Sound Deadening Model 3

[Dan203]

Yeah my BMW 340i is definitely quieter.

 

[mike123abc]

There is a lot of noise that comes in via the suspension. I have done just about everything as far as cabin treatments go. When I hit a rain puddle, you can barely hear the water spray. But, you hear every bump and defect in the road. Rough pavement is still loud. You can feel the vibrations. I drove my dad's minivan the other day and it was a lot quieter over rough roads.

 

[Dan203]

There is a lot of noise that comes in via the suspension. I have done just about everything as far as cabin treatments go. When I hit a rain puddle, you can barely hear the water spray. But, you hear every bump and defect in the road. Rough pavement is still loud. You can feel the vibrations. I drove my dad's minivan the other day and it was a lot quieter over rough roads.

This could explain why mine seems so loud. I have the performance with the stiffer suspension.

 

[St☰v☰]

Wind noise isn't that big of a problem. It's there, but not horrible. It's more the road noise that is causing issues for me.

I agree, I don't hear a lot of wind noise, but I hear a lot of other noises I didn't hear before, motorcycles at a distance, 4x4 off road tires, perf exhaust rumbling, crap I even hear other driver's radios more than before, at slower speeds, I even hear my own electric motors whirring (I have really sensitive ears).

There is a lot of noise that comes in via the suspension. I have done just about everything as far as cabin treatments go. When I hit a rain puddle, you can barely hear the water spray. But, you hear every bump and defect in the road. Rough pavement is still loud. You can feel the vibrations. I drove my dad's minivan the other day and it was a lot quieter over rough roads.

Yeah, my wife's Kia Optima is a dream to drive, smoother, and really quiet. The M3 is almost bouncy over dips and bumps in the road, and it has a longer wheelbase.

 

[ntam]

What are the trunk seals you mention?

This is the rubber seal that I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S7P5P51/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Here is the picture of the trunk lid after installation. It significantly reduces vibration of the trunk lid and reduces noise coming in.

 

[St☰v☰]

... the sound level measurement I got is about 72dbA at 72 mph on a freeway. When the car is stationary, the sound insulation from outside is much better.

Wait, are you comparing noise levels in a car on the freeway to one sitting stationary? I must have missed something.

 

[hridge2020]

I did the rear area, rear trunk lid, and under the frunk area sheet metal area for the floorboard area and side fender area... with sound deading matting.

 

[Dan203]

I did the rear area, rear trunk lid, and under the frunk area sheet metal area for the floorboard area and side fender area... with sound deading matting.

Did it help?

 

[Wconrad]

I was hearing some flapping at high speed and the technician put some peel and stick foam on the inside of the front wheel wells so that the plastic didn’t hit on the fender. Seems to be working well. He put a 1/4” x 3” strip on.

 

[St☰v☰]

I did the rear area, rear trunk lid, and under the frunk area sheet metal area for the floorboard area and side fender area... with sound deading matting.

You didn't happen to take any before/after dB ratings did you? I watched this youtuber (i1Tesla I think, but could have been someone else) and his butt-o-meter said the difference was significant, but if I recall correctly, the actual dB difference wasn't that big, not enough to justify the labor involved in disassembly/reassembly to add the damping material.

 

[Dan203]

Yeah I've seen a few videos where people tear apart their entire car down to the metal and install sound proofing material and the results are barely different on the DB meter.

Maybe it's because, like someone said up thread, it's coming through the suspension and resonating through the whole car and there just isn't a way to soundproof against that.

 

[cucubits]

But what's so different in the suspension of the Model 3 compared to virtually all other cars which are quieter?

 

[hridge2020]

But what's so different in the suspension of the Model 3 compared to virtually all other cars which are quieter?

First Electrical car is quieter than ICE... We tend to get used to the ICE engine sound resonation, now we have just electric motor we are not focusing on road/wind noises more. That is just some of it...

 

[Dan203]

It's not just the lack of engine though. There is significantly more road noise from the tires/ground. And it changes as the quality of the pavement changes. On a nicely paved road it's fine. On sh*tty snow plow scraped pavement it's really loud. My BMW was definitely a lot quieter for whatever reason. In fact I remember reading that on my particular car (2016 340i) they actually pump some engine noise into the cabin via the speakers because otherwise you can barely hear it and people actually like the sound of an engine in a performance car.

The Model 3 sounds more like my Sister's Toyota. on the highway.

 

[StellarRat]

What's the best way to reduce road noise from older pavement? Change tires? That's really my only notable noise issue. (Same as above post. ^)

 

[ntam]

Wait, are you comparing noise levels in a car on the freeway to one sitting stationary? I must have missed something.

The video was taken when I was in the freeway. If the car is stationary such as waiting at the traffic night, the sound level is between 40-60 dBA.

 

[earthwormjim]

It's not just the lack of engine though. There is significantly more road noise from the tires/ground. And it changes as the quality of the pavement changes. On a nicely paved road it's fine. On sh*tty snow plow scraped pavement it's really loud. My BMW was definitely a lot quieter for whatever reason. In fact I remember reading that on my particular car (2016 340i) they actually pump some engine noise into the cabin via the speakers because otherwise you can barely hear it and people actually like the sound of an engine in a performance car.

The Model 3 sounds more like my Sister's Toyota. on the highway.

Model 3 tire pressure is quite high, and the stock non performance tires are inherently loud.

 

[Dan203]

I have the Performance. Although I'm going to have to swap the tires soon. Need some ASs around here.

 

[hridge2020]

Did it help?

Yes it did.. the final thing I did was the door seals recently... ultra quiet...

My next set... Is the tires, I've done this in the past of my other cars and found that the thread patterns are also to blame for road noise..
I will be checking out the tires more in detail when mine get close to wearing out. see image.

 

[Dan203]

There are only a couple of tire choices when you've got the Performance with 20” rims.