Which performance mods will I be able to add to my MCSa that won't make it louder? The pulley sounds like a good idea unless it makes the supercharger whine louder - for my ears.

 

Head and IC are the only mods I can think of that wont make things any louder. There are varying degrees of loudness though. Or do preformance mods, based on the preformance gain and add some dynamat so you don't hear as much of the outside world.

 

Gosh thats a change. You could consider the JCW CAI, since it adds power and noise only when you push the car past 4500rpm.

 

Swap out the motor for a GIGANTIC electric motor

 

How about a sail out the sunroof

 

Actually a high flow head will increase the exhaust note loudness, though not as much as say running straight pipes, lol.

Hmm, on the quiet front; a camshaft, ECU tuning, and to a lesser degree a supercharger pulley [doesn't make it louder per se, just higher pitched]. That's all I can think of right now.

Good luck!
Ryan

 

The pulley doesn't really make it louder, but rather moves the loud part to a lower rpm range you are more likely to use often. The 19% moved the whine sound down from about 4000rpm to 3000, for example.

The stock MCS airbox has a hole that runs into the cowl that you can plug to make quieter (it's too small to actually do anything but add extra noise to remind you that hey you bought a sporty car). The JCW box actually comes with the same hole plus a plug to block it off. And I had to modify the JCW box so the flapper door would close fully; now it is quieter than the MCS box.

It is easier to drive a stickshift when you can hear the engine, but it sure doesn't need to be that loud, and is unnecessary on an automatic anyway. Just lets everyone around you know that it's an automatic.

 

An ECU tune. "Fireballed" is the latest, if you are in So Cal. Else, maybe GIAC, MTH, Unichip. Take your pick. All are discussed in many threads. They all claim to help even with an MCS in "stock" condition.

Weight reductions of all types. First, any rotational mass you can take out: lighter wheels and tires make a huge difference; then there are the flywheel and crank pulley. Second, any dead weight such as belly fat (I could drop >30 lbs. this way, but haven't done it yet.) or any parts of the car that you want to lose (back seat is a common one). Although if noise is your primary concern, you'll want to be cautious. Many say that the back seat removal, for example, makes for a louder cockpit as an unintended consequence by removing a road noise sound barrier in addition to removing weight.

Old Rick is one NAM member who I have noticed has been pretty consistently concerned about noise. You might do well to look up his threads and posts.

 

While I agree it moves the loudness down the RPM range, with my M7, I can actually hear kind of like a swishy/winding sound ~2,800-3k RPM's, which IMHO would be very annoying to some...but I love it! I also have a HAI which I can hear the valve open/close on the TB which I also love, so it could be part of that too that I'm hearing.

Anyway, get a bigger IC, pulley, and that's all I can think of....unless you go the turbo/M62 route.

-Cody

 

Even an aftermarket panel filter makes it louder.

 

Thanks for ideas. I like the sail out of the sunroof! I'd get better mileage, too. So, if I do/don't go with a 15% pulley, is there anything I can do to specifically quiet the whine of the supercharger?

 

If your really don't like the sc wine, I'd consider buying an '07 with the new turbo motor.

 

How about buying a MC instead of MCS this way Whine will never be an issue

 

1. Suspension
2. Brakes
3. Driver Training

 

Lightweight wheels and tires. Contrary to many of the opinions expressed on NAM, lightweight 15" wheels and tires will make the car accelerate substantially faster, corner much better, and stop quicker. It's the most effective single thing that you can do to the car. 17" and larger wheels are a real loser on these cars for street performance.

Second-most effective noise-reducing performance enhancement is Koni FSD shocks. You get a lot less creaking-plastic noises when hitting pavement irregularities, and can corner much faster on real roads, since the tires stay in contact with the pavement a lot more of the time.

Head work would make the car noticably louder, since you would be moving more air through the engine.

 

Oldrick, i totally agree with you on the wheel/tire suggestion. Some people really dont relieze the difference it can make in gearing/stoping.

great suggestion!

 

I opted for the 16" wheels for just that reason. Thanks to the NAM members for giving me a head's up regarding the seventeens and the attendant drawbacks (they look the best, though). OldRick, did you do anything about the SC whine?

 

Even though I am noise-averse, I don't find the SC noise on my '05 MCS intrusive. I've got a 15% pulley, the JCW airbox with a K&N filter in it, and the MTH ECU mod.

One way to reduce engine noise a bit is to remove the upper intake divertor and felt blanket from the underside of the bonnet, adhere some Dynamat-type material to the inside of the bonnet, then replace the blanket and divertor (or not, if you use the M7 intake scoop). The bonnet resonates quite a bit without any damping.

Which reminds me - a larger intake scoop can reduce intake temps for a bit better performance, and doesn't add any noise at all. I've posted some tips on installing the M7 scoop in another thread.

Also, using a smaller overall diameter tire can reduce the effective gear ratios. By using a 205x55x15" tire, I am getting about 3% lower gear ratios, for an effective torque increase of about 4 ft-lbs or HP. This also makes the speedometer more accurate than US stock wheel/tire combinations. A 205x50x15 would lower the car almost a half-inch, and give even lower gear ratios.

A biggie on noise reduction is to isolate the inside of the tail-lights - a LOT of exhaust noise gets in through the thin plastic tail-lights.

 

earplugs and an m62 kit

 

Yea....just REALLLLLLY wondering here....WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO MAKE IT QUIETER!?

"For my ears" WTF is that? Get an MC then!

Lol, sorry...just curious (don't mean to come off as mean...sorry if I did) why you don't like "sounds"....what about getting an electric car?

-Cody

 

Sometimes I guess I just feel invisible, and I don't understand why!! Amazing.

OKay, now I will look for someone else to come upwith the "lightening" suggestion after I did, and then it will be complete!

 

Everyone has their priorities. Mine is to drive an MCS because I like the car and want the power of the S engine. The sound of the whining sc, well, maybe I'll get used to it. Maybe I have a choice, and I want to explore the available options. I truly appreciate all of your comments.

 

JCW Exhaust is supposed to be quieter than stock

Lighten anything up on the car (extra seats, uphostery, battery, wheels / tires, extra junk, radio, remove a/c)

ECU programming

Apexi AFC

Replacement highflow airfilter (not CAI)

More efficient charge air coolers (intercooler)

Crank pulley