Movement in the front suspension
 

I took the X5 to the local BMW CCA performance track day yesterday and had to call it a short day due to some movement in the drivers side front suspension. It is most noticed when loading the car in a right hand turn. It feels like a something "pops" or moves. When you unload it into a left turn, it "pops" back. I cannot hear the noise due to helmet and exhaust, but my instructor and I could both feel it. It got progressively worse as the day went on and I decided to quit running it on the track for safety reasons. I could not re-create it at slower spreads in the parking lot, but was able to get it to happen again on an on-ramp on the way home.

A fellow X5 world member and I took the wheel off and put a wrench on every bolt we could get too, but nothing was loose.

Has anyone experienced anything ike this? I don't kow much about suspension, but I want to be able to suggest things to the dealer without telling them I was on the track.

My vehicle is an '06 4.4 w/ 18K miles. I do have a Dinan camber plate installed, but the movement feels like it is happenin much lower in the suspension.

Drive it slow over even pavement and make some quick moves of the wheel as if you're doing a slalom. Report back with what sounds you hear coming from the suspension.

JV

Check your stablelizer linkage.

As chuby mentions, seems like the sway-bar linkage could be the culprit, a relatively common problem.

Whatever the problem is, I highly suggest you don't tell the dealer that you were running at the track when you discovered the problem.

I had the same problem too.. i installed rogue camber plate with H&R springs and now i hear clunk from the suspension on slow speed like 5 mph and uneven pavement?

The noise / "pop" only happens at high speeds. At slow speeds, I can't hear or feel anyhting. I plan on thelling the dealer thjat it happens on curved highway on ramps.

Are there any TSB's on this?

As others have mentioned, check your sway bar links. They can cause that kind of noise at any speed- just more noticeable at lower speeds.

I noticed yesterday I replaced my front diff. oil with synthetic. I realized that the panel underneath where it need to be removed to access to the front diff. These 4 bolts at the rear of the panel need to be tighted real good after the job was done, because these bolts are holding the stablize bar goes across the 2 front wheels.

I had a similiar problem with my first X5 (2001 3.0), After lowering it, it was making clunk noises I could feel it too. It turned out that the mechanic blasted the Hemi joints out with a air wrench instead of hand tightening them. I replaced the sway bar connects with the new joints and the problem is solved.

I recently had a track inspection and I remember the tech saying he tigntened everything. Maybe he "overtightened" something and made it blow out.