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740iL (E38) Breaking Lug Bolts - HELP!

2K views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  LeLimoMan 
#1 ·
I have owned my 1998 BMW 740iL for the last seven years and it has been one of best cars I have ever owned. I recently bought a pick-up truck for winter and hauling and I think my BMW is jealous and trying to kill me now!

As a matter of background info, the car has 165K on it and I am running Goodyear F1 tires on it in the summer mounted on Elbrus rims. Two months ago on a trip up to Maine, I took an exit ramp and noticed a loud/rhythmic clicking sound coming from the rear of my car. It was speed sensitive. I pulled over and found that 4 of my five lug bolts had broken off on the passenger side rear wheel just inside the rotor. (Holy Sh*t :eek:hnoes ) I was able to chase the broken bits out with a pick and "borrowed" a lug bolt from each of the remaining wheels and limped home. All the other bolts seemed to be in good shape and tight. I immediately replaced ALL the lug nuts with new and was sure to use a torque wrench to tighten them to 85lbs. I thought that would be the end of the problem and that some numbnut had used an impact gun on them at some point in the past.

This last week, I was coming back from a run to the local store and noticed a familiar clicking noise as I was coming to a stop. I pulled over in the nearest parking lot and low and behold, there were 4 lug bolts missing from the same rear wheel again! What gives!?!?

As I was, once again, replacing the lug bolts, I checked everything on the rear end and all seems tight. There is absolutely no movement in the rotor/hub. I did notice that both my rear tires are wearing a lot more than the fronts and especially on the outside edge. They are essentially toast now.

I am totally at a loss on what to do at this point. Can anyone shed some light on what might be the cause? Is it the wheels? is it the rear suspension? I am stumped and my BMW mechanic says he's never seen anything like this either.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
 

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