Suspension noises on uneven road (3.0si e70)

[byaru1]

So on uneven road surface, there are noises and clunks from all over the place. Front, rear, etc. We have 95,000kms. Suspect several bushings. Before visiting dealer, I would love to know from members experiences, which bushings or suspension components tend to wear first so we have an idea what to expect.

Its the '07e 70 3.0si with sports suspension.

[FunfDreisig]

At 95K km (60K miles) the first place I would look is under the hood, where the top pf the shocks/struts mount to the body. Look just under the plastic engine partition near the back of the engine. See this post for photos https://xoutpost.com/1142447-post30.html

If there is any orange debris, the Guide Supports are failing. This allows the large washer to hit the body on rebound. The design of the strut tower causes the sound to carry into the body and appear to be from almost anywhere.

Funf Dreisig

[byaru1]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

At 95K km (60K miles) the first place I would look is under the hood, where the top pf the shocks/struts mount to the body. Look just under the plastic engine partition near the back of the engine. See this post for photos https://xoutpost.com/1142447-post30.html

If there is any orange debris, the Guide Supports are failing. This allows the large washer to hit the body on rebound. The design of the strut tower causes the sound to carry into the body and appear to be from almost anywhere.

Funf Dreisig

thank you FunfDreisig

lets keep that in mind.

how about lower control arm bush and sway bar end links? what symptoms do these present? i see them commonly talked about?

[FunfDreisig]

The two main parts resources are —
for the front end

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...W-X5_35d&mg=31

and the rear end

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...W-X5_35d&mg=33

Both pages include “repair kits” which include the parts used in many common repairs.

There are a lot of “bushings” in the both the front and rear suspension. Almost all of them have actual metal bushings, surrounded by rubber which is molded into or pressed into the metal suspension part. Several of the larger bushings contain a vicious fluid.

It is not easy to diagnose a failed bushing by sound. The more common technique is to jack the X5 up, do a visual inspection (e.g. cracked rubber, leaking viscous fluid) and check for play using a pry bar.

Funf Dreisig

[byaru1]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

The two main parts resources are —
for the front end

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...W-X5_35d&mg=31

and the rear end

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...W-X5_35d&mg=33

Both pages include “repair kits” which include the parts used in many common repairs.

There are a lot of “bushings” in the both the front and rear suspension. Almost all of them have actual metal bushings, surrounded by rubber which is molded into or pressed into the metal suspension part. Several of the larger bushings contain a vicious fluid.

It is not easy to diagnose a failed bushing by sound. The more common technique is to jack the X5 up, do a visual inspection (e.g. cracked rubber, leaking viscous fluid) and check for play using a pry bar.

Funf Dreisig

Thank you.

[byaru1]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

The two main parts resources are —
for the front end

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...W-X5_35d&mg=31

and the rear end

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...W-X5_35d&mg=33

Both pages include “repair kits” which include the parts used in many common repairs.

There are a lot of “bushings” in the both the front and rear suspension. Almost all of them have actual metal bushings, surrounded by rubber which is molded into or pressed into the metal suspension part. Several of the larger bushings contain a vicious fluid.

It is not easy to diagnose a failed bushing by sound. The more common technique is to jack the X5 up, do a visual inspection (e.g. cracked rubber, leaking viscous fluid) and check for play using a pry bar.

Funf Dreisig

So the techies looked at it and, you were right - they said the GUIDE Supports need replacement.

Curiously however, they list several other parts, which I am very skeptical about and would love to hear your opinions:

- Left Swing Part (a 600$ part)
- Swing Support RH (not sure what this is - also about 700$)
- Support Bearing Flange
- Guide Support Lower Part
- Guide Support Upper part
- "Support"
- Articulated Disk
- rear "z links"
- Additional Shock Absorber

I'm honestly not sure all this stuff requires replacement, or if the dealer just wants to make some money :-(

Opinions appreciated.

[ard]

hard to tell from here.....

Sure would be nice if they used BMW part numbers and not made up names too

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by byaru1

So the techies looked at it and, you were right - they said the GUIDE Supports need replacement.

Curiously however, they list several other parts, which I am very skeptical about and would love to hear your opinions:

- Left Swing Part (a 600$ part)
- Swing Support RH (not sure what this is - also about 700$)
- Support Bearing Flange
- Guide Support Lower Part
- Guide Support Upper part
- "Support"
- Articulated Disk
- rear "z links"
- Additional Shock Absorber

I'm honestly not sure all this stuff requires replacement, or if the dealer just wants to make some money :-(

Opinions appreciated.

The parts list is a hodge-podge of parts required to rebuild the front struts and other suspension parts with odd names (like ARD already posted). Their parts list may include parts for the rear end (e.g. the rear “z links” may be stabilizer bar links).

This diagram shows the parts for the front struts…

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0791

Rebuilding front struts requires 2 each of parts 1, 7, 8, and 10. This is all I replaced when I rebuilt my struts. Unless your struts are in very bad shape, I doubt that you need to replace the “Support Bearing Flange” or the “Articulated Disk” which is just a large washer.

These are the other key front end suspension parts that MAY need to be replaced based on a close inspection during removing and replacing the strut.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_1289

I’d take in a copy of these diagrams and ask them to show me exactly which parts they think need to be replaced.

Funf Dreisig

[FunfDreisig]

Well BMW does use the term “Swing Support” for parts that I think of as sway bar or stabilizer bar end inks.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0787

But even the Genuine BMW part costs more like $60 rather than $600.

Funf Dreisig