In a method of influencing the exhaust noise of a motor vehicle, a control unit generates noise package signals, the control unit transmits the noise package signals individually or so as to superimpose a basic signal to a loudspeaker associated with an exhaust branch of the motor vehicle, and the loudspeaker converts the individual noise package signals or the basic signal superimposed with the noise package signals into sound waves, with individual noise package signals being emitted by the loudspeaker as time-limited sound wave packages, so-called noise packages. Furthermore, an exhaust system is shown.