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      06-16-2018, 08:36 AM   #1
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Is anyone concerned that the new S55 powered M2 competition will not be "music to their ears"? The N55 in the current m2 and B58 in the m240i are objectively awesome sounding cars but the current M3/M4-not so much. I am considering buying a m240i simply for the better exhaust note. I can't see buying the m2 if it does make a nice sound. No offense but The current m3 sounds like a strangled cat. My x3 m40i sounds worlds better.
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      06-16-2018, 08:38 AM   #2
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I enjoy my exhaust sound as I row through the gears with asd off and windows open.
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      06-16-2018, 08:41 AM   #3
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The sounds makes a big diff in overall enjoyability
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      06-16-2018, 08:53 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Portadown95 View Post
Is anyone concerned that the new S55 powered M2 competition will not be "music to their ears"? The N55 in the m2 and B58 in the m240i are objectively awesome sounding cars but the M3/M4-not so much. I am considering buying a m240i simply for the better exhaust note. I can't see buying the m2 if it does make a nice sound. No offense but The current m3 sounds like a strangled cat. My x3 m40i sounds worlds better.
IF you read the threads, Apparently, everyone!
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      06-16-2018, 08:57 AM   #5
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Sound is THE reason I got in love and bought the car
Ask new Porsche 718 owners, they probably don't care
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      06-16-2018, 09:03 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Portadown95 View Post
Is anyone concerned that the new S55 powered M2 competition will not be "music to their ears"? The N55 in the m2 and B58 in the m240i are objectively awesome sounding cars but the M3/M4-not so much. I am considering buying a m240i simply for the better exhaust note. I can't see buying the m2 if it does make a nice sound. No offense but The current m3 sounds like a strangled cat. My x3 m40i sounds worlds better.
Just gonna leave this here for you to judge for yourself.
There's even a converted S55 M2 in there.


Personally, sound is high on my list of characteristics.
Slightly more performance is fine but not enough to sacrifice sound
Every time I hear a S55 (aftermarket exhaust or not) I cringe. Can't imagine living with that.
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      06-16-2018, 09:07 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Portadown95 View Post
Is anyone concerned that the new S55 powered M2 competition will not be "music to their ears"? The N55 in the m2 and B58 in the m240i are objectively awesome sounding cars but the M3/M4-not so much. I am considering buying a m240i simply for the better exhaust note. I can't see buying the m2 if it does make a nice sound. No offense but The current m3 sounds like a strangled cat. My x3 m40i sounds worlds better.
Get a 2018 M2, the sound is amazing especially with an exhaust, plus there are good deals to be had. M2 to a M240i is a big difference, either you are in the M world or your not and if I have to explain the difference might as well get the M240i.
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      06-16-2018, 10:04 AM   #8
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For some people it's very important and a big part of the experience. For my wife, every tunnel - and I mean EVERY tunnel - is an opportunity to drop the windows in the M2, open the sunroof and hear the sound of the car reverberate off the walls as we drive through. When we started the car first thing, I don't know that there was a single morning she didn't say "I love how this car sounds".

It's a big deal to me too...I grew up watching movies like "Bullitt" and romanticizing cars like the original Maserati Ghibli, and Lamborghini Miura, and Ferrari Daytona. That's what I thought great engines sounded like, and the sound of the car becomes part of the mystique.

The m240i is a sweet car and everyone seems to love the B58. I'd still like to see if the design decision to put the VANOS on the backside of the engine, against the firewall, turns out to be a long-term service headache but I guess we won't know that for a few more years. The B58 does sound great, no doubt.

If you can swing an M2, whether outgoing or new Comp, give it a look. It really does feel different. I drove the m240i three times before buying the M2 and the wider track, LSD and suspension of the M2 make it feel like a different car. There were a couple of times during our travel in Europe when I threw the M2 into a turn or an off ramp and a quarter of the way in I knew I'd misjudged a little and was going faster than I needed to be going, and I'm thinking I either stab the brakes and try to scrub some speed or just point the wheel and hold on, and the car just keeps sending messages to your ass and brain..."don't worry, I got this".

As for N55 vs. S55, it just comes down to taste and what your ears prefer. There's a guy in our neighborhood with a Honda Civic and we can hear him coming half a mile away. He must think it sounds good, we think the malfunctioning ice maker in our 14-year old refrigerator sounds better. Who's right?
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      06-16-2018, 10:26 AM   #9
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Aural sex.
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      06-16-2018, 10:31 AM   #10
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We've had so many posts about how the S55 sounds bad and the N55 sounds great, but I have yet to read the reason why. Any of you folks who are more engine savvy than I am able to explain why the S55 sounds bad? What's different? It cant be the exhaust as changing that out would cure it. Plenty of M3/4 out there with different turbos and the sound is still bad so it cant be that. Is the cylinder firing order different between the two engines? Maybe ignition timing is different?
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      06-16-2018, 10:41 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by DETRoadster View Post
We've had so many posts about how the S55 sounds bad and the N55 sounds great, but I have yet to read the reason why. Any of you folks who are more engine savvy than I am able to explain why the S55 sounds bad? What's different? It cant be the exhaust as changing that out would cure it. Plenty of M3/4 out there with different turbos and the sound is still bad so it cant be that. Is the cylinder firing order different between the two engines? Maybe ignition timing is different?
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8&postcount=44
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      06-16-2018, 10:46 AM   #12
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Very very important
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      06-16-2018, 10:48 AM   #13
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What was the question? I can't hear you over the sweet sound of my N55.
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      06-16-2018, 10:59 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MPower_FS View Post
I knew one of you guys would know the answer. Thanks!
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      06-16-2018, 12:05 PM   #15
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My cousin has a M4 and it sounds pretty nice. I haven't installed an exhaust yet on my m2 but based on the videos, the car has the potential to sound better than an m4.
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      06-18-2018, 11:43 AM   #16
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Very important! The explanation linked above makes sense and I recall the first time I witnessed an M4 in traffic. Oh wow an m4, rolled down my windows, and complete disappointment! That said plenty of twin turbo cars sound great but for whatever reason the S55 sounds thin and ricey no matter what you do to it. Some people love it some hate it.

Simply put the S55 can sound aggressive but never sexy! The n55 in my second 135 below which was only catless DP and stock axle back show how great the N55 can sound!

WARNING AURAL BLISS

https://youtu.be/wLZNSJv6a3U?t=40s
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      06-18-2018, 12:12 PM   #17
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Exhaust sound is important to me, but after owning a FBO n55 335i coupe for over a year, I cant get another car with the N55.

The S55 doesnt sound as good as the n55 to me, but the performance is still worth it.
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      06-18-2018, 12:52 PM   #18
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I didn't think it was that important until I had it - now I won't settle for less. It really adds to the overall experience. Keep in mind what sounds good to one may not sound good to another.
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      06-18-2018, 01:10 PM   #19
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It wasn't important to me until I got this car. I'd say appreciated more than important. I went on to add a Fabspeed sportcat for the power. I love the power and now REALLY appreciate the sound. I also have an E46 M3. They weren't known to sound all that great (the infamous rasp), but I didn't care. I still love that car.

So the great sound of the N55 is kind of like a huge bonus in my eyes. The S55s I've heard don't sound as good, but I wouldn't call it bad. It's just not as good as the N55 in a lot of people's eyes. It sets a crazy high bar.
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      06-18-2018, 02:31 PM   #20
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To each their own.
For me, extremely important.


I have Dinan + resonator delete, makes me smile and laugh everyday. (Then I hear my brother's GT350 and I remember it's still a turbo 6.) I've driven a few S55 both tuned and stock...the metallic rasp at higher RPM is unique and entertaining, but anything below that is nothing to write home about.


I'd guess BMW will have listened and improved the sound from M3/M4. I'd hold judgement until you hear it.
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      06-18-2018, 02:36 PM   #21
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Its a big shortcoming of the S55 compared with the N55. The buzzy, tinny sound of the former is no match for the deep throated growl of the latter. That eval is pretty universally accepted around here. There are very few here who prefer the sound of the S55 to the N55 in native form, and for those to whom sound is important, which Id guess is most people here, its a big deal.
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      06-18-2018, 02:54 PM   #22
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It is certainly important to me. My S2000 engine and exhaust sounds were pure bliss esp when winded out to 9000 RPM (with a Mugen exhaust no less). It is arguably the most defining character of the car.

Then there was this one time I was just casually browsing outside a Porsche dealership with no intention of even setting foot inside their door. Just as I was ready to leave, someone was returning from a test drive in a 987S. It sounded amazing even at light throttle at parking lot speed. It pretty much harpooned my wallet out of my pocket at that moment. The 718, for all its remarkable advances in acceleration and handling since the 987, doesn't appeal to me. :shrug:
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