F30 Front Suspension

[BoerePompie]

Hi all. Coming here with the hope that someone has some insights as I am out of ideas.

I have a 2012 328i F30. The car had a knock on the front right when going over speed humps or turning into a driveway and going up the curb.

Took the vehicle to Cedar Isle BMW to do the Steering rack repair, but they advised that it's not the problem, and that the shocks, shock mounts and lower control arms need to be replaced.

This I did (not at the dealership as they wanted like R34 000)

When I collected the vehicle they showed me the parts that came out of the vehicle, and that there was actually nothing wrong with the mounts or the control arms, and the shocks would have likely needed replacement in the next 10 000km or so.

From there I have a "rattle" coming from the (what seemed like suspension or steering) when driving on roads that are not completely smooth. The rougher the road, the more prominent the rattle. Workshop said it's likely the steering rack that is now amplified due to everything else being new and tight.

So I thought again, to do the Steering rack repair kit, which I had done today at BMW Sandton. Knock when going over speed humps etc is gone now, but the rattling is still there.

Sounds like something is loose, but BMW says nope, everything looks good.

Don't know if anyone has experienced something similar or can give me advise as to what to look for.

Car had oil shocks in the front, now has gas shocks. Just thought I would mention that

 

[Riyaadh_"m]

I had something similiar . Shocks and shock mounts …problem solved, it was the last thing i did after doing everything on the suspension …but thats what sorted put my problem

 

[DarrylvanNiekerk]

I had a similar noise, turns out the control arms weren't properly tightened after install.

 

[AlexYannoulatos]

If you do not mind me asking, what roughly did the new shocks cost you? I need to replace front shocks on my F20.

Thank you

 

[BoerePompie]

If you do not mind me asking, what roughly did the new shocks cost you? I need to replace front shocks on my F20.

Thank you

Bought them from Beeline. I think they were R1500 each if I remember correctly

 

[Solo Man]

I once had a E46 330i with new suspension fitted and it had a rattle from the suspension even when driving on "normal" roads. Took it to Hi-Q out of desperation as i had thought i had tightened everything in sight. The one older guy asked me to get the car on the lift, he got under the car with a spanner and started tightening the anti-roll bar links and viola!, suspension was silent afterwards. Was amazing to think that that little part could cause such a pain!

 

[BoerePompie]

Thinking of taking it to Ross Duncan to have a look.

 

[Greenjustin]

I had 2x lower control arms replaced, I initially asked for upper lower control arms to be replaced too, wheel alignment guy said all 4x control arms needs to be replaced but BMW head office approval nonsense on a motorplan claim so they only did 2. And said I should drive it. They cannot see issues.

Driving on smaller bumpy roads, I can hear a slight knocking sound. I thought it was the run flat tyres but this reminds me of my shock mounts I use to hear on a golf.

 

[Solo Man]

I recently had a Volvo CX60 with a terrible knocking noise when driving even on a slightly uneven road. At first i thought it was the steering rack as the one rubber boot on the steering link was off as the clamp came loose. Turned out i was wrong. Guys at Revolve (Volvo experts) here in Parow said it is the anti-roll bar links. Got two links from Masterparts as the Volvo ones were VERY expensive. Put them in and the car is so silent now i want to fall asleep behind the wheel. Two new links at agents was R2 990. Got them from Masterparts for R451! Crazy! Even if they only last 50k kms it still is a bargain as the labour to replace them is about an hour. It could be your problem as well.

 

[///M3FAN]

Left field option. had a rattle on the F30 that we couldnt figure out, took the car in to BMW and they kept it for the day going through everything checking all the mechanical nuts and bolts that could have caused it, all the way to Bonnet and fender liners, brake dust shields, in the end it turned out to be the washer fluid bottle, it wasnt tightened properly and had run low on fluid hence no weight so was rattling, one torx screw and and top up of fluid and all good again