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Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/26/2008 8:43:47 AM
Posts: 20,
Visits: 39
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I have a 2002 530i/A with Sport & Premium packages, now at 120,000 miles. It had developed pulsation with braking (at any speed), and replacing all 4 rotors and pad sets fixed that. Now with the radio off, I hear an ever-so-slight kind of rumbly-clunky sound coming from the right front as I go over bumps. It's just a little loooseness, it seems, in part of the suspension.
When the car was bought at 72,500 miles (still under CPO), the dealer had (said) they replaced the thrust bushings as part of the attempt at ridding the car of a vibration at 75mph. The true solution to that problem turned out to be out-of-round Pirelli P6 4 Season tires, which were exchanged for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. The car was smooth as glass after those tires were road-force balanced and installed, though putting the 4 snows on negated those measures for the winter.
Now with the snows still on the car, I do feel this looseness. When I did the brakes, I looked at all the bushings that I could see, and none were obviously spitting out their rubber innards. I should have given the tires a shake to check tie rods ends, but forgot.
What would be the best course of action to get the car back to nice? Clearly, I'll wait until I get the snows off and but the Michelins back on (I found a garage a mile from me with a Hunter GSP9700 RF balancer.) Once that's done, would the average mechanic be able to diagnose this without throwing every new part at it?
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/2/2009 1:17:46 PM
Posts: 82,
Visits: 100
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Ken,
There are 4 control arms including the thrust arms, 2 sway bar links all of which have ball joints that could introduce a knock in the front end. Additionally, front struts on e39s can also produce a similar noise. If you can see mashed bushings or feel looseness by tugging on your wheels, then that's a very loose front end!
Normally, we take a pair of water pump pliers & compress the ball joint in question to see if there is any movement. Any movement at all on a track car is considered a failed joint. A millimeter of play in a street car is acceptable, but not usually revealed by the tug method. The struts or sway bar links are most suspect on your car.
BMWs are by nature of their engineering very sensitive cars. They will let you know when something is wrong by vibrating or clunking. Your car is trying to tell you something.
Good Luck!
Mike Morris
Schneller BMW Performance
26 Middle Rd
Newbury, MA 01951
978.465.2002
Mike Morris
Schneller BMW Performance
26 Middle Rd Unit 1-2
Newbury, MA 01951
978.465.2002
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/26/2008 8:43:47 AM
Posts: 20,
Visits: 39
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Thanks for the info, Mike. I'm going to see if I can get the car up on a lift and check it out. I'd hate to think about the cost of struts, but I suppose it may be about due for those with 120K on 'em now.
I just love how the car has handles for me since I bought it. Only recently had it started making a little "warning noise", and it's something only I notice. No one else who's driven it can hear or feel it (yet), but I know my car! The snow tires are coming off soon. When it does, I'll get under it with my local mechanic and go over things as they're busy giving my summer tires the road-force balancing treatment.
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