Road Noise...how to dampen it?
- Thread starter beemer03
- Start date
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It's important to figure out where it really is coming from to solve the problem. Some tires are noisier than others, based on tread design, rubber quality, etc. If it is the tires, it can be one of several issues:
1 - The tires are "singing" and creating sound that you can hear.
If you open the windows this will usually get louder. When you pass a parked car you can REALLY hear it. If this is the cause, the best thing to do is get new tires.
2 - The tires are causing vibration and resonance in the car body itself. This is harder to solve. New tires might fix it. If you bought the car used, did the previous owner change shocks, bushings, etc. for performance that might be harder/firmer and transmit more road noise through the frame? Was body work done to the car and they removed the Bitumen sound deadening material?
This can sometimes be solved by using Bitumen sound proofing sheets. This stuff is used in almost all cars for the past 15 years, maybe longer. It's basically flexible, adhesive asphalt sheets that are very dense and deaden noise and vibration. You can usually see it under the carpet on your floorboards.
Word of caution - once you apply this stuff, it "sets in" and gets very hard and brittle. If you need to remove it, you will be chipping it out in small pieces.
This place has a pretty reasonable price for it - http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/subcat.php?get_category=3&get_subcategory=Sound Proofing Panels
1 - The tires are "singing" and creating sound that you can hear.
If you open the windows this will usually get louder. When you pass a parked car you can REALLY hear it. If this is the cause, the best thing to do is get new tires.
2 - The tires are causing vibration and resonance in the car body itself. This is harder to solve. New tires might fix it. If you bought the car used, did the previous owner change shocks, bushings, etc. for performance that might be harder/firmer and transmit more road noise through the frame? Was body work done to the car and they removed the Bitumen sound deadening material?
This can sometimes be solved by using Bitumen sound proofing sheets. This stuff is used in almost all cars for the past 15 years, maybe longer. It's basically flexible, adhesive asphalt sheets that are very dense and deaden noise and vibration. You can usually see it under the carpet on your floorboards.
Word of caution - once you apply this stuff, it "sets in" and gets very hard and brittle. If you need to remove it, you will be chipping it out in small pieces.
This place has a pretty reasonable price for it - http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/subcat.php?get_category=3&get_subcategory=Sound Proofing Panels
It must be the tires unless you really think there is a problem with the shell of the cabin...you shouldn't have to insert extra deafening materials (that sounds sketchy). The only way to know for sure is to change the tires, or drive someone else's E46 with the same tires. In my '99 328i, I hear the engine sing...but very little 'road noise.'
Is the noise constant? at all speeds? My right rear tire was out of round for some reason when I bought it and the dealer replaced it . but I was getting a whoomp , whoomp sound between 0-20 mph and 20-0mph . Changed the tire and whala!! You couldn't tell just by looking at it . My 1st suggestion is balance and rotate your tires and have a tire guy check out each tire for any abnormal wear ..good luck ..
Dynamat is good enough for any car..that's pretty much what they use in all cars to reduce road noise.
beemer03, I get a ton of road noise in my car, too. At highway speeds, people riding in my car think the window or sunroof is open! I think it is a combination of the Michelin Pilot Sports and the poor job of sound deadening. Personally, I just turn up my radio or drive hard to counter the road noise.![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
beemer03, I get a ton of road noise in my car, too. At highway speeds, people riding in my car think the window or sunroof is open! I think it is a combination of the Michelin Pilot Sports and the poor job of sound deadening. Personally, I just turn up my radio or drive hard to counter the road noise.
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