Talk Morgan Forums Talk Morgan Members Section Special Information Why Exhausts are Ever Quieter

Our 2017 AMG C43 has a selector to allow the different exhaust modes to be selected.
Our 2019 AMG A35 does not, but by pulling one of the gear change paddles the engine starts in sports plus noise mode.
The new Plus Fours are quiet,
This is why:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R0540&from=EN

Yes, Europe is legislating the Sounds of Silence.

Tarka has a declared noise level of 86db at 4725 rpm.
The C43 is 95 db at 3750 rpm
The A35 is 81 at 3750 rpm

Given that db is a log scale Tarka and the A35 are really too quiet and need a sports exhaust!!

The C43 in Sports+ mode measured 108db at 4500 rpm using a db meter that clips on an iPhone. . IT is LOUD.. possibly anti social! I love it!

Peter, hoping edicts are not enforceable retrospectively..?

My old 85/6 +8 does not have the benefit of the more usual four silencer set-up, having been cut down to the two under the running boards, and none of that cat kit, it has to date fortunately caused no issues even while touring Southern European countries....
The old thing can purr like a pussy cat on light throttle or roar a bit if and when awakened.... I suspect that the lack of back pressure may cause a drop off in max performance, the latter I personally have experience of, and I too tend to make a lot of noise of rudely awakened while purring away in my armchair..

I guess in time it may be expected that in areas where one might be tempted to put the boot in, that noise detectors will be linked to the cameras etc.etc.etc.. Sigh..!

You need side exhausts on Tarka

Traffic noise harms health in numerous ways. Protracted noise-related stress can exhaust human physical reserves, disrupt the regulatory capacity of organ functions and hence limit their effectiveness. Traffic noise is a potential risk factor for the development of medical conditions and incidents such as high blood pressure and heart attacks. The effects of traffic noise should be further researched in the same manner as provided for in Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 3 ).

Guess it explains why I often need a nap at lunchtime, take pills to control my blood pressure, oh and am slowly loosing my hearing, although that's probably a benefit

North Yorks police are rumoured to have bought some of those to test!!!
Cheers
John

No, nothing retrospective: your car should meet the noise level shown on the V5. Tarka does, at Castle Combe it measured at exactly 86db, as on the V5.
It has only single, under running board silencers, nothing between there and the end of the tail pipe. Even so it just murmurs whilst being driven sensibly, but the noise level is as much dependent on amount of right foot applied as revs delivered. A full stab to the metal and the exhaust and inlet noise are way above the stated level!


I suspect the N Yorks Police are more interested in noisy bikes than cars. If they measure a noisy car what can they do, if it appears to have a normal exhaust system? They could demand a MOT re-test, but the sound level isn't part of the MOT. Their meters are not evidential devices. So all they can do is use the noise as a means to conduct a full vehicle safety check. On a Morgan they wouldn't have any idea what is "normal", and I suspect nor would their VOSA Henchmen! Indeed Morgan Motor Company doesn't know what was "normal" when a car was built!

Side pipes for Tarka perhaps ?

Given the beautiful peace around during lockdown, I'd quite like the world to continue being a quiet place when it's all over. It's like speeding, isn't it..? Everyone does it but everyone hates it when you're out walking..

I have the "43" engine in my Merc 4x4 and in Sport + last time I drove up Cheddar Gorge I swear I saw the rocks crumble. The +8 is on side pipes, there was no stuffing left in the boxes. I have a John Eales engine from the 90s. In Switzerland 5 years ago in the tunnels the guy behind me said it was flaming out of the pipes. And I did get banned from a track day a few years ago. 106db but as I promised to drive past the noise meter slowly I was allowed to continue. My hearing isn't what it was so I did have the boxes cut open and some "sound insulation" added and welded close. I do (or did) 6k miles a year in the car and had some ear plugs made by a company in London. They specialise in ones for musicians. They scan your ear canal and 3D print them. Fit perfectly and they weren't expensive.

I notice that the sportscars that used to start with a flourish in loud mode now start in quiet mode and you need to select the loud/sport mode.

I think Aston or Jaguar made a point of calling it good neighbour mode.

The AMG ML63 I have starts in open exhaust mode and makes quite a bark. Then when it's done 30 secs it drops to quiet mode. I try and avoid parking with the exhausts facing the neighbours if I have an early start. Still love it.

Having said that it's nothing compared to the Coupe with the dual sidepipes.