Reducing road noise in my Cupra TDI

[a11y]

If there's one thing I've noticed since getting my Cupra TDI 2 weeks ago, it's the damn road noise! Seriously, I can barely hear the engine over the amount of tyre/road noise and it's doing my head in. Engine noise doesn't seem to be an issue like it was in my previous cars. From making good use of the search function, I've gathered SEAT just don't do sound deadening at all in the Ibiza...

So, where should I start? My aim is to reduce road noise and make the car quieter/more-refined-sounding inside (aka the Merc-effect). It's sound BLOCKING rather than sound dampening that I'm trying to achieve.

I'm trying to do this very much on the cheap. I'm thinking:

- replace the standard Pirelli's with a different brand when they wear out (I'm aware they're not the quietest tyre )
- carpet underlay on the floor/wheelarches (under the carpets) and as far up the bulkhead as I can manage
- carpet underlay under the rear seats
- carpet underlay over the rear wheelarches
- carpet underlay around the spare wheel well and boot floor
- loft insulation into anywhere I can manage! (but starting with the rear 3/4 panel at the side of the rear seats)
- expanding foam into anywhere where I think sound could be getting in


Any suggestions or advice? Am I wasting my time using carpet underlay and loft insulation?

Has anyone found anything that really helps but is cheap?

I can't justify the likes of specific soundproofing (such as Dynamat or Second Skin) as that's just silly money. I'm really trying to do this on the cheap (having an in-built Scottishness doesn't help lol).

Cheers
Ally

 

[rashcupra]

soory mate but these cars are renown for loud road noise considering how much car you get for your money roadnoise is nothing tyres will make a big diffrence but your never going to get a merc affrect unless you throw loads of dynamat ect in!! isnt it a good thing you cant hear the diesel engine

 

[cuprakel]

my dads on his 3rd Mk4 and iv got the cupra. They all had bad road noise, but none worse than others. some people seem to complain about it others dont. personally it doesnt bother me (my last car was worse), i think u'll prob get used to it. to quote rashcupra "just put ur foot down when it annoys u" u'll soon forget. is it really worth filling ur new car with cheap carpet underlay and would it even make a difference? plus think of the extra weight!!

 

[a11y]

I'd happily put up with the diesel engine if I could hear it over the road noise LOL

But even my old Clio was quieter than this! I know I'll never achieve the Merc-effect but I'm guessing with a little bit of work I'll be able to improve things a bit. I'm doing a bit of searching on the TalkAudio forum but mostly finding suggestions to buy the proper stuff, which I just can't justify: £200 on soundproofing? No thanks! It is pretty noisey and yes I probably will get used to it, but it's a bit annoying not really hearing the engine note when your pressing on a bit (and no I don't want a louder exhaust to increase that!!!).

I'm also not wanting to add too much weight, but I'll sacrifice a teeny bit of performance for more refinement though, even if it means going on a diet myself to counter-balance the added weight

 

[cuprakel]

I'd happily put up with the diesel engine if I could hear it over the road noise LOL

It is pretty noisey and yes I probably will get used to it, but it's a bit annoying not really hearing the engine note when your pressing on a bit (and no I don't want a louder exhaust to increase that!!!).
I'm also not wanting to add too much weight, but I'll sacrifice a teeny bit of performance for more refinement though, even if it means going on a diet myself to counter-balance the added weight

i dont think many people on here would recommend a ned-type exhaust to solve that problem, personally i'll be goin for a non-resonated milltek!

and lmao at the diet thing!

fairplay to u anyway, if u suceed in reducing it then i guess a lot of people would be interested too.

P.S good choice on the car by the way and welcome! where exactly u from mate? since i got my cupra theres bout 4 or 5 beezers popped up in my village. obviously they like ma style

 

[rashcupra]

you can buy cheap large sound proof mats i use it on cars at work you could buy a couole of large sheets strip off the door cards 1/4 panel cards and lay a ;ayer over the whole car skin and change the tyres and this WILL reduce road noise loads and should keep you happy

 

[a11y]

Cheers Rash: just noticed you've just hit the 5k milestone in posts - good going . What actual stuff do you use at work? I've seen this which seems to be the cheapest: http://www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk/default.asp?go=1&shop=&dep=&cat=&prodid=2658 but still not as cheap as carpet underlay! But would probably work better...

cuprakel: Falkirk-based but often through in Glasgow. How near to Glasgow are you? Collected my Cupra TDI about 3 days after the Scottish meet otherwise I'd have headed through to meet a few folk. Still connected with the (boo hiss) Cliosport club though...

 

[cuprakel]

im from a wee village bout 6 miles from motherwell & hamilton / 20 miles from glasgow and i work in cumbernauld. although i joined SCN feb 2006 iv just started using it properly recently (my ex used to consume all my time and money - lol) so iv yet to break my 1st meet virginity. but im defo up for goin to the next one too put some faces to names etc i'll keep an eye out for you on the roads!

 

[rashcupra]

a11y yer these sound mats look simular to the ones i use at work keep searching around as you will need alot of it so the cheaper the better mate

5000 posts only joined october

 

[Mr Cellotape]

I don't seem to get that problem in mine, unless I'm just not sensative enough to notice it.

I can always hear what the engines doing unless I turn the volume up.

 

[air121005]

5000 posts only joined october

anybody would think you don't like driving your car RASH and you prefer to sit infront of your PC

 

[Mr Cellotape]

anybody would think you don't like driving your car RASH and you prefer to sit infront of your PC

Unless he's having something else put on it!

I think he should bring it up to Coventry on the 2nd of September for a BBQ

 

[air121005]

Unless he's having something else put on it!

i wouldn't be suprised

I think he should bring it up to Coventry on the 2nd of September for a BBQ

that sounds like a good idea!

maybe RASH you could even arrange your local meet to cruise up, then we could come down to your next meet (just an idea )

 

[Tom B]

When icecavern had his brief encounter with his MK4, he ptook pictures of the lack of soundproofing...theres pretty much nothing!

I knew this as I'm no stranger to SEAT ownership and I'm fully aware of cost cutting in the car trade, so I expect it. To be honest, I don't drive fast enough (stop-start commute) to hear the noise.

 

[rashcupra]

im not planning the crawley meets anymore so that cant happen and ive probably only had my car on my drive for 3-4 months of this year!!!!!! OR AT WORK

 

[Nick_J]

Hey

I went back to the seat dealers cos my mates cupra seemed less air noisy than mine.
First they stuck an extra rubber seal on the wing mirror then they insulated my door cards and the mirrors some more.

Try that maybe?

 

[a11y]

When icecavern had his brief encounter with his MK4, he took pictures of the lack of soundproofing...theres pretty much nothing!

Yup, I've seen icecavern's pics - to me they show how easy it should be to reduce the road noise with a little bit of soundproofing (anything's better than nothing!).

Nick_J: it's not wind/air noise that's bothering me, it purely seems to be road and tyre noise - a sort of rumbling, droning noise that's always there.

I was honestly expecting to hear the engine over anything else in this car, I think that's why I'm a little surprised about the amount on road/tyre noise...

 

[spidermonkey]

Mine is really rather quiet don't seem to have that problem. I regularly creep over 80mph without realising it because its so quiet, even for a diesel! Tyres definitely do make a difference though, but by how much on the Cupra I'm not sure.

I guess its all relative. My girlfriend loves the fact she doesn't have to shout anymore to be heard over my previous Clios fat twin cans. I however miss that exhaust for the 'peace and quiet'!!

 

[a11y]

Update:

Right, those bloody tyres were responsible for all the road noise I was hearing - I honestly can't believe the difference in sound levels since I replaced the Pirelli P Zero's last weekend. I've now got (after a bit of hassle) a full set of Yokohama Parada Spec 2's fitted in 215/40/17 and they're a soooo much quieter. I'd go as far as saying they're quieter than the Goodyear F1's I had on for a week...

I've still not done anything about sound proofing my car and now I don't know if I'll bother - changing the tyres has made such a huge difference. I did just get a roll of foam insulation from a mate (leftover from laying his laminate flooring) so I might whack some of that under the back seats, line the boot, maybe under the carpets too, and see if it makes any difference.

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

You could've put some sexy 13" wheels on it with massive profile tyres? then sold me your Cupra rims!