Cayman - Very Noisy Interior - Normal?
Cayman - Very Noisy Interior - Normal?
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Discussion

nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Hi folks.

I've had a few Porsches over the years, mostly 987 Boxsters and a couple of 997s. I mention this because I thought I knew what to expect when I started looking around again. Just shows how wrong you can be.

This time, I rather fancied a Cayman. I picked up a lovely 987 Gen 1 Cayman S from OPC Silverstone and couldn't be happier with the preparation of the car and the care/service I received.

Until I got it out on the motorway, driving home....

There is a constant booming in the cabin at high speed, which seems to be generated from the back luggage area. It is a bit like opening one window at high speed on the motorway. You either close it quick or open another window to balance the air/sound in the cabin. I've sometimes noticed this with Ford hathchbacks when there is nothing in the boot and the parcel shelf is removed. Somehow the emptiness draws sound in from underneath, and makes for a nasty racket in the cabin.

I did test drive the car on local 'A' roads, but there were two of us in the car (me and salesman) so maybe that helped dampen the sound?

All windows were shut and the tailgate was secure, but it makes my ears ring and is very uncomfortable. This car isn't just a Boxster with a roof is it? It seems more like the difference between an Elise/Exige which is also very noisy and tiring to drive! Perhaps I need to put a load of blankets or pillows in the boot, but that seems a bit daft and a last resort really.

Can I ask the Cayman drivers out there, is this normal? If so I had better invest in earplugs. Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks in advance.

Edited by nelsls on Tuesday 25th June 21:42

Klippie

3,608 posts

172 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
No unusual noisies on mine, are the door and tailgate seals OK.

nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Klippie said:
No unusual noisies on mine, are the door and tailgate seals OK.
Well, everything was locked shut.

So i should just hear a lovely engine sound when i drive on the motorway?

No sonic boom making my head/ears hurt?

Klippie

3,608 posts

172 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Basically yes...but I remember reading a post a while back an owner was having similar problems I can't remember if he got to the bottom of it, try a search to see if you can find it.

itsybitsy

5,911 posts

212 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
don't worry you will get use to it.when I went from a 986s to a caymanS 987.1 I also noticed this on my 200 mile drive home from the opc.then after a period of time I didn't notice it or it didn't bother me!

Redlake27

2,255 posts

271 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Check the tread depth on the tyres....when I got into mine for the first time I was shocked by the drone. The Bridgestones were at 3mm and the near slick blocks were creating a roar. I put a set of new Eagle F1s on and the car was much quieter.....these tyres also get noisier as they get older, but not quite to the same level.

nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Redlake27 said:
Check the tread depth on the tyres....when I got into mine for the first time I was shocked by the drone. The Bridgestones were at 3mm and the near slick blocks were creating a roar. I put a set of new Eagle F1s on and the car was much quieter.....these tyres also get noisier as they get older, but not quite to the same level.
According to the 111point check, there is still 4-6mm left on the tyres.

The dealer said bring it back, but that is another long journey (with ear-ache -literally) and no guarantee they will find anything wrong.

Bit of a process of elimination really, isn't it?

This is not what I wanted from this car.....


smiffy555

273 posts

171 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Is it all the time or just when you go over potholes / expansion strips??

nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
I'm thinking the problem may lie with the seals around the boot lid/hatch.


nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
smiffy555 said:
Is it all the time or just when you go over potholes / expansion strips??
Mostly at speed over slightly rougher surfaces. But the motorway isn't exactly a lunar surface though, is it? And it's still horrible!

nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Stupidly, I thought a Cayman would be quieter on long motorway journeys than the Boxster it replaced.


Edited by nelsls on Tuesday 25th June 22:43

smiffy555

273 posts

171 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Try adjusting the little bump stops on the inside of the hatch at the latch end.

Basically, it's the rear hatch flexing in the middle. You need to wind the stops all the way in and try to get the rubber rests which are halfway along the hatch to rest on the body side. This will stop it flexing and generating the 'bassy boom' I think you are hearing.

Hope this helps. If not, I'll get some photos tomorrow.

Porsche did a recall some yrs ago IIRC.

nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for your feedback guys.

I will try out your suggestions and see how it goes.

Much appreciated, thanks.

smiffy555

273 posts

171 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
The gen 2's don't do it, I think it's because the rubber rest halfway along the hatch are thicker in section.


Klippie

3,608 posts

172 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Something to try...when you hear the booming noise lower the windows maybe 1/2" if its a pressure build-up in the interior causing the booming this will release it. This will also prove the seals are all OK.

Talking of seals pop into your local BMW dealer and get yourself an aerosol can of this stuff - http://www.bmw.de/de/topics/service-zubehoer/origi... - this is a rubber seal conditioner which works brilliantly I use it on all my cars door and tailgate seals it works especially good on frameless door window seals.

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

240 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
This is a design flaw of the 987 Cayman for those with particularly sensitive ears. I got used to it, but it drove me mad at first in my old Gen 2 Cayman.

Basically, when they added the roof to the original Boxster to create the Cayman, it caused unusual air pressure within the cabin.

To rectify this, the rear hatch has a balance weight in the rear hatch which bounces up and down on springs to cancel out the pressure.

I tried everything. In the end I found screwing in the rear hatch bumpers to make the hatch less tight worked. It seemed to let the air out!!!

Good luck!

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

240 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
smiffy555 said:
The gen 2's don't do it, I think it's because the rubber rest halfway along the hatch are thicker in section.
They do. All 987's are effected.

craigjm

21,045 posts

227 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
smiffy555 said:
Try adjusting the little bump stops on the inside of the hatch at the latch end.

Basically, it's the rear hatch flexing in the middle. You need to wind the stops all the way in and try to get the rubber rests which are halfway along the hatch to rest on the body side. This will stop it flexing and generating the 'bassy boom' I think you are hearing.

Hope this helps. If not, I'll get some photos tomorrow.

Porsche did a recall some yrs ago IIRC.
+1

smiffy555

273 posts

171 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
FrankCayman said:
This is a design flaw of the 987 Cayman for those with particularly sensitive ears. I got used to it, but it drove me mad at first in my old Gen 2 Cayman.

Basically, when they added the roof to the original Boxster to create the Cayman, it caused unusual air pressure within the cabin.

To rectify this, the rear hatch has a balance weight in the rear hatch which bounces up and down on springs to cancel out the pressure.

I tried everything. In the end I found screwing in the rear hatch bumpers to make the hatch less tight worked. It seemed to let the air out!!!

Good luck!
There is indeed a counter weight in the rear hatch. Removing this makes no difference at all, I've tried.

Building up the thickness of the mid mounted rubber rests halfway along the hatch so it contacts the the rear quarter / bodysides is the cure, of screw in the rubber adjusters so the hatch closes tighter. You may also have to adjust the latch which is behind the carpet. Takes about 30mins to do.

nelsls

Original Poster:

28 posts

173 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
smiffy555 said:
There is indeed a counter weight in the rear hatch. Removing this makes no difference at all, I've tried.

Building up the thickness of the mid mounted rubber rests halfway along the hatch so it contacts the the rear quarter / bodysides is the cure, of screw in the rubber adjusters so the hatch closes tighter. You may also have to adjust the latch which is behind the carpet. Takes about 30mins to do.
Thanks for your advice everyone.

I'm inclined to return to the OPC that supplied my car. I paid a hefty premium for peace of mind, and everything should be covered under warranty.

Of course, I have to go on the motorway to get there - ironic really...

I might ask the chap outside digging up the road if I can borrow his ear safety headset!