Cars with double glazing.
Discussion
I know some of the high-end Mercs have double glazing. Also the A8 I believe.
So whats it like to own a car with double glazing? I've always been curious. Does it make a big difference to the sound heard inside the car? Do you still hear sirens? Does it make the doors heavy? I'd like to hear thoughts from those who have had such a car.
So whats it like to own a car with double glazing? I've always been curious. Does it make a big difference to the sound heard inside the car? Do you still hear sirens? Does it make the doors heavy? I'd like to hear thoughts from those who have had such a car.
Only a couple of cars ever had proper double glazing; most notably the old Mercedes S Class
Modern cars use laminated glass, rather than double glazing.
So, the difference;
Double Glazing: as it sounds is very similar to the glazing you would have in your house. It uses two pieces of glass separated by an air gap. This was a very heavy construction and needed to be. Each piece of the glass needed to be effective as automotive safety glazing as single pieces.
Laminated side glazing: Similar construction to a windscreen. It utilises two pieces of thin glass bonded together by a piece of plastic. This glazing is typically lighter than the normal automotive safety glass it replaces at 5mm or 4mm thickness.
In terms of noise attenuation, the original double glazing accomplished it by mass. More mass = better attenuation. Modern laminated glass achieves noise attenuation by damping though it's construction.
Modern cars use laminated glass, rather than double glazing.
So, the difference;
Double Glazing: as it sounds is very similar to the glazing you would have in your house. It uses two pieces of glass separated by an air gap. This was a very heavy construction and needed to be. Each piece of the glass needed to be effective as automotive safety glazing as single pieces.
Laminated side glazing: Similar construction to a windscreen. It utilises two pieces of thin glass bonded together by a piece of plastic. This glazing is typically lighter than the normal automotive safety glass it replaces at 5mm or 4mm thickness.
In terms of noise attenuation, the original double glazing accomplished it by mass. More mass = better attenuation. Modern laminated glass achieves noise attenuation by damping though it's construction.
Strange question...
Anyhow. Yes I have owned a car with double glazing the BMW 750iL. It does make some difference to that wind noise that you normally hear. You can still all outside noises its just a little bit quieter -
Edited: I agree with the chap above I think the quieter sound may have been also due to the V12 rather than the extra panes.
I suspect the main idea for this is security - I have here (somewhere) the original BMW sales video showing a bloke attacking a 750 with a hammer that withstands a good bit of attack. Of course this is a good and bad thing - imagine being stuck for example.
I found that due to the glass being double glazed (not the windscreen) that I found it took ages to clear on very cold icy days as
the internal heat took ages to reach the outside glass. Although in the summer it did feel cooler as it had (what seemed) to be a slight mirrored effect.
No, the door where not that much heavier to open/close but saying that they did feel more solid and looking out you could not tell you were looking through more panes of glass, only real way to tell was to lower the window and notice that it was about 1/2" thick.
It has been known that these types of windows do suffer where the two bonded parts can start to peel from each other.
Anyhow. Yes I have owned a car with double glazing the BMW 750iL. It does make some difference to that wind noise that you normally hear. You can still all outside noises its just a little bit quieter -
Edited: I agree with the chap above I think the quieter sound may have been also due to the V12 rather than the extra panes.
I suspect the main idea for this is security - I have here (somewhere) the original BMW sales video showing a bloke attacking a 750 with a hammer that withstands a good bit of attack. Of course this is a good and bad thing - imagine being stuck for example.
I found that due to the glass being double glazed (not the windscreen) that I found it took ages to clear on very cold icy days as
the internal heat took ages to reach the outside glass. Although in the summer it did feel cooler as it had (what seemed) to be a slight mirrored effect.
No, the door where not that much heavier to open/close but saying that they did feel more solid and looking out you could not tell you were looking through more panes of glass, only real way to tell was to lower the window and notice that it was about 1/2" thick.
It has been known that these types of windows do suffer where the two bonded parts can start to peel from each other.
Edited by Morningside on Saturday 27th December 20:30
Aeroresh said:
my Supercharged Range Rover has it.
It isn't double glazing in the Range Rovers. The side windows, like the windscreen on other cars are lamintated. Two layers of glass yes, but without the airgap in the middle to remove sound. Though the laminated windows will make it a little quieter, just not as quiet as the double glazing in Mercs, Audi's and houses!
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