Short answer

Burbles are a Custom Option that is written to the car when you flash. The Flasher License is all you need, so you don't have to buy a Stage map. You choose the settings before you flash, and changing them later needs another flash. Burbles On-The-Fly only lets you switch between aggressiveness levels while you drive. If you hear no burbles, start with the checks below. If they don't help, contact support with your VIN and a datalog.

What do I need to buy to get burbles?

  • The Flasher License is the only licence you need. Burbles and the other Custom Options cost nothing extra.
  • You don't need a performance map. You can flash burbles and Startup Roar on the Custom Base Map, which keeps stock values, in the Custom Map area of the app.
  • A Stage 1 or Stage 2 licence only adds that performance map. Burbles work on top of it too.
  • You can adjust aggressiveness, duration, RPM range and vehicle speed range.
  • The app tells you whether your ECU needs an unlock first once you connect the car. Any ENET Wi-Fi adapter works.
  • Which burble options you see depends on your car's ECU software.

I changed the burble settings but nothing happened

The settings are written to the car during the flash. Changing them in the app does nothing until you flash again.

  1. Connect the car and choose your map.
  2. In Custom Options, tick Burbles and set it up.
  3. Flash.

Check that Burbles was actually ticked on your last flash. Several "no burbles" cases came down to this.

The Burble options page in the app. Alternative Patch is the first option to try when your car has no burbles from the factory.

I hear no burbles, or they are very quiet

Burbles only start once the coolant is above about 50 °C and the engine has been running for at least 30 seconds. Drive for a few minutes first. When parked, burbles happen on overrun, so blip the throttle once. To get burbles at idle, set the minimum speed to 0.

If they still don't come, flash again with these three options enabled:

  1. Alternative Patch: for cars without burbles from the factory.
  2. Burble Enhancement: safe on stock hardware.
  3. Temp limit increase (higher exhaust temperature limit for burbles): meant for cars without a catalytic converter and OPF. If your car still has them, only use it briefly to test, then switch it off.

The ECU often blocks burbles to protect the particle filter. To test this, flash once with the High flow OPF/GPF adaptation option enabled, then switch it off again if your car still has its OPF.

If the flash fails with an Alternative Patch or missing-map error, untick Alternative Patch. Your software doesn't contain the map that patch needs.

These steps don't fix every car. If nothing changes, contact support (see the end of this page).

How loud can I go on a stock exhaust?

  • Burbles work with a stock exhaust. On stock hardware we recommend up to 50% aggressiveness.
  • Higher aggressiveness is usually louder. Duration and the options above also change the sound. The result depends on the car and the exhaust, so there is no single best setting.
  • On a decat car the catalytic converter is no longer the concern. Turning aggressiveness down does not really reduce wear.

Burbles On-The-Fly and the burble slots

  • You must enable Custom Code Menu (CCM) in Custom Options when you flash. Without it, On-The-Fly doesn't work and Live Control shows "Not enabled in Custom Code".
  • The slots are fixed: 0 = OEM, 1 = your app setting (default), 2 to 4 = Level 1 to 3, 5 = OFF. Burbles that only work in some slots are normal.
  • Change slots with the CCM from the steering wheel, or in Live Control in the app. On UniRocker cars, hold the rocker at short up (not far up) until the check engine light blinks slowly.
  • On-The-Fly only changes aggressiveness. Duration, RPM range and speed range are set when you flash, and every switchable map slot uses the same burble settings.
  • Burbles On-The-Fly is not available on the S63 (M5, M8, X5 M, X6 M) yet, and there's no date for it. On the S63 you set burbles in the app before flashing.

Custom Code Menu (CCM) has to be ticked in Custom Options before you flash, otherwise On-The-Fly won't work.

Upshift and downshift burbles

  • In Custom Options under Burbles, set Burble Up Shift to Soft or Hard. Upshift burbles are separate from normal burbles, so you can have both.
  • They only work with the automatic gearbox, because they rely on the gearbox's torque reduction during the shift. They don't work on manual gearboxes, and there's no date for that.
  • The gearbox software often needs a change as well. In xHP, the setting is "torque reduction on gear shift". If shifts feel harsh, lower the Up Shift level or adjust that setting.
  • Burble Down Shift is not working yet and is only there for testing.

Flames

Flames come from Extra Aggressive Burbles in Custom Options. Flash with it enabled. The Extra Aggression and Fueling sliders change how often flames come and what they look like, and the exhaust matters a lot. Some ECU software versions don't have this option.

Burbles only in some drive modes

Separate burble settings per drive mode aren't available. On some cars and software versions, burbles can't be limited to one mode. If you want different levels while driving, use Burbles On-The-Fly.

My car already has another tuner's tune. Can I just add burbles?

No. MG Flasher writes the whole ECU and replaces the tune on it, including all options. To keep your tune, ask your tuner for the bin file, upload it in the Custom Map area of the app, and flash it with the Custom Options you want. On-The-Fly features also need a map your tuner has prepared for them.

Hybrids (330e, 530e, 545e, X5 45e)

Burbles can be enabled on the hybrids as a Custom Option. On some hybrid software versions they only work in certain situations, for example not at a standstill, not with manual shifting, or only with a slow lift-off. Upshift burbles don't work yet on some hybrid calibrations. Start with the three options above. If that doesn't help, send a datalog (see below) so we can look at your software.

Startup Roar

If the roar only happens now and then, the ECU's protection functions are limiting it, and you can test that by temporarily enabling the decat and OPF options. For a quieter cold start, disable Startup Roar and Cold Start Adjustment. Turning off Cold Start Adjustment is meant for cars without a catalytic converter.

Real questions and answers

  • "I only want louder burbles and Startup Roar on my 330i Touring, no extra power. What do I need?" Only the Flasher License. Flash the Custom Base Map with burbles and Startup Roar enabled.
  • "The pops were great on Stage 1. I flashed back to stock and then to Stage 1 again, and now there's nothing." Flash again with Alternative Patch, Temp limit increase and Burble Enhancement enabled, and check that Burbles is ticked.
  • "Can I control the burbles from the steering wheel on my F90 M5?" Not yet. On the S63 you set aggressiveness, duration, RPM and speed range in the app before flashing.
  • "My M5 has another company's tune. Can I keep it and only change the burble settings?" Only if your tuner gives you the bin file. Upload it in the Custom Map area and flash it with your burble settings.

When to contact support

Contact support if burbles stopped after an app update, a new map version or a dealer visit, if the checks above didn't help, if a flash fails when burble options are ticked, or if warning lights come on with burbles enabled. Send:

  • Your VIN, and press Sync in the app.
  • Which map version last worked, and when.
  • A screenshot of the error or of the DTCs in the Diagnostics menu.
  • A datalog: drive 5+ minutes, then in Logger > Context Options add Burble Level, Burble Status, Vehicle Speed, Coolant Temp, Exhaust Gas Temp, Ignition Angle Cyl.1 and Pedal Position. Turn auto-logging off. In 3rd gear in Sport, accelerate to about 4000 rpm, lift off fully and coast to about 1500 rpm. Repeat 3 or 4 times and upload the log to Logs Cloud.