There is a terrible raspy engine noise which does not sound very turbo like at all in our NX350. My 2013 Subaru BRZ had an engine noise port to passenger compartment. I never found it objectionable but some did and removed it. I'm wondering if the NX has such a thing and can it be defeated? The engine really sounds terrible.

 

Ours does that, too and I've read of others saying theirs do also. I believe it is normal. Makes you wonder why you didn't just buy a RAV4 ,doesn't it? I bet the future RX buyers will love this "growly" engine.

 

I'm sure they all do it. I was wondering if this is something Lexus did on purpose and if it can be undone.

 

I'd be surprised if it were something artificial, but who knows.

 

I'm hoping someone here knows. Subaru did it on the BRZ and I assume Scion FRS and Toyota GT86 did as well. Owners that did not like it figured out the delete. Just looked up the BRZ noise topic and it was a speaker by the glove box. Actually electronically generated fake engine noise. wow

 

I did a little looking around. I found articles that confirmed the previous gen NX had "Active Sound Control (ASC)" - which is an augmentation of engine noise via a speaker. In the previous gen, aparantly there was a **** near the drivers right knee to control volume. So I searched to see if the current gen has ASC, and it appears to on the 350 (see page 17).

https://www.lexus.com/content/dam/le...h-Brochure.pdf

I'm going to keep looking around to see if it has any controls. Maybe someone's user manual will explain, but ASC is what to look for.

 

ASC was only on F-Sport models, only works when the Drive Mode is in Sport and is adjustable in volume.
My favorite urban myth is that the similar feature on V6 BMW models plays the sound track of a V8 engine...

 

Thanks, now I know what to search for. I see it is listed for the NX350 AWD which is what we have.

 

When you test drove a 350 before you bought yours did it or did it not have the same raspy engine noise ? If it did, then buyer beware. If not, then you need to get Lexus to correct. How does the sound compare with other turbos you have driven? I have owned and driven 4 turbos ( 280ZX 2+2 Turbo, Focus ST, Golf R, Focus RS} and have never encountered a raspy engine noise. Just off the top the raspy engine noise does not sound like it is normal! When does the raspy engine noise occur? cold start, under full throttle, lugging in too high a gear, at max RPM ? I assume the 350 was broken in correctly and is beyond thebreak-in period,

Good Luck getting fixed; sounds like a bummer?

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

It does it cold or warmed up at all reasonable throttle positions up through about 3rd, maybe 4th gear. When I say reasonable throttle positions, I mean just every day driving. Nothing spirited or aggressive. Once the tranny gets up in to the higher gears, it goes away.

 

What Randy says. I could not find any switch or control for it yet. There are photos of a switch labelled ASC with a volume control on the web, but might be earlier model? I have not even found a mention of it in the user manual. so far.

 

I don't think that is what is making the noise. I have a sound enhancer in my Focus RS and it can be disconnected; I have left it connected because it actually makes decent engine noise sound. My point is that if the is a sound enhancer in the NX ( someone else said Gen 1 F-Sport NX had a sound enhancer) then I am sure Lexus would make a good engine sound rather than an annoying raspy sound.

Good luck getting this fixed; this has to be annoying and frustrating.

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

Does your car sound like this NX in the video. This sounds pretty normal and not raspy. If you car sounds like the one in the video thwn you car is probably normal sound and you will just have to learn to live with it; sorry. At 275 Hp you are almost in the sport/muscle car category , if not for the SUV size and weight.



Any peace and motor on to the sound of a properly audioing turbo

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

Yes, kind of, although I am usually inside it. I did have a turbo eclipse many years ago and it didn't sound like this. You can hear the buzzy component in that video. Just gonna have to move on. Anyway, its not a huge issue. I have seen a couple of sources stating the nx350 AWD has ASC, but damned if i can find any info for it. Thanks for the research.

 

Apparently , gen 1 NX F-sport had ASC and also it looks line 2022/23 UX turbo has ASC

Peace brother sorry for your frustration. Motor on


YMMV,
MidCow3