This Four-Cylinder BMW Sounds So Much Better With A Trick Exhaust

A new two-mode exhaust from Armytrix turns this dull-sounding BMW 530i into something much throatier and emotive
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Our biggest bugbear with the downsizing epidemic we’ve seen in Europe recently, and lately even in the ‘States, is that smaller engines usually sound worse than bigger ones.

There are some notable exceptions, like the tiny Fiat TwinAir engine, but that’s because it has two cylinders and character. Four-cylinder, turbocharged engines, which are taking over in larger cars in place of six-pots, simply sound a bit rubbish. BMW knows it, too.

This Four-Cylinder BMW Sounds So Much Better With A Trick Exhaust

That’s where tuners come in. Armytrix is one of the first to offer an exhaust setup that genuinely does seem to make a boring four-pot sound a bit fruity. What you’re looking at and listening to is a G30 BMW 530i. Its 2.0-litre engine has four cylinders, a healthy 248bhp and enough speed to keep you interested. What it doesn’t have is any kind of aural character, like the Jaguar F-Type 2.0.

In the video above, the app-activated exhaust valve starts off closed, and the 530i sounds every inch the four-cylinder car. Useful for sidling through the suburbs in the early hours without annoying anyone, but a bit… empty. With the valve opened and the car stationary, it sounds… well, it sounds like a four-pot with a loud exhaust.

On the other hand, when it launches away it does actually sound quite good. A throaty, gargly roar wraps its tendrils around the camera. While we wouldn’t say it sounds exactly like a six or V8, it’s a good effort and a massive improvement on the engine’s standard singing voice. Perhaps there’s yet hope that the new wave of overly sensible engines can be put to rights.

Source: CarScoops

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Comments

TheBagel

That sounds amazing!

12/14/2017 - 15:31 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I knew the B48 engine COULD sound good with the proper exhaust. Stock it wasn’t really perfect or exciting but didn’t sound like a fart, like most 4 bangers do. With just a muffler delete it sounds kinda cool already and with this exhaust, perfect. with

12/14/2017 - 16:51 |
0 | 0
Uzair Patel

Yes

12/14/2017 - 17:08 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Wait…a 4 cyl on a 5 series? I’ve been losing major episodes…

12/14/2017 - 21:57 |
2 | 0
llP VeIoclty

Na still sound like $h1t

12/14/2017 - 21:59 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

its got the same shiddy DSG fart noise as heard on the golf R and GTI, A45 AMG, CLA45 AMG pretty much every single performance oriented turbo charged four cylinder petrol engine from europe

12/14/2017 - 22:15 |
4 | 0
Topher505

The revving kinda just sounds like someone snoring.

12/15/2017 - 03:30 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Well after all they did make the bmw s14 for the e30 m3, one of the most beautiful 4-cylinder engines ever made :D

12/15/2017 - 05:21 |
2 | 0
Niemiah G.

Absolutely pathetic sounding. My Mazda 3 can sound better than that with a muffler delete. Who the crap would pay so much money for friggin turbo 4? That’s not luxury. That’s not a BMW.

12/15/2017 - 18:47 |
0 | 0