If you jack up the front on both sides and manually rotate the wheels, then block one wheel and rotate the other one back and forth, do you get a fair amount of play? I had a similar situation and the front axle joints were too sloppy. If you down shift is there any kind of clunk?

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2001 x5 3.0 (sold with broken motor), 1990 e30 M3, 1991 318is, 2002 325i, 2008 335i Dinan stage 3 6 speed,