Lack of engine noise (E400)

[AshL]

Hi all,

New to the forum. Just got myself an E400 coupe and while a great car, I am slightly disappointed with the engine sound within the cabin. Even the exhaust note is quiet.

Does anyone know any tips to improve this? Not talking boy racer modifications. But my old M135 BMW used to a have an exhaust flap which I disconnected.

Anything similar on this?

Cheers in advance,
Ash

 

[Botus]

a lot of BMWs play fake noise via the radio (even when its off) to make the car sound better/faster (most say its awful and sounds fake)

whilst noise might seem "nice" its wearing, antisocial and stops you driving the car as fast (as a noisy cars attract the wrong attention from the police, authorities, hoodies and general busy boddies )

leaving out part of the perfectly good standard exhaust will make it louder and very probably slower. But a worse power curve and 3 years olds trying to race you, seems to be what you are after?

 

[mercmancdi]

I prefer the peace and quiet of mercedes ,
Maybe it’s an age thing .
Hi ,

 

[AMGeed]

Talk to an exhaust specialist about the possibilities of releasing a few Db if that is your aim.
Not Kwikfit or the like, someone like Powerflow, Torqueflow or EMP who regularly modify exhausts.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Removing rear cats and a resonator delete will certainly increase the noise, as above though whether you’d want it long term is debatable . There are exhaust systems too with valves/flaps you can control as you’ve experienced but they are very expensive (like IPE)

 

[AMGeed]

^ IPE systems sound like the world is ending when the valves are open John

 

[John Laidlaw]

^ IPE systems sound like the world is ending when the valves are open John

Yeah me likeeeee

 

[AshL]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

To be fair - not looking for a boy racers car. But why buy a V6 if you can’t hear it. Was just seeing if anyone had tips they knew to improve the sound

 

[John Laidlaw]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

To be fair - not looking for a boy racers car. But why buy a V6 if you can’t hear it. Was just seeing if anyone had tips they knew to improve the sound

One of the issues is that we don’t often hear our OWN cars, and because we can’t hear much from inside assume there’s little drama. However from outside folks are commenting how nice they sound.
Good soundproofing in the cabin causes it mostly, just got to run through a tunnel or two every few weeks to get your fix- windows/sunroof open (or roof down if you’re lucky enough)

 

[Blobcat]

Makes a change someone coming here and complaining about no noise, perhaps we could arrange a car swop with some of the other members cars...

 

[John Laidlaw]

Makes a change someone coming here and complaining about no noise, perhaps we could arrange a car swop with some of the other members cars...

My neighbours might appreciate that at 6.30 am ‘most’ mornings

 

[Botus]

you miss a lot of engine noise with an auto box, they like changing up.... my omega V6 sounded great the other side of 6k, but less than 4k inside you never heard anything interesting

 

[umblecumbuz]

Drill a few holes in the firewall.

Some years ago a friend sold his Merc andd bought a Beemer.
He sold the Beemer quite quickly and went back to a Merc.
'I like to hear the engine', he said, 'and I couldn't hear it in the Beemer.'

 

[harrye500]

Ash I thought mine was a bit 'average' sounding when I got it, but actually John L is right, our cars do seem to sound good to those on the outside! I've got used to the comforting understated burble of mine now, but it absolutely screams in 'head back drama' and noise if you boot it. MB sure do make a lovely 6 and 8 Cylinder engine. Never tire of mine! Saying that though, you can get good aftermarket stainless systems, but for our cars as everything is, ****** frighteningly expensive no doubt!

 

[Craiglxviii]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

To be fair - not looking for a boy racers car. But why buy a V6 if you can’t hear it. Was just seeing if anyone had tips they knew to improve the sound

Because it's an MB and a non-AMG one too. It's designed to be as smooth and quiet as possible, my 500 V8 is almost inaudible inside the cabin, and so quiet from outside that I can fire it up and leave for work without the engine noise waking up the memsahib.

 

[Nigel Hewitt]

ROTFL
I bought a second-hand Honda motor-bike and somebody had swapped the OEM silencer for a Titanium after-market thing.
I thought it sounded like an elderly 350 with a hole in the exhaust.
So I swapped it back.
I like quieter and if I am only getting 180bhp I guess I'll probably manage (on 211Kg).

With the Mercedes I rely on the Tacho' to even know if the engine is running as it's a hybrid.

 

[harrye500]

Yes I think craiglxviii has got it in one there!

 

[LostKiwi]

Our r230 V8 has a modified exhaust (secondary cats removed, X-pipe inserted) and it's fairly quiet on cruise but not inaudible by any stretch of the imagination. On very long trips it gets a little tiresome. Our r129 V8 has the resonator removed - very deep burble at low revs and thundererous at wide open throttle but interestingly less tiring than the 230 (but still a little tiresome) - that said I'm thinking about putting the resonator back in (I kept it just in case).
The 210 V6 is stock and is bliss on long trips. Muted and refined sums it up nicely. Definitely the best of the three for long journeys.
What will suit you will depend on your personal tastes and your driving profile. The shorter the journeys the louder you can go.

 

[AshL]

Thanks guys - yeah totally appreciate the aim to be reserved with this car. I am getting used to the purposeful quiet growl on heavy throttle inputs. But I must say the idle sounds terrible! Pretty rattlely like a diesel which is surprising for an engine which is this powerful

 

[Uncle Benz]

Thanks guys - yeah totally appreciate the aim to be reserved with this car. I am getting used to the purposeful quiet growl on heavy throttle inputs. But I must say the idle sounds terrible! Pretty rattlely like a diesel which is surprising for an engine which is this powerful

Its a sad fact that direct injection petrol engines rattle like a diesel. The vast majority of new petrol cars are like this now. Its an emissions thing I'm afraid.