Road/Tire Noise and Salesperson's BS?

[Centropolis]

I’ve just picked up my used M3 yesterday and I drove it to see the Rogers Cup. I noticed that the car was a bit noisey than I would expect from a ‘newer’ car. It seems like it has a lot of tire and road noise.

I talked to me coworker this morning who also has a MT M3….and he said he asked the sales guy at the dealership and the sales guy told him that on the M3 MTs, they PURPOSELY put less sound insulation on the driver side on manual transmissions to give the driver more ‘feedback’. My coworker didn’t believe him and the sales guy took him on a test drive on an AT M3……and it was apparently a bit quieter.

This sounds a bit BS to me. Or is this true? Anyone know this?

[MAZDA Kitten]

i think I remember hearing something like this but i didnt know it was automatic/manual specific

[b3GS]

I do notice the tires are a bit loud

but not sure if there was a difference in the Automatic cause I never drove one

[Azi]

at 40ishk i would start to look at the tires first. take your hand, put it flat on the tire tread, and run it back and forth along the tread. it should be smooth both ways. if one way feels sharp, or edgy, the tires have a little unever wear, and may be making the noise. if its really sharp on the inside edge, then i think its more of a camber problem.

[Elder_MMHS]

The car does have a fair amount of tire noise on the stock tires. My summer tires seem louder. But the noise transmitted via tires/road is nothing compared to driving with the windows open anyways.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

the sales guy told him that on the M3 MTs, they PURPOSELY put less sound insulation on the driver side on manual transmissions to give the driver more ‘feedback’.

:loco