Baleno Cabin noise problem!!

[iceman1]

Hi all, firstly i would like to mention that this is my first post on this site. Team Bhp has been absolutely fantastic and I simply cant stop reading. So hear is my problem.I bought a second hand baleno for my Dad about 3 months ago. It belonged to one of my friends and was very well maintained(still is!) and I have been seeing it since it was bought brand new in 2004. It has only done 37000kms so far.The problem is that there is too much noise being transferred from the road into the cabin.Even when we have the windows up and the AC on, the noise being transferred is still quiet prominent.Is this a common problem with Balenos? Its currently running on stock tyres and no changes have been made. Is there something wrong with the car? My father reckons it could possibly be the differential( hope I got that right). Is that a possibility for a car that has only run 37000kms? If its normal to have such level of noise to be transferred into the cabin then I would like to know if there are any measures I can take to rectify it. All help will be much appreciated.

[GTO]

Welcome aboard, Iceman. Compared to more modern cars, the Baleno wasn't the most silent at highway speed. But neither is the noise too prominent. It is difficult to tell from your description how loud the sound is, and what could be the probably cause.

I don't think the drivetrain could get worn out at 37K's. Tyre noise? Maybe its best to cross-check with another Baleno by driving it at the same speed.

[theMAG]

iceman1,

To conclude that the Baleno is transferring a lot of ambient noise, which is the other car(s) that you've used as a benchmark?

The Balenos that I've sat in never had anything that could be termed as "excessive road noise" - this included some stock Balenos with OEM tyres.

[iraghava]

Baleno's (or at least the ones I've driven) have a very pronounced intake noise which filters into the cabin especially above 2.5-3k rpm. This can get very irritating as the noise is quite loud but from all the cars I've seen & other owners I've talked to, it is normal for the Baleno in general.

[iceman1]

Thanks everyone!! GtO I will definetly try a similar baleno and see if there is a difference.
TheMAG the other cars i have benchmarked it is a C class that I drive here in the UK and a civic which I used to have. I have also driven a 2006 honda city in mumbai and the difference was remarkable.
Irgahava the noise doesnt seem to be an engine noise and is more prominent when you are seated on the back seat.

[Jaggu]

Check wheel bearings and the tyres for wear.

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by iceman1

Iraghava the noise doesnt seem to be an engine noise and is more prominent when you are seated on the back seat.

Is it a VXi with 185/65 R14 Goodyear NCT5's by any chance?

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Check wheel bearings and the tyres for wear.

+1 Check both.

[theMAG]

Originally Posted by iceman1

..the other cars i have benchmarked it is a C class that I drive here in the UK and a civic which I used to have. I have also driven a 2006 honda city in mumbai and the difference was remarkable.

I think thats a fair bit of skewed comparison - Mercedes-Benz and Honda vs. Maruti !

[kailashnj]

I have a baleno too, but I don't seem to have an accessive road noise coming inside the cabin. Probably you need to check with some other baleno and try it out.