HPLouis

I bought my CPO 545 during the last week of May and I've noticed a rumbling or "banging" sound coming from the front end of the car over rough roads. I really can't describe it but I'll try to the best of my ability. I bought the car with 30K miles and it now has 32K.

As most people know, NYC has some real bad roads. When I'm driving over bulges, uneven terrain, potholes, etc. I will hear a banging or rumbling coming from the front end. It sounds like a suspension arm hitting it's top end of travel, or maybe a strut hitting it's it's top end of travel or "bottoming out." Or it sounds like maybe a suspension mount hitting or rumbling around. The sound is very pronounced in the passenger's side of the car.

I took the car in for service a couple of weeks ago with this complaint. The SA told me that it was a loose cover in the undercarriage of the car. I asked how could that make the noise and he said that it's possible. I was expecting to hear struts, control arms, sway bars, or some other suspension components but he said that it was just he cover. When I got the car back, the noise has gone down considerably but it is still there. I don't remember what the invoice stated and I don't have it in front of me to reference.

I asked if the car has ever been in an accident or if there was any front end work done. He said no and I checked the car's records and looked at the car myself and I don't see any signs of work. Also, it's a CPO so I'm not too worried about that. I did see that hte car was brought in by the previous owner and this is the record:

IN: 02-08-2007
OUT: 02-14-2007
MILES: 27,419

3213021500 SERVO/MECHANICAL/AFS STEERING GEAR PERMANENT MALFUNCTION
3243021500 AFS CONTROL UNIT (ACTIVE STEERING) PERMANENT MALFUNCTION
3711044800 ACTIVE STABILIZER BAR ARS, FRONT AXLE LEAKING

Here's my question: Is this sound normal? Has anyone ever experienced this with their 5 series? This is my first 5 series so I'm not sure if this is just "one of those quirks" that the car might have. Maybe the car wasn't really designed for rough roads and these sounds are the byproduct of this. I am trying to make a service appointment with another BMW dealership to have them look at this. It's always good to get a second opinion.

Thanks,
Henry

BimmerJay

So I can't answer you're question directly, but I recently got my 530i back from the dealer for having a banging like noise coming from the front end. I would describe it as a popping noise as well... My issue was a loose control arm, which the dealer fixed! Afterwards there was no noise at all... In the beginning the banging noise was loudest in the front right, but that's now tighter than a drum. Now I'm noticing the same noise coming from the left side, not as loud, but something I'll be taking the car back to have tightened. The noise I can best describe is banging when going over speed bumps, or when I pull into my driveway as I have dive up this semi-rounded curb, which causes this bang like sound as I roll over it. My car is a 2004 with just over 60K on it, so I'm not saying you have the same problem. Rather I wanted to share my experience with this banging / popping noise.

Good luck,
Jay

vegastrashed

Front tower strut brace. Get the dealer to replace or tighten, preferably replace.

HPLouis

Thanks. I'm taking it to BMW of Manhattan tomorrow and I'm going to have them look at both of those items, especially the front strut tower brace.

Henry

HPLouis

You were right. I just got the car back and they replaced it.

Thanks,
Henry

thesasquatch

Take Note Henry and all -

yes, it IS the front strut tower brace..HOWEVER.... IT WILL START HAPPENING AGAIN IN ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME!!
My car now has 70K. Had the noise start at 30K. Had the brace tightened and everything was fine for 30K. Now, it's back...started at about 60K.
I wonder if there's a way to learn to tighten or replace these yourself without great cost because this is apparently something that needs routine maintenance.

Cheers.

HPLouis

I bought the car with 30K miles on it and it had the noise. It now has 32.5K and the noise was fixed. I guess this is something that I will have to expect in another 30k miles.

E46toE60

I have this problem right now as well. I have an appointment to get the suspension checked out. I will tell them to check the front strut tower brace.

I have eibach springs and AC Schnitzer sways. Do you think they will try to void warranty coverage to replace it? I have an '06 530 with 16K miles.