Seriously not fake??? You turn it on with a button. Sigh...

We're out!

 

You're going to love it! My friends (mainly GTI drivers) are all quite jealous

 

I rarely use my sport button and at the same time I am a spirited driver.

How many other cars out there can change the sound of their exhaust at the press of a button? Pretty cool, but really just a gimmick...unless the exhaust flow is less restricted with this feature. Is it?

BUT, if you don't like the burbles and pops, then just turn off sport mode.

If I am not mistaken, unless you have an auto trans, there isn't really much of a difference between sport and regular mode. It's not like the car handles better or is faster when sport mode is on... You just press the accelerator slightly less (as it's more sensitive) and the steering feels heavier but isn't actually changing the ride quality or dampening level.

If the car changed the boost level, restricted the exhaust less (that is the pop and burble sound they are going for, right?) and made the suspension dampening tighter then I'd take the sport button more seriously. Maybe next generation?

So, really, you're not missing out on much if you keep it sport mode off, in my opinion.

 

So what is really happening to change the exhaust note with the push of the button? What physical change is taking place with the exhaust system? Just curious how it works...

 

I'm trying to understand need for the pops and burbles. Does it make the car go faster? Does it improve the fuel economy? The car is already cool. Is there some inherent coolness that this imparts on the car that it doesn't already have. I just don't get it.

Must be an age thing!

 

It was cool on the originals and it's still cool today... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zws5cmozaJo

I remember seeing classic Minis which would do this without any modification and without any "sport mode" button. The pop and burble in the new generation is just a nod to the classic IMO.

 

Ok I can understand that.

Thanks

 

I so wish I could trade your sound for mine. I love the Pop and Burble and as of yet there is no way I can get it...

Larry

 

After you lift off, couple drops of petrol gets drooped to the hot exhaust hence the little explosions.

 

From what I understand the ECU is telling the injectors to continue their injector pulse for a little while after you let off the gas. This is introducing a small amount of unburnt fuel vapor in the hot exhaust. Once the vapor gets hot enough it ignites and creates the noise. A lot of older cars will do this since their have carbs and not injectors.

WRC cars will do this also but theirs has a real purpose. Its a system call anti-lag system or ALS. It keeps the turbo spooled up and making maximum power. Theirs will retard the timing, quite a lot sometimes, and then keep injecting fuel. This then detonates in the exhaust manifold and keeps the turbo spooled.

 

Thanks for shedding light on how the noise is made. Now if only we knew whether this actually makes a difference in performance or if it is merely another tactic to make the car seem cooler.

 

I don't think it has anything to do with performance. At least my gut tells me that. I don't know for certain but it makes sense.

 

my GP burbles and pops all day long and I love it. Its definitely a distinct sound that makes my GP sound like it means business!

But sadly the wife's MCS does not pop or burble and that is quite disappointing b/c it looks like a JCW but without any bite...boo.

 

I'm so used to this from my other car I don't notice it as much in the cooper, especially with how much quieter it is. I also haven't had it in sport mode as much, I am only 180 miles in. I was told as far as break in, just don't use cruise control for 1,200 miles, otherwise fair game. I might stretch its legs a bit more this next weekend. But I don't want to really push it until I get over 1,200- 1,500 miles. But by then it will be winter.

 

I didnt use the Sport button during the whole break in period. Once you start using it you will hear it and it gets better as the miles rack up.

 

Why didn't you use the sport button during break in? There is zero harm you can do to the car by using it. Even during break in. Just wondering. I can't drive my cars without the sport button on. It's the first button I pushed when I drove the car off the dealers lot. All it does is make the throttle more responsive and changes the PS response calibration.

 

Curious... Why? I always felt that the break-in period was just about keeping the revs below a reasonable threshold. What would be the problem with cruise control?

 

I think the original recommendation from BMW is to not cruiser over 100mph for extended periods of time during the first 1,200 miles to allow the rings to seat properly and break in oils to work their magic in ///M cars. After 1,200 miles, you would bring in your ///M car to get the break-in oils replaced with the normal stuff. For non-M cars, they didn't use break-in oils but rather just recommended you not drive over 100mph for extended periods.

 

Darn, now my commute will be no fun!

 

Its the long term steady speed they are tying to eliminate. Variance in speed and thus rpm are good for seating the rings and getting the bearings to mate well.

 

Well seeing as now when I do drive with it on there is quite a bit of over 4500RPM shifts... hehe

Hard to not do it when its on so I decided I would not even tempt my self. No at 10k its on everytime I drive unless the weather is poor.

 

The answer I got was along these lines.

 

Awesome, I just tried out the pop and burble on my 2012 MCSa and it sounds great. I tested with the vehicle parked, in Sport, and just revved to around 2500 or 3000RPM. It was super noticable and super loud. Doesn't happen much in regular driving though.

 

I went to SeaTac airport to pick up some one. I had to park in the indoor parking... OH. MY. GOD! With the help of echo, it is no longer pop or burble, it is a thunder!

 

Nice. Now I feel an urge to go somewhere that has indoor parking...