[hybris]

I have the f30 330e and I lIke it a lot. However, we have two kids, and during long trips, trying to talk to the kids in the back seat (and hearing their replies) over the excessive cabin noise is tiring.

Have anyone tried the f30 vs g30 (current 5 series) in this regard? Are the 5 series a lot more quiet, or is the difference subtle (not worth considering changing cars over)?

I understand I have to test drive one to get a proper answer, but at the same time interesting to hear from someone who have maybe tried both cars over time. 😊

[Wires]

Interested in hearing this as well. Last January we bought an Audi SQ5 (has "acoustic glass"). The cabin is INSANELY quiet, with no wind noise even though the entire roof is glass. I get into my 340 and it's deafening in comparison, even on surface streets.

[328iX]

The f30 has excessive cabin noise to you?

[lacrimarum]

Unfortunately, I had no opportunity so far to check how g30 rides, but car journalists wrote that it is sufficiently quiet for its class.
On the other hand, they said exactly same thing about f10, and I have ridden in f10s as a passenger on several occasions and was not impressed with noise insulation. It is somewhat more quiet than f30, but not as much as I expected. There's still plenty of road noise coming from wheel arches.

As for f30, changing runflats to non-runflats can make a huge difference, as I heard.

[hybris]

Originally Posted by 328dX

The f30 has excessive cabin noise to you?

Is the sky blue when there's no clouds out? Yes. It's ridiculous that an luxury sport sedan has this level of noise. If I were 25 and blasted the stereo all the time I probably wouldn't have cared, but pushing 40 and trying to have a conversation with the kids in the backseat, it's bordering hopeless.

[lacrimarum]

Originally Posted by 328dX

The f30 has excessive cabin noise to you?

It does. It has significantly more noise from the wheels in comparison to my previous 2007 s60. Volvo, though, was equipped with optional multilayer side windows and 205 non-runflat tires.

[hybris]

Originally Posted by Wires

Interested in hearing this as well. Last January we bought an Audi SQ5 (has "acoustic glass"). The cabin is INSANELY quiet, with no wind noise even though the entire roof is glass. I get into my 340 and it's deafening in comparison, even on surface streets.

I'll testdrive a 530e soon, hopefully on Tuesday. Will update the thread.


lacrimarum : Thanks, thrown out the runflats long ago, still lots of road noise. Granted, Norway have some of the worst / roughest roads around too (to withstand cold and frost probably), so that doesn't help. It's okay on newly paved roads.

[lacrimarum]

Originally Posted by hybris

thrown out the runflats long ago, still lots of road noise. Granted, Norway have some of the worst / roughest roads around too (to withstand cold and frost probably), so that doesn't help. It's okay on newly paved roads.

That's unfortunate. It will be the last season for my summer oem set, so I hoped that fresh non-runflats will make the car much quiter later. Well, can not fix the noise that cheaply, I guess
The roughness of the roads is kind of same here, I guess. It's very queit in cabin on new segments where asphalt was laid recenlty, but the majority of roads outside the city utilize older grainy tarmac, and it creates a lot of drone from the arches.

[natesi]

I think the G20 is supposed to be more quiet than the F30.

Here they say, "Acoustic glass and noise-insulating foam in the A-pillars will cut interior noise."

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...i-photos-info/

[ouengineer]

Probably has a lot to do with wheel/tire choice. My F30 with 245/40/18 Pirelli P-Zero AS is incredibly quiet. Or it was before I added the roof bars and bike racks.

[5mall5nail5]

I find my F30 w/ RFTs incredibly quiet...

[x5mad]

Have no complaints about noise in my 340. However, my wife's G01 is so quiet and everything is just built solid. Not a single rattle or squeak.

In general I think the G series are built like this.

[rjd_F30]

Lots of people think the F30 has a problem with wind noise and general road noise at highway speeds. I definitely agree, but personally it doesn't bother me. Not something I would ever consider changing cars over, at least not at this point in my life.

That said, the G series are definitely a step above the F series in terms of build quality. I've gotten that just by sitting in them in the showroom when my car's in for service.

[328iX]

Originally Posted by x5mad

Have no complaints about noise in my 340. However, my wife's G01 is so quiet and everything is just built solid. Not a single rattle or squeak.

In general I think the G series are built like this.

Originally Posted by ouengineer

Probably has a lot to do with wheel/tire choice. My F30 with 245/40/18 Pirelli P-Zero AS is incredibly quiet. Or it was before I added the roof bars and bike racks.

Originally Posted by 5mall5nail5

I find my F30 w/ RFTs incredibly quiet...

I too think it's incredibly quiet, running Goodyear MXM4 RFT. First time I've heard it isn't, and surprised you feel that way OP

[Jake From State Farm]

I’m glad to hear the G series has addressed this. Bluetooth is ridiculous while on the freeway for me with the road noise coming in. I am on run flats so maybe that’s my issue...

[N26Ghost]

I daily an F30 and just did a few days with a G30. In comparison, there is no comparison. G30 is serene near-silence.

[hybris]

I think those in this thread (and in general) that find the F30 to be quiet, probably are lucky enough to live in areas with decent road quality.

In addition, if you google "f30 wind noise" or "f30 road noise" you will find lots of threads, so it's not all in my head.


Anyway, I tested a 530e today. It was certainly quieter, but the difference wasn't as big as I've hoped. I measured with a db meter in both 60km/t and 100km/t, and the difference was around 3dB in both speeds, maybe a little more at 100km/t. This is certainly a significant difference that could be clearly heard, but the 530e was nowhere near completely silent, at least not on our rough Norwegian roads. At around 100km/t, my car was 68-69dB, while the 530e was at 65dB.

It's also a higher quality interior and all around quality feel, while stilll having a sporty feel to it similar to the 3-series as well, so for my situation as a family guy who want a sporty car, it's probably a better (and more expensive) compromise. It may be enough for me to consider a 5 series the next time I'm switching cars, but at the moment I don't think it's enough to make me want to change right now.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by hybris

In addition, if you google "f30 wind noise" or "f30 road noise" you will find lots of threads, so it's not all in my head.

If you Google "flat earth theory" you will find plenty of threads as well. So a Google search isn't the best way to assess whether its all in your head or not. That said, the F30 cabin is kind of noisy. I remember my wife commenting on it when we first got the 328i, but then, she was used to the quiet cabin of our Toyota Highlander. Every day, when I hit the highway, I have to turn the radio volume up to drown out the noise (I have go-flat tires). And the moment I get off the highway I have to turn the radio down quite a bit. So yes, it is definitely noisy at higher speeds.

[Moupe]

I wonder if this is not just related to the RFTs but also a pre-LCI vs late-LCI issue whereas the factory may have added additional gaskets and such due to complaints.

I find my October '18 built, 2019 F31 with Michelin PSS tires to be very quiet.

[328iX]

Originally Posted by Moupe

I wonder if this is not just related to the RFTs but also a pre-LCI vs late-LCI issue whereas the factory may have added additional gaskets and such due to complaints.

I find my October '18 built, 2019 F31 with Michelin PSS tires to be very quiet.

Pre-lci here and it's dead silent, must be OPs roads like he said. I think LCI models are all cosmetic changes as I still have the felt wheel liners, the aero/ deflection shields underneath etc. It's all the same as far as i can see.

[hybris]

Originally Posted by Moupe

I wonder if this is not just related to the RFTs but also a pre-LCI vs late-LCI issue whereas the factory may have added additional gaskets and such due to complaints.

I find my October '18 built, 2019 F31 with Michelin PSS tires to be very quiet.

I have a LCI on non-runflats.

[hybris]

Question: Those of you in this thread who think your F3x is relatively quiet, do you have M-sport or regular suspension? I wonder if the M-sport suspension might have stiffer pillow mounts etc, transferring more noise?