More Engine Noise Please

[chrali]

I find my engine noise a bit disappointing, its to be honest a bit thrashy when cold. I know the LS430s are much more refined, but I want either utter silence, or a nice V8 noise - preferably a nice V8 noise.

... without spending hundreds !!

My BMW E32 750il was the best car I owned and the Lex reminds me a lot of it, although some trim in the lex falls short of my old BMW, that was a nice engine.

My MB W140 S500L was no quicker than the Lex, but had a great noise, I used to go through tunnels repeatedly.

In short any V8 much make a nice noise, so I can I set some free..... whip off the rear silencers?

Thrashy is not a good noise.

[reganlives]

How about fitting a K&N air filter and aftermarket exhaust? I'm sure that'll open up the engine nicely

[chrali]

I think you missed the bit where I said I dont want to spend hundreds ;)

I dont like K&N filters, but I am tempted to take of the rear silencers......unless anyone has tried this and found it doesnt work.

[Patch234]

I think you missed the bit where I said I dont want to spend hundreds ;)

I dont like K&N filters, but I am tempted to take of the rear silencers......unless anyone has tried this and found it doesnt work.

You seem to have answered your own question there then. The only option if you don't want to spend. ;) Even if it does not work (taking off the rear silencers) they will need to be replaced at MOT time anyway, so you are the man to decide if it does or does not work.

Mustang anyone?

[chrali]

Now now no need to be nasty ;)

I will whip em off, and if I like the result, will get straight through pipes made up.

[Mybikesacx500]

Now now no need to be nasty ;)

I will whip em off, and if I like the result, will get straight through pipes made up.

That's exactly what I have been thinking about, I would like a bit of V8 burble and was eyeing up the rear silencers. I would be very interested to know what yours sounds like, please let me know!

[Ruud]

I don't get it.

You buy one of the quietest cars in the world and you wish to make it louder?

I think the Ls being so quiet is one of it's best qualities along with the power and smoothness.

Mine was also noisy when cold....fixed the egr pipe a few weeks back..quiet as a mouse again :)

[Mybikesacx500]

I don't get it.

You buy one of the quietest cars in the world and you wish to make it louder?

I think the Ls being so quiet is one of it's best qualities along with the power and smoothness.

Mine was also noisy when cold....fixed the egr pipe a few weeks back..quiet as a mouse again :)

I take your point, I also love the quiet way it makes gentle progress, I just wish it gave a bit of a growl when pushed. Comes from recently running a 650 V twin bike, that could move along quietly, but given its head, you could hear something was occuring....

[John Lawley]

I don't get it.

You buy one of the quietest cars in the world and you wish to make it louder?

I think the Ls being so quiet is one of it's best qualities along with the power and smoothness.

Mine was also noisy when cold....fixed the egr pipe a few weeks back..quiet as a mouse again :)

in my case i bought one of the cheapest most reliable V8 cars in the world it's just a bonus it happens to be a Lexus :) I'd also like more noise then it has as standard as taking it to 6,000rpm to hear that the engine is running is a bit extreme

[david62]

I don't get it.

You buy one of the quietest cars in the world and you wish to make it louder?

I think the Ls being so quiet is one of it's best qualities along with the power and smoothness.

Mine was also noisy when cold....fixed the egr pipe a few weeks back..quiet as a mouse again :)

hi what sort of noises was you getting has mine is same and think its egr valve related.if so what did you do to make it nice and quiet again...many thanks david

[randyreindeer]

Hmm. I've just bought a pair of large bore universal silencers to put on my car. They are the same type I fitted to my GS to give the exhaust note a bit of a tickle.

They sounded great on the GS but it wasn't quite right because it had 2 cylinders missing.

I love the sound of eights. Lets be honest. you don't buy a TVR solely because it looks pretty. It give the best aural pleasure you can get.

I have spent the last 20 odd years playing with Stags and TR7 V8s so i'm well addicted to the sound. I just want my Lex to play a bit of Guns n Roses instead of listening to Swan lake.

You tube has a selection of LS400 exhaust noises to have a listen to if you are interested.

[kroebje]

I think you missed the bit where I said I dont want to spend hundreds ;)

I dont like K&N filters, but I am tempted to take of the rear silencers......unless anyone has tried this and found it doesnt work.

To simply remove the rear silencers will lead to a vulgar / tinny sound as you fail to add additional resonance body volume. An exhaust specialist recommended me not to take that road. Plus, before reaching the rear silencers the exhaust stream has passed through at least two cats and one muffler. So there is not much left to sound sexy anyway. A thorough baritone would probably involve work on the pre-silencers - and money of course.

Don't do too much ripping though, because the exhaust system requires a certain (minimum) amount of backpressure. If that is not provided, engine power output will suffer.

Good insulation of the end pipe from the body is essential. Otherwise the pipe vibration will carry over to the cabin. It'll drive you mad.

Still: If you choose to replace the end silencers by a simple piece of fat pipe, please let us know about the result. Basically I have the same intention as you have. Cheers!

[John Lawley]

whats the difference between mk1/mk2/mk3/mk4 exhaust and whats interchangeable? basically could i do something with my mk3 and transfer it to a mk4 at a later date?

[chrali]

Dunno about the exhaust itsel, but from MK3 on the rear bumper no longer has cut outs for for the tail pipes - thats a bit annoying, I wonder why they decided to hide the exhaust.

[randyreindeer]

My rear bumper has no cut outs but does need some paintwork due to a few scrapes. Our 300,000 plus mile Mk3 has finally ground to a halt due to nothing more than a snapped fan belt so its rear bumper with cut outs may find its way onto my MK4. Not sure yet what the fate of the car will be but being broken up and put on the bay sounds the favourite.

[John Lawley]

can you give me a shout if you break it, there maybe a few parts i'm after :) thanks

wonder how much noise it'd make with this fitted:- Big Charger :)

[kroebje]

whats the difference between mk1/mk2/mk3/mk4 exhaust and whats interchangeable? basically could i do something with my mk3 and transfer it to a mk4 at a later date?

My first impulse is to answer YES, as Mk.4 is just a facelift of Mk.3. Forget Mk. 1 and 2 though, they are different.

Compare here: klick; select model, year, specifiaction.

[chrali]

My rear bumper has no cut outs but does need some paintwork due to a few scrapes. Our 300,000 plus mile Mk3 has finally ground to a halt due to nothing more than a snapped fan belt so its rear bumper with cut outs may find its way onto my MK4. Not sure yet what the fate of the car will be but being broken up and put on the bay sounds the favourite.

I'm confused mines a 1997 MK3 and has no cut outs, so I'd assume no MK3's do. Am I wrong

[John Lawley]

no, you are correct no mk3 or mk4's have bumper cut outs.

[randyreindeer]

My apologies. Our moon and back mileage hack has the 3 front lights so I guess its a MK2.

Until I owned an LS, i didn't give them a second glance. Iknew they where good but thought they where all the same. I was well into the MK1 GS which I could distinguish from the MK2.