Somthing Australia R36 did not get. What is it for?

[Passat R36]

While browsing foreign R36 forum and internet photos, I see something OZ R36 do not have. Please see circled in the photos and the parts details.

I had a look UK R36, they did not get it. The actual photos are LHD R36. That seems to be the only difference as AU and UK are RHD.

Does anyone know what is it for?

[brad]

looks like a soundactor - provides engine noise to the cabin to offset the tens of thousands of dollars spent on NVH R&D.

[JB's Dub]

Spot on, I just looked it up in ELSA. Its a sound generator with resonance air pipe.

[Umai Naa!!]

Looks like a resonator, to reduce induction noise.

[Passat R36]

Thanks fellas!
Looks like Aussie like induction noise, no wonder why AU R36 don't have it!

[brad]

If it was just a resonator it would be a tuned volume chamber hanging out the side of the induction pipe wouldn't it? It wouldn't have the 2 extra pipes

[brad]

Thanks fellas!
Looks like Aussie like induction noise, no wonder why AU R36 don't have it!

Quite the opposite, it makes more noise in the cabin, therefore Aussies don't like falsely generated induction noise (Sorry, I think all these noise generators are a big circle-jerk).

[Jakeys]

They could have just fitted something like the VWR intake for real induction noise instead of this silly contraption! Fitting the EVO-MS (Which probably sounds identical to VWR, same premise) intake makes a monumental difference to noise on these cars.