clanging noise from drivers rear suspension

E

elliot_holder

Member
Hi all,

Been noticing a strange noice coming from the rear suspension area for a few days now. I've had a quick look but can see anythin obvious.

The noise sounds like metal hitting metal, its not massively loud but sounds like a clanging when I go over speed bumps or pot holes.

Does anyone know what it might be?

Thanks
 
Most likely it's a broken rear spring, it's a common problem and not easy to spot as it's usualy the top coil that snaps. This was mine.

CoilSpringAlpina001.jpg
 
Could be that, when i fitted the Eibach springs i found both my rear springs to be broken at the bottom..
 
Thanks guys,

Its going up on a mates ramps today for some investigation. Lukily I think the car still has some warranty remaining so it will be going back to the dealer quick sharp to be sorted.

At least it sounds like its a fairly common fault, and nothing too out of the ordinary.
 
Mine had gone having had similar symptoms to reported here so got sorted at last service. Fortunately not too costly if you're out of warranty (around £180 fitted).
 
well mine has just done the same yesterday 7 days of a tiny rattle and then it dropped out as i cam off the drive just the drivers side though.

Will need to get some new springs this week anyone recomend a good replacement even a lowering kit and rough prices

Thanks

Andy
 
Frustratingly, I've just noticed my passenger side rear spring has gone as well.. I'm my annoyed state I e-mailed BMW customer services to give them a piece of my mind, as this is clearly a substantial fault which affects many Z4's, and not just mine..

The response is below...

"When a vehicle is outside of its warranty then it is reasonably expected that the owner of the vehicle accepts responsibility for any costs that may arise in servicing and maintaining that vehicle. As a manufacturer, BMW continually monitors work that is carried out on vehicles within our dealerships so that we can establish if there are any inherent faults with certain components and take any necessary action to resolve this. I can confirm that the issue that you describe is not a common problem with the Z4."


The bit that annoys me is the piece stating that its not a common Z4 problem, when it seems a good proportion of people on this forum have experienced spring failure at some time or other.

Is there anyone who has been successful obtianing a free sprng replacement from BMW with a car outside of warranty?
Likewise, are any moderators up for helping set-up a poll to see just how many of us have had this common problem?
 
elliot_holder said:
Frustratingly, I've just noticed my passenger side rear spring has gone as well.. I'm my annoyed state I e-mailed BMW customer services to give them a piece of my mind, as this is clearly a substantial fault which affects many Z4's, and not just mine..

The response is below...

"When a vehicle is outside of its warranty then it is reasonably expected that the owner of the vehicle accepts responsibility for any costs that may arise in servicing and maintaining that vehicle. As a manufacturer, BMW continually monitors work that is carried out on vehicles within our dealerships so that we can establish if there are any inherent faults with certain components and take any necessary action to resolve this. I can confirm that the issue that you describe is not a common problem with the Z4."


The bit that annoys me is the piece stating that its not a common Z4 problem, when it seems a good proportion of people on this forum have experienced spring failure at some time or other.

Is there anyone who has been successful obtianing a free sprng replacement from BMW with a car outside of warranty?
Likewise, are any moderators up for helping set-up a poll to see just how many of us have had this common problem?
Click to expand...

I had my car in for a oil service just over a month ago. Both rear springs were snapped and I have no warranty. Had mine changed totaly free of charge, the dealer originaly wanted to charge me for one snapped spring (around £180) but I queried it as it's a common problem. He emailed BMW whilst I was on the phone to him, got an imediate response, ok "sir we can replace it for free" It was only when I picked the car up that I found out they'd done both rear springs.

Always best to first try the friendly approach at the local dealers, it's even helped me in getting a badly fitted windscreen replaced inc. a free new scuttle panel from Autoglass.
 
Mine went in for a service on Monday, no prizes for guessing what was broken and needed replacing on mine :headbang:

Even the service manager said it is a common problem. :cry:
 
RustyZ4 said:
Mine went in for a service on Monday, no prizes for guessing what was broken and needed replacing on mine :headbang:

Even the service manager said it is a common problem. :cry:
Click to expand...

I think mine are the same, it seems from one side that when on cobbled streets, or bumps in the road it does clang on the drivers side......my questions then are:-

1. Who else has had these done for free out of warranty ?
2. How do i fin dout which ones mine are as i am 99% sure i have the lowered springs ?.....the reason i ask is that i can buy the springs and get my mate who is a mechanic and has his own garage to replace them.
3. Is it also 'best practice' to replace the pair, even if one side has the broken spring ?
4. Rusty, how much were you charged for yours ?

thanks in advance ?
 
Hi Easty

Mine would have been £178.00 for one spring fitted, but I took out an independant insurancem and they covered £158.00 of it, as they would not meet BMW`s hourly rate !!!! :headbang:

interesting thought about pairing them, never even crossed my mind to be honest. To be fair I did not know it was broken in the first place, as I had no noise`s or handling problems, maybe that would just have been a matter of time, might have just happened.

I can not see a reason why you can not buy them and get someone else to fit them, garages do it all the time :D
 
RustyZ4 said:
Hi Easty

Mine would have been £178.00 for one spring fitted, but I took out an independant insurancem and they covered £158.00 of it, as they would not meet BMW`s hourly rate !!!! :headbang:

interesting thought about pairing them, never even crossed my mind to be honest. To be fair I did not know it was broken in the first place, as I had no noise`s or handling problems, maybe that would just have been a matter of time, might have just happened.

I can not see a reason why you can not buy them and get someone else to fit them, garages do it all the time :D
Click to expand...

Exactly, no point in having your 'kegs pulled dowm for a good old fashioned a$$ raping' by a main dealer :o for something as simple as swapping springs ! I just need to find out which ones i have ?
 
Good news on the spring.

After raising a complaint through BMW customer services, have have agreed to replace. I will still have to pay the labout charge which comes to £90, but considering my car is outside of warranty I'm fairly happy with that.

Must Say I was very impressed with their customer services, and their responsiveness to my complaint. It was all resolved very quickly, and profesionally. The Dealer (Barons - Farnborough) were also excellent, and were very accommodating.

However, BMW did continue to deny all knowledge of the spring issues, all the way through the complaint.

That said, they are replacing my spring, so am happy enough.
 
any noticeable handling changes?

im hearing some noise from the rear(metal to metal) but very randomly but constantly comes back. My car doesn't seem to have handling issue and I checked the springs(shook em around while the wheel was off) and it was pretty firm
 
I've had to change the rear springs on my 8 year old 3 Series twice (I'm told a lot of the running gear is the same as the Z4 - is that right?). I was told by an independent BMW specialist that the springs should always be changed in pairs.
 
Since this sounds like quite a common fault I would like to check my spring are all ok. Since there is no sign of any springs when I look in my wheel arches I presume they are hidden away and the only way to see them is when the car is up on a ramp?
 
Hi all,

I havent had any noticable hnding issues, although it must affect the suspension set-up, and eventually I would imagine you would see un-even tyre wear or some noticable difference in handling. But suppose it all depends on how many coils drop off your spring, one of mine was really bad the other was only about half a coil.

You can spot the springs fairly easily if you remove the wheels, there not hidden away. Just arnt easy to see with the wheels still in place.
 
Medium Dave said:
...I was told by an independent BMW specialist that the springs should always be changed in pairs.
Click to expand...
I would say yes to that, you don't want any unusual handling characteristics throwing you off the road into a hedge.
 
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