Excessive booming vibration on one bit of M25 only!
Excessive booming vibration on one bit of M25 only!
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Discussion

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

270 months

Wednesday 9th August 2017
quotequote all
Bit of a weird one this, but I have a Q5 running on 20" standard alloys and Bridgestones. There's a section of the m25 around Chessington where the road surface is the older pinky red colour and when I drive on it between 70 and 80 I get the most awful loud booming vibration filling the whole car. It peaks at 75 and disappears either side of the range.

It's like road noise times 100. Really unpleasant.

What could be causing this??

Dr G

15,985 posts

272 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Crappy concrete motorway.

Also have a really close look at your tyres; those Bridgestones are absolutely notorious for cracking and perishing very badly.

iwantagta

1,324 posts

175 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...

Concrete - loud but structually stronger than tarmac.

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

270 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
The tyres are cracked as they're 4 years old but have done very few miles. Would that really cause such a loud boom though? None of my previous cars had the same issue.

MikeyLCR

501 posts

211 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
I'd vote for the crappy surface, I had a nasty case of this going down to the eurotunnel in June, the frequency was horrible, got right into my head

PenelopaPitstop

2,484 posts

163 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
This part of M25 is awful. Audi is the worst of the cars I had on this patch of the road. It's very noisy, like it's has leaving lane warning on all the time or like you're driving on the hard shoulder line. None of my previous cars were so bad.

Dr G

15,985 posts

272 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Gavstar said:
The tyres are cracked as they're 4 years old but have done very few miles. Would that really cause such a loud boom though? None of my previous cars had the same issue.
Those tyres sound like they're dried out and very hard. It's a very common problem on those Bridgestones and they should last far longer than 4 years. They won't be the sole cause of the problem but certainly won't help either.

Speak to Bridgestone customer service; if they've got good tread left and they're not damaged you'll probably get brand new replacements for very little.

HappyMidget

6,794 posts

145 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Horrible nasty concrete surface coupled with lower profile tyres makes for a very unpleasant time on that stretch. Even on my brand new MPS4S tyres it is bad.

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

250 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Concrete motorways laid decades before ridiculous 20" wheels were conceived as a good idea for passenger vehicles rolleyes

Still, it shouldn't be much longer before the fibre glass springs from the A6 TDI Ultra filter down to the rest of the cars. They are much, much quieter than steel springs.....which is where the bulk of the cabin noise comes from.

Big E 118

2,468 posts

199 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Horrid surface, we live nearby and drive it frequently. In the 911 the road noise is so bad you can't even talk/shout to the passenger on that section.

We also have a new model XC90 on all weather tyres and small alloys, beautiful ride everywhere apart from that section of motorway where you think your fillings are going to be shaken out!

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

270 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Gavstar said:
The tyres are cracked as they're 4 years old but have done very few miles. Would that really cause such a loud boom though? None of my previous cars had the same issue.
Those tyres sound like they're dried out and very hard. It's a very common problem on those Bridgestones and they should last far longer than 4 years. They won't be the sole cause of the problem but certainly won't help either.

Speak to Bridgestone customer service; if they've got good tread left and they're not damaged you'll probably get brand new replacements for very little.
Thanks for the advice, I will give that a go.

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

270 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Crappy concrete motorway.

Also have a really close look at your tyres; those Bridgestones are absolutely notorious for cracking and perishing very badly.
Would you recommend an alternative tyre other than Bridgestones for a Q5?

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

250 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Anything but Bridgestone. Continental, Michelin, Goodyear.....take your pick.

Dr G

15,985 posts

272 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
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Pretty much!

If however Bridgestone will give you a new set for very little...

leemanning

569 posts

182 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
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It's definitely that stretch of motorway. Has happened in all my cars on the bit you talk about.

It's got to be the surface as has been the same on 5 or so cars of different brands, so nothing you can do I'm afraid!

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
leemanning said:
It's definitely that stretch of motorway. Has happened in all my cars on the bit you talk about.

It's got to be the surface as has been the same on 5 or so cars of different brands, so nothing you can do I'm afraid!
That's reassuring to hear. However what is odd is how many other drivers seem to be stuck doing 70-75 in the outside lane which just adds to my pain and made me think it was just my car! They must have a greater tolerance than me.

Joe90R

1 posts

167 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
I suffered from this in my A5 on Dunlops. Replaced the front two an the noise is significantly reduced. Don't really notice it in the wife's Skoda

Dr G

15,985 posts

272 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
A great bit of lurking!

Stiff suspension and low profile tyres definitely magnify the effect.

More 'normal' cars with taller tyres and softish suspension do a better job of dampening the boom.

Even an A8 on smaller wheels doesn't make it silent but that's just crappy concrete motorways for you.

Gio G

2,995 posts

239 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
I get this on my A5 on the M25 also, if I recall it is junction either before or after Watham Abbey, feels like the wheels are going to fall off! I can hardly hear the person next me talking!!

I find the Continentals (SP3) on mine very noisy.. My is on the s-line sports suspension and 20 inch wheels, worst case scenario...

G

Andy OH

1,961 posts

280 months

Friday 18th August 2017
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Did this stretch a few weeks back in my M2, which is 3 months old, and it is the surface, nothing to do with your tyres