Tasten:

> But then if a cool idle sound quality whilst sitting in
> traffic is more important to you, I don't think BMW could care less if
> it didn't get your business
>

Well, I think, if BMW would sell their cars only to rationally thinking
people without emotions, they would have a problem selling anything
faster and more expensive than a BMW 520 d. Some time ago BMW made a
wonderful commercial about a guy in a Z3, who listened to a tape with
Janis Joplin singing "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz". The guy
stops the tape two or three times to listen to his car, then he pulls the
cassette out of the radio and throws it out of the car. Then somebody
says in the off: "Nothing sounds like a BMW straight six." As I
personally own a BMW straight six (without any aftermarket
modifications), I can say that the sound of the engine is one of the big
advantages of the whole car. From that point of view I was a little bit
disappointed by the new M5. I think that people (like me) are not at all
accustomed to the special sound of a V10 engine. From what I have heard
from the M5, I would prefer I6 or V8 engines.

Frank

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Citroën Xantia - Made in Trance

Frank Kemper > wrote in message >...
> (Andrew Thomas) haute in die Tasten:
>
> > But then if a cool idle sound quality whilst sitting in
> > traffic is more important to you, I don't think BMW could care less if
> > it didn't get your business
> >
>
> Well, I think, if BMW would sell their cars only to rationally thinking
> people without emotions, they would have a problem selling anything
> faster and more expensive than a BMW 520 d. Some time ago BMW made a
> wonderful commercial about a guy in a Z3, who listened to a tape with
> Janis Joplin singing "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz". The guy
> stops the tape two or three times to listen to his car, then he pulls the
> cassette out of the radio and throws it out of the car. Then somebody
> says in the off: "Nothing sounds like a BMW straight six." As I
> personally own a BMW straight six (without any aftermarket
> modifications), I can say that the sound of the engine is one of the big
> advantages of the whole car. From that point of view I was a little bit
> disappointed by the new M5. I think that people (like me) are not at all
> accustomed to the special sound of a V10 engine. From what I have heard
> from the M5, I would prefer I6 or V8 engines.


Frank, I can't vouch for the sound of the E60 M5 (later this week
maybe) but I do miss the I6 in my old E30. It spun up and sounded
wonderful.

As much as I like the smooth V8 in my E39 it doesn't have the same
stirring "sound effects" athough the cool air-induction sound in 1st
gear and the V8 burble do make up for it somewhat.

I suspect BMW went with a more unrestricted exhaust in the E60 M5 and
that's why there is a lack of "sound effects". I understand the E30
exhaust was tuned to sound the way it did with the I6. When I used an
aftermarket exhaust for my E30 it did lose some of that really cool
jet turbine sound.



Michael

>
> Frank

(Michael Low) wrote:

>Frank Kemper > wrote in message >...
>> (Andrew Thomas) haute in die Tasten:
>>
>> > But then if a cool idle sound quality whilst sitting in
>> > traffic is more important to you, I don't think BMW could care less if
>> > it didn't get your business
>> >
>>
>> Well, I think, if BMW would sell their cars only to rationally thinking
>> people without emotions, they would have a problem selling anything

-snip


>that's why there is a lack of "sound effects". I understand the E30
>exhaust was tuned to sound the way it did with the I6. When I used an
>aftermarket exhaust for my E30 it did lose some of that really cool
>jet turbine sound.
>

the sound of the car (engine, trnasmision etc.) is as much part of the
experience as the way it handles, looks, goes, stops and smells. - all
part of the "package"

the I4 in my E30 sounds dreadful compared to the I6. I knew that when
i bought it, but didnt think i would regret it as much as i do.

keith