How noisey is your Defender and did sound proofing make a difference

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twelsh37

twelsh37

Active Member
Posts
122
Location
Colchester
I have a noisey 1993 defender CSW 200 tdi. I took out the front carpeting but left in the tunnel carpet. There is no carpet in the second row seat area either.

I'm thinking of getting the beast sound dampened and wondered what others noise levels are.

My Defender registers about 89 - 90 db whilst driving around at about 50 - 60mph

They say workplaces shouldn't be above 80 db and if it is 85 bd and above then ear defenders should be worn.

I read an old article about noise killer which ended up with a db level around about 70 - 75 after fitting the kit. That's a 14 db drop for me. SWMBO could even chat to me then. Shouting back and forth across the cockpit seems to tire her out. Me, I love the silence (Defender background noise accepted)
 
We had a 300TDi CSW until a few weeks ago. I also have a TD5 110 CSW.

The 300tdi is a fair bit noisier on the motorway than the TD5. As in you cannot hear the stereo at normal volumes.

I bought another TD5 CSW 90 to replace the 300tdi and it seems to be largely down to the fact that the TD5 engine is quieter.
As the 300tdi had bonnet insulation plus full interior carpet etc like the TD5. (The TD5 did not have sound proofing on the bonnet)

So l would initially look at bulkhead/front wheel arch soundproofing to improve the 300tdi.

Both my TD5 and tdi were on standard "Boost" style alloys with similar tyres.
 
Do a quick search on here, it's a hot topic and been covered lots before. One of the threads is only a few down from this one... you'd probably get more of an idea reading through all responses there

:)
 
I recently fitted a foam bonnet sound proof panel which has made a bit of a difference.
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 110 130 NEW BONNET SOUND PROOF PANEL INSULATION PAD | eBay

I have also just covered the rear tub with an old carpet which has also made quiet a difference.
I have't measured it in bd but now I can have a conversation without shouting and I can hear the radio.
Mine already had sound proofing around the transition tunnel and under the seats.
Its still noisy compared to a car but definitely a lot more comfortable on the ears.
 
Has it got the std oe rubber covers over the trans tunnel and seat box?
Thick rubber cut to suit footwell with std rubber floor mats over the top also makes a difference
Carpet is **** at sound deadening except when fitted to the roof.
 
lynall said:
Has it got the std oe rubber covers over the trans tunnel and seat box?
Thick rubber cut to suit footwell with std rubber floor mats over the top also makes a difference
Carpet is **** at sound deadening except when fitted to the roof.
Click to expand...

Yep, standard thick rubber over the transmission but only rubber mats in the foot wells and Carpet tiles on the roof as well. I fitted some plywood across the well area in the rear tub if that makes scene so I have a flat area all the way across in the rear, then chucked the carpet across the top. It has made a difference. This is a tempery measure to see if did make any difference. I think I will now look to cover the area with a better sound proofing. I'm working on fitting the back out for a trip to Morocco again.
 
I use foam ear plugs,cheap and quick and I can still hear the radio.
I have no carpets or foam and I never got around to fitting any door seals, its been like that for over 10 years.
 
I don't have any soundproofing on my 1999 2.5 NAD 110 Hardtop, apart from the bit on the bulkhead between it and the engine, and I can still listen to the radio at maximum legal motorway speeds.

Get your engine set up properly and it should run like a sewing machine :D
 
General engine noise and rattling/vibration noise up to about 55mph, then after that all I can hear is the howling from the tyres. My arse goes numb long before the noise becomes a nuisance.
 
My 110 hardtop 300tdi had a load of thick sponge insulation around the footwells and transmission tunnel, but it soaked up water from all of the leaks and was causing some major rust. Until all the leaks are sealed, I won't use any mats/carpets/foams to reduce noise. But my biggest problem is the doors that are falling out while on motorways, so noise isnt a top priority :p
 
Tripp said:
My 110 hardtop 300tdi had a load of thick sponge insulation around the footwells and transmission tunnel, but it soaked up water from all of the leaks and was causing some major rust. Until all the leaks are sealed, I won't use any mats/carpets/foams to reduce noise. But my biggest problem is the doors that are falling out while on motorways, so noise isnt a top priority :p[

I had the same problem. I sealed all the leaks up but within a very short period they all came back again. It seems to be a never ending battle. Hence why I just have rubber mats which I can take out and let it dry out. That way I can also keep an eye on signs of rust developing.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for all the replies and advice. I love the noise of my Defender it's the wife that doesn't.

I've just finished rust treating the rear and painting with Hammerite.

I've removed all the seats and I will get some noise killer closed cell mats for the rear.

I have a bulkhead to pick up at the weekend from the shot blasters and metalisers on Saturday in Maldon. When I fit that I will then get round to soundproofing the bulkhead and engine compartment.

I hope to get all that done by the end of July so I can take it for a good shakedown before 2 week driving holiday in Europe.
 
Mine has come down from 90db to 78db - 80db at 55mph, I have fitted silent coat and dodomatt to the bulkhead, floor, uder seats, and rear tub, also some thick rubber matt in the tub as well (needs finishing) I have not touched the roof yet, or the inner doors, I'll do that next. Still as noisy as ####, but a lot better I can talk to the girl freind now.
 
Theres alot to be said about other issues too :-

What type of tyres are you running
Is your suspension all ok so its not transmitting road noise into the chassis and resonating around
Is your exhaust ok

Check all the basic stuff before spending money doing sound proof mods

My 200tdi csw is very pleasant and quiet. Especially since i sorted the suspension!
 
vilguy said:
Theres alot to be said about other issues too :-

What type of tyres are you running
Is your suspension all ok so its not transmitting road noise into the chassis and resonating around
Is your exhaust ok

Check all the basic stuff before spending money doing sound proof mods

My 200tdi csw is very pleasant and quiet. Especially since i sorted the suspension!
Click to expand...


Oddly I was going to order some new tyres for Jo as the ones on it are Mud Types and go vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr all the time, I was going to stuff some Cooper AT or BG AT2 on it, the suspension also needs a look at as a) its hard and b) the rear is lower than the front, which is not right.

Then my shower blew up with me in it, and its electric, so thats on the back burner for now.
 
The wife just test drove a very nice 300tdi 90. But the noise at tickover when compared my TD5110 and especially to her 300 tdi D1 was extremely loud. Not bad when its working, just the tickover.
 
On my 110 TD5 SW l fitted under bonnet insulation pads, plus some sound deadening mat under the seats and under the second row seats where you can see bare metal.
lt's got carpet fitted throughout as standard, and rubber mats in the foot wells/rear load area.
Sound levels are around 80db at 65mph. l am not sure you can expect much better, the Defender is about as aerodynamic as the factory it was made in.
l tried coasting at 65mph (engine idling) and noise levels barely changed. So it's not the engine.
One thing that did make a difference, was sealing the bonnet/bulkhead with self adhesive D-seal.
This made a difference of around 2db in the cabin, it doesn't sound much but it was noticeable.
Also you can now open the vent flaps at lower speeds and noise levels inside don't increase at all.
 
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