[M3Comet]

Why does the M550i sound more like a V8 than the M5 ? They are very similar engines, what have the engineers changed to make it lose the V8 rumble. It still sounds good, just not as good as the M550i in my opinion.
I saw a comment earlier about exhaust going through the hot side of the turbos perhaps?

[CarFreak]

I'm wondering this as well. I just watched a video with a 550i with a Remus exhaust and feel it sounds better than an M5

[BMWM12045]

They have different style headers which result in a fairly significant sound difference

I think evolves m5 has the supersprint headers but not sure who else has them

[Quinn A]

I too do not follow the logic BMW followed by making the M550i sound so much more sinister then the M5.

[Simon H]

Dont think this car has any OPFs, and is fitted with a Remus, from the downpipes backwards. The M5 would sound like this with this set up. Also, BMW are now mapping out the pops and bangs in the EU for emissions etc, not sure about ROW.
Listen to Vics early car,

[euro*]

Originally Posted by Quinn A

I too do not follow the logic BMW followed by making the M550i sound so much more sinister then the M5.

S63 engine in M5 has a different design of cross bank manifold, which improves performance and gives way better spool to the turbos. But at the same time that ruins the sound of the V8.

So they went for performance, vs sound in the M5.

[Bahzad]

I think its the exhaust manifold that’s different bcuz if you ever heard evolves m5, which has a custom manifold, you would see that it sounds like an actual thunderstorm behind the car

I guess the only thing thats left is to try to put a M550i manifold on an M5

[AHall]

Has anyone done a side by side exhaust comparison of a stock M550i and a M5 Competition?

[Antec800]

Is it possible to put m5 exhaust manifolds on the m550?

[Boosted_8]

Its a shame that the aftermarket approach for M5's often ends up with a load of machine gun bangs. Its about bearable with just a cat back, as soon as the cats come out it becomes awful.

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by Quinn A

I too do not follow the logic BMW followed by making the M550i sound so much more sinister then the M5.

Do you care how great a pornstar SOUNDS, or performs?

Yeah, me neither.

Shawn

[Info@mad-us.com]

With downpipes I think the M5 Sounds way better.

[Antec800]

Originally Posted by Info@mad-us.com

With downpipes I think the M5 Sounds way better.

100% and I have new m550, spend thousands in the exhaust and still sounds like a old v8 boat, absolutely hate it. I will be trading it in early for a m5 once orices stable out a bit

[crypto]

Originally Posted by Antec800

100% and I have new m550, spend thousands in the exhaust and still sounds like a old v8 boat, absolutely hate it. I will be trading it in early for a m5 once orices stable out a bit

Hmm what exhaust? My M550i with exhaust sounded amazing once it was broken in.

[Info@mad-us.com]

Originally Posted by crypto

Hmm what exhaust? My M550i with exhaust sounded amazing once it was broken in.

Don't get me wrong the 550 sounds great but that f90 m5 shifting at redline with a downpipe is Perfection.

[bimmerbeast9]

i disagree. the M5 sounds better

[Boosted_8]

Originally Posted by Antec800

100% and I have new m550, spend thousands in the exhaust and still sounds like a old v8 boat, absolutely hate it. I will be trading it in early for a m5 once orices stable out a bit

Forgive me for pointing this out but the issue might be that you have removed all of the cats and resonators from the OEM system. I would expect that to create quite an 'agricultural' sound on any vehicle.

[HerkHealer]

The 2017-2019 M550's have 4 resonators. The 2020+ models have only 2. So along with the big engine upgrades, they also redesigned the exhaust.

A few 2020+ members removed the resonators with great results. Sounds just like a $4,000 Dinan system, but you can do it for $150. I plan on doing this to mine this summer. Will remove the one closest to muffler first and see how I like it. If I want louder, I will cut the other one out.

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

Do you care how great a pornstar SOUNDS, or performs?

Yeah, me neither.

Shawn

Yeah, but a M5 with no sound is like a porn star with A cups.

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by mjr24

Yeah, but a M5 with no sound is like a porn star with A cups.

Not sure I agree. But it was funny.

But back to the thought, I really don't care what an exhaust sounds like on a performance car so long as it isn't too loud. The tiny little four cylinder performance cars with loud exhausts don't impress me at a red light. You impress me when you roll up with a normal sounding and looking car that lays down a 3 second 0-60 time. You roll up all loud and shouty with a 4 second 0-60 then you just look stupid. Even though that isn't that slow.

Shawn

[jnotrom711]

Originally Posted by mjr24

Yeah, but a M5 with no sound is like a porn star with A cups.

touche on this....


But I have a hard time with this one.... I agree the 550 sounds more like a V8 than the M5.

But i'm on the fence about it. I like both....

In a prior life I owned 2 different Lexus IS-Fs, naturally aspirated 5.0L V8, fun car, but no f90, thats for sure....

With that said, the ISF sounded decent even stock, very V8, then I had a set of Novel equal length headers installed, and full exhaust, and I had no idea what good sounded like until then....

The equal length headers made it sound like a screaming v10, or v12, I don't know how to describe exactly, but it certainly sounded more exotic. I had no idea headers and exhaust could change the sound so dramatically until then. Obviously the car becomes louder with them, but to me sounded like a totally different motor with the headers, and apparently thats the equal length headers doing that. I had no idea.

I wonder if thats the route BMW was going with the M5. Because to me it sounds more like an exotic car, vs muscle car like the 550i. Most likely the exhaust manifold design. To me its a toss up which sounds better.

Stock ISF/RCF vs Novel ISF/RCF (same motor) skip to about 1:20 on the Novel video if you want to hear a glorious exhaust note.

Listen to the last 30 seconds on this one. Incredible (in my opinion)

[Boosted_8]

I think we can conclude that if you like the classic V8 sound, the 550i and 850i are more faithful representatives.