Suspension! Could it need repairs?!? HELP!

[RPX5]

Originally Posted by Boston X5 4.4

There should definitely not be any need to replace sway bars, CV joints etc. after just 20K.
Some decent pics here taken from Bimmerfest for thrust rod etc. These are for a 540i but you will get the general idea. Probably some pics on this site too.

DIY Article - How to Replace the Thrust Arms on your E39 540i - 56k No! - bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Once your mechanic gets under there he will be able to tell what is loose.

good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

Hey thanks, I picked her up today, and it seems like the popping sound is the notorious loose rear hatch. Anyone have a DIY to tighten that? The mechanic didnt touch it. He just swapped my spark plugs and installed my brakes. Also found some other issues, such as worn out, leaky hoses at the rear of my engine and a beat up oil separator and gasket. I guess just normal wear, but he showed it all to me and it looks pretty bad. He said it isn't too bad, just normal wear, cheap parts, but lots of time to fix. Do you think $80/hr is too much to pay for labor at an Indy?