Do all M42s sound like lawnnmowers?

[///Motorsport]

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?

[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.

[thumper3ld]

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.

[e9nine]

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.

[///Motorsport]

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?

[zerofreez]

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.

[D. Clay]

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.

[///Motorsport]

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...

OEM exhaust is $1500 retail, is stainless, and as quiet as a Honda Civic

 awkward, i paid 1800 for the whole car.

[haledj]

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?

[2002maniac]

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.

[StreetSpec_iS]

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.

[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.

[bmwman91]

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.

[Berlin]

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?

[StreetSpec_iS]

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.