How loud is the Z4 interior at highway speeds?

P

psas

New member
Hi all,

I'm a prospective Z4 buyer(midlife crisis lol). I love everything about the car, but I've read some reviews that the interior is loud even with the hardtop up (for example: http://www.cars.com/bmw/z4/2011/reviews/?revid=56614). I'm kinda very picky about noise levels, so this point concerns me a bit.

Can anyone provide a reference point for this? Currently, I drive a 3 year old Corolla. At highway speeds, will the Z4 be louder?

I really don't know much about cars, but is it safe to assume that all hardtop convertibles will be significantly louder than non-convertibles?

Many thanks in advance!
 
Well i drive an 04 E85 Roadster and would not say its noisy at all at hight speeds yes you get wind noise but you get that in hard top cars and there is no probs hearing what your passenger is saying no need to speak any louder than normal.
 
We all have different opinions on noise levels what could be loud to you may not be to me.
The only way to find out if it would be ok for you would be to have a test drive.
WARNING During the test drive you will place the order for you Zed :driving: :rofl: :rofl: :driving:
 
psas said:
Hi all,

I'm a prospective Z4 buyer(midlife crisis lol). I love everything about the car, but I've read some reviews that the interior is loud even with the hardtop up (for example: http://www.cars.com/bmw/z4/2011/reviews/?revid=56614). I'm kinda very picky about noise levels, so this point concerns me a bit.

Can anyone provide a reference point for this? Currently, I drive a 3 year old Corolla. At highway speeds, will the Z4 be louder?

I really don't know much about cars, but is it safe to assume that all hardtop convertibles will be significantly louder than non-convertibles?

Many thanks in advance!
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I wouldn't say it's noisy at all, with the roof up you forget it's a ragtop.

As others have said though, you really need to try it yourself to see what you think.
 
lacroupade said:
psas said:
I'm kinda very picky about noise levels, so this point concerns me a bit.
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In all honesty you're looking in completely the wrong sector then 8)
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I agree here. Why look at a softop sports car on hard suspension where they even pipe engine noise into the cabin (3.0)to add toi the sound levels.

Frankly test one but you need to forget sports cars and get a softer saloon.

As for me I drive the Zed end to end of the country, love the noise and involvement and take it instead of my mile munching X5 every time
 
I think the OP is referring to the "new" model with a hard roof. It should be the same as a regular roofed car.HOWEVER, it is a sports car, and is small with big noisy tyres,and a big lusty engine. It will be NOTHING like a Corolla and I guess niosier than that. You really need to drive one and see for yourself. If you are fussy about noise, I'm struggling to see how you'd put up with the noise with the roof down.
 
Going from a 3 series fixed roof coupe (E92) to the new E89 Z4 even I noticed increase levels of noise inside the car: engine and road noise. It's all part of the overall package though!


bigshurv said:
I think the OP is referring to the "new" model with a hard roof. It should be the same as a regular roofed car.HOWEVER, it is a sports car, and is small with big noisy tyres,and a big lusty engine. It will be NOTHING like a Corolla and I guess niosier than that. You really need to drive one and see for yourself. If you are fussy about noise, I'm struggling to see how you'd put up with the noise with the roof down.
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When I first picked up my 2.5si Sport, I had to drive back from London to York, 200 miles or so, I got onto the A1 and hit 70 and thought that I had made a huge mistake because of the road noise. After a few weeks of driving you forget it and you do get used to it, but it is after all a sports car

The e89 is considerably quieter, some of that is due to the roof and the other to the 17" wheels.

Good luck and hope you get what you want
 
this might give the bad news

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/2143
 
Never bothered me, even top down in Germany at 170 mph+ still no issues.
 
pvr said:
Never bothered me, even top down in Germany at 170 mph+ still no issues.
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A vmax run with the top down? My hero! I have to say things do get a little noisy above 100, though as others have pointed out if you don't get on with road noise you might be better off in a wafty barge than a convertible!
 
tjlazer said:
pvr said:
Never bothered me, even top down in Germany at 170 mph+ still no issues.
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A vmax run with the top down? My hero! I have to say things do get a little noisy above 100, though as others have pointed out if you don't get on with road noise you might be better off in a wafty barge than a convertible!
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Had no feeling what so ever on the top part of my head ... :D
 
pvr said:
tjlazer said:
pvr said:
Never bothered me, even top down in Germany at 170 mph+ still no issues.
Click to expand...
A vmax run with the top down? My hero! I have to say things do get a little noisy above 100, though as others have pointed out if you don't get on with road noise you might be better off in a wafty barge than a convertible!
Click to expand...

Had no feeling what so ever on the top part of my head ... :D
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Not suprised it was loud enough near 140 top + windows down hats off to you :thumbsup:
 
Hi all,

Thanks a lot for all of your comments. After some more research, I think I've run into what I wanted: road test specs from Edmunds.
http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/z4/2009/road-test-specs.html
http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/corolla/2009/road-test-specs.html

Code: 
Z4
Sound level @ idle (dB)	 47.9
@ Full throttle (dB)	 79.1
@ 70 mph cruise (dB)	 68.9

Corolla
Sound level @ idle (dB)	 40.8
@ Full throttle (dB)	 74.0
@ 70 mph cruise (dB)	 71.7

I'm actually happy with this. The 70mph cruise numbers are what I'm interested in, and those number are actually lower on the Z4. Piece of garbage Corolla lol?
 
Agree with others, significant noise increase compared to my brothers 3 series coupe, and wives x5, you are sitting low, I have 19" alloys, so bumpy, on poor road, the rumble is load, but , it's all part of the deal. My previous two cats have been 997 c2s, and 997 turbo; both I loved, but sold on as, my wife and children hated them, noise, and harsh ride.
Yes , I have lost two seats, but my little family and I have fallen in love with the z, the keys are picked up first by everyone if they don't need more than 2 seats.
You must take one for a long drive, if u r after a convertible bmw look at 6 or 3, but neither offer any where near the same type of fun, handling, and zip.
Your call pal, but I be keeping my 3.5is for a long while. Just do what I do, find the smooth roads, hey, you may even do a few extra miles ;)
 
mupelo said:
Oh hai!

I have BMW Z3, but I get my new Z4 3.0si tomorrow, can someone tell, how loud is Z4 compared to Z3?
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Wish I could say :( I can tell you compared to an MX-5 Mk3.5 soft top. You get roughly the same amount of road noise, which I thought was incredible given the wider tyres on a Z4 (255!!!). Wind noise is awful on the MX-5 above 60mph, while the Z4 doesn't seem to suffer from any more than a normal car.

I suspect the Z4 will be quieter than the Z3, especially given you're looking at a facelift which has a little more soundproofing.
 
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