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]

When doing measurements with the microphone, it is very important to state where and in which orientation, the mic was mounted. In a car interior, inches difference in placement can matter.

Ah yes. For sure.

The db meter was held up near my right ear .

 

[enemji]

While I appreciate OP's write up and photos, it would be better if we have more photos from a certain distance so that we can see entire picture. Or it is just me...

I know. My focus was on getting to my goal of attenuating the annoying noises and not documenting it. At this point, I don’t feel like opening up the seat panels again to document it anymore than I have.

Maybe this link will help as he goes through the process

 

[enemji]

I can’t wait to try this fix this weekend! Wonder if there’s a similar fix for the wind noise coming from my drivers window seal…

Drivers side door window or windshield?

 

[enemji]

I ordered everything

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B75PD8B?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Amazon.com

Looking forward to your feedback!

 

[enemji]

Thanks for info. Greatly appreciated
How do U know that U have problem?
How do I know that I have the same problem?

I don’t think Elon Musk built your car any more special than mine

 

[enemji]

@XPsionic @enemji Did you use just one layer of the 4mm PE foam? Or a few layers attached to each other.

These were adhesive back so I stuck them one over another and made it 8mm (for the fender)

 

[XPsionic]

I know. My focus was on getting to my goal of attenuating the annoying noises and not documenting it. At this point, I don’t feel like opening up the seat panels again to document it anymore than I have.

Maybe this link will help as he goes through the process

Did you remove the trunk liner and put insulation under? Or just rear seat cushions and those side pieces under the C pillar?

 

[enemji]

Did you remove the trunk liner and put insulation under? Or just rear seat cushions and those side pieces under the C pillar?

I did the trunk well with Siless PE foam and then the rear seat side panels. Nothing more.

 

[Adam3]

Took some trial and error but followed your method and it worked.

I took a scan with polycam of the foam insert that I made, have it in stl, obj and fbx formats here for anyone that wants to make a template:

Fender Foam - Google Drive

drive.google.com

@zoppp Thanks man, worked great! This saved me a lot of time.

I turned it into a PNG (attached) and cut out a paper stencil with my cricut (total height is 25 7/8 inches). PE foam was already 2x thick (two 4mm sheets stuck to each other). Cuts easily with scissors. There was one small gap towards the top that required a second small piece.

@enemji Thank you thank you. Phase 1 complete, I already hear an improvement.

 

[Jsch223]

Any way someone could make a pdf template?

 

[JMc2018M3]

SHENGYAWAUTO Z-Shape Window Door Rubber Seal Strip Hollow Weatherstrip for Car​

Amazon.com

Siless Liner 157 (4 mm) mil 36 sqft Car Sound Deadening Closed Cell Foam & Heat Insulation mat - PE Foam​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B75PD8B

THANKS!

 

[enemji]

@zoppp Thanks man, worked great! This saved me a lot of time.

I turned it into a PNG (attached) and cut out a paper stencil with my cricut (total height is 25 7/8 inches). PE foam was already 2x thick (two 4mm sheets stuck to each other). Cuts easily with scissors. There was one small gap towards the top that required a second small piece.

@enemji Thank you thank you. Phase 1 complete, I already hear an improvement. View attachment 918698View attachment 918700

Awesome. This is fantastic work

 

[citivolus]

Drivers side door window or windshield?

Driver's side door window. I've opened the window and fiddled with the seal and it goes away but keeps coming back...

 

[enemji]

Driver's side door window. I've opened the window and fiddled with the seal and it goes away but keeps coming back...

If it is in warranty, the service center can tighten it.

 

[GermanGuyUS]

Took some trial and error but followed your method and it worked.

I took a scan with polycam of the foam insert that I made, have it in stl, obj and fbx formats here for anyone that wants to make a template:

Fender Foam - Google Drive

drive.google.com

The picture of the foam in the box - is that the orientation for the passenger side fender?

 

[Spalding]

Imagine this being done at the factory - at scale, it might cost a few bucks per car with limited additional labor. Would make a huge improvement in the car a little cost. If necessary, raise the price of the car $10 or so to make up for it - nobody is going to refuse to buy the car over a $10 price difference, whereas I'm sure there are alot of people that decided not to buy because they thought (correctly) the car was too loud. If only, if only ...

 

[EpicNguyen]

Can someone post a step-by-step youtube vid for this? lol

 

[zoppp]

The picture of the foam in the box - is that the orientation for the passenger side fender?

That pattern works for both sides, just gotta flip it. The orientation in the box is just upside down, the curve that's on the bottom left in the picture should be in the top left on the car drivers side and top right on the passenger side.
Edit: I just rotated the image and reupload, now it's in the orientation as would be installed in the passenger side.

Then to make driver side you just cut the same shape and flip it along the straight vertical section that is on the left side of the picture.

 

[citivolus]

@zoppp Thanks man, worked great! This saved me a lot of time.

I turned it into a PNG (attached) and cut out a paper stencil with my cricut (total height is 25 7/8 inches). PE foam was already 2x thick (two 4mm sheets stuck to each other). Cuts easily with scissors. There was one small gap towards the top that required a second small piece.

@enemji Thank you thank you. Phase 1 complete, I already hear an improvement. View attachment 918698View attachment 918700

I took the PNG @Adam3 uploaded and created a pdf which you a use to print out on standard 8.5" paper and then use it as a pattern to cut out the two pieces of PE foam. Working on it today...

 

[rickymz]

Driver's side door window. I've opened the window and fiddled with the seal and it goes away but keeps coming back...

my passenger side had wind noise, tesla replaced the entire seal due to "deformed seal", your seal could be bad?