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Front passengers side clunk?

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
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Buckz
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Buckz » Mon Dec 19, 2016 3:00 pm

Hi Guys

I usually listen to my music loud so I don't hear much of the suspension... but I've noticed this "clunk" coming from the front passengers side. My gf said she can feel it under her feet etc but I can't feel anything my self.

my first port of call was the strut braces, tightened them up to correct torque, nothing, still there.. next port of call was to jack the car up and give it a good look at the rear springs etc and see the state of the bushes..

everything looks fine, springs look fine etc. Only thing I've noticed is that it does have a little bit of a split at the front top mount rubber but I doubt that'll cause the clunk.

I'll take some pics of that but what else could it be?

seem to happen mostly over speed bumps and small potholes. Car is on 60ish k miles. I cannot reproduce any movement in suspension when car is parked, be it front or rear.
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alane29
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by alane29 » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:12 pm

I had simular issue was anti roll bar drop link
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PboroRyan
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by PboroRyan » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:29 pm

Check the rear wishbone bushes on the front suspension also. Common problem, mine were replaced the other month.

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Buckz
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Buckz » Mon Dec 19, 2016 6:21 pm

right, will have to lift the front up again and check again with some force on the parts.

thanks
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sw4nny
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by sw4nny » Mon Dec 19, 2016 7:56 pm

PboroRyan wrote:Check the rear wishbone bushes on the front suspension also. Common problem, mine were replaced the other month.
I would also second this as a possibility
A common bmw fault Z4s and E46 :thumbsup:
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Buckz
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Buckz » Mon Dec 19, 2016 11:26 pm

Right, they don't look too difficult to replace, any tools worth having to pull the old bush/lolipop off? Guessing some brake fluid and rubber mallet will do as far as putting it on goes?
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by PboroRyan » Tue Dec 20, 2016 1:27 am

One of these makes it about a million times easier...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro-cra ... 00mm/12510

They're cheaper elsewhere but they make removing the old bushings a doddle. Breaker bar is also handy just in case the bolts that connect the bush housing to the body are corroded on. Is it definitely the bushings then?

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Buckz
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Buckz » Tue Dec 20, 2016 11:04 am

PboroRyan wrote:One of these makes it about a million times easier...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro-cra ... 00mm/12510

They're cheaper elsewhere but they make removing the old bushings a doddle. Breaker bar is also handy just in case the bolts that connect the bush housing to the body are corroded on. Is it definitely the bushings then?

thanks! was looking at something similar just with 2 arms rather than 3.

no still unconfirmed but them being the only part that I haven't checked properly I'm putting my moneys on it! will poke around with a screw driver and see if I can find any splits as the rubber looked fine from the outside. :driving:
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Roundozo
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Roundozo » Tue Dec 20, 2016 12:15 pm

They might look fine from the outside but can still cause play. I've replaced mine with some pollybush ones. Not going anywhere for a long time. I have already replaced these with OEM ones and they lasted about 8 months.

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Roundozo
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Roundozo » Tue Dec 20, 2016 12:17 pm

P.s don't use brake fluid as it'll damage the rubber. A bit of washing up liquid will do just fine.
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Buckz
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Buckz » Tue Dec 20, 2016 12:20 pm

Roundozo wrote:They might look fine from the outside but can still cause play. I've replaced mine with some pollybush ones. Not going anywhere for a long time. I have already replaced these with OEM ones and they lasted about 8 months.
nice one! where did you get your polybushed ones? Can't seem to find much on the bay :oops: might as well upgrade for something that will last!
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by PboroRyan » Tue Dec 20, 2016 1:04 pm

+1 on the polybushes, I've done the same. Ride is a tad firmer imo but worth it knowing they're not gonna go again.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171231642082? ... EBIDX%3AIT

These are the ones I've got. Don't worry about them being labelled for an E46, they're the same. :thumbsup:

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Roundozo
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Roundozo » Tue Dec 20, 2016 2:01 pm

You can get them cheaper but you have to mount them in the holders yourself. This is what I did but it can be a bit of a pain in the back side of you don't have the right tools. If you don't have a good array of tools then it's probably easier to buy the whole assembly.

You could also then think about getting these....

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221434820597

Again you might want to check but I think the E46 ones fit and are cheaper. If you're replacing the rear bush you may as well do the lot.
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Buckz
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Buckz » Wed Dec 21, 2016 1:45 pm

yeah I was thinking about it. Half tempted to pick this -;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E8 ... SwcBhWVsvq

but not 100% sure if it is compatible with sports suspension or not.. wonder if it's any different to SE? I'd leave the poly bushes for later if it fails.

I do only drive 5000 or so miles a year so doubt it'd fail in a year again.
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Roundozo
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Front passengers side clunk?

Post by Roundozo » Wed Dec 21, 2016 4:31 pm

Pretty sure the wishbones are the same across all models. It's the strut and spring that are different I believe. Replacing the whole unit is very easy.
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