*Beeping* Model 3s

[m-i-l]

I was opposed to the idea of artificial noise at first, because one of the many great things about EVs for me is their reduction in noise pollution (I find those sports cars and motorbikes that are tuned to be extra noisy particularly objectionable - the owners must think it makes them sound more powerful but to me it sounds like they're faulty and need to go to the repair shop). Anyway, a couple of things have changed my mind: (i) realising that it is actually partly for people who are sight impaired (same reason pedestrian crossings beep in addition to showing a green man), and (ii) when I found out that the futuristic Renault Zoe sound, which I had always assumed was an electric motor sound, is actually an artificial sound, so I know if can be cool.

Also, from experience, not had so many issues from a near silent car in a noisy and busy city, but in the more rural parts I had problems with both hikers and sheep - I trailed a group of hikers walking on the road who hadn't realised I was behind them for quite a while before I gave up and honked the horn (hate having to do that), and found that sheep (which would normally look up when they hear the sound of a fossil fuel engine and maybe amble over to the side in their own time) would just stand in the middle of the road looking gormless and completely unaware I was in one of those car things trying to get past.

 

[Tony Hoyle]

Sheep will do that if it's a bloody great diesel. They're sheep

Interesting one is dogs.. I think they can hear the electric motor or something, because they're if anything more aware of electric cars than petrol ones.. the local ones look up when I'm quite some distance away.

I've often wanted for a pedestrian horn. Something a bit less intrusive than the full car horn.. not an EV specific thing really.. people are pretty inattentive especially on country lanes. I don't see a continuous noise as doing anything but adding to noise pollution - even in this small town if I go outside and listen there's the low rumble of traffic.. there really doesn't need to be.

 

[M3LRP]

You could always play a horn sound file, through your stereo

 

[MrBadger]

(i) realising that it is actually partly for people who are sight impaired (same reason pedestrian crossings beep in addition to showing a green man)

They also have a tactile rotating knob below the press button box for those with impaired hearing and cannot see the green man.

 

[WannabeOwner]

I've often wanted for a pedestrian horn

I've been in several situations where a noise, and not the normal hon, would have been useful.

Following horse riders on a narrow country road. They had no idea I was behind them ... horn not appropriate.

Plenty of times in car parks with people walking out between cars. Clearly plenty of people are relying on their ears, without realising it; this is different to people with earbuds in who clearly don't give a tinkers cuss for their own personal safety.

I find it extraordinary that people say they would prefer to disable the device and are happy to take the risk of injuring someone, assuming it will be that person's fault. Even if it would be their fault I have no wish to have to live with knowing that I could have avoided causing that injury, or worse.

 

[MrBadger]

I've been in several situations where a noise, and not the normal hon, would have been useful.

Following horse riders on a narrow country road. They had no idea I was behind them ... horn not appropriate.

Maybe scope for some additional functionality to add a manually triggered noise?

 

[drdumont]

Took Delivery of my Model 3 manufactured the second week of February, 2020. No sound whatsoever moving forward from 0 to 15. I put a microhone hanging out of the frunk hooked to earphones. Makes the woowoo sound in reverse, pitch and speed changes as I speed up in reverse. My "Delivery Specialist" has no idea. Anyone else get a new new Model 3? Sounds?

 

[drdumont]

Nothing but crickets...
Oh well, I spoke with three other new M3 owners, all their cars built after 1/1/2020. Same thing. Tesla Support Chat said I might need to update, but I need to get the house wifi in the garage. Odd. I got an update the first night I had the car over the car's wifi.
Oh well, I'll give it a shot this evening...

 

[Adopado]

Took Delivery of my Model 3 manufactured the second week of February, 2020. No sound whatsoever moving forward from 0 to 15. I put a microhone hanging out of the frunk hooked to earphones. Makes the woowoo sound in reverse, pitch and speed changes as I speed up in reverse. My "Delivery Specialist" has no idea. Anyone else get a new new Model 3? Sounds?

Nothing but crickets...
Oh well, I spoke with three other new M3 owners, all their cars built after 1/1/2020. Same thing. Tesla Support Chat said I might need to update, but I need to get the house wifi in the garage. Odd. I got an update the first night I had the car over the car's wifi.
Oh well, I'll give it a shot this evening...

I will just point out that you are posting in a section of the forum for the UK and Ireland. You are very welcome to do that but on this particular topic the cars delivered here are different. We don't yet have compulsory sounds for the M3 so your experiences won't be relevant I'm afraid.

 

[drdumont]

I will just point out that you are posting in a section of the forum for the UK and Ireland. You are very welcome to do that but on this particular topic the cars delivered here are different. We don't yet have compulsory sounds for the M3 so your experiences won't be relevant I'm afraid.

Well Hell! I missed that! Thanks for the info. There it is, right at the top of the subject. Duhhh. I shall hoist a pint in your honor.

 

[zayn]

mod admins can you move this post to the relevant section , will prevent confusion in the future searches.

thanks

 

[drdumont]

mod admins can you move this post to the relevant section , will prevent confusion in the future searches.

thanks

No worries, already done. THanks!

 

[Billionaireboy]

Ahhhh......One friend's (Apr 19) in LA makes the Spaceship sound when reversing whereas another friend's (Jun 18 Model) does not.

I was told that older Model 3's would not have it as no external speaker.

My Model 3 Performance picked up a couple of weeks ago does not make a sound either - does this mean that there is no external speaker or that there is, but the software does not make the sound?

I can not hear it and so thought it might be setting, or calibration thing (like the autopilot - mine took a long time to complete)

 

[Adopado]

Ahhhh......One friend's (Apr 19) in LA makes the Spaceship sound when reversing whereas another friend's (Jun 18 Model) does not.

I was told that older Model 3's would not have it as no external speaker.

My Model 3 Performance picked up a couple of weeks ago does not make a sound either - does this mean that there is no external speaker or that there is, but the software does not make the sound?

I can not hear it and so thought it might be setting, or calibration thing (like the autopilot - mine took a long time to complete)

As I said further up this page ... UK M3s don't (yet?) have any sounds (whether the hardware is there in your car I couldn't say).

 

[jimbo_hippo]

My Leaf has a low speed noise generator. It's very inoffensive and you can hardly hear it inside the car. Outside, it sounds pretty quiet. I wouldn't worry about it. It genuinely helps when driving around car parks, as people are frequently unaware of your presence.

Plus one for this adshelf. Our LEAF does the same. Enough to hear it s a pedestrian. Barely audible to anyone else.

 

[Adopado]

Do any cars that presently have this in the UK allow alternative sounds. When we are eventually forced to have this I would choose the "levitating flying saucer" sound!

 

[drdumont]

The system is installed n some USA market Teslas in response to a federal mandate which required the noisemakers in 50% of EVs and "silent vehicles" manufactured after Sept 2019, and all vehicles manufactured after Sept 2020.
ISTR from my read of the law that the manufacturer was forbidden to install any mechanism to disable or modify the noisemaker, including the sound.
There was even a specification for audio level and frequency range. Google "PWA' or 'Pedestrian Warning <something starting with 'A'>
In that Tesla is nickel and diming items installed in the vehicles, you may have the speaker holes in the front skid plate, but I doubt the speaker and the driving electronics is present.

 

[Adopado]

Do any cars that presently have this in the UK allow alternative sounds. When we are eventually forced to have this I would choose the "levitating flying saucer" sound!

For clarity I was referring to non Tesla cars in the UK that presently do have noise makers.

 

[Mr H]

As I said further up this page ... UK M3s don't (yet?) have any sounds (whether the hardware is there in your car I couldn't say).

Have a look under the front for a small grille, if it's there then it may be disabled

i want this