I had the same problems...nothing ever fixed it until I got my ball joints replaced last week. Clunking/noise gone. $330 partss/labor @ Morristown BMW.

Along w/ the ball joints I also had my front axle assembly's replaced bc of a torn axle boots and grease leaking all over the place. This coould also be the root of the noise that has since susbsided, I would suggest asking stealer to look at this also to be sure. Axles were covered under my CPO warranty...

Lot goes wrong with my non-sport '01 3.0 at 82k miles.

mines been doing it since brand new.

Chubyball- Mine is bone stock. I don't believe that I have a ball joint issue- they were replaced at 44K, this problem appeared at 65-70K.

clunk
 

It is a swing arm connecting rod. Not too serious, takes about 25 min to change. Part costs $70 from dealer(canadian dollars). Ijust had one changed last week, and cured the problem.

Ok Got My Problem Fixed Today, The Clunk Clunk Noise For Me Was That The "rt Front Brake Line Clip Was Missing. Replaced Under Warranty. Brake Line Still Good And Not Worn". That Took Care Of That! Yeeeeehaw!

I'm getting this clunking at 48000 KM (about 30K Miles). It's on the drivers side and it keeps allowing me to lock (or at least get the ABS working) on that one wheel.

On a right hand bend I touched the brakes mid-corner and the ABS cut right in. Perfectly dry road - didn't expect that at all. I guess there is not as much grip on that wheel when you have a suspension problem. Not damping correctly perhaps.

It'll be in the dealer as soon as they decide to answer their phone.

Same exact issue here. Been in twice to the dealer... and they tell me they can't replicate it - VERY easy to replicate it. They keep telling me it's the air suspension.

What did your issue turn out to be?

Craig

To be honest I was in such a rush when I picked the car up that I didn't even find out. They mentioned the front strut when the car was taken in. There was a visual clue to the problem as well. When the car was parked and running there was a height difference from the ground to the bottom of the arch above the wheel. It was about a 4 finger gap between the wheel and arch on the left, but only 2 on the right. Once they'd seen this I was told "no problem we'll call you in a couple of days."

The car is much better now - feels like new agin.

I had the same issue from when I picked up my '04 X5 in 2/04, it was in the shop at 600 miles, never could fix the problem.
Low speeds while turning, in reverse, and faster turning while going forward would make the pop or thud, whatever the sound, happen.
BMW flew a technician in to Dallas who was supposed to be the guy who knew everything, I drove him, the service manager, and my service representative around and demonstrated the noise, you could even feel it on the floorboard.
After 5 visits to the shop, they replaced the vehicle.
So I got an '05 in 11/04, and the damn thing has the same problem, I haven't even taken it in.