[lul77]

there's a loud knocking sound from the passenger side front wheel well area.... could be under the car too but its def from the passenger side front area. it's rythmic and the pattern is proportional to speed (faster i drive faster the banging).

it only happens when in motion (when i park w/ my ebrake up i revved the engine and no noise was made).
it's not the wheel. i changed to a summer wheel just in case to eliminate that possiblity.
i checked the brake shield to see if it's bent and touching the rotor but that isn't the case.
i don't think it's the shocks.... that was my initial guess but the car passed the bounce test.
i don't think it's the wheel bearing because there'd be more of a whinging sort of noise and this is more like banging your fist on a wood table kind of knock.

what do you guys think? i need to find out if it's:
1) safe to drive to the shop.
2) something that my cpo extended warranty would cover.... oh and
3) knowing what it is always helps

[lul77]

the car is a manual if that means anything... and is dropped on h&r sport spring w/ stock shocks

[Tee212]

How about the 19mm nut that secures the shock to pillow mount? swaybar end links?

[lul77]

Originally Posted by Tee212

How about the 19mm nut that secures the shock to pillow mount? swaybar end links?

I'm not to sure what I'd be looking for with regards to those... I checked all the contol arms, rods, etc for visible rubbing, cracking, or stress marks from bending but haven't seen anything....

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by lul77

it only happens when in motion (when i park w/ my ebrake up i revved the engine and no noise was made).

So you were in neutral since you have a manual....that eliminates the engine.

Does this sound occur when coasting in neutral? If so you can eliminate the transmission.

Then your left with the suspension.

Stupid but panels all secure?

[Tee212]

Basically during the install for the fronts youll have to loosen:

1 nut/bolt/washer that holds strut to spindle
1 nut that fastens the shock to pillow mount
2 nuts that attaches the swaybar end link to strut
1 nut that holds the brake line on the strut
3 nuts on upper pillow mount

Those are the only parts that are disasembled during the front install. This nut may come lose over time if not torqued properly.

[Stangorang]

I would start with the simple.

If the frequency of the sound depends on the speed at which you are moving that would make me look for something in the tire (ie nail).

I would also check that all lug nuts are tight.

[The HACK]

Wheel bearing. Even if you don't think it is.

When wheel bearings go bad, they either make a rhythmic whining sound, or they start making a "thump thump thump" sound that increases or decreases in frequency with speed. Depending on severity of the failure.

I wouldn't drive on it knowing that the bearing has nearly completely failed at this point, not just the "about to fail but still drivable hence the rhythmic whining sound." The thump thump thump means the bearing is about to SEIZE completely.

[hajduk]

It has to be either something with the wheel or possibly brakes because it's dependent on speed. Don't think its suspension.

[Gavin@MMW]

If its a knocking, I bent the front endlinks in my e90 and it would "knock". Maybe you bent one, the OEM stuff is pretty soft.

[Navacellus]

You mentioned that you car was lowered. I have seen higher mileage cars have cv joint failure in half shafts post lowering. No one mentioned it yet, thought i would especially since it appears you have an Xi.

[itsbrokeagain]

Im leaning towards swaybar endlinks. If it rattles frequently over uneven road its most likely those. They are known to go bad as mileage increases.

[Bimmer335i07]

And if it is your suspension, I doubt your CPO will cover it, unless you install the stock springs back into the car, before you take it in.

Why don't you have Matt take a look at the car for you?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by Matt@Camber-Toe

Im leaning towards swaybar endlinks. If it rattles frequently over uneven road its most likely those. They are known to go bad as mileage increases.

Originally Posted by lul77

there's a loud knocking sound from the passenger side front wheel well area.... could be under the car too but its def from the passenger side front area. it's rythmic and the pattern is proportional to speed (faster i drive faster the banging).

Not to contradict our esteemed colleague here, but "rhythmic" and "proportional to speed" means whatever is causing the noise is related to a rotational part. Could be anything from the hub on out, including the wheel bearings. Not likely to be a suspension part.

[johnniewalker]

hi there, lul77.
I think i am having the same issue as you described in this thread.
Can you provide me with some information about what was causing the knocking sound and how was it solved? any information would be appreciated.
Thx
Johnny

[Stucks]

check your strut mounts. Mine made a similar noise and i had them replaced.

[JawjaDawg]

I've had this problem the past couple of months as well, took it to the shop I got my car aligned and he said everything looks normal and tight. His guess is the swaybar endlinks or strunt mounts.

Anybody has the link to a pair of oem front strut mounts?

[johnniewalker]

thanks you, guys for the info.
Brought the car to a shop today, the technician told me that the wheel bolts were loose.
Forgot to mention, i change the wheels myself. However i have never experienced this issue before. i think the bolt gun is failing me. if i am not mistaken, bmw specs 88 lb of torque?
Feel so lucky nothing went wrong, it could have caused me some serious trouble.

[mid-corner fun]

"the bolt gun"???

If you're not using a torque wrench to properly tighten the bolts you're risking both your life as well as other drivers' lives.

[Hybrid For Life]

You using the term "bolt gun scares me and probably alot of other on here on so many levels.

Do your self and your life a favor and Invest in a toque wrench! If you can't afford a nice one just get one from harbor freight.

[johnniewalker]

This is the one i am using, the guy in CT told me thats good for changing wheels.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

I bought this one cuz it has the digital screen that shows how many torque i am using.

[johnniewalker]

My bad, when i said bolt gun, i meant impact wrench.
I used 80 lb/ft of torque.

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