Well concealed behind and beneath the various intake manifolds and boxes is a black oblong injection molded tube whose only purpose is to amplify the engine noise and transmit it to the passenger compartment.

Yes, I too was stunned when I discovered its true purpose.

It seems that some product planners at Mini wanted to pipe engine growling sounds to the driver so as to enhance the sporting character of the car.

Given the multitude of unwelcome engine noises originated by this engine I plan to have this box removed from my car during the next visit to the dealer. The engine will continue making its usual hisses, rattles, squeaking and other noises but chances are that I will no longer hear them.

 

Do you have a picture or a general area of where to look? Can't recall the manufacturer... but Mini wouldn't be the first with this aural enhancement.

 

Many... many... many cars have these. Hell, my old 1992 Mazda Protege DX (as in base model) had this. I think the part was literally called the "Noise maker." They are prevalent in Bimmers, as well.

I'd suggest keeping it in. I know you have a terrible car, but removing it may just make the noises worse, would it not?

I mean, removing this outlandish noise-creation device would take away another acoustic barrier. I'm sure your vehicle would be quieter, but it may just seem louder since all those heinous quality-related sounds would be amplified by the lack of this noise maker.

Just a thought... it might end up worse.

 

Between the engine and the firewall and beneath the intake hardware.

 

Agreed, in which case it goes back in but if an improvement were realised then a good many people might benefit.

 

Many people with aftermarket intakes have removed the noise generator. You do need something to block off the hole left behind though.

 

I removed the sound generator. It's something akin to a kazoo hooked up to the cold side boost tube. I think the engine sounds better now without it.

To the OP, it's not going to make any of those sounds you mention go away, nor do I think a dealer would remove it and plug the hole for you. A plug shouldn't be hard to find at a hardware store if you want to do it yourself. Just remove the stock airbox, loosen the clamp to the sound generator extension off of the boost tube in the back, and pull it out. I had to remove the boost tube to get the insert in as it was a little bigger than the opening, but wasn't too difficult.

 

why are you all calling it a sound generator? lots of cars have things like this and they're there to increase throttle response by having on hand a large plenum of air thats close to the throttlebody...

anyone take a picture of this box?

 

They call it the sound generator because that is what Mini calls it.

see item 13:

 

item 13 isnt even shown on there....

just saying

lol

 

Made it easier for you see,

 

Has anyone had any issues with the sound generator bypassing at high boost?

I have an 08 MCS with the JCW stage 1 kit and a Forge FMIC. When I do some high speed runs, on a track of course, I get a very loud buzzing noise coming from the middle of the dash. It sounds like a boost leak. If follows throttle position and goes away 30 seconds after I let off...


I have already imagined how this would look at the dealership. Excuse me, when I get my car up around 110-120 under full throttle I get a funny noise coming from the center of the dash

 

The obvious answer is to take you SA for a ride to replicate the noise!