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.

 

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

 

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!

 

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

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

This has started happening on my 125i 66 plate, so annoying! Only in warm weather? Had shocks and top mounts changed but it's still there. Seems much more obvious at low speed. Anyone have any luck sorting it?

 

This has started happening on my 125i 66 plate, so annoying! Only in warm weather? Had shocks and top mounts changed but it's still there. Seems much more obvious at low speed. Anyone have any luck sorting it?

Hi.
Please check this thread out.

https://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=136512&start=15

Last few posts might be helpful.

 

Thank you, I'll give it a go!

 

I have been struggling with this knocking for some time now. I have a 125d F21 with M package ( normal susp, not adaptive ) and have already replaced everything. Top mounts, struts, arms ( all, bananas and other ones ), and so on. Steering rack is fine, rods too. So idk wtf is wrong, it drives me crazy. In car it knocks somewhere on the right side ( driver side uk ), but only on specific potholes, regardless of speed, e.g. on markers in the middle of the road ( cat eyes ), or small potholes, unevenness in the road. but not always lol it is not metallic but a loud knock. on road speed bumps - fine. on good road - nothing. The wheel has to drive in the middle, centrally, straight, on the pothole, then boom. if anyone has managed to find out what this is all about, please help us, because I've become depressed from the mechanic's bills hahah

 

Could be the washer bottle,read that on here recently.

 

Hi, no bottle is fine. fkn thing drives me nuts

 

Same with me drivers side nock going for swaybar it self next
Ive had
Bmw repair kit in the rack
Bmw tie rod ends
New shock and mounts
New arms upper lower
New wheel bearing
Antiroll links
And the nock is still there WTF ITS DRIVING ME NUTS
Bmw said my steering rack was worn hence why they billed me £400 to fix it and said they may need to replace it witch of course didn't fix it any one got a clue no body seems to know wtf ???? Thinking of part xing the car and part ways shame though

 

repair kit BMW 32 10 6 891 974, try it

 

You´ve changed all this things and still has the same knocking noise? I have the same problem with my 2013 125i on left side (driver side in Brasil).

 

Yes i went for the steering rack in the end bought it this morning
From the steering shop on ebay steering-shop | eBay Stores message him with your vin number and he’ll get you the correct one

 

Or Get one from western steering ltd in bristol give them your vin and they can get you one to bmw confirmed it was steering rack issue after replacing so many parts only thing left is the rack so I bought it

BMW 1 Series Electric steering rack F20 / F21 / F23 Diesel 2.0L TKP | Western Power Steering

UK Based Trusted Power steering specialists, reconditioned parts, BSI conformity, Est 40+ years, all major vehicles covered. Competitive prices & long warranty

shop.westernpowersteering.co.uk

 

Hello again I found the cause and fixed it although on the way to success, I replaced the whole front suspension LOL , but that's nothing bad really as my car is 100k and so I would slowly have to replace everything ( now it literally drives like new ) anyway. So here is a fix. You need a repair kit BMW 32 10 6 891 974 which costs a ****ing whopping £30 plus 10 quid for grease on eBay and 2h of work if you smoke weed ( 1h without ). below link to youtube video on how to do it. I hope I helped hahaha this is a fix only for F series I think ok and it is a solution only for the knocking/rattling issues ok

Thanks

 

I just fixed my knocking sounds, finally after over 12 months of messing about . It turned out to be a combination of 2 things- A bad shock absorber (internal failure of adaptive type shocker), and a worn lower suspension arm ball-joint. Both on the right side. FYI, my motor is a 2014 M135i.
What annoys me is that 2 other garages failed to diagnose the problem.