Hey folks, I'm hoping you can help diagnose a problem with my 2002 330xi. I had new axels and CABs done within the last year, so I hope it's neither of these.
There is a sound coming from the front end, very much like the banging around Ive heard in other cars when the front struts were gone. Much more present while going over bumps at lower speed. It's a banging sound and feeling, not grinding or clicking, and no shimmying under breaking or acceleration. So I am assuming it is the front struts. However, there is also a wobble that comes on at about 50mph and dissapears again around 60mph. Again, it dissapears if you brake or are taking a turn or accelerate. But, cruising along at 55, I feel it coming through the steering wheel. Could this also be the front struts?
sounds like control arm bushings to me ... though I just noticed you have and Xi ... so I'm not sure on the front suspension configuration ... are they similar to other 3 series?
I think I may have a similar problem. I don't have a loud bang, but whenever I go over bumps or turn a low speed I get almost a creaking from the front like something is loose and moving around, and I have the same wobble in the steering wheel around 55-70mph, only at cruising not accel/decel. I did my struts, springs, etc last fall (garaged for winter), and brakes, HD FCABs, Meyle HD control arms and tie rods this spring. The wobble and noise started after the control arms and FCABs, I've had it aligned twice and had the tie rods changed. Next I'm am looking to get my wheels rebalanced and checked for warping. I've read a bit here and there thru the forum, but haven't found much with the noise over bumps etc with the wobble. I've had the Control Arms replaced before and mostly it was a wobble at slower speeds.
Think I may have been wrong, I looked over the service records and it tirns out the CABs were not done, it was the trailing arm bushings. Maybe it is the CABs???
Sounds like it's your FCABs and/or control arms (ball joints) if they haven't been done in a while. The ball joints are built into the control arms, so they need to be replaced as one. They only last 60-90k miles depending on your driving. I'm not 100% on xi stuff, there are probably a few threads out there on xi control arm replacement with good answers.
I have a pic of the CABs now if someone thinks they may help. They dont look too bad to my un-trained eye, and there is definitly no tweaking, jerking, stabbing, clunking or other noises or feelings when I stab the brakes. Does anyone know the best procedure for checking struts?
could be a bad tire as well ... even if they were balanced, you could still get some vibration...
as far as checking struts, I would visually inspect for any sign of leaking... beyond that ... I have no idea, but definitely change those FCAB's if you haven't done them in say the past 30K miles or suspect that they have never been done... how many miles/kilometers are on the clock?
96,000km. I have the service records back to 60,000 and FCABs haven't been done since then for sure. I can't seem to find Urethane bushings for the XI, if I swap them, may as well upgrade. Thoughts?
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