Why is it cool? This is the first car I have ever had where I turn my music off just so I can hear the engine.

 

And the exhaust.

 

People ask me all the time "Why does your car backfire?" It makes me mad that people who know nothing about cars think something is wrong with mine because it makes cool noises. I love the sound after I put on a new DP, there are no more snaps just little burbles, very subtle but very cool sounding!

Now I just gotta get fire to actually come out! lol

 

I have an r53 S with the Alta catback and it pops like mad. 3k RPM is the sweet spot!

 

I test drove a used '09 JCW Clubman a couple weeks ago. I knew the LCI MINIs did the burble but I thought something was wrong with that car because it kept sounding like it was back firing. Was it actually supposed to do that in that model year?

 

Pretty sure all of the second gen S models except for MY2010 do that. I know my '13 does.

--Matt

 

I believe that the burble & pop disappeared from the exhaust note after 2006, but made its return in the 2011 model year. I tried a few different Google searches & from what I read it can be introduced via ECU tuning if desired, but came "factory standard" in 2002 - 2006, and 2011 - present.

I recall reading something similar on Motoring File about the reintroduction of the burble & pop in 2011 but couldn't find the article. Feel free to correct me if I've mis-stated anything.

 

I think the "factory standard" in the earlier cars didn't really manifest itself completely until the '05 model year, and likely included the '07-'08 MCS Cabrio too. The burble, while ECU controlled, was an outcome of natural back-pressure associated with the supercharged cars. The '11 - present "factory standard" is also ECU controlled but results from tweaking fuel delivery in the system in an attempt to recreate the audible character associated with the 1st Gen MCS.

Here's the MF article to which you refer:

http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/07/...e-pop-is-back/

Speaking from the perspective of a former '05 and current '11 owner, I have to confess that the LCI pop and burble isn't really up to the standard set by the original R53 music. But it's better than not having it at all.

 

Love that "noise". And the reason it's so appealing, to me at least, is that popping and burbling on deaccelleration used to be (and maybe still is) associated with high performance motors. The sound from my stock '06 JCW cab is just right. And with the top down, I get to hear it best.

 

I have an 03 and wish mine would do it more.... I love the sound of the facelift cars

 

A little bit of JCWporn

 

That is so cool.

 

I love the burbles and low volume pops but hate the loud "backfire" pop. Wish I could figure out how to keep the sounds I like but get rid of the loud pops.

 

As I have noted many time on these forums, I absolutely HATE the "pop/burble" crap because of the single note backfire noises it makes on too many occasions.

Calforhelp, I hope with my soon to be installed Akrapovic Downpipe and Custom VIP DP-back, the "noises" calm down a little as you said.

 

Well it gets much louder at first and there are a lot more pops than burbles but after a few hundred miles it quiets down a little. After I removed my 2nd cat I'm back to a little louder than stock but the majority of the noises are a mix between a pop and burble, I'll get maybe 3 or 4 of these noises when I lift off the gas at around 3-4.5k rpm.

It seems like you get mostly burbles when shifting below 3k, mostly loud snaps and pops at 3k and 5k. Everything else is that middle sound.

It also seems to help to get back on the gas quickly after letting off to prevent any loud snaps.

 

I don't mind loud (to a point), just the singular loud backfire sound. If I get a version of what you said... Sweet!

Oh... I will be painting the tailpipes black.

 

I love it. Sport mode 24/7 for it in my 13 JCW

 

So just thought I'd share what my car is now doing. I got an NM tune last Monday and for the last two days the P&B has been absolutely perfect. I haven't gotten a single loud pop just a bunch of lovely low burbles when going into 2nd, 3rd and 4th, a little in 5th. If I rev my engine in neutral I can hear the same deep burbles while the accelerator is pressed.

It's absolutely perfect. So if you want all of the awesomeness of P&B without the loud "backfire" bangs, do the mods in my sig

 

What are the numbers after the tune (hp/torq/gas mileage/etc)?

 

Haven't gotten on a dyno yet. NM said my whp should be around 230-240 and I don't remember how many torques.

Gas mileage doesn't seem to have changed much. I'm still averaging ~29.6mpg city with fairly aggressive driving shifting around 3.5k on average.

 

Sweet. I don't know if I'm gonna tune before my warranty expires though. Can barely wait though, so....

 

I still have another 30k before my warranty expires but with the NM tune I can get it flashed back to stock for free for any warranty work and re-tuned for $50. Plus they're only 40mi from my house so that makes it very convenient. But yeah, the tune is incredible.