There is a strange "cracking" sound that is heard every time i drive on uneven roads when i turn. For example, if i were to slowly turn into a gas station curb that has bit of short slope, i would hear that sound. Its coming from somewhere in the front. Maybe windshield? Loose Sway Bars? Loose Suspension? Anybody encountered this noise before.

 

front strut tower brace comes to mind (where it connects to the firewall). If this has started as the cooler temps have come on then another thought is the sway bar bushings. Last idea I have is a loose strut.

 

I'll check out the sway bar 1st since that seems to be the easiest. Thanks.

 

Are you sure it's not the door seals? Every other month I put some rubber treatment on the door seals to get rid of that noise.

 

Do the symptoms happen right after a car wash? if so it could be window seals, I read that you can spray liquid silicon that seams to help. But this one drives me crazy a loose CD on the side door panel rolling back and forth makes me want to DIY iPod interface

 

i had the same issue
brought it to bmw they said it was the "center strut bar bracket and securing bolts faulty "
which was replaced under warranty

 

My car was doing the same thing. I replaced the 4 bolts holding center strut bar, at the ends and two in the middle. Immediately fixed the problem for $20 and 30 minutes of my time. You need a T-45 torx to take them out, that delayed my job a couple days but now I have t-10 to t-60 set!

 

+1 exactly the same thing on my '07 550.

 

Hi, from realoem.com, it seems that thre is a bracket (support) at the center struct together with 4 bolt. Did you change that as well? Thank you.

 

+1000 on this one. BMW stealer tried to charge me $300 to fix a "loose" suspension component. My indy found the cause and re-torqued all the strut brace bolts for nothing!