[Matt214]

For those who are frustrated with the Harmon Kardon sound on our G80s, I have gained some additional wisdom that may help others as we figure out how to best improve our systems.

It is known that the ASD (Active Sound Design, aka Fake Engine Noises) interfere with the sound quality coming out of our Harmon Kardon speakers. Apparently this is from a Digital Signal Processing standpoint as the sounds/frequencies are competing with the processing ability of the RAM and Booster as you play music.

So I read about Bimmercode and got the e-NET cable, downloaded the app to my laptop and bought the $50 license. I was rather pleased with all of the custom coding I could do with the app BUT apparently they still have some work to do in perfecting the coding to turn off the ASD. I noticed that after I coded out the ASD, it reduced the sound of the ASD but I could still tell it was there. I guess it partially turned it off, however that occured.

My next step was to install the Bimmertech Alpha One amp and that made a VERY NICE IMPROVEMENT in the sound. I still noticed some oddities around the quality of the sound on certain songs and also intermittently it seemed. It was the damned ASD.

Just this morning, I went ahead and had Bimmertech do the remote coding session to kill off the ASD and bingo! That did it. I currently still have the stock Harmon Kardon speakers but wow, it woke up the system, with the Alpha One amp also installed. I feel now that the sound is slightly better than my 2016 F80 Harmon Kardon.

I did order the full set of Bimmertech Alpha One speakers so I'll report back once those are installed but I'm rather optimistic about how this is all going to sound once I install those. The big takeaway here is to get rid of the damned ASD. At this point, until Bimmercode gets it figured out, you'll need to go with a confirmed solution such as Bimmertech's.

[chris3g]

you can disable asd 100% via bimmercode by deactivating the activation code, it's very easy to do -

[Matt214]

Originally Posted by chris3g

you can disable asd 100% via bimmercode by deactivating the activation code, it's very easy to do -

All I know is that I did in fact use the Bimmercode app, on my laptop and 'deactivated' not only the toggle for ASD in general but also all of the sub ASD menu toggles. ASD had additional entries for 'exhaust burble', 'upshift sound', 'downshift sound' and some others. I shut them all off. For me, it made a difference but it did not entirely eliminate the ASD altogether. If there is some additional way of doing this, via the Bimmercode app, not using the UI within the Bimmercode desktop app, then I'm not aware.

[chris3g]

Originally Posted by Matt214

All I know is that I did in fact use the Bimmercode app, on my laptop and 'deactivated' not only the toggle for ASD in general but also all of the sub ASD menu toggles. ASD had additional entries for 'exhaust burble', 'upshift sound', 'downshift sound' and some others. I shut them all off. For me, it made a difference but it did not entirely eliminate the ASD altogether. If there is some additional way of doing this, via the Bimmercode app, not using the UI within the Bimmercode desktop app, then I'm not aware.

Right, those don’t work fully. I put a screenshot of what is needed. Activation codes are in a different sub menu of the app.

[eugenebmw]

Originally Posted by chris3g

you can disable asd 100% via bimmercode by deactivating the activation code, it's very easy to do -

That what I did to my M4. Finally I can hear music coming out from the

speakers and not noise.

[Forzanerazzurri]

I love the active sound, especially the shift noise WHOOOOMP.

The car sounds like a Honda minivan with asd off.

[docjavier]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

I love the active sound, especially the shift noise WHOOOOMP.

The car sounds like a Honda minivan with asd off.

Hey your WHOOOMP is what I call POOORT, 😂 I finally got rid of it. I like my Honda.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

I love the active sound, especially the shift noise WHOOOOMP.

The car sounds like a Honda minivan with asd off.

I need to FINALLY get my damn car and live with it but suspect that my outcome will be opposite to yours, but I do understand where you're coming from. I had a 2017 GTi with the "Soundaktor" noise generator (basically a speaker bolted to the firewall in the engine bay). I unplugged it first week I had it. At first I hated it, and plugged it back in within a day and was like "this is so much better". But part of me just was irritated by it being fake so I disconnected it again and forced myself to live with it. A few months later, still bone stock, I reconnected it on a whim and was immediately mad that I was hearing all this fake noise and thought it sounded awful.

So, give the minivan a try for a few weeks.

[Mike02z]

I hated ASD but turning it off showed me how bad the G82 needs an aftermarket exhaust. Would love a full catback from Akrapovic but not up for 11k. I keep saying to myself “leave it stock”

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

I hated ASD but turning it off showed me how bad the G82 needs an aftermarket exhaust. Would love a full catback from Akrapovic but not up for 11k. I keep saying to myself “leave it stock”

Heh. As I'm sure you are aware, there are a lot of solutions between stock and $11k titanium catback. At a BMWCCA meet last month a member had a simple Dinan XPipe which was like $700 and about half that for install and it really woke things up!

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

I hated ASD but turning it off showed me how bad the G82 needs an aftermarket exhaust. Would love a full catback from Akrapovic but not up for 11k. I keep saying to myself “leave it stock”

A full catback can be had for as little as $1700 single midpipe from AA and $1700 for a MAD axleback. Can also go with AA's axleback for a little under $2000. Not "cheap" by any means but nowhere close to $11k.

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Heh. As I'm sure you are aware, there are a lot of solutions between stock and $11k titanium catback. At a BMWCCA meet last month a member had a simple Dinan XPipe which was like $700 and about half that for install and it really woke things up!

Originally Posted by Berzerker

A full catback can be had for as little as $1700 single midpipe from AA and $1700 for a MAD axleback. Can also go with AA's axleback for a little under $2000. Not "cheap" by any means but nowhere close to $11k.

Thanks guys. Yes, I know there are much cheaper exhausts out there. Had an ER midpipe and Dinan axle back on my X3MC. Both were about 4000 installed. Exhausts are tough to determine the sound via clips on the Internet. I was lucky enough to hear a G80 with the full Akrapovic system so now I’m in love with it. Still trying to stay stock but I give that 6 months😂

As far as the install, that’s the easy part. I use a custom exhaust shop that does great work and is cheap. 190 for the ER install and 250 for the Dinan axel back.

[eugenebmw]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

I love the active sound, especially the shift noise WHOOOOMP.

The car sounds like a Honda minivan with asd off.

Roll down the windows and drive it like you stole it. I doubt it sound like a Honda.

[Forzanerazzurri]

Originally Posted by eugenebmw

Roll down the windows and drive it like you stole it. I doubt it sound like a Honda.

I have an E46 M3, my g80 sounds like a minivan compared to that car, even with the windows down.

Also, in the garage, a cold start from the e46 shakes the house, the g80 is pretty tame in comparison.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

Also, in the garage, a cold start from the e46 shakes the house, the g80 is pretty tame in comparison.

Cold start in my E46 M3 was ridiculous, so good.

[PipeM3]

Originally Posted by chris3g

you can disable asd 100% via bimmercode by deactivating the activation code, it's very easy to do -

Hi. One question, is only that one to deactivate or there one step before this one?
Thank you!

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by PipeM3

Hi. One question, is only that one to deactivate or there one step before this one?
Thank you!

You turn off the 4 or 5 options in the first menu, and also deactivate the code via that menu. All of that combined fully disables ASD.

[2Times]

One of the best mods

[mephism]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

You turn off the 4 or 5 options in the first menu, and also deactivate the code via that menu. All of that combined fully disables ASD.

You’re a hero

[Skyscraper]

I’ve had the ENet cable and adapter for a couple months.
This thread got me off my butt to turn all the fake sounds off. It wasn’t really noticeable until the update. The added burbles really made the car fake and got on my nerves more and more.
Now I’ll see what the M Performance muffler sounds like and decide on X or Single mid.

[Needsdecaf]

Does this really improve the sound from the stereo? I can't believe how horrid it sounds.

I don't have ASD coded out but I do have the button off at all times.

Originally Posted by chris3g

you can disable asd 100% via bimmercode by deactivating the activation code, it's very easy to do -

I'm assuming this is in an expert menu? Which one?

Thanks!

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Does this really improve the sound from the stereo? I can't believe how horrid it sounds.

I don't have ASD coded out but I do have the button off at all times.



I'm assuming this is in an expert menu? Which one?

Thanks!

It's in the RAM module. There's a few GUI options for turning off sections of ASD (Burbles, Cold Start sound, etc.), one option for "Active Sound Design on/off", code those in, then go back into RAM, and at the bottom there's an "Activation Codes" button that brings up the menu. Tap ASD to deactivate the code.

As for the quality, I highly doubt it actually affects anything. There's supposedly some noise cancellation or EQ going on with ASD from the speakers but I couldn't really hear that much of a difference over there just being no engine noise coming through the speakers.

Only real way to drastically improve the quality is a system swap and an amp.