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Is the BMW M5's Active Sound party trick any good?

TopGear.com.ph Philippine Car News - Is the BMW M5’s Active Sound party trick any good?

The BMW M5 is one of the most sought-after high-performance luxury sedans anywhere in the world since it offers spacious seating for up to five people while putting up numbers that are knocking on supercar territory.

For the all-new model, which was officially revealed globally in June 2011 and launched locally last March, one of its neat party tricks is its so-called Active Sound feature.

As Top Gear host Richard Hammond put it in his review of the M5 on the show, Active Sound is "a system that pipes a synthesized version of the exhaust note through the stereo."

Understandably, this feature has M5 enthusiasts wailing, saying that it's an artificial way of making up for the loss of the previous model's V10 engine exhaust note that the twin-turbo in the current model's V8 can't replicate.

Apparently, one M5 owner has had enough of the feature: He convinced the technicians in his dealership to pull out the fuse to disable it. Unfortunately, that also meant disabling the M5's sound system.

Anyway, here's a video of what the M5 sounds with the Active Sound feature engaged and disengaged.

Do you think BMW is cheating with the Active Sound feature, or does this actually enhance the driving experience?

 

If you're viewing this on a mobile device and can't see the video, please click here.

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  • mindkinetic 11 months ago
     
    my take on this is that this is absolutely dependent on the owner . if the idea of having this feature is to create the sound of the original v10 m5 and you adore the ripping sound of a v10 then such feature is for you. the active sound feature is akin to an exhaust upgrade . however some may find this also absurd, making the sound pitch of a v10 while just having a v8 under the hood. but if disbling the active sound feature will likewise abrogate the spirited sound pitch of the m5, i'll select not to deactivate it.
       
  • TJPewter 11 months ago
     
    Hmmm... Technology these days. Sound becoming artificial for V8 twin turbo cars that should only be placed in electric cars, namely the Fisker Karma, the Audi R8 e tron concept etc. But why can't BMW learn from Bentley with their Conti GT V8? It still makes a great sound even with the twin turbo.
    Tho the V10 sounds really good and was absolutely a monster in disguise. The new M5 is a much more nimble, lighter, FASTER and a better car to drive around.
    Imo, the placement of the "artificial sound" on a BMW M5 makes me sad. Bec I think that the sound of the engine (especially in a BMW) is part of the Sheer Driving Pleasure
       
  • the 8th 11 months ago
     
    Doesn't the LFA use a similar system to pipe the exhaust notes of that glorious engine into the cockpit?
       
    • John Rigor 11 months ago
       
      Nah, the Lexus used a muffler tuned by Yamaha (the same company who manufactured the engine)
         
  • Fernando Amorsolo 11 months ago
     
    It's my first time to hear such a technology. I am no expert on this category but I think, those who are just REAALLYY mad about hearing an original V10 growl will not be sufficed with the artificial exhaust note. In my taste (just mine) I can live with the artificial sound. As long as this technology is reliable and would last as long as the car is working. Or Maybe I'd just also deactivate with the techy and just enjoy the real music of the V8. Doesn't matter to me.
       
  • stelvio 13 months ago
     
    This is oh so wrong. It won't be long before this technology can be replicated by some car accessory manufacturer in China or Taiwan. Its possible we may even witness a Tata Nano that emits a Lexus LFA sound. So what's the point of having this sublime (but artificial) sound on your 11m supersedan when that time comes?
       
  • Fernando Amorsolo 13 months ago
     
    I agree with stelvio. In the future, we might as well expect some cars mimicking the sound of some supercars.

    Imagine an i10, growling like a Ferrari. What's worst, AFTERMARKET people would certainly develop some technology like this, and EVERY obnoxious Filipino, would install it on their cars. And everyone of them in the road are growling like a Ferrari. I am scared of this idea.
       
  • ultramagnus 13 months ago
     
    I say kudos to the engineers who developed the technology. I'd say most drivers like to hear the sound of their engines roaring when they gun it, any car, not just BMW. Drivers also tend to use the sound to gauge their acceleration. This technology could be applied to other vehicles that are much too quiet, say electric cars, on a more functional reason.

    But they should have placed a manual disable for the feature and not force their customers to pull out a fuse just to disengage it.
       
  • carwiki 13 months ago
     
    Wow! Nice engineering.
       
  • art 13 months ago
     
    this is cheating
       
  • sef21 11 months ago
     
    I believe that the LFA is not using this feature because the sound outside of the car is different from the sound inside.
       
  • angelo 11 months ago
     
    In my humblest opinion, nothing in this world can replace the rumbling sound of an angry V10. A typical stereo cannot replace the true power and sound of M power. Nothing beats the exciting grumble of a petrol thirsty M power engine. Such a bad idea for me :)
       
  • pat 11 months ago
     
    Cheating, methinks. In the video the sound with the cheat system off was loud enough, but nowhere near as ferocious as the old 5.0 litre V10. I'd still have the older M5 actually, if I was given a choice.
       
  • Saviour 11 months ago
     
    Yes, its cheating.

    I know the M5 has superior drive and handling, but I would choose the new Audi S6 over this.
       
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