"POP" sound when steering my X
 

I have had this issue since I own my X back in Aug 04, when the vehicle is brand new~ until today~ it has 17k miles on it and it still doing it when I turn the steering wheel~ has anyone encounter this problem? I am just so worried that it will lead to any other major damage to the vehicle~ any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance! :dunno:

It is all the time, or just sometimes? If it is easily replicated, I'd definately have the dealer look at it and determine the cause.

only sometimes~ I mean~ like~ once or twice a day~

DEFINATLEY take it to the dealer. My X did the same thing with around the same mileage. It took numerous attempts to find the exact problem. They eventually replaced the whole steering collum and joints. They told me that the car was not safe to drive and that the steering was somehow deteriorating. I think they said it was unsafe because of liability, but reguardless it had a major problem and they repaired it. My problem was exactly the same as yours. But def. take it to the dealer, I think they have a bulletin on this issue.

what should I tell them~ cuz it seem kinda funny to tell them there's a "pop". Is there a technical term for it?

Could it just be a notch on a piece of plastic cowling catching somthing on the steering shaft assembly?

I've heard of this problem in other cars and it usually turnes out to be a bit of plastic thats been improperly made or has moved position and is rubbing on a part of the steering system.

I'd inspect the steering system for that possible cause first.

Not sure what kind of "pop" you're getting, but I feel a slight pop or click when I turn the wheel slightly off center. I can only hear it if the cabin is quiet and feel it if I'm steering from the bottom of the wheel.

Dealer spent a day on it and concluded it was a normal thing for my model/year. They said they disassembled the entire steering setup and found no cause for concern. Further, they checked several other similar year X's and found the same thing.

My dealer has always been fair with me and I don't have any reason to distrust, but that sounds a little not right.

Anyway, enough about me... hope this helps a bit.

BTW - 2001 4.4

The pop I am getting is not just a little sound from plastic, but I do feel a pop vibration on the steering column~ and the noise come from the car~ (I mean... from the car) not the steering column~

About a month ago my X sporadically started to make a clicking sound when I make a turn on the steering wheel. So I brought it in to the dealer to have it checked out. The tech guy sat with me in a test drive so he can hear the clicking sound, but guess what it didnt make the sound! While it was there I told them to fix the driver's heated seat it shorted and burned the leather. Im sure you heard that before. Anyway just brought it back to the shop yesterday because the clicking or popping got worst. They found that the outer ball joints made the noise when they warmed up. They replaced both front lower control arms. The sounds are gone for now.

If it's a 'pop' (or perhaps a clunk) sound when you are steering the car at full lock, say turning around in a car park, then it's probably the same as mine. I've looked into this and it's caused by an air bubble in the power steering pipe. It happens on some cars and not others but it was one of the many things I had BMW GB extensively investigate and it's not fixable (unless you replace the power steering system). But the good news in my case is that it's not dangerous. Get yours checked and suggest this to them and see what they say.

I hear a clunk from the front end of the vehicle when backing up and turning the steering wheel all the way clockwise. It happens every morning when I back out of my garage. It usually happens after the X has been parked for a while. Of course my dealer could not reproduce the problem. Please post if anyone was able to resolve this problem.

I've got the same problem. :dunno:

Well as I've already mentioned it is due to an air bubble in the power steering, the clunk or popping sound is the sound of the air being released into the chamber. Mine does exactly the same. You're wellcome to check with the BMW technicians at your dealership but I've been told that it's not curable. At first I thought it was an anti-roll bar link that was loose but apparently this is quite a commone issue with the latest version X5s and it's down to air pockets being compressed and then suddenly released.

What would you guys think if this would be the problem in the long run. because I am planning to live with my x for the rest of my life... and I surely don't want to replace the power steering in the near future. with air bubbles in the system, can't they drain it and then refill it like the brake system? since... it's metal parts and w/o proper lubrication... I am really worried....

Yes, I have the same very occasional "pop" sound when turning the wheels only when standing still after backing out the garage. Have not had a look at this myself, steering seems not affected.

Cheers, M

I don't understand why you should be 'really worried'. I certainly found it irritating at first but since I had it investigated by BMW I'm re-assured that it represents no risk. It happens to me once or twice a week, has never become worse and only happens at slow speeds. I understand it to be a 'design' feature and not something that can be cured by bleeding and changing the power steering fluid, but please check it out with your local BMW rep and confirm for yourself.

The amount of misinformation being disseminated about this problem in this thread is amazing.

There is a service bulletin that describes this very problem as an issue with wheel bearings and flanges on the front of the X5. The dealer has to install some new flanges and bearings and the popping sound will be rectified. Mine was done and the problem is gone. It's a multi-day event because of the time involved allowing the glue to dry. No Kidding!

The moment I mentioned the popping/clunking sound to my dealer, he explained the issues and the solution. Any dealer who doesn't know about this action is not paying attention to the service information being sent to them.

Dig a little deeper and you'll also find there's a service bulletin relating to the bubble in the power steering system. The same notice also applies to some Minis. There's absolutley nothing wrong with my wheel bearings and it wasn't my dealer that investigated it but BMW themselves. Perhaps one person's pop isn't the same as another person's clunk, you may be describing a different symptom... ;)

I have the same problem....right after backing out of the garage and going forward....then I hear the noise....sound like something popping underneath the car....The dealer could not figure out what it is...I will wait for a while to see if it gets worse before bring it back again.

John

clunking noise from front end
 

I have the same exact cluncking noise from the front end. I got mine in sept 04. I brought it to the dealer and they said there is nothing wrong with it. Recently it started making the noise when driving hard in corners. IKt really worries me. Anyone have a fix for it.

i have an 04 4.4i with the same issues. took it to the dealer they replaced all kind of things. got my x back.... same thing still happens. i'll eventually take it back, it's the 3series loaners that keep me hesitant

I've had this happen now just 3-4 times over the past week. never had a problem before. My X5 has 28,000 miles and is a 2002. I took it in to the dealer a few weeks ago to look at a clunk problem on the front end. They wound up replacing my stearing rod assembly. Now I have the same POP sound the others have experienced. When I take off from a dead stop with the wheel turned hard to the left (like when backing out of a driveway) I get a quick POP on the first acceleration.

Besides steved's air bubble explanation and dwaynemosley's wheel bearing flange explanation, has anyone received a difinitive BMW answer or fix on this issue?

Also, where can I go to see the BMW service bulletins? :wtf:

pop sound
 

Yea where can ifind these service actions. I would like to print them out and take them to the dealer. And i dont care what the dealer says. Even if they say the sound is normal and it posses no risk. That is bullcrap. Ive had alot of BMWs and never even once have i ever heard a noise like that before. And how can a loud clunk be normal. Something that is not right is causing. and now mine does it when driving hard in corners also. Does anyone have the right answer for this problem or a real fix. My service dept at my dealer are a bunch of idiots. I need help.

I also had almost the same problem. The click sound was coming from the front. Also the vehicle was steering to right only at 20 miles and lower after slamming the brakes. I took it to the dealer and he replaced both R/I struts and both sway bar links (old one had bad ball and sockets) as there was a play, as per him. For steering problem, he replaced both front and rear pads although they were replaced 10000 miles ago. Never mind as long as it is warranty 4/50000 miles. Now drive is fine. I love my X5.

Pops and clunks are two different things.
 

Hi Guys, I have had the popping problem and it is totally different to a clunk.
I have a 4.4 V8 X5 2004 model and I noticed the popping noise while I was doing an engine oil change . (routine stuff right) How this noise started was when I noticed the Power Steering reservoir was leaking from the bottom connecting tubes/hoses. I looked in the reservoir and noticed the fluid level was low and then when I turned the steering wheel (with Engine on) it created this popping noise. It is due to air entering the power steering system. It then gets pumped through the whole steering rack and can cause this noise on the way back out.
Solution, replace or tighten the hose clamp assemblies feeding the steering rack and pump.(see if this is leaking as often the factory clamps come loose replace clamps with new ones if required) then drain and refill the entire system with new power steering fluid. Once its full you will notice the noise never comes back.

The clunks on the other hand can be due to many steering related under-car components (and suspension components) mentioned in this post and elsewhere on this site. I would suggest putting it up on a hoist and observing whats happening while the wheels/ steering is being moved about. If you're not sure then take it to a good BMW specialist.

I hope this helps some of you.

regards

do you fill a little hit too? when wheel is turned all the way and noise comes? mine has that. my case is very simmilar to yours. should i have dealer look at it? and also little vibration when turning wheel on car parked. but that may be something else in addition.

Nik... Did you ever figure out the popping noise in the front suspension when turning your steering wheel?

After replacing the sway bar bushings and links, I have this popping when turning to the left? I loosened and re-torqued the bolts for the bushings but, didn't do the links yet as I didn't over tighten them?

Thanks!!

I've done upper and lower control arms, and the sway end-links. Still have the pop when I turn left. Going to try the white lithium spray later today and see if that helps. From all my searching over the past 2 years the best answer I've found is that it's a worn bushing in the steering column that requires extensive labor to change.

Retighten and retorque all subframe bolts...trust me. That will get rid of the "popping" noise when turning left.