[TurtleBoy]

Hey Marty, the exhaust outlets are fake on quite a few Audi’s also. Not sure why they do that except it must be less expensive for them.

[maczrool]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Hey Marty, the exhaust outlets are fake on quite a few Audi’s also. Not sure why they do that except it must be less expensive for them.

That was a major reason why I didn’t get a Q8. It also looks a bit too much like an oversized Ford Edge for my liking.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by maczrool

That was a major reason why I didn’t get a Q8. It also looks a bit too much like an oversized Ford Edge for my liking.

Before considering an SUV, the A6 and A7 were close to the top of my list and was disappointed when they were released with fake exhaust outlets. I probably could have ignored them if I was really set on getting one but just doesn't seem right to have them on there. Maybe they will change them in a refresh.

[GTF]

Lexus had a terrible fake as well...

[MystroX5]

VW doesn’t make a luxury car. They did try it years back so comparing a VW with MB and BMW is far from class sharing. The VW Atlas is more of a Ford Explorer league of buyer.

[maczrool]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

VW doesn’t make a luxury car. They did try it years back so comparing a VW with MB and BMW is far from class sharing. The VW Atlas is more of a Ford Explorer league of buyer.

The Touareg is pretty close although a little plasticky, just not available in the US.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by GTF

Lexus had a terrible fake as well...

New 911.


w

[Marty in NY]

I just don't appreciate fake crap. Just a week or so after my wife bought her GTi, we switched the mode from Sport to Normal and I noticed a distinct difference in sound. Actually, I never liked the fact that it seemed as though the exhaust sound was coming from,...well...other areas of the car, but not the exhaust.
So I set out to find out what was going on, that's when I discovered the world of fake sound. I was shocked and disappointed to find that VW's and BMW's were fabricating fake sound into their cars.
I ripped the Sound Aktor out of the GTi and would do the same with the X5 when the time comes. I mean ...really? Fake sound? I don't want that.

Here is a pic of the Sound Aktor from our GTi. Its mounted on the firewall and uses the firewall and windshield as the sound board like in an upright piano. Sad :thumb down Did Trump invent this fake stuff?

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by GTF

True that....Cayenne & X5 are best choices for enthusiast. C&D just released Q7 / Cayenne comparison (probably tied in with the X5 / GLE comparison). Performance specs showed the Cayenne almost identical to the X5. The X5 was slightly quicker...with same power ratings & higher weight. This again shows the B58 to be great engine since it's driving greater weight with higher fuel efficiency. The Cayenne will have advantage in handling and (IMO) styling, but at SIGNIFICANT price premium. I debated these two for months...bought the X5 & really pleased with my decision. As is my IRA.
Hopefully we'll see a combined X5/GLE/Q7/Cayenne comparison.
Neither will be as trouble free as a Lexus, but I couldn't see myself driving the automotive equivalent of a large-mouthed bass.

The 2020 Toyota/Lexus designs are out. Much better than the old ones, inside and out. It’s about time ...

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

I just don't appreciate fake crap. I mean ...really? Fake sound? I don't want that.

Did Trump invent this fake stuff?

Does the X5 have that? I can’t tell, but I thought I read somewhere that the X5 doesn’t do that.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by natahoa

Does the X5 have that? I can’t tell, but I thought I read somewhere that the X5 doesn’t do that.

Yes, it does it too...via pumping fakeness through the speakers. I saw a post on here somewhere that showed what to disconnect to kill the sound. I think it was some amp in the left rear of the car behind the gray panel.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

Yes, it does it too...via pumping fakeness through the speakers. I saw a post on here somewhere that showed what to disconnect to kill the sound. I think it was some amp in the left rear of the car behind the gray panel.

Isn't it only in Sport mode? Could be that I haven't noticed it.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Isn't it only in Sport mode? Could be that I haven't noticed it.

Not sure if its mode related. In my wife's GTi, she has three preset modes and one customized mode. Each preset had its own sound with Eco being the least heard and Sport being loud and not exhaust like. In Custom mode you can select around eight different options of which one was the soundaktor. So initially I only drove in Custom mode and set the sound to Eco. However, the thought of it just didn't sit well with me so I went in to disconnect it and then saw how easy it was to remove it.

The sound of the bare GTi exhaust is nothing to write home about but at least I know its real and it is what it is. The soundaktor really didn't sound like an exhaust note and of course the noise came from the front of the car...what the?

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by natahoa

Does the X5 have that? I can’t tell, but I thought I read somewhere that the X5 doesn’t do that.

My SA said it does, although he's been wrong about a few nuisances (it's kind of impossible to ever know this car fully, with bugs and software updates and such). But I can't unhear that assertion and wish I didn't know — don't like fake either.

Even if there is no synthetic acoustics, at the very least, I believe there is some kind of adaptive routing of exhaust sound into the cabin depending on drive mode, is there not?

[VTENGR]

The logic behind it make sense - the engineers want to make the cabin as quite as possible. Unfortunately that means purist can't hear the exhaust. So this is the compromise.

[MystroX5]

No no it does not. The X5 50i doesn’t pump any engine/exhaust sound track through the audio system in any mode. Nadda needed. This was confirmed and reiterated by several professional video reviews. I can confirm that even in “Sport Plus” mode I cant hear the fabulous/loud exhaust note unless the windows are down.

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

Yes, it does it too...via pumping fakeness through the speakers. I saw a post on here somewhere that showed what to disconnect to kill the sound. I think it was some amp in the left rear of the car behind the gray panel.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

No no it does not. The X5 50i doesn’t pump any engine/exhaust sound track through the audio system in any mode. Nadda needed. This was confirmed and reiterated by several professional video reviews. I can confirm that even in “Sport Plus” mode I cant hear the fabulous/loud exhaust note unless the windows are down.

Maybe the 50i is the exception, I wish they were all that way. Here are a few bits about fake sound...a...a..I mean Active Sound. I wonder what Inactive Sound would sound like? Anyway, its a sad world anymore.

Its called Active Sound.. ..

But the one I spoke of earlier was actually an X3 M40i, I just didn’t remember where I had seen it but have now found it….in this thread, TX3M has posted pix on a few ways to defeat the fake sound.. .. https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...e+Sound&page=5

M5 has it. .. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/b...-using-stereo/

and JayPichardo says the X5 has it .. . though he didn't say which model, my guess is its the 40i. .. .. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1547852

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

Maybe the 50i is the exception, I wish they were all that way. Here are a few bits about fake sound...a...a..I mean Active Sound. I wonder what Inactive Sound would sound like? Anyway, its a sad world anymore.

Its called Active Sound.. ..

But the one I spoke of earlier was actually an X3 M40i, I just didn’t remember where I had seen it but have now found it….in this thread, TX3M has posted pix on a few ways to defeat the fake sound.. .. https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...e+Sound&page=5

M5 has it. .. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/b...-using-stereo/

and JayPichardo says the X5 has it .. . though he didn't say which model, my guess is its the 40i. .. .. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1547852

This makes so much sense to me now!!!

When ever we drive the wife's X3 M40i I'm always wondering why it sounds much louder than my X5..... Well it is because they are pumping in the noise...

My 50i is dead quiet in comfort no matter how much I put it down. But if I have the windows down WOW sounds amazing. In Sport I can hear it a bit better inside but once again with windows down its night and day different.

[mermar]

Originally Posted by Laki021

You cannot seriously compare Lexus to BMW. Lexus is just a fancy Toyota.

Great review, X5 left them all in the dust 😀

I would love if they would do a comparison with Cayenne, I think Cayenne us the only real challenger to the X5.

True - Lexus is extremely reliable and BMW is not - so probably cant compare... I am a BMW fan - but do wish the brand would address some of the reliability issues...