US I4 (400hp) has fake engine noise pumped through speakers

[Kaz]

I am so happy this helped a lot of you...this was seriously a dark sticking point when I first got my Emira, enough to make me consider selling it (!) glad it got sorted I couldn't imagine living with that sound

 

[675430VME]

I am so happy this helped a lot of you...this was seriously a dark sticking point when I first got my Emira, enough to make me consider selling it (!) glad it got sorted I couldn't imagine living with that sound

Believe it or not, a buddy of mine prefers the fake noise, even he has the exact same straight pipe setup and ecu tune as mine

 

[Tokion]

I am really eager to hear what kind of benefit the stock system has without the need to create the exhaust and engine noise especially in Sport/Track mode.

A friendly Emira V6 owner actually helped me find (in my First Edition l4) the offending “green wire” and we listened to the internal engine sound in real time both with the “green wire” connected, and with this “green wire” disconnected. The sound when it is connected (standard for all Emira I4, including Turbo SE) is completely “gross and unacceptable” while the natural AMG M139 engine sound with the “green wire” disconnected is a genuine relief. The simpler and less aggressive sound of the 4-cylinder engine never felt like a loss. I have never ever felt like re-connecting that “green wire”, and I continuously feel that removing the fake engine sound is a “win-win” state of affairs without any negatives whatsoever.

I have kept the unmodified KEF audio system of my First Edition I4 Emira. I stream Apple Music via USB C cable from my iPhone 17PRO, and the stereo sound of music (especially the bass, but also throughout the full audible range) has improved to an incredible degree. Before removing the fake engine sound, I had planned to have my audio system upgraded (although I always had wanted to keep the 3 x KEF speaker drivers up front intact). However the improvement of sound after relieving the woofer / subwoofer from the fake engine sound is so amazing that I currently no longer feel the need to make any alterations to the stock KEF car audio system. (I may still do careful, limited mods to it over time, but there is no longer any urgency.) All equalizer points are set at their zero positions.

I guess it is OK to add that I am an audiophile (home audio), and that I also work in the home audio industry. But my general attitude to car stereo is that if the system is “good enough and satisfactory”, I will leave it “as is” and just enjoy the music.

Removing the fake sound in my First Edition I4 Emira has created an overall better environment to listen to music while driving (especially in Touring Mode), and the “stress-relief” of the woofer / subwoofer drivers have removed distortion and liberated them to focus on producing genuine bass from musical instruments.

I hope this is helpful to understand that removing the fake sound is not only for car audio enthusiasts with upgraded systems, but also for anyone that leaves the KEF car audio untouched and goes on drives with the car audio playing along.

I have done my fair share of longer distance “spirited driving”, often with the car stereo accompanying. I can ensure you that the way the car now feels after removing the fake engine sound is entirely positive.

 

[vito2279]

I just did the snip. Car sounds totally different. You don't realize just how much fake noise the car was putting out until you cut the wire. I can now hear my exhaust and the sound system sounds way better. Thank you guys so much for putting the info in the thread. The picture that someone posted in this thread of the actual wire helped me the most.

 

[miggzy]

I want to snip the wire as well... But in the event I want to reconnect it in the future, how do you reconnect snipped wires?

 

[geoffbland]

I want to snip the wire as well... But in the event I want to reconnect it in the future, how do you reconnect snipped wires?

Instead of just cutting it - add in an inline switch.

 

[Milk242]

I want to snip the wire as well... But in the event I want to reconnect it in the future, how do you reconnect snipped wires?

I used this and took the wire out from this “bridge”

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807542658712.html

 

[miggzy]

Instead of just cutting it - add in an inline switch.

Does that require snipping the wire? Or just pulling it? Sorry I never had experience with electrical and just want to make sure I don’t make a costly mistake.

 

[MapleOreo]

I want to snip the wire as well... But in the event I want to reconnect it in the future, how do you reconnect snipped wires?

A better alternative to cutting it, is de-pining it.

 

[Lotus 2024]

I want to snip the wire as well... But in the event I want to reconnect it in the future, how do you reconnect snipped wires?

Strip it back 1/4 inch. Twist tougher or just add a toggle switch.

 

[geoffbland]

Does that require snipping the wire? Or just pulling it? Sorry I never had experience with electrical and just want to make sure I don’t make a costly mistake.

It would mean cutting the wire and soldering in a switch between the cut ends.
I would recommend you get a garage to do this for you if you are not confident in doing this yourself - there's not much you can do wrong here but if not experienced with car electrics it would be safer to get some help from someone that is.
I should note that I've not done this myself - I have a V6.

 

[FroggyEclat]

Job done, and definitely an improvement, in both audio quality, and quietness in the car. (good for us over 60's)
I opted to use the solution proposed by Milk242, as I found this to be the most elegant and 100% reversible. The bypass cable was purchase from the Chinese express site, The fourth cable (green and blue) was cut and fitted with bullet connectors to ensure no contact with other components.
Disconnected the original and inserted the bypass.
Road test is positive, it could be a placebo effect, but I do not think so.
A temporary/permanent modification that is well worth while, and takes the boy racer out of the car.

 

[SWFL Emira]

Job done, and definitely an improvement, in both audio quality, and quietness in the car. (good for us over 60's)
I opted to use the solution proposed by Milk242, as I found this to be the most elegant and 100% reversible. The bypass cable was purchase from the Chinese express site, The fourth cable (green and blue) was cut and fitted with bullet connectors to ensure no contact with other components.
Disconnected the original and inserted the bypass.
Road test is positive, it could be a placebo effect, but I do not think so.
A temporary/permanent modification that is well worth while, and takes the boy racer out of the car.

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I don’t think it is placebo. If I turn on the KEF with the car off, the sound is noticeably better than while driving. The bass seems muddy to me while driving. I suspect that the pumped in noise is taking up too much bandwidth from the KEF system. Shame, because I don’t think the KEF is that bad. I think a software update could fix this. My M4 had the ability to turn off BMW’s piped in sound with a button and you could hear the difference in engine /exhaust noise in the cabin but it seemed to impact the HK sound system less so than the KEF in the Emira. It is like the Emira’s piped in sounds are taking too much prominence over music. If Lotus could update the balance of piped in noise with music being played, I personally would just leave it alone.

 

[docron]

It definitely not a placebo effect….did you watch @Kaz ’s video in the first post of this thread? ;-)

The artificial piped in sound does not even sound like any of the car’s tones….lol.

I think the muddied base from the free air “subwoofer” is because its a poorly designed choice of a KEF 6x9 shallow speaker and making it a free air system.