body and interior Shift Tower Insulation/sound Absorber Question

[kiva667]

Does this item actually make a difference of any kind (part no. 23 41 1 200 937)? Is it worthwhile to acquire one? Just curious.

[AceAndrew]

yes, I feel they are worth while.  Keeps a good bit of road noise out of the cabin.

[John_in_VA]

Well, without it you can see the road if you pull up your shift boot! It's $10 (or less if you make your own). I think it's worth having.

[kiva667]

Right, I think I'll try and save on shipping costs and see if they're in a charitable mood at the Seattle BMW dealership.

[John_in_VA]

I "guilted" my local dealership into matching the prices of the dealerships offering online parts sale. "I'd prefer to buy my parts for my 5 BMWs from you here locally. How can these dealers offer these prices? Surely they're not losing money on their sales."

Check the prices of these places, take them to your dealer and see what they can do.

getbmwparts.com

mybimmerparts.com

bmwpartssourcecom

bmwmercedesparts.com

parts.bmwofsouthatlanta.com

[Mike Self]

You can also make a pretty credible imitation from a chunk of flexible foam--closed cell if you can find it, but open cell will work unless you live in constantly wet climate.  

 

I quieted my cars down significantly by placing large chunks of foam under the back seat cushion...you'd be amazed how much driveshaft and diff noise comes into the passenger compartment from that big soundbox under the back seat...

 

mike

[kiva667]

 

I quieted my cars down significantly by placing large chunks of foam under the back seat cushion...you'd be amazed how much driveshaft and diff noise comes into the passenger compartment from that big soundbox under the back seat...

 

mike

I just put some pieces of old carpet padding under the back seat. A spin around the block was suddenly much quieter! Thanks for the tip, Mike

[kiva667]

Yes indeed, the road noise is appreciably less now that the shift tower insulation is installed.

Edited February 2, 2014 by kiva667

[algon]

 While on the subject what about the thick carboard tunnel saddle that fits under the console?  Mine was pretty moldy when I first got my car so I pulled it. Never drove with it as the car wasn't running. Now with dynamat on the engine side of the firewall and inside on the floor and tunnel with carpet my car is really LOUD above 3500 RPM! I mean cant hear the radio loud.  I was running a ceramic coated stahl header, stock Bosal center muffler and an ASNA center exit exhaust.. I thought it was my setup at first so I switched to a tii cast iron manifold, kept the center Bosal muffler and put a stock Bosal rear muffler in place. Really just about as loud at highway speed, just a different tone. Anyone else experiencing this?  Sounds like it's coming from the passenger side near the tunnel or floor. Kind of a droneing sound.

[jgerock]

Inspect your exhaust downpipe support (hopefully you have one) at the transmission.  If it is too tight or puts the exhaust in a bind, then you may experience droning.

[billpatterson]

Absolute difference... And you can install from the cabin without taking anything apart!

 

Regards

Bill

[algon]

I think I probably have both these issues working together! 

 

Is there a better alternate exhaust bracket or is the stock the best route?

[Rocan]

Yes indeed, the road noise is appreciably less now that the shift tower insulation is installed.

 

 

Question:

 

is the ring supposed to fit between the shifter support and the transmission tunnel, or between them like a sandwich?

 

Mine is sandwiched, but I did that without thinking or consulting any manuals. 

[kiva667]

My best guess is that the insulation is supposed to be on top of the tunnel. Looking at the set-up, it seemed like a natural fit, at least on my NK. Plus, if you sandwich the piece under the tunnel, wouldn't the insulating qualities be affected if the foam is squashed?  But really, I don't know for sure.

 

Edited February 4, 2014 by kiva667

[Dev02]

Mine was sandwiched between the shift platform and the underside of the tunnel. I assumed this was how it was supposed to be and put the new one in there like that. Of course my surround was the square one.