What front struts to go with 2000 323I E46

Hmmm maybe your driveshaft guibo is bad. Do you have any associated vibrations with this sound?

No,no vibrations.it seems as though when I give it gas to accelerate it is not that bad but as soon as I take foot off pedal it starts....

I have never had a burning smell from changing any valve cover regardless of make.

Sounds like something maybe is rubbing or could have come loose?

Yeah it does smell more like rubber than oil. My mechanic had mentioned the tires are wavy. It's a cheaper tire and they are all dry rot he said. I think it may be time for new tires but not sure if they would make the thumping sound. What is located under floor board by gas and break pedal that could make that thumping sounds.i can feel it right by my feet while driving but just can't pin point it.

You can visually inspect the giubo (Universal Joint is the bmw part name), but not the csb...just behind it above exhaust and heat shield.

Both are possible.

Also possible, since you had all your wheels off is something as simple as the dustshield scraping.

Don't 'trust' entirely where you think the sound is coming from. Other possibles are the wheel bearings...you can test for those by seeing if the sound gets louder in a turn.

That burning rubber smell, that probably is oil, might be rubber...if your giubo is broken up and fraying...also check your belts.

GL...hth

Got belts about year ago and rubber smell isn't like super strong it's a faint smell but def smells ever time drive car. I will get under there and see I can see guibo frayed. Can I see guibo without taking over that plastic shield? What dust shield are you referring too,brake sheild? Thanks for info...when turning the noise doesn't get worse. It seems like the noise goes away upon acceleration but as soon as I let my foot off gas it starts which leads me to think while acceleration the pressure is being taken off something from the slight raise in front end ? You guys think that's possible? Control arms, c a bushings,sway bar links and bushings and shocks were just replaced btw

I was having sone thumping/vibrations in my gas pedal and steering wheel for a year
Had my tires balanced few times, but still had the problem
Well yesterday 3 tires went out on me
Today im riding on brand new tires.....the vibrations and thumping is gone

Next for me is to change the ca, cab, end links, and tie rods...after reading dmax thread, ive decided to go with meyle parts

Note: I only used Meyle HD control arm bushings. The control arms are lemforder. I also used lemf. sway bar links.

I can't give feedback on the meyle Control arms...but I'll say this...

My Lemforders were probably not original, but had at least 100K miles on them. After putting new ones on, I notice no difference...other than that my OE cabs were blown...easily 1/2" of play back and forth...something like that.

UPDATE: I changed my tire and rim today because front right rim was bent. While i had the tire off i was spinning the rotor, what is noticed is when i rotated left and right about 2" each way a heard a knock each time i stopped. I put my hand on the knuckle and could feel the knock too. Is this a bad bearing? My thumping noise is still there but better since i changed rim and tire and suggestions.