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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: ///Motorsport on June 18, 2006, 12:11:18 PM

Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: ///Motorsport on June 18, 2006, 12:11:18 PM
Maybe i am just used to the ubersmooth symphony of BMWs inline sixes, but my m42 sounds like a lawnmover in midrange revs at half throttle, and around town sounds mostly like a very old 2002.  Maybe i need to get used to four cylinder noise again? I know it shoudl be rougher, and i think i like it, im just wondering...

Oh and can you all hear your fuel pump running with the windows up? I assume its because our cars have less sound deadening?
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: 2002maniac on June 18, 2006, 12:55:09 PM
Yea, I still dont like the sound of mine much at WOT.  sounds good at idle and cruising though.

I would get a fuel pump because it sounds like yours is about to die.  Mine started making alot of noise and only a few weeks later it crapped out leaving me stranded.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: thumper3ld on June 18, 2006, 01:14:18 PM
Quote from: 2002maniac
Yea, I still dont like the sound of mine much at WOT.  sounds good at idle and cruising though.

I would get a fuel pump because it sounds like yours is about to die.  Mine started making alot of noise and only a few weeks later it crapped out leaving me stranded.


Mine is pretty much brand new and i can hear mine with the windows up and the system down.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: e9nine on June 18, 2006, 02:35:13 PM
Well with a fogged airbox and a magnaflow muffler, my car sounds uber guud in all the rev ranges. My fuel pump is louder than normal as well. I have already acquired a spare in case it does crap out on me though.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: ///Motorsport on June 18, 2006, 03:17:17 PM
yeah, i like mine at WOT, (its actually very quiet) its just around town climbing the revs its very ancient sounding.  We'll see.  As for the fuel pump, i didnt notice it until i had all windows up and i though maybe it was because i was low on fuel at the time.  if i have a window cracked the sound is undiscernable.  how much do new pumps normally run?
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: zerofreez on June 18, 2006, 03:25:17 PM
Mine sounds like crap, especially when warming up.  The guys at work says "it makes my brain itch" sounds like an exhaust leak but all the gaskets are new and the catback is new oem style replacement.  The only "leak" I have found is the tiny pinhole in the bottom of the muffler for the condensation to run out and its suppose to be there.

Anyone have ideas on how to quiet it down, or atleast make it not so raspy/crackely/buzzy.
Title: Dem noises!
Post by: D. Clay on June 18, 2006, 04:07:26 PM
Put some sound deadening stuff on top of the cover plate and put a good "smooshable" gasket between the cover plate and the floor under the seat.. I've had exhaust problems forever and have tracked it down to cheap exhaust sytem parts. Especially rear mufflers with loose baffles. They make that sound. Mine adds 2-part harmony at 2400 RPM. OEM exhaust is $1500 retail, is stainless, and as quiet as a Honda Civic. The reality is that it's a relative high compression (these days) engine without a balance shaft and sorely needs a center hanger. The exhaust has no support from the header to the rear crossmember. It shakes the bejeesus out of the exhaust. I used an OEM rear muffler and the factory clamp from BMA. The muffler and clamp are about $205. I always wondered why those rear muffler clamps were such overkill. The OEM nuffler is about 2 to 3 times as heavy as "OEM type" (read aftermarket). My neighbors asked what was wrong with my car because it didn't sound like the usual exhaust leak. My wife and daughters just made the "eeeyoo" face.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: ///Motorsport on June 18, 2006, 06:28:20 PM
Quote from: zerofreez
or at least make it not so raspy/crackely/buzzy.

i think that means its a four cylinder!  i could see what was said about the compression and the exhaust getting shooken up like crazy, it just still sounds like im driving a '75 2002 to me...

Quote
OEM exhaust is $1500 retail, is stainless, and as quiet as a Honda Civic
 awkward, i paid 1800 for the whole car.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: haledj on June 18, 2006, 08:12:01 PM
Quote from: ///Motorsport
it just still sounds like im driving a '75 2002 to me...

yumm...
I love me some 2002, BTW how well would an m42 go into a 2002?
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: 2002maniac on June 18, 2006, 08:25:46 PM
Quote from: haledj
yumm...
I love me some 2002, BTW how well would an m42 go into a 2002?


it's been done a few times but there is tons of custom work that needs to be done.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: StreetSpec_iS on June 18, 2006, 09:01:18 PM
Quote from: 2002maniac
it's been done a few times but there is tons of custom work that needs to be done.


yeah, but it would be so good.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: silverblades181 on June 18, 2006, 09:13:13 PM
why put an M42 when you can put an S14 or an M10 Turbo in an 02...anyway, I actually like the sound of mine at WOT, it's during regular accelerations that I think it sounds like a lawnmower. I plan on getting a supersprint and K&N cone filter...maybe that'll do the trick.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: bmwman91 on June 19, 2006, 12:58:17 AM
Quote from: silverblades181
why put an M42 when you can put an S14 or an M10 Turbo in an 02...anyway, I actually like the sound of mine at WOT, it's during regular accelerations that I think it sounds like a lawnmower. I plan on getting a supersprint and K&N cone filter...maybe that'll do the trick.

Yeah, it is a noisy engine.  WHen the lifters wear they sound like ass, and any sort of open-element intake will make it pretty noisy when gassing it.

Why do an M42?  Well, an S14 is for those with a bottomless wallet, and an M10 turbo is just too much work.  The M42 is cheap, and will perform well enough without a turbo for most people.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: Berlin on June 19, 2006, 03:02:55 AM
I hate my muffler too, the po had very bad taste, lots of people seem to be saying good things about the dynomax super turbo, and its cheap so i think im gonna try it out. I'll record an mp3 or somethin of it when i do.

speaking of ugly noises, how loud can the valvetrain ticking be without a need for concern particularly on cold starts, i was told the hydraulic tappets make that characteristic warm up ticking...after i heard it on a miata

how long does the original fuel pump last anyway?
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: StreetSpec_iS on June 19, 2006, 06:36:46 AM
Quote from: silverblades181
why put an M42 when you can put an S14 or an M10 Turbo in an 02


cos s14s are rare as rocking horse shit here, and m10 turbo is more difficult with rhd.

m42 02 would be a nice, reasonably priced, smooth driver.

i like the sound of the m42 too. wouldnt mind getting rid of some low end rasp, but i LOVE it at WOT. the induction noise is superb.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: M42boy on June 19, 2006, 09:18:46 AM
Mine doesn't sound like a lawnmower, but you hear it whine a lot.  With a good exhaust or muffler, this can really transform it.  I want to put on an exhaust when I have money again.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: sheepdog on June 19, 2006, 01:13:44 PM
Put in a new timing chain tensioner, that cleans up a lot of the rasp in the midrange.

Another thing for sound, put just a decent flowing cheapie muffler and cut the air box on the fender side.

This will give you a decent sounding setup, at least in my opinion.




One last thing, if your t-chain is EXTREMELY stretched, DO NOT put a tensioner in. I suspect that is what led to my chains failure.
 Put in a new chain first.
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: bmwman91 on June 19, 2006, 01:50:14 PM
I would be interested to hear some peoples' exhaust with the 'economy' solutions.  I have heard a lot about the Dynamax Super Turbo as well.  Though I am running SuperSprint, it is getting to be 7 years old now, and it will probably need replacing in the next few (though it is still rustless and ni very very good condition).  Since I cannot get a new one for $400 anymore, I will need an alternative.

The engine whine has been attributed to the timing chain guides/slippers.  It is nothing to be concerned about, it is just the chain whizzing through the plastic/rubber guides.

A neighbor had a 1991 Miata, and it had pretty loud lifter tick.  I always though it was gonna blow or something, and the guy barely maintained it, but it held together relatively fine.  So, I guess lifter tick is fine...to an extent.  If oil detergents do not fix it, you are either severely clogged up with gunk (which IS bad and will cause stuff to wear out a lot faster), or the heads of the lifters are just a little concave from wear and are noisy.  If it is the latter, then it does not put you in imminent danger.

Exhaust raspyness.  I thought that was somethign that could not be fixed.  Well, most of it was from the catalyst to cat-back flange connection.  A muffler shop years prior had mesed up the flange and it never sealed right again.  My new car has not been butchered like that, and the rasp is 95% gone.  The only other place i would think it comes from is cracks in the header welds, or a worn header gasket (at the head or downpipe).
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: automatic on September 14, 2006, 10:08:53 AM
The PO of my car got the cat back replaced at a lMidas under warranty the day before I bought it. The muffler they put on is clearly not designed for the car and the mount they tacked on the muffler has already fallen off.
Combine that with the fact it sounds like a Civic with a fart can means I need to do something about it quick.

The M42 w/ Dynomax clip on r3v is lightyears away from what I have now and i'm thinking that is the right direction for me. Anybody here have a dynomax?
http://www.r3vlimited.com/Media/Sounds/sounds.htm
Title: Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?
Post by: MustPayDaddy on September 15, 2006, 01:45:53 AM
i got a dynomax.. not a bad replacement for stock. its light and the sound isnt too far off from stock.  the police never look twice when i pass by and ive had cars with loud exhaust before.  also bmwman heard me roll up so you can ask him how my car sounded...