one problem - multiple symptoms or multiple problems with individual symptoms

[TerminatorX5]

I think I have either multiple problems, possibly one leading to the other, or just one problem that is creating the multiple symptoms:

originally I noticed that I get vibration from 45 to 65 MPH speeds during acceleration. It happened sometime in November of 2010.

Then the vibration declared itself upon going up the hills, in other words, when the car was under a torque load.
The feeling was as if you are pushing a grocery cart and one of the wheels is not hanging right and sometimes starts shaking and rattling and vibrating... After I read the threads here, the symptoms are likely of a driveshaft nature, such as GUIBO or Flex Disk going bad. I did not get to have it replaced as...

... As time progressed, I started to hear a rotational noise from the front of the car - as if something was rubbing against something else as the tire/wheel rotated. During turns I heard metal clunking as if something snapped and after returning to a straight line, the rotational noise become louder. I started to suspect some wheel bearing or who knows what. It happened around Christmas of 2010.

On February 5, 2011 I took the car to a local Firestone in NoVA to have the alignment done (previous one is done in October of 2010 in PA). The guys could not align the car!!! They asked me if the car was in an accident!!! It has not!!! they suspect some bent parts in the suspension. they could not find any play in the components of the front suspension/steering but noticed that one of the mounting bolts that mounts the "K-frame", part 31116760277, front axle support, is not lined up in the middle of the bolt hole but slightly off. They have suggested to take the car to a body shop that can verify the "frame" of the car is correct and not skewed.
They verified that the wheels were clearing the brakes OK and did not create that rubbing noise. But they did not identify, WHAT was the noise from...

With that in mind, now I wonder if that could lead to the clunking noise from the front, rotational noise from the same area and the vibration during accelation... I asked the guys if the shock/strut is dead, they said, no...

Could a pothole knock that "K-Frame" off so much? maybe bend it? or maybe a bolt is snapped, and the whole thing is just hanging there?

I am going to take the car to somebody to take a look, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend a decent INDY who is fluent with suspension parts and all the other stuff that is useful in this situation?...

I am in Stafford area in Virginia, ZIP 22556.

Any help, advise, insight is appreciated... Clean jokes are welcome...

Maybe there is a magic button that i need to push to make everything peach perfect?...

I like the E53 too much to sell it - the new models did not appeal to me visually yet... X5M is the only one that looked musculine enough - my wife does not want to be caught driving a "sissy" X5... lol... In her opinion, a woman must ride a man(ly car)...

I, on the other hand, can't afford that M - so, 4.6iS stays as long as I can keep it...

Wait... by her logic, I should be driving a pink Smart???!!! oh, noo!!!


X5Terminator
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