You mention that the noise appeared later as the car had greater mileage. I didn't think of it before but I don't recall hearing the excessive wind noise until after I had driven more than 5k miles ( I can't say this with certainty) but it sure is noisy now at now at 9800. What could possibly cause the noise to begin later?
What's your opinion of the ride? Does it seem harsh? To the tire experts: Are low profile tires generally harsher riding than those with a higher profile?

I'm going to the dealer tomorrow for the 10k service. I mentioned briefly in my last post the rattle (worse in colder weather) seemingly coming from the retractable sun shade. I've taken it back with this complaint 2x and couldn't duplicate the noise with the mechanic in the car. I felt like a real turkey when that happened. My porch lamp finally lit and I realized the rattle may be somewhat temperature related. The auto is garage kept and the 2x I took it to the dealer the sun was out and the temperature was warm. The back shelf gets warmed quickly. Sure enough, I left the car outside on a succession of cool evenings and the rattle was loud and obvious in the morning startup test drive.

To the dealer's credit (Cherry Hill Lexus), I explained this to the mechanic who had accompanied me previously and he offered to meet me at my home early in the AM after I left the car outside on a cool night . Sure enough, he finally heard the rattle loud and clear by sitting in the back seat as I drove the car. The noise drove me crazy in Nov,Dec, Jan. I didn't take it back then as I waited for the next service appt. Hopefully the problem will be taken care of tomorrow.

 

Most of my vehicles have been toward the sporty end of the spectrum so I don't consider the LS430's ride harsh even with the sport suspension and 18" wheels and tires.

It is interesting that you also noticed the wind noise increase as the car got some months and miles under its tires. The wind noise wasn't an issue until the car was 6 or 7 months old and had 5000 miles or so. 2 months ago, the car measured 68db (A Weighted) on the same stretch of road where it now measured 69dB. I suspect I will see 70dB in a month or two.

(Note that each 3dB represents a doubling of sound energy although the human ear will not perceive 3db as being twice as loud. The human ear perceives a 9dB to 10dB increase as being twice as loud.)

That has been one thing I have been trying to stress to the dealer, that the car did not have the objectionable wind noise when new. The wind noise has increased with age and is still getting louder.

But they all do it, of course.

 

Robert Kon, my girl friend's 02 LS430 has the 'optional' 17" wheels. Her car rides more harshly than my 98 LS400 does. I hear the wind noise you guys talk about in both mine and hers sometimes. As someone mentioned in a diferent thread sometime ago, I guess it has to do with outside temperature, humidity, and wind speed, etc. ??? However, I do think the excessive wind noise is not normal. The dealer has replaced the seals a couple of times. But it doesnt seem to make a difference. The two things I am not happy with our cars are the wind noise we hear on certain days and the relatively loud 'bang' noise the suspension makes over bumps. To me, Lexus' main attraction is its relative excellence in overall reliability and service. I have the impression that these cars are not as bullet proof as they used to be. When Lexus was first launched in 89, every single vehicle was test driven at over 100mph before it left the factory to shake out possilbe bugs. I guess it's impossible to do the same now that the sales volumn has increased exponetially.

 

.....I have a 2000LS and was planning to upgrade to a 2001-2003 or maybe even a 2004, but I was not at all impressed with the test drives. They all seemed A BIT noisier (engine and tire noise) than my 400 and definitely rode a bit "harsher" as well. On the '01-'03 models acceleration did not seem as "immediate" as in my 400. I also had the EXACT SAME impression as you as far as the ride goes: the ULTRA with the 17" wheel/tire combo, even in the "normal" setting, seemed to ride harsher than the base model with the steel suspension and 16s!!!!......However, my 400's ride seemed, even a notch better than that!!! ....In all honesty, I must say that handling in the LS 430 (accross the board) seemed a bit crisper and tighter, but then again, just A BIT.... Additionally, for all the hype that it gets, overall I wasn't too impressed with the Mark Levinson sound system either (except for it's stereo imaging and great "highs"). Overall, I feel the Nakamichi delivers "fuller", more well balanced sound.

I'm not saying that the LS 430 does not have it's merits. The seats, for example, are WAAAY more comfortable than in the 400. However, in many ways the new model seems like a step backwards ......very very surprising, Indeed!!!

I had posted my test drive impressions in ealier posts:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...0&page=1&pp=15

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...5&page=1&pp=15

 

Last year I purchased both an SC 430 and a LS 430. The SC was a tremendous disapointment and has been relaced with a SL55 AMG. I still have the LS and have found it to not live up to the hype that surrounded the car. I have the infamous wind noise at above 60 MPH, squeaks and rattles, seats that I find to be uncomfortable no matter how they are adjusted and disappointing build quality. I have also heard that the early Lexus vehicles were somewhat more bullet proof than are the newer models. When I couple my experience with the absolutely horrible dealer service I have come to the conclusion that these are normal cars like all of the other high line cars.

Before anyone starts on Mercedes I still have several in addition to the SL which has not had a single problem thus far. My CL that is now 2 model years old has been back to the dealer one time for a chrome wheel that began to blister (not supplied by MB but a dealer installed aftermarket option) and my S class has had but a few minor problems.

With the sophistication that the new cars have it is no wonder that there are problems. I have an internet data center that is loaded with all types of high end, expensive electronic gear in addition to the high end servers of my clients. The breakdown frequency of this equipment is at times extremely frustrating; so why would we expect a car to be completely bulletproof. The only difference is that this electronic gear only gets more powerful and the prices continue to fall or the prices stand and the product gets twice as good every 18 to 24 months. Ask yourself one Question; What was the price of the first Lexus LS? As my wife constantly says "It's only a car"

 

Have you been able to resolve this issue? I too have the exact same problem with my 2004 LS430.


I am also considering selling my 2004 LS430 due to the excessive wind noise. While the car was initially pretty quiet, the wind noise has increased over the 15 months and 10,000 miles the car has been driven. The dealer claims the noise level is normal and acceptable despite multiple complaints and service visits.

At 70 mph coasting, the current noise level in my car is 69dB (A weighted) on a smooth road with little to no crosswind. This compares to reviews showing the car at 64dB or lower. (I am an engineer with a background in acoustics and loudspeaker design.)

The wind noise starts between 50 and 60 mph and builds from there. It seems to come mostly from the front windshield and is exacerbated by even a small crosswind.

The dealer's excuse:
Quote:
They all are noisy like that.
And a Lexus quote from the introduction of the revised 2004 model:
Quote:
For the motorist, this quality is reflected in the almost complete elimination of wind noise and greater stability in high speed driving.
Kind of hard to reconcile the two statements, isn't it.

 

I did resolve it. About 4 weeks ago I traded it on a 2006 E55. Even my wife loves the car and no longer refers to it as only a car.

 

wow. uh... This is my first LS430... The car is 5 years old... coming from driving a 3 series..a C-Classe, an E-Classe, and a 99GS300...... This 2001 LS seems damn quiet to me!

-The 3 my fiancee had seemed pretty quiet at first... but it was louder than my mom's C. Mind you.. When we first got the C.. we thought damn.. this car is freaking quiet (coming from driving a Chevy Celebrity). As the years past, we noticed little things such as the loud german exhaust.. of course all benz do that. got used to that and even come to appreciate the melodious hum of the 2.8litre engine.
-My uncle's E classe... I had limited time to ride this car so.. impressions have to come through 6 different rides home... and this is a 2002 E. This car is noisy. The engine noise and tire noise drown out the wind noise above 65. Although I could hear the wind noise too.
-My 99 GS300... oh... Coming from benz and Bim.. the lexus seemed like a tomb. after getting used to the car a little.. i started noticing noises that were apparently there but got used to it after driving the car a little more.. this was my daily driver car so i know the car more than it knows itself. I would have to say it is still quiet.. but there is still wind noise expecially when going above 80.
-My 2001 LS430. I thought that the GS was quiet. This car was even more plush and quiet. I could not hear any engine noise whatsoever unless I floored it. Even when going 70-80, no engine noise.. but yes.. i did hear the slight wind noise.



Try this... sit in an acoustically deadened room...like a studio or something. *supposedly no noise at all* at first.. you will not hear anything.. maybe a little ringing in your ear. After about 20 minutes sitting in complete silence, you will notice even the most slightest sound amplified in your head! Although you were thinking the room was completely silent, you start noticing noises that were there originally but just didnt perceive it until you got used to the room. Try it... I've tried it. I'm a bio major and have studied several things like this in perception because i took some courses in psych also... it is completely normal. freaky but normal.

 

The wind noise issue has not been resolved. It is now up over 70dBA at 70mph on a smooth road.

The sound comes from up near the rear view mirror.

We pretty much just use the car in town now and take other vehicles on trips where the speeds will be over 50mph.

Very disappointing.

 

The windshield design does result in wind noise. There is probably some documented db range for this vehicle, so refer to the Car and Driver mag tests or something like that for a baseline. Then ask the Lexus dealer to test the db level in your car. If the noise level is higher than the mag, I'd ask Lexus to investigate the seals around the windshield. Otherwise, live with the noise by turning on the radio. The ML sound system is really pretty impressive!

I'm not an ear expert, but I doubt that 1 db is noticable. A 1 db is probably variation can proably be attributed to atmospheric changes that are outside of the vehicles design control. For instance, the air outside might be more dense on one day resulting in more or less noise. Also, the head wind/ tail wind may impact noise at a constant speed. Right? Sounds logical to me.

If the 1 db is truely an issue, I recommend selling the car on EBay and getting something else. You'll probably find that Lexus is one of the quietest cars on the road.

Cheers.

 

Magazine reviews have the interior sound level at 64 to 65dBA so the problem is not 1dB, it is at least 5 or 6 dB.

As an engineer, I have SPL measurement capabilities the dealer does not. I have measured all my personal and company vehicles and the Lexus is noisier than:

S Series Mercedes
(2) E Series Mercedes
BMW 3 Series
Chrysler 300C
Jeep Cherokee
Nissan Armada
Ford F150
Nissan Titan

So much for being one of the quietest cars on the road.

Oh, my GTO is noisier, but it is the wonderful rumble of the 400HP LS2.

Thank you for the suggestion of selling the car on Ebay rather than pushing Lexus to honor their promise of a quiet ride in my $60,000+ car. A friend recently had a water pipe break in his brand new home. I guess he should have just sold ithe house on Ebay rather than requiring the contractor to repair the problem.

 

Did you ever work in a Lexus service department? Your explanations sound like the run around that I received and by the way I think you forgot to mention the effect of sun spots. Just kidding.

 

I,too, had an extreme wind-noise problem. It was centered near my rear view mirror. I found thet if you pushed on the windshield the pitch of the wind noise would change. Solution:
replace the windshield. It worked for me.

 

The first step is to get someone at the dealership or Lexus to admit that the wind noise is excessive and agree to replace the windshield.

 

My 2003 is what I'd term as dead silent in terms of wind noise, even at 90 MPH. However, my windshield was replaced by the original owner before I bought the car (I don't know why).

I'm on 19-inch wheels and tires, and those are a bit noisier than the factory 17s, but I did my homework and selected tires in attempt to sacrafice as little as possible in terms of road noise and ride quality. Still very quiet. The ride is definitely a bit "harsher" (although I would not even think about categorizing the ride "harsh") than the stock wheels and tires provided, but the factory wheels/tires made the car feel like it was sitting parked in terms of quiet and smoothness.

This thread makes me feel lucky -- my LS has in fact lived up to they hype and I can say without reservation that it's the most comfortable, most quality-feeling vehicle I've ever driven, and I've driven quite a few luxury cars.... <shrug>