[Kierownik]

Just an update on the situation...
Had my car in the garage yesterday for gearbox and rear diff oil change. So I asked them to check my front suspension properly.
According to the garage it's driver's side front top mount. Cost of having both sides done parts and labour £300. Quite a lot especially since there's no guarantee that this will eliminate knocking sound.
Anyone had similar problem?

Wow thats incredibly expensive for 2 top mounts. Also, why did they do both if the knocking is presumably coming from 1 side??

I've never heard top mounts cause a knocking unless the bearing is gone. This is easy to diagnose as the spring will turn when you turn the steering wheel.

Perhaps they replace them in pairs, just like when you fit a new spring or something. I've tried to find someone else with same car and knackered top mounts but I couldn't. So that basically makes me think that it's very unlikely that the top mounts need replacing.
I'm going to bmw for service in november and I think I'll ask them to check it for me and obviously if they find anything I'll have it fixed somewhere else.

 

[GeoffCollins]

Just an update on the situation...
Had my car in the garage yesterday for gearbox and rear diff oil change. So I asked them to check my front suspension properly.
According to the garage it's driver's side front top mount. Cost of having both sides done parts and labour £300. Quite a lot especially since there's no guarantee that this will eliminate knocking sound.
Anyone had similar problem?

I have the knocking, thought it was the top mounts, but when I changed the suspension to aftermarket, knocking still there and the old top mounts aren't even in the car, so no idea

 

[Kierownik]

Just an update on the situation...
Had my car in the garage yesterday for gearbox and rear diff oil change. So I asked them to check my front suspension properly.
According to the garage it's driver's side front top mount. Cost of having both sides done parts and labour £300. Quite a lot especially since there's no guarantee that this will eliminate knocking sound.
Anyone had similar problem?

I have the knocking, thought it was the top mounts, but when I changed the suspension to aftermarket, knocking still there and the old top mounts aren't even in the car, so no idea

For that very reason I'm so bloody hesitant. Imagine spending £300 to get rid of the knocking, pick up your car and knocking is still there. I'd be pissed off like f***. But then again, no one seems to be able to properly diagnose it and find the source.

 

[GeoffCollins]

Just an update on the situation...
Had my car in the garage yesterday for gearbox and rear diff oil change. So I asked them to check my front suspension properly.
According to the garage it's driver's side front top mount. Cost of having both sides done parts and labour £300. Quite a lot especially since there's no guarantee that this will eliminate knocking sound.
Anyone had similar problem?

I have the knocking, thought it was the top mounts, but when I changed the suspension to aftermarket, knocking still there and the old top mounts aren't even in the car, so no idea

For that very reason I'm so bloody hesitant. Imagine spending £300 to get rid of the knocking, pick up your car and knocking is still there. I'd be pissed off like f***. But then again, no one seems to be able to properly diagnose it and find the source.

I have a suspicion it is a bushing for one of the arms, not the LCA though, as mine has been changed out and still knocks

 

[Kierownik]

I have the knocking, thought it was the top mounts, but when I changed the suspension to aftermarket, knocking still there and the old top mounts aren't even in the car, so no idea

For that very reason I'm so bloody hesitant. Imagine spending £300 to get rid of the knocking, pick up your car and knocking is still there. I'd be pissed off like f***. But then again, no one seems to be able to properly diagnose it and find the source.

I have a suspicion it is a bushing for one of the arms, not the LCA though, as mine has been changed out and still knocks

Apparently all the bushings are fine.
I'm genuinely hopeless at the moment.

 

[GeoffCollins]

For that very reason I'm so bloody hesitant. Imagine spending £300 to get rid of the knocking, pick up your car and knocking is still there. I'd be pissed off like f***. But then again, no one seems to be able to properly diagnose it and find the source.

I have a suspicion it is a bushing for one of the arms, not the LCA though, as mine has been changed out and still knocks

Apparently all the bushings are fine.
I'm genuinely hopeless at the moment.

Same can't hear it over the exhaust most the time, so trying to ignore it for now until I can be bothered to take apart the front end

 

[caffer]

Just had mine back from BMW after they had it for a week trying to locate a knocking noise from the front end.

Mine was an odd one though - it only occurred after driving for at least 10-15 miles and only seemed apparent when the weather was warm hence the last month or so it has been noticeable a lot.

They changed a number of things on the front - tie bars, bushes to name a few before stating it was the front suspension strut mounts.

You mention its a rubber metal sound -this would fit in with the mounts I guess.

Im not 100% convinced its fixed the issue as the weather hasn't been as warm this week but I guess time will tell...

Hi Andy, did this resolve your issue? I have the same year similar mileage and only seems to do it when the car is hot and on a hot day? Can feel it quite distinctly through the steering wheel and the rest of the car body as well.

 

[maverick83]

I have read on here somewhere there was a couple of people with adaptive who had a software update on suspension which cures a hollow knocking noise.

I am in adaptive and my car also has a knocking on slow speed bumps - completely disappears when traveling above 30mph

 

[dantheman]

I've had this noise at the front over speed bumps in:
E87
E91
F11
F20 (with adaptive suspension)

Also on various loan cars.

Hollow knock/pop sound as the front suspension reaches the end of its extension/travel as the front of the car rises up after hitting a speed bump at low speed.

Have had a drive with couple of different techs who both said they all do it (I think they do once they are a few months old and have covered a few k miles).

I've given up trying to solve it!

 

[cossied]

Without the engine running try turning your steering wheel from side to side, if it makes the knocking noise it's your steering rack BUT don't be alarmed there are ways of tightening it. Very common on the F20/F21's apparently!

Did you adjust it yourself ? thanks Ed

 

[Kierownik]

Just had mine back from BMW after they had it for a week trying to locate a knocking noise from the front end.

Mine was an odd one though - it only occurred after driving for at least 10-15 miles and only seemed apparent when the weather was warm hence the last month or so it has been noticeable a lot.

They changed a number of things on the front - tie bars, bushes to name a few before stating it was the front suspension strut mounts.

You mention its a rubber metal sound -this would fit in with the mounts I guess.

Im not 100% convinced its fixed the issue as the weather hasn't been as warm this week but I guess time will tell...

Hi Andy, did this resolve your issue? I have the same year similar mileage and only seems to do it when the car is hot and on a hot day? Can feel it quite distinctly through the steering wheel and the rest of the car body as well.

Did you ever manage to get it fixed? Found out whaf it was? My current F30 2016 Lci does exactly that. Everything was super fine up until today, a really warm day and a 60 mile round trip. Knocking started when car was properly warmed up, usually when rolling slowly in traffic and tapping the brake, also on take off from full stop or on uneven road, not even potholes, just uneven surface. Leaning on front os wing would make it knock. Now that the car has been parked up for couple of hours the knocking noise seems to be gone.

 

[ggbakalov]

Just had mine back from BMW after they had it for a week trying to locate a knocking noise from the front end.

Mine was an odd one though - it only occurred after driving for at least 10-15 miles and only seemed apparent when the weather was warm hence the last month or so it has been noticeable a lot.

They changed a number of things on the front - tie bars, bushes to name a few before stating it was the front suspension strut mounts.

You mention its a rubber metal sound -this would fit in with the mounts I guess.

Im not 100% convinced its fixed the issue as the weather hasn't been as warm this week but I guess time will tell...

I have exactly the same issue when the weather is warm and drive more than 20 - 30 miles.

Please tell me what was the problem?
Do you have picture of problematic part?

 

[cossied]

when I fitted Eibach s my car had done 25000 miles, I was told the top mounts would be fine, I decided to change them anyway for piece of mind. There was an obvious difference in the play of old and new even the BMW indie garage was surprised. Had no knock at all since I have the adaptive suspension. One warning if you do change top mounts they know come with 17mm bolts not 16mm so the old ones don't fit you need new.

 

[andysummers86]

Just had mine back from BMW after they had it for a week trying to locate a knocking noise from the front end.

Mine was an odd one though - it only occurred after driving for at least 10-15 miles and only seemed apparent when the weather was warm hence the last month or so it has been noticeable a lot.

They changed a number of things on the front - tie bars, bushes to name a few before stating it was the front suspension strut mounts.

You mention its a rubber metal sound -this would fit in with the mounts I guess.

Im not 100% convinced its fixed the issue as the weather hasn't been as warm this week but I guess time will tell...

Hi Andy, did this resolve your issue? I have the same year similar mileage and only seems to do it when the car is hot and on a hot day? Can feel it quite distinctly through the steering wheel and the rest of the car body as well.

Did you ever manage to get it fixed? Found out whaf it was? My current F30 2016 Lci does exactly that. Everything was super fine up until today, a really warm day and a 60 mile round trip. Knocking started when car was properly warmed up, usually when rolling slowly in traffic and tapping the brake, also on take off from full stop or on uneven road, not even potholes, just uneven surface. Leaning on front os wing would make it knock. Now that the car has been parked up for couple of hours the knocking noise seems to be gone.

Nearly two years on from the work doing and I haven't had the noise since. The issue I have is that they changed that many parts I can't really pin point what part cured it. The last parts fitted were new suspension top mounts which finally cured the problem. Could have been a mixture of parts changed though that fixed it... guess I will never know.

Your symptoms are exactly as I had though. Warm day, felt through steering wheel and pedals/ car body.

 

[Kierownik]

I guess I'll start with the top mounts then. I know they're first to go on bmw running of RFT's so I guess this is the good starting point. Not the cheapest but most likely the cause of the problem.
Took my car to my trusted indy and he said that all the rubbers are in perfect condition so with the symptoms I had he said it's either top mounts or the dampers, or both.

 

[Gareth0126]

I've had exactly the same problem with exactly the same situation......only when hot....slow speed when coming to a stop. Just had it in bmw and they have replaced both front shocks under warranty and the issue is still there. They assured me the top mounts are fine and they are unwilling to do any further work as far as they are concerned there is nothing wrong with the car!

 

[Danrzz]

My car (67 plate, 120d) is in BMW garage right now with same intermittant knocking noise at front driver side. Its so annoying and has been in twice now for same issue where I am simply told we can't hear a knocking noise.

Happens when warm, slow speeds, felt through pedals and steering wheel.

Driving me crazy!

Did you ever get resolved?

 

[driftingphil]

what year it the car and do you have the adaptive suspension? i have a similar noise and from reading a few posts online (where people have replaced every component apart from the damper) it would see it's related to the adaptive damper, apparently a BMW software update fixes it.

 

[bikerdave]

Just my thoughts. The top mounts on any strut system car wear out this is a fact however it appears that dealers and us DIYers will happily change the struts, usually for better ones, drop links etc etc and the poor mount that does so much work is often the last part changed if done at all. If strut kits came with top mounts supplied no one would bat an eyelid, I'm surprised the manufacturers dont have big warning labels telling us of the consequences of not doing the mounts at the same time!!
I previously ran a JCW MINI on sports sus and 18" rims. The OE Delphi struts gave up at 39000 along with the top mounts, as previous posts when comparing new to old it was night and day. As I said earlier not always the answer but so often ignored and neglected.

 

[Kierownik]

My car (67 plate, 120d) is in BMW garage right now with same intermittant knocking noise at front driver side. Its so annoying and has been in twice now for same issue where I am simply told we can't hear a knocking noise.

Happens when warm, slow speeds, felt through pedals and steering wheel.

Driving me crazy!

Did you ever get resolved?

Did you ever find out what was the issue?