Disappointed After Spending 4k In Soundproofing

Hmmmm!!! wondering how much it's cost for item 2?

Yep, "Asia's Answer to BMW" is the Waja. It will forever be remembered as the 'most ambitious" flopped tagline used by any automotive company. Come to think of it, that tagline gave more publicity to BMW than to Proton. Why not Asia Answer to Mercedes or Audi .

Anyway, I was not smart in school and could not even enter science stream after Form III. Hence, my only knowledge of physics is E=MC2 and that was after Maria Carey's album. Can you share with me some links on NVH before I embark on my mini project.

My neutral opinion to bmkia & dchong

1) First, so far still keep within mature adult & gentlemen discussion in AW forum. Hope to keep the professional attitude up, guys.

2) With dchong offer to test & refund (take out), my suggestion is why not few guys spend time to compare and work it out, again, in proper gentlemen manners. I suggest no worries about losing face or what, just be frank on the opinions if the test is really done. There is nothing to lose actually, whether monetary, physically or intangible "face".
After all, whatever is done, is already done. If really not satisfy, dchong has promise to take out the foam (those that can be taken out) and do refund on that portion. Sounds fair enough to me.

3) There is no best of the world, which I think (IMHO) that dchong product may or may not be the best, 100% of the world (or Malaysia). There are always other better stuff, or based on different people, different perception.

Keep us updated

Like Desmond mention in the post, there are light, airy and quiet sound proofing as well as high pressure and heavy type. It is easy to sound proof the high pressure heavy type but it is hard to get the light, airy and quiet sound proofing. They need more material as well as experience to do this. Most higher end car with good sound proofing is those with airy and quiet type and you will feel not tired at all travelling. Besides that, you will feel more relax.

However, diff ppl have diff perception. It takes 2 side by side for comparison on which type one prefer and appreciate coz you wont know if u did not compare side by side..I personally prefer airy and quiet sound proofing...

1 cent

Hi Desmond,

Sorry for your lost of handphone and contacts in it. That must be why you did not call me when your 3M Roar Buster (waterproof) is in stock. Did the thief also steal your "Billing/ Invoice" book where my name and phone number is in as well?

"Yup, i also remember you telling Adrian you were satisfied with the improved Comfort and steering feel."

I am not sure why you are bringing this up since we are talking about soundproofing / road noise instead of "improved comfort / steering feel". Must be another publicity attempt to prove that your "autofoam" works, where I don't mind supporting you, the autofoam treatment does improve "Comfort and steering feel". Now that the commercial break is over, lets get back to the soundproofing/ road noise discussion since this thread is about soundproofing anyways:-

In retrospect, I wonder what is your rationale in recommending the expensive QuietDrive on all 4 wheel arches now that you say the 3M Roar Buster (non-waterproof) works well and was in stock when I first came to your shop? Let me structure my queries better:-

1) Which works better, 3M Roarbuster or QuietDrive Application on a Mazda 3?
2) What is the rationale that the boot treatment must be done next on a Mazda 3 to reduce road noise? I remember you sounded so confident since you claimed your R&D team already successfully managed to reduce the roadnoise on the M3.
3) Is there really R&D done on the M3 as you claimed and can you share your success cases? Why do I have the feeling that KHAWWM and myself (and others) are part of your ongoing R&D team since KHAWWM been to your place 3x for tweaks and I already went twice?


On your generous refund (REMOVABLE portions ONLY) of :-

1) QuietDrive on 4 wheel arches (RM1.2K burn here I guess??? Its applied like a thick coating of paint)
2) Autofoam (RM1K burn here as well since it cant be removed?? It is okay, this stuff works and I dont expect a refund, since I am paying for value)
3) The soundproofing mats in the boot and under the back seat? Tear it up? What would the refund (if any) be like?

Btw, your R&D team must have advised you wrongly on my tyre/rim size of 15". Our stock M3 tyres/ rims comes in 16" for the 1.6 and 17" on the 2.0.

I wonder if there is any other M3 owners (Adrian included) here that is actually satisfied with your R&D team and work on soundproofing the M3 so far? Please share here for our benefit as well.

Around RM900-RM1K. Includes the insulation material + Dynamat Extreme + workmanship as well.

Lol...

1) Agreed

2) This is really subjective, most material put in cannot be taken out. The whole purpose here is to create an "awareness" on what to expect (from say Co. A & Co. B methods and products) and discuss soundproofing. It may be misleading to people when say Co.A claims that their products/ services works well for a specific car & model (with R&D done to boot) and later when money and time is spent (such as in my case) the "perception"/ expectation difference issues crops up. Btw, the money is already spent and I don't really expect a real refund. Someone here once posted IF ONLY a measurable comparison can be done say via a noise measurement instrument before and after (reasons were then given that it was not feasible), but until then...it will always be a matter of "perception"/ expectation.

On testing the car with KHAWWM, I am excited to do so but not to create another "publicity" event for Co. A vs Co.B. Will work it out with KHAWWM to test out the car and then we will BOTH share our feedback here once the comparison is done. Am still waiting for KHAWWM to share what was done and tweaked in car so that expectations/ "perceptions" can be managed upfront.

3) Agreed. This is not to say products A works better than B. Costs, recommendations ("based on expertise/ experience"), "perceptions" after the applied solutions and managing expections/ "perceptions" are what is being highlighted and discussed here.

Ohya... forgot to write in my earlier post above. Noise measurement instrument. There are such thing out there.

For me, el cheapo, I download from Apple AppStore those dB measurement thing.
Of course I can't rely 100% on it, but it is a good estimator with some numbers.

e.g. When cruising on same highway road at 90km/h, with the app running, I put the phone near my right-ear, since that will be the most sensitive towards the driver-door area. IIRC, for my car, it is about 80dBm.
Then I install some additional rubber-lining along the driver-door. Same road, same time, same speed, same weather, radio-off, no cars/bikes zoom past (which may induce some peaks), same condition, as much as possible, it drop to 74dBm over the same average length.

You may want to try it out during your personal one-on-one with KHAWWM, just my suggestion.

Hi bmkia,

Why the angst and sarcasm here ? It seems you are always harping about me not calling you ???
I am bending over to resolve your case and a happy ending.

You are dealing with KL AUTO here. When i say a FULL refund , i mean Exactly That !

Those who know me will know when it comes to my work, i am very passionate ( Anal, even) in delivering the very BEST solutions to my customer and thier satisfaction is paramount. Our record here over the last 8 years speaks for itself.

In your case, you seem very dissatisfied with our SP formula and seem to prefer what you read in US forums and DIYs opinions on soundproofing ie, sticking Dynamat Extreme everywhere and anywhere. If it works for you...Good !

Some food for thought here...Dynamat is a long established brand BUT has anyone here seen Dynamat type material ie Bitumen/Tar with aluiminium liberally applied everywhere on any Luxury cars like Lexus, BM, Bentley?
FYI, we used this method maaaany years ago and found that it makes the Cabin feel "Highly pressured" and less comfortable esp on longer drives. As many experienced bros, like Chargerguy, Coffee, Adrwoon have discovered and attest to.

A simple phone call from you to say " hey idiot, i am not happy with your work. How ???" would have sufficed but instead you wish to publicise this all over the world. For whatever reasons ????
It is also my fault for not calling you when the Water-Proofed 3M arrived, and for that, my Thousand apologies.

Since you claim the Dynamat method is so effective and good, as a responsible organisation, i feel it is only fair that we can test it and me to "learn" and apply this for all my Mazda 3 customers, FREE, for thier enjoyment.
But to be fair, we will let THEM decide.

In your case, i will,
1) Clean and remove the QuietDRIVE coating and any other materials applied here, 1200.
2) our complete SP solutions for complete rear section incl boot floor, rear wheel arches, seat floor
3) our SP solution for trunk ...............................................................................8
20.

Total Refund : Rm 2020,
I will refund you even if my other Mazda 3 ( it does not seem right to refer it "M3" ) prefer thiers to yours.
We will only do so After Adrian and KHWWWM or whoever is interested to attend our friendly test and lunch, on me of course.

A bit of "advertising' here, very happy to see enjoying AutoFOAM.

Lets arrange the Time and Venue.

Cheers,

Desmond
KL AUTO

cute_boboi,

We have a dB meter ( which is only accurate for a specific Octave) and also the more accurate and realistic Goldline RTA, Real Time Analyzer.

Unfortunately, there are subtle frequencies and sounds that these equipment does not accurately record but can be picked up by humans that affect the overall ambience in a closed cabin like a car.
That is why there are various SP materials for specific frequencies like Speakers where there is a Sub, Mid Bass, Tweets.

The only time when the human ear does not work is when one is Deaf or Dead Even when we are sleeping, the naughty ears are working.

One can use a Smart phone to record the dB for a simplistic measurement BUT do use the SAME phone in all test and control the phone TEMP. as it can vary drastically.

FYI, i just did a test on a Lexus is250, 2008 model with 50K on the clock.
Idling: 56 dB
City driving : 66 dB
4K RPM in third gear : 72 dB.

Cheers,

Desmond
KL AUTO
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