[MC113]

Cross-posting from the Engine, Exhaust, Drivetrain, Tuning Modifications Forum in case anyone here has any ideas -

TL;DR bolded for the main point!

I recently picked up a 2024 X5 M60i which comes with the S68 V8 and has an surprisingly muted exhaust note even after the run-in period and in the Sport Plus Drive Mode.

I was wondering if anyone has any information about aftermarket exhaust choices? I found this system when searching for accessories on BMW USA - and the page says "this fits your BMW" but in the description it says it was developed for the 40i inline 6 cylinder. When I called a local service center, they told me it's only eligible for installation in mainland China which frankly didn't make a ton of sense since it's listed on the BMW USA site. He had no guidance on what was coming or available from other third parties beyond mentioning I should look into Dinan.

https://www.shopbmwusa.com/product/8...EXHAUST-SYSTEM

https://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRINT/8464

This all stems from an oversight I made when getting the car and not understanding there was a distinction between the M Sport Exhaust and an M Performance Exhaust. I assumed the M Sport Package Pro and M Sport Exhaust would deliver a prominent exhaust note. I didn't push the test drive demo car as it was still in its run-in period. One of a few oversights I made in my excitement to get back into an X5, unfortunately.

I traded in a 2020 Range Rover Sport Supercharged for my X5 (regular V8, not the SVR or anything) which I had made no modifications to and I was happy with its exhaust, so I'm not necessarily in need of anything ballistic to be satisfied. I actually quite like the exhaust note from the 2023 M550i with the N63 engine we recently picked up which has no modifications to the exhaust, either.

Open to any recommendations or guidance!

Window sticker attached if the existing equipment is needed/helpful.

[parky1215]

I don‘t believe there is M Performance or any aftermarket exhaust for 2024 M60i.
Only upgrade I am aware is downpipe from redstar.

[LDT]

Beautiful X5. M sport Pkg pro is purely cosmetic. I drove a M50i before ordering my M60i and it had a more robust exhaust note. But I’m okay with the M60i exhaust after 2k miles.

[WTGBMW]

Originally Posted by LDT

Beautiful X5. M sport Pkg pro is purely cosmetic. I drove a M50i before ordering my M60i and it had a more robust exhaust note. But I’m okay with the M60i exhaust after 2k miles.

LDT, did the exhaust note get better after putting miles on your M60i or you are just used to it and not a big deal?

[parky1215]

Originally Posted by WTGBMW

LDT, did the exhaust note get better after putting miles on your M60i or you are just used to it and not a big deal?

I have close to 4k miles on my M60i and there is zero improvement on the exhaust note.
All I hear is fake pumped in exhaust and engine sound from the speaker.

[TechCTU]

Originally Posted by parky1215

I have close to 4k miles on my M60i and there is zero improvement on the exhaust note.
All I hear is fake pumped in exhaust and engine sound from the speaker.

I second that, with the iconic sounds option on it sounds great

I am ok with the sound although I do wish with sports mode on it opened the flaps and was more pronounced.

[BMthusiast]

This should really be a 'sticky' thread considering there are already a few other threads of users expressing their concern with stock exhaust sound on M60i models.

Some people don't need loud exhaust and are fine with stock volume, which means there's still an audible experience even with no changes, but I get it, for others including myself it's just not enough. Depending on how much noise you want, there are some options I've found doing a little bit of research. The main thing is that valves are not always open in Sp/Sp+, which I think is a way for BMW to make the full-M models more enticing with their exhaust valve button (they could have easily also equipped M60i models with the valve button but made it a full-M exclusive). The solution for this in an M60i is getting a valve controller. To go further, you can replace the stock M Sport silencer with something aftermarket with dual silencers. If that's still not loud enough, get the Redstar secondary cat upgrade. And to go even further, get the Redstar primary cat upgrade too.

Currently there's a dÄHLer cat-back system available, though kinda costly. Or you can take the vehicle into a BMW specialist shop and ask them to do a custom pipe setup, but that could be pretty pricey as well. And I'm sure lots of other products will eventually roll out from other brands soon.

Stock pipes sound - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9c9ijUMMoM

Redstar pipes sound - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Av7pWxo6iPc

Product links:

dÄHLer valve controller - https://www.daehler-tuning.com/dahle...ontroller-bmw/

dÄHLer cat-back - https://www.daehler-tuning.com/produ...stem-x5-x6-x7/

Redstar pipes - https://redstarexhaustusa.com/bmw-x5...dary-downpipes

Valvetronic dual silencers - https://valvetronic.com/products/uni...39496535113764

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by BMthusiast

This should really be a 'sticky' thread considering there are already a few other threads of users expressing their concern with stock exhaust sound on M60i models.

Some people don't need loud exhaust and are fine with stock volume, which means there's still an audible experience even with no changes, but I get it, for others including myself it's just not enough. Depending on how much noise you want, there are some options I've found doing a little bit of research. The main thing is that valves are not always open in Sp/Sp+, which I think is a way for BMW to make the full-M models more enticing with their exhaust valve button (they could have easily also equipped M60i models with the valve button but made it a full-M exclusive). The solution for this in an M60i is getting a valve controller. To go further, you can replace the stock M Sport silencer with something aftermarket with dual silencers. If that's still not loud enough, get the Redstar secondary cat upgrade. And to go even further, get the Redstar primary cat upgrade too.

Currently there's a dÄHLer cat-back system available, though kinda costly. Or you can take the vehicle into a BMW specialist shop and ask them to do a custom pipe setup, but that could be pretty pricey as well. And I'm sure lots of other products will eventually roll out from other brands soon.

Stock pipes sound - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9c9ijUMMoM

Redstar pipes sound - [...]

In the full M variants the valves are not open at all times and also don’t open to full 100% even when they are open in most scenarios. Thus why there are valve controllers for those vehicles as well.

[LDT]

Originally Posted by WTGBMW

LDT, did the exhaust note get better after putting miles on your M60i or you are just used to it and not a big deal?

I think it’s changed marginally but to no significant extent. And I’m okay with it. I’ve outgrown the need for a loud exhaust note.

[MC113]

Originally Posted by BMthusiast

This should really be a 'sticky' thread considering there are already a few other threads of users expressing their concern with stock exhaust sound on M60i models.

Some people don't need loud exhaust and are fine with stock volume, which means there's still an audible experience even with no changes, but I get it, for others including myself it's just not enough. Depending on how much noise you want, there are some options I've found doing a little bit of research. The main thing is that valves are not always open in Sp/Sp+, which I think is a way for BMW to make the full-M models more enticing with their exhaust valve button (they could have easily also equipped M60i models with the valve button but made it a full-M exclusive). The solution for this in an M60i is getting a valve controller. To go further, you can replace the stock M Sport silencer with something aftermarket with dual silencers. If that's still not loud enough, get the Redstar secondary cat upgrade. And to go even further, get the Redstar primary cat upgrade too.

Currently there's a dÄHLer cat-back system available, though kinda costly. Or you can take the vehicle into a BMW specialist shop and ask them to do a custom pipe setup, but that could be pretty pricey as well. And I'm sure lots of other products will eventually roll out from other brands soon.

Stock pipes sound - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9c9ijUMMoM

Redstar pipes sound - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Av7pWxo6iPc

Product links:

dÄHLer valve controller - https://www.daehler-tuning.com/dahle...ontroller-bmw/

dÄHLer cat-back - https://www.daehler-tuning.com/produ...stem-x5-x6-x7/

Redstar pipes - https://redstarexhaustusa.com/bmw-x5...dary-downpipes

Valvetronic dual silencers - https://valvetronic.com/products/uni...39496535113764

This is super helpful, thank you! I’ve reached back out to a different BMW service center to try to get some more answers and explore options. As far as how loud I want to go…Honestly, I just want my X5’s V8 to sound remotely similar to our ‘23 M550 which we just picked up. (M550 V8 stock exhaust example). Beyond the inability to disable auto start/stop in Comfort, this is the one thing I am really missing about my ‘20 Range Rover Sport I turned in for the X5 (RRS V8 stock exhaust example).

I get that the Range Rover Sport’s engine was originally released in 2009 which probably preceded a lot of modern emissions requirements and that JLR isn't as sophisticated as BMW when it comes to these things in general. In fact, I think the new RRS uses the previous gen BMW-sourced V8 that's in our M550i. When I think way back into ancient history with my first X5s that I had, they weren’t ballistically loud in a juvenile way, they were just unambiguously V8s. (E53 X5 V8 stock exhaust example or E70 X5 V8 stock exhaust example). The same was the case for the 650i and 550i we had at home back then, I was habituated to fantastic sounding BMW V8s. I guess I never thought returning to BMW - with the engine that is shared with full M vehicles no less - that I’d want to immediately go out and purchase an exhaust to have what I'd consider the full V8 experience haha! I really don't mind spending whatever it takes and am more just a bit disappointed that BMW doesn't seem to be even offering a choice that I can readily make. I will cross my fingers Dinan or another approved third party rolls something out in the next few months.

Again, our ‘23 M550 sounds great, so I know it’s not as if stock modern BMWs can’t sound great in way that's mature and socially acceptable . I get that the M550 is the previous gen V8 engine and I probably should have tried to get a pre-LCI X5 with it if I cared so much. I fell in love with the design updates on the LCI and frankly just didn’t do a nearly thorough enough test drive. Even with its few small faults, this X5 is my favorite car I’ve ever had and I know BMW is only doing these regulatory-driven compromises because they have to.

I do hope the Lambo/McLaren/Ferrari and other exotic car drivers, billionaires flying their private jets to get to their recreational space flight launch or folks taking mostly empty jumbo jet flights to take vacation cruises on massive ships blasting emissions skyward rest easy knowing my V8 averaging 12 MPG has sounded like a Dyson vacuum crossed with a blender on quiet mode most of the last 1,500 miles in order to save the planet.

Small aside on my frustration with the "why" behind what I imagine are these regulatory-driven changes...Kudos to the electric car crowd that are actually trying to do something but again - with the half-measures - in the U.S. we're plugging cars into a grid that’s currently only 12% powered by renewables and like 77% fossil fuels. I think almost 20% is coal? So they're rolling around in a car that weighs as much as a dead planet made of lead that's got a mostly fossil fuel-charged battery? No emissions from the car, but I'd imagine that coal-fired power plant might not be net zero? Meanwhile I've got my twin turbo V8 which enthusiastically shuts off for a split second at every stop sign or momentary traffic slowdown with a ball-gagged exhaust. The electric car folks are doing much better than me, but am I meant to feel like Captain Planet enjoying my IconicSounds/Grand Turismo PS5 engine sound simulator with the windows up while still averaging 12 MPG?

Something is better than nothing I suppose but these half measures are frankly just embarrassing to me.

[Tejas1836]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

In the full M variants the valves are not open at all times and also don’t open to full 100% even when they are open in most scenarios. Thus why there are valve controllers for those vehicles as well.

In the F95-F96, the valves are either fully closed or fully open, no intermediate positions

[MC113]

Originally Posted by parky1215

I have close to 4k miles on my M60i and there is zero improvement on the exhaust note.
All I hear is fake pumped in exhaust and engine sound from the speaker.

For the folks saying they are happy with the sound - and I am genuinely trying to understand this and not being judgmental - are they happy with it even when they have "IconicSounds" disabled? I think IconicSounds is enabled by default in Sport Drive Mode, but - to me at least - when you disable it the car sounds more like a turbo 6 cylinder at best even with the windows down. Only under the most aggressive, sustained acceleration do you even get a taste of the V8 sound which given the HP and speed limits doesn't last long. On startup and around town it genuinely sounds less powerful than the '20 M340i we just turned in for a '23 M550i.

I can’t for the life of me find any official BMW information on what exactly IconicSounds is for non-electric cars - everything is press releases and marketing-speak for how fantastic it is for electric cars. I get the novelty of the Hans Zimmer treatment for the electric cars to offset the total silence or maybe a little something to make a base 4 cylinder not sound like a lawn mower gargling Legos. On my M60i my understanding (which could be wrong) is "IconicSounds" are literally just completely fake engine sound pumped through the speakers. Not like, amplified real engine noise but fully simulated. Like I've pulled up engine noises on Spotify and am playing them through the speakers fake.

Am I being a luddite if I didn't expect or frankly want “IconicSounds” faking an ICE twin turbo V8 when that's what I paid for under the hood? It never would've crossed my mind on the test drive to turn and ask "is the sound I am hearing with my ears right on this $100k V8 real or are you playing me samples from Gran Turismo 7 through the speakers?" That would sound like the question from the mind of a lunatic, no?

When you turn IconicSounds off and realize they're masking what often is sounding more like a 4 or 6 cylinder blended with a Dyson running in the next room over...How do you leave them on when you know it's totally fake? Like this isn't a Hot Wheels ride on where you expect engine noise via speaker and are also (presumably) an actual child lmao! I am not playing Daytona USA - this is an actual V8 that's going to be in the M5!?

Am I crazy lmao? No, I do not want the fake sound on...I want to hear the actual 500+ HP TT BMW V8 which is sitting a few feet away from me? Software-based fake engine noise played through speakers sounds like something targeting the teenage boys who bolted giant rear wings and spoilers to their Civics. It would be embarrassing to be called out for the engine noise in the cabin being fake, right? Is this supposed to not be embarrassing because the car is expensive? Doesn't that actually make it more ridiculous?

Oh yeah it gets to 60 MPH in 4 seconds and I average 12 MPG, but it sounds like a 330i with a 4 cylinder most of the time or maybe a M340i if I really push it to get to a 6 cylinder experience. If I want to V8 experience from my V8 I can always just...Play fake noise through my speakers?

This is baffling to me.

[parky1215]

Originally Posted by MC113

For the folks saying they are happy with the sound - and I am genuinely trying to understand this and not being judgmental - are they happy with it even when they have "IconicSounds" disabled? I think IconicSounds is enabled by default in Sport Drive Mode, but - to me at least - when you disable it the car sounds more like a turbo 6 cylinder at best even with the windows down. Only under the most aggressive, sustained acceleration do you even get a taste of the V8 sound which given the HP and speed limits doesn't last long. On startup and around town it genuinely sounds less powerful than the '20 M340i we just turned in for a '23 M550i.

I can’t for the life of me find any official BMW information on what exactly IconicSounds is for non-electric cars - everything is press releases and marketing-speak for how fantastic it is for electric cars. I get the novelty of the Hans Zimmer treatment for the electric cars to offset the total silence or maybe a little something to make a base 4 cylinder not sound like a lawn mower gargling Legos. On my M60i my understanding (which could be wrong) is "IconicSounds" are literally just completely fake engine sound pumped through the speakers. Not like, amplified real engine noise but fully simulated. Like I've pulled up engine noises on Spotify and am playing them through the speakers fake.

Am I being a luddite if I didn't expect or frankly want “IconicSounds” faking an ICE twin turbo V8 when that's what I paid for under the hood? It never would've crossed my mind on the test drive to turn and ask "is the sound I am hearing with my ears right on this $100k V8 real or are you playing me samples from Gran Turismo 7 through the speakers?" That would sound like the question from the mind of a lunatic, no?

When you turn IconicSounds off and realize they're masking what often is sounding more like a 4 or 6 cylinder blended with a Dyson running in the next room over...How do you leave them on when you know it's totally fake? Like this isn't a Hot Wheels ride on where you expect engine noise via speaker and are also (presumably) an actual child lmao! I am not playing Daytona USA - this is an actual V8 that's going to be in the M5!?

Am I crazy lmao? No, I do not want the fake sound on...I want to hear the actual 500+ HP TT BMW V8 which is sitting a few feet away from me? Software-based fake engine noise played through speakers sounds like something targeting the teenage boys who bolted giant rear wings and spoilers to their Civics. It would be embarrassing to be called out for the engine noise in the cabin being fake, right? Is this supposed to not be embarrassing because the car is expensive? Doesn't that actually make it more ridiculous?

Oh yeah it gets to 60 MPH in 4 seconds and I average 12 MPG, but it sounds like a 330i with a 4 cylinder most of the time or maybe a M340i if I really push it to get to a 6 cylinder experience. If I want to V8 experience from my V8 I can always just...Play fake noise through my speakers?

This is baffling to me.

Totally agree. Unfortunately, it's not going to get better in the future.
In 10 years, popular upgrade might be to upgrade external speaker that produces fake exhaust outside the electric car.

[Yardie]

Couldn’t agree more with the negative views of the muted exhaust. I chopped off the muffler off my X6 M60i, added 2 vibrant resonators and 3.5 inch quad tips and I am pleased with the sound. I just couldn’t tolerate the muted 4-cylinder sedan sound any longer.

[puckybadger]

M60i exhaust nowhere near as pleasing as my M50i but I'm OK as I love the vehicle

[postbox1918]

Originally Posted by MC113

For the folks saying they are happy with the sound - and I am genuinely trying to understand this and not being judgmental - are they happy with it even when they have "IconicSounds" disabled? I think IconicSounds is enabled by default in Sport Drive Mode, but - to me at least - when you disable it the car sounds more like a turbo 6 cylinder at best even with the windows down. Only under the most aggressive, sustained acceleration do you even get a taste of the V8 sound which given the HP and speed limits doesn't last long. On startup and around town it genuinely sounds less powerful than the '20 M340i we just turned in for a '23 M550i.

I can’t for the life of me find any official BMW information on what exactly IconicSounds is for non-electric cars - everything is press releases and marketing-speak for how fantastic it is for electric cars. I get the novelty of the Hans Zimmer treatment for the electric cars to offset the total silence or maybe a little something to make a base 4 cylinder not sound like a lawn mower gargling Legos. [B]On my M60i my understanding (which could be wrong) is "IconicSounds" are literally just completely fake engine sound pumped through the speakers. Not like, amplified real engine noise but fully simulated. Like I've pulled up engine noises on Spotify and am playing them through the speakers fake.

Am I being a luddite if I didn't expect or frankly want “IconicSounds” faking an ICE twin turbo V8 when that's what I paid for under the hood? It never would've crossed my mind on the test drive to turn and ask "is the sound I am [...]

I Agree completely, with every new model and every new SW update they are taking things away.
Slowly and gradually ...

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by puckybadger

M60i exhaust nowhere near as pleasing as my M50i but I'm OK as I love the vehicle

Agree with this. What the M60i lacks at the tailpipe is made up with great V8 power. This vehicle should NOT sound like a puss car. Many other manufacturers have selectable exhaust note from dead quite to healthy. No reason this cannot be done here.

[Cruise'n]

Originally Posted by cobramite

Agree with this. What the M60i lacks at the tailpipe is made up with great V8 power. This vehicle should NOT sound like a puss car. Many other manufacturers have selectable exhaust note from dead quite to healthy. No reason this cannot be done here.

Yes agree.
Merc have sound
Jag have sound
Should be able to order with sound or not.
I would choose V8 engine exhaust every day

Should be an option..

Guarantee will make known if sent a survey.

Meanwhile use BimmerPost to look for the answers.

Remove resonator and install twin hotdogs and H pipe is the 1st plan

Wonder if that would work?

[tbolts1010]

Originally Posted by Yardie

Couldn’t agree more with the negative views of the muted exhaust. I chopped off the muffler off my X6 M60i, added 2 vibrant resonators and 3.5 inch quad tips and I am pleased with the sound. I just couldn’t tolerate the muted 4-cylinder sedan sound any longer.

Do you have a sound clip?

[Yardie]

Got to figure out how to upload a sound clip - j do have one in my phone - just need to do some research on the process.

[eelnoraa]

I think it is what BMW is doing across the board. I kind of want to say it is emission requirement related, but I don't understand why other manufacture can still pull off good sound.

I don't have turbo V8, but only NA V8 S62. I also have N54 and B58 turbo inline6. B58 is no where near the sound quality of N54. Even S62 doesnt sound as good as N54

[Cruise'n]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

I don't have turbo V8, but only NA V8 S62. I also have N54 and B58 turbo inline6. B58 is no where near the sound quality of N54. Even S62 doesnt sound as good as N54

None Turbo or supercharged always sound better.
The turbo makes pulses that are released into the exhaust acting like a silencer to the sound.
Also the wastegate effects the sound too.
F1 solved this wastegate issue with having is own exhaust to the rear of the car. F1 waste gate
But the pulses can't be remove 😒