Solved: Road Noise & Front Wind Noise

Through the last few months, I have been watching and reading up the various posts regarding the many ways many of you all have attempted, as well as the various kits available online, to reduce if not eliminate road noise and wind noise from the Model3. After reviewing all those posts and review of the kits, I figured that since none of you have been able to achieve that elusive goal, let alone even come close to reducing the noise, made me ask the question: What are we missing?

So as I kept driving my M3, I attempted to focus on finding those missing sources ie where is the noise emanating into the cabin from. Turns out they are the 4 corners of the cabin ie the A-Pillars and C-pillars. More specifically, the A-Pillars for wind noise and C-Pillars for road noise.

#1 - The solution for wind noise is the following - Z Weatherstrip down inside the leading edge of the front door, and foam block at the top triangle where the front fender, windshield and door meet.

Z-Weatherstrip

Foam at the junction

#2 - The solution for road noise is the following - 2" Fiber insulation behind the rear seat side panels that cover the rear wheel wells.

I hope this helps everyone who have been pursuing this goal. Thanks for all the contributions and many thanks to @XPsionic for his constant engagement and interest.

 

[enemji]

Thanks for the info, a decent mix of previously tried solutions with some new materials.

Can you take some more photos of the A pillar foam and the door z-strip or explain a bit more about how you went about installing? Hard to see from a single, one angle pic for each.

For the foam it looks like you have at least two and maybe as many as four interlocking pieces that fill the entire fender gap from bottom to top.

And for the door z-strip it appears you attached it along the A piller and not to the leading edge of the door.

One single piece cut from a foam roll and folded onto itself to make it thick and not worry about sticking it anywhere. The top triangle that you see is just to make sure that area is sealed off completely as that is a major source of wind noise.

 

[M109Rider]

Thanks for sharing this. You rock.

 

[GermanGuyUS]

One single piece cut from a foam roll and folded onto itself to make it thick and not worry about sticking it anywhere. The top triangle that you see is just to make sure that area is sealed off completely as that is a major source of wind noise.

Sorry, I'm confused. So you did fill the entire fender gap from bottom to top + the triangle?

 

[ICE5891]

Really promising! Hope a good content creator is having a eye on here to make a full step by step and demonstration.

 

[Heckraiser]

Subscribed for future reference.

Thanks!

 

[enemji]

Sorry, I'm confused. So you did fill the entire fender gap from bottom to top + the triangle?

Yes. That is correct

 

[enemji]

Sorry, I'm confused. So you did fill the entire fender gap from bottom to top + the triangle?

Cut like this and added a triangle on the top to fill that top corner completely

 

[enemji]

Anybody wants the decibel meter readings?

 

[mod3InLA]

So for the leading edge of the door, Solution #1, does that Z strip show when the door is closed, and Is there a link to buy? I put in the foam solution right behind the front wheel wells where the leading edge of the front open door reveals that opening. It really had improved the harshness (pop) of noise and it seems that the overall volume of noise is more muffled.

Also, do you have a pic of the area where the "Foam block at the top triangle where the front fender, windshield and door meet"? I can picture it in my mind, from the description, but it vanishes like vapor smoke in a hurricane when I go to look at my car.

 

[ICE5891]

Anybody wants the decibel meter readings?

Yes we cannot wait

 

[enemji]

Also, do you have a pic of the area where the "Foam block at the top triangle where the front fender, windshield and door meet"? I can picture it in my mind, from the description, but it vanishes like vapor smoke in a hurricane when I go to look at my car.

Hope this helps

 

[enemji]

So for the leading edge of the door, Solution #1, does that Z strip show when the door is closed,

It will show like this, just as on the Model S and Mercedes cars

 

[GermanGuyUS]

View attachment 917949

Cut like this and added a triangle on the top to fill that top corner completely

How did you keep it in place? Just wedged it in? 3M double sided tape?

 

[enemji]

How did you keep it in place? Just wedged it in? 3M double sided tape?

It is foam. Cut it a bit oversize and stuff it in.

 

[mtndrew1]

Thanks to this thread I figured I’d just cover the offending area with painters’ tape for my commute this morning.

I’ll be damned if it didn’t work. I can’t believe five years of all this racket could have been avoided with a cheap piece of foam.

Thank you for this information. Amazing.

 

[XPsionic]

Thanks to this thread I figured I’d just cover the offending area with painters’ tape for my commute this morning.

I’ll be damned if it didn’t work. I can’t believe five years of all this racket could have been avoided with a cheap piece of foam.

Thank you for this information. Amazing.

Where did you tape? Can you post some pictures?

 

[enemji]

Thanks to this thread I figured I’d just cover the offending area with painters’ tape for my commute this morning.

I’ll be damned if it didn’t work. I can’t believe five years of all this racket could have been avoided with a cheap piece of foam.

Thank you for this information. Amazing.

Hahaha That is how I had tested myself before going for the permanent solution

 

[enemji]

So for the leading edge of the door, Solution #1, does that Z strip show when the door is closed, and Is there a link to buy?

Amazon search for “z weatherstripping auto”. Pick a buyer you like. Pretty much all have the same picture

 

[zoppp]

View attachment 917949

Cut like this and added a triangle on the top to fill that top corner completely

I cut mine a bit differently and found it fits really well. Added ruler for scale. The top in the picture goes towards the bottom of the door.

 

[enemji]

I cut mine a bit differently and found it fits really well. Added ruler for scale. The top in the picture goes towards the bottom of the door.

Impressive improvement. Single piece for the win!