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

[Kaz]

Ok there's a tiny chance I'm wrong but ...mind is kind of blown. My 2024 Dec I4 is playing very loud, synthetic pumped in sound through the stock system. My audio installer and I have been pulling out hair out trying to figure out where this ground loop is coming from. Doing a basic Audison upgrade, separates, powered subwoofer. Ok, engine off all good ...engine on, the sub starts rumbling.

Went for a drive to test, the door speakers are low cut crossed over, and when switched into Sport mode they are almost blowing out from the signal. Super fake, rumbly exhaust and engine noise that is way louder than what is actually happening with the car. And made 100X worse if you amplify the stock signal.

So. Anyone know how to get rid of this incredibly annoying sound? There's no option to turn off in the OS. I'll ask the dealer tech tomorrow. I HOPE it's some random installation error and a ground loop but I'm not crazy. Will pull the fuse on the amp in a sec and drive around again....whoa what a collosal idiotic thing to do. Does the AMG A45 S pipe in fake noise?

 

[Emira Fan]

Yes, pull the amp fuse and see if the engine sound in the cabin disappears. This will settle a debate on the forum

 

[Tomwa]

I think he knows that the sound is being generated, he is literally trying to upgrade his audio system and amplifying the stock signals and getting all this extra noise and sound floor.

I don't think he's arguing whether or not it is happening, I think he's asking for help how to cut it out of the stock sound signal to the amplifier/speakers. I suspect there's no good answer unless there was an additional module responsible for it.

 

[Kaz]

Yes there is fake engine noise being pumped into the cabin from the speakers. So, I am guessing no one in the States with an I4 has upgraded their sound system? Don't do it lol. The drone produced by your fancy new system is kind of crazy as it imitates engine rpm's. How did this ever get approved at Lotus? Like...the brand is about purity of driving experience, steering feel, add lightness. Not: fake engine noise. WTF. So basically until there is a reflash of the ECU's I just wasted thousands of dollars on a new system? lol. Also sounds like something that may never get fixed?? I know, first world problems there's a lot going on in the world to complain about fake sounds but really what an insane decision by the brand.

 

[675430VME]

Yes there is fake engine noise being pumped into the cabin from the speakers. So, I am guessing no one in the States with an I4 has upgraded their sound system? Don't do it lol. The drone produced by your fancy new system is kind of crazy as it imitates engine rpm's. How did this ever get approved at Lotus? Like...the brand is about purity of driving experience, steering feel, add lightness. Not: fake engine noise. WTF. So basically until there is a reflash of the ECU's I just wasted thousands of dollars on a new system? lol. Also sounds like something that may never get fixed?? I know, first world problems there's a lot going on in the world to complain about fake sounds but really what an insane decision by the brand.

Yup not only that but they have to use all speakers for it, I was planning to unplug the rear speakers and found out it won't help.

 

[Kaz]

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Yup not only that but they have to use all speakers for it, I was planning to unplug the rear speakers and found out it won't help.

Also realizing, this is why even when (in stock form) you are just sitting at a light with the engine idling and the volume down to 1...the rear speakers are already distorted, they're pumping that low bass fake engine sound and it's distorting the sound from the speakers in the rear. So great, we get a stock system that gets a letter F and then we also get a non-defeatable engine noise maker. Really hope there is a magic back door somewhere in the menu to turn it off.

 

[MiamiBlue]

Lots of 4 cylinder cars unfortunately do this. When I had a Porsche 718 4 pot there was a dedicated speaker in the rear bulkhead to produce engine sounds. Once you find out about it, you can never un-hear it, and you get annoyed that the car is 'playing' engine sounds to you and it massively cheapens the experience. Ignorance is bliss here. Best not to have the illusion spoiled. Fortunately with the Porsche it was a dedicated sound unit with it's own fuse that could be pulled.

If the Emira 'headunit' is producing the sound I don't know how this can be removed without maybe a software update on the car? It's a tough one.

Fortunately I don't think the V6 does this -for obvious reasons.

 

[MR69ALB]

I experienced exactly the same when Tapping into the sub wires to fit my amplified subwoofer
I eventually got round it by tapping into the right + wire and the left - wire of opposite inputs.
I can’t remember out of the 4 cables I did it to without stripping it down but
The fake noise dropped right down to normal levels and provided me the feed I needed to input the sub, I left the original subwoofer disconnect.

The amplified subwoofer now kick some serious bass and really enhanced (along with fitting the tweeters) the sound quality

 

[Aero]

My GR86 had these stupid fake sounds. There was a separate module for it that was easy to unplug. I did the day after I got it home. The dealer could also turn it off in their software. Disappointing to hear Lotus is doing this.

 

[Kaz]

I experienced exactly the same when Tapping into the sub wires to fit my amplified subwoofer
I eventually got round it by tapping into the right + wire and the left - wire of opposite inputs.
I can’t remember out of the 4 cables I did it to without stripping it down but
The fake noise dropped right down to normal levels and provided me the feed I needed to input the sub, I left the original subwoofer disconnect.View attachment 61480
The amplified subwoofer now kick some serious bass and really enhanced (along with fitting the tweeters) the sound quality

Interesting - will chat with my installer wonder if works for the door speakers

 

[Emira Fan]

Might also want to ask your local dealer if the Lotus Diagnostics software can disable. Used Mercedes Star software to disable the TPS warning light preeminently on one of my cars when a sensor went out and didn't want mess with the tires....

 

[Kaz]

Might also want to ask your local dealer if the Lotus Diagnostics software can disable. Used Mercedes Star software to disable the TPS warning light preeminently on one of my cars when a sensor went out and didn't want mess with the tires....

Galpin in Los Angeles has no idea what I am talking about - but will be there in service next week to fix the trunk and get into more detail with them. It's such a fringe use case I don't think anyone (in LA of recent purchases) who has an I4 is out of engine break in, so probably doesn't even know the extent of the volume of the fake sounds through the speakers lol.

 

[Nova]

Here's the offending part. I wonder if it can be disconnected if located.

Product - Bell and Colvill

parts.bellandcolvill.co.uk

 

[Lotustoronto]

Here's the offending part. I wonder if it can be disconnected if located.

Product - Bell and Colvill

parts.bellandcolvill.co.uk

Just noticed that said AMG 416 HP.... Emira "S" soon?

 

[Kaz]

John Alavazo at Galpin Service in LA is awesome, so helpful...gives me confidence that service center is well run and staffed - anyways just left, his tech confirmed everything and that it is indeed very video game-y the sound. Actually the pumped in sound is more like, a boxer engine and not an inline 4. Sounds like an EJ257 ran through a digital filter with some exaggerated induction noise. If you have a US I4 and when you get on it in Sport/Track and you hear that induction + boxer sound, that's not your engine lol. John said he'd get back to me with more information, crossing fingers we can just pull a fuse somewhere

 

[Kaz]

Here's the offending part. I wonder if it can be disconnected if located.

Product - Bell and Colvill

parts.bellandcolvill.co.uk

Which part exactly are you refering to? that's all the stuff in the passenger rear quarter area near the sub, etc. Love how it's drawn in LOST style lol