[jkramerXXX7]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

Any update on this? I have a 50e with base 20" M wheels on order and now worried it will be noisy. X5s are usually dead quiet and Car confections measured the LCI even quieter than last gen.

I went back to dealer and drove a similar 50e to mine with 21's and it was noisy. The 20's appear to be much quieter. I plan to purchase the vibration reducers as mentioned above and see if they make a difference. I know it's a different car but my wife's X7 with 21's is quiet as a whisper. It does have the vibration reducers installed.

[jad03060]

The X7 likely comes standard with acoustic glass...when I bought my X5, that option wasn't available. Not sure of the current status, but that can make a difference if you do not have it when comparing between two different models.

[mattsrs]

Originally Posted by jkramerXXX7

I went back to dealer and drove a similar 50e to mine with 21's and it was noisy. The 20's appear to be much quieter. I plan to purchase the vibration reducers as mentioned above and see if they make a difference. I know it's a different car but my wife's X7 with 21's is quiet as a whisper. It does have the vibration reducers installed.

What tire do you have? From my experience, tire alone makes a big difference in how much road noise is felt in the cabin. Regardless, the model these guys testing has 21" wheel on Continental tires and they read 51.6 db going 55mph (go to 21:47):

[mattsrs]

Originally Posted by jad03060

The X7 likely comes standard with acoustic glass...when I bought my X5, that option wasn't available. Not sure of the current status, but that can make a difference if you do not have it when comparing between two different models.

I have had many cars with acoustic glass and many without them (my current bmw 760 doesn't have acoustic). Acoustic glass does nothing to the road noise felt/coming from the floor. Its main noticeable impact dampening noise from the side. Specifically, when a big semi passes on the highway, it reduces the cabin noise by 1-2 db

[jkramerXXX7]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

What tire do you have? From my experience, tire alone makes a big difference in how much road noise is felt in the cabin. Regardless, the model these guys testing has 21" wheel on Continental tires and they read 51.6 db going 55mph:

Pirelli runflats.. I'm in the high 60 db's

[mattsrs]

Originally Posted by jkramerXXX7

Pirelli runflats.. I'm in the high 60 db's

I had those on my Cayenne with 21" wheels and it had horrible road noise especially on rough pavement highways. Didn't bother changing the tires but I suspect the tires are the reason for this especially if you notice its coming from the floor of the car and it gets more quiet on newer/smoother pavement.

[e45_440]

Originally Posted by quad_drive

I was curious about why some cars have these from factory and some don't without much of a pattern of reasons.

Since my 23 45e with 20" inch wheels did not come with them. I ordered the parts ($140 for both sets). I am going to install them and report back if I noticed anything different.

Could you post a link to the part or post the part #? Thanks

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by jkramerXXX7

Just picked up my 50e and I must stay extremely disappointed with the excessive road noise I'm hearing. Have to turn the radio up just to drown it out. Seems like it coming from the left front or maybe that's just the area I'm closest to. I do have 21 inch run flats (Pirellis) and from what I've read this could be a problem. I realize that it's not going to be as quiet as my wife's X7 but it's not even close. We have 22 inch run flats (continental) on her car and its whisper quiet. It does seem to be missing the Harmonic Dampeners that are present on the X7. Not sure if they are included on the X5 or not with 21 inch wheels.
Other than the noise, the car is a dream. Very smooth with extremely quiet engine. Well over 40 mile electric range. Comfortable seats. The power is excellent even in electric mode only. Smooth and unnoticeable transition from electric to ICE.
Looks like it going back to dealer. Going to ask to ride in similar equipped X5 and see if it's just my car. Considering tire swap.

I believe that BMW uses to use insulated glass, but they’re not at the moment the noise you’re hearing is the road noise due to un insulated glass. I noticed road noise immediately. On my way home when I picked up my x5 last year on the driver side glass and I thought to myself this is unacceptable at this price level. It’s one of the reasons I’m selling the others. I’m not happy with the way the x5 Rides suspension is two jarring

[quad_drive]

So, I was able to install those 2 weights yesterday. Took a quick test drive after. It may be placebo, but I felt like the tiny little low frequency vibrations is gone from the front end. The steering wheel feels very damped and literally no tiny vibrations while the car was on the move.
I managed to get up to 65-70mph for a little bit, the front end feels more planted. It could be all in my head. As far as noise goes, that makes no difference.

As for the installation itself, it needs 2 18mm sockets. I was able to install them without jack. I slide in from the front end and bolted them on. Took about 15 minutes. I think for $140, it's pretty good. I feel like it should be there from the factory by design.

Here are the part lists you need, 2 of each for both sides:
Insulator Cshn
Product ID: 31-10-6-884-584

Self-Locking Collar Nut - M12X1.5-10 ZNS3
Product ID: 33-32-6-760-668

Hex Bolt with Washer - M12X1,5X87 ZNS3
Product ID: 33-32-6-760-346

[quad_drive]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

I had those on my Cayenne with 21" wheels and it had horrible road noise especially on rough pavement highways. Didn't bother changing the tires but I suspect the tires are the reason for this especially if you notice its coming from the floor of the car and it gets more quiet on newer/smoother pavement.

Cayenne has runflats? Mine has the same Pirelli's on my 21" but they are non-runflats.

[mattsrs]

Originally Posted by quad_drive

So, I was able to install those 2 weights yesterday. Took a quick test drive after. It may be placebo, but I felt like the tiny little low frequency vibrations is gone from the front end. The steering wheel feels very damped and literally no tiny vibrations while the car was on the move.
I managed to get up to 65-70mph for a little bit, the front end feels more planted. It could be all in my head. As far as noise goes, that makes no difference.

As for the installation itself, it needs 2 18mm sockets. I was able to install them without jack. I slide in from the front end and bolted them on. Took about 15 minutes. I think for $140, it's pretty good. I feel like it should be there from the factory by design.

Here are the part lists you need, 2 of each for both sides:
Insulator Cshn
Product ID: 31-10-6-884-584

Self-Locking Collar Nut - M12X1.5-10 ZNS3
Product ID: 33-32-6-760-668

Hex Bolt with Washer - M12X1,5X87 ZNS3
Product ID: 33-32-6-760-346

Sorry didn't understand the conclusion re noise. Are you suggesting that installing these parts didn't make a difference in cabin noise?

[quad_drive]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

Sorry didn't understand the conclusion re noise. Are you suggesting that installing these parts didn't make a difference in cabin noise?

I have 20" wheels, my car wasn't noisy to begin with. And, yes. I did NOT notice any change in noise level during my brief test drive yesterday.

So, I think those dampers are more for vibrations reductions and not noise reductions.
The parts are listed with Descriptions 'Vibration dampers' on the invoice.

[dbull2]

Originally Posted by GHolif

I think you don’t do take the measures correctly. 80dB is too much for this kind of car. Or you have a serious issue with your new x5.
You have to take the measures on the same road/street, at the same speed for the both vehicles (with the windows closed of course)

I used a app called decibel meter on my iPhone. I don't know how accurate it is, but it was the same app, same phone on the same stretch of interstate and the same speed. So take it for what it's worth. Even without the meter, it was definitely loud, and I would not buy it just for the noise it produced.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by quad_drive

I have 20" wheels, my car wasn't noisy to begin with. And, yes. I did NOT notice any change in noise level during my brief test drive yesterday.

So, I think those dampers are more for vibrations reductions and not noise reductions.
The parts are listed with Descriptions 'Vibration dampers' on the invoice.

There's a very specific hum mostly present on 21 and 22 wheels that they do address. I've taken my dampers off and refitted them a few times for testing and they definitely make a difference to that hum.

[quad_drive]

Originally Posted by mobilejo

There's a very specific hum mostly present on 21 and 22 wheels that they do address. I've taken my dampers off and refitted them a few times for testing and they definitely make a difference to that hum.

The damper itself has a marking for 90hz-120hz. That's interesting. Since I have 20" wheels, my test case may not be the best.

For those with 21" and 22" wheels, if those are missing from your cars, maybe something to look into. I would just get them and put them on yourself instead wasting time and effort trying to convince BMW to put them on. Either way, I thinking it improved the car for little $$.

[mattsrs]

Originally Posted by quad_drive

The damper itself has a marking for 90hz-120hz. That's interesting. Since I have 20" wheels, my test case may not be the best.

For those with 21" and 22" wheels, if those are missing from your cars, maybe something to look into. I would just get them and put them on yourself instead wasting time and effort trying to convince BMW to put them on. Either way, I thinking it improved the car for little $$.

Can you put them on without a jack? Do you have to slide under the car?

[quad_drive]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

Can you put them on without a jack? Do you have to slide under the car?

I did it without jack and slide in from the front end to reach the front control arm where the dampers are bolted on.
It's a little tight, but doable.

I guess it's all depends on each individual physical size and shape.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by quad_drive

I did it without jack and slide in from the front end to reach the front control arm where the dampers are bolted on.

Same.

[Heavyd]

Are there torque specs?

[mattsrs]

so how BMW decides what X5s to put these dampeners on and which ones not to?

[sarpal123]

Originally Posted by mobilejo

Same.

Where did you manage to source the UK parts from? Thanks

[quad_drive]

Originally Posted by Heavyd

Are there torque specs?

Well, I know it won't fall off.