A thunk in my trunk - BMW Forum

taylor · 05-27-2006, 08:32 AM

Can anyone help me with this? I have a clunking noise coming from my trunk, which I suspect is due to a loose arm that closes the trunk (right side).
I just had my shocks and rear brakes done, so it's not that.
Anyone else have this problem? I cant quite pinpoint it.
Thanks.

TurboB3 · 05-28-2006, 12:48 PM

I had the same problem and found it was my rear differential. Check that out cause it might be that

Teh Prof · 05-28-2006, 09:46 PM

Rear shock mounts? Torn rear subframe? What year E36 do you have?

Ivan · 05-28-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taylor

Can anyone help me with this? I have a clunking noise coming from my trunk, which I suspect is due to a loose arm that closes the trunk (right side).
I just had my shocks and rear brakes done, so it's not that.
Anyone else have this problem? I cant quite pinpoint it.
Thanks.

bump anyone off in the past few days? maybe theyre still alive. go pop them a few times and see if the noise stops...

taylor · 06-01-2006, 04:33 AM

and I just had the shocks done. Where's the differential?
I'm oping its something simple, like the arm that closes the trunk. It appears loose.

Teh Prof · 06-01-2006, 08:45 AM

The differential is the metal box in the middle of the rear axle. The driveshaft goes into it and two half-shafts go out of it to the wheels.

Cruzin 323is · 06-02-2006, 08:35 AM

is this bad to drive around on.. because i have a feeling mine is the same way....

but i hear a noise as if somthing is banging around in my trunk, when nothing really is... and only hear the noise when accelerating froma stopsign...

triggrhaapi · 06-02-2006, 03:47 PM

the thunk in your trunk is your junk.

325isBaby · 06-02-2006, 04:33 PM

If you just had the shocks done, I'd check to make sure the dang things are tightened properly! Just thowin it out there

BMerViXeN · 06-03-2006, 12:21 AM

I noticed a similar noise coming from the rear right side of my car, it only appears for a few minutes when I start driving it initially and then it stops, and starts clunking again when I pull into my driveway. It is slowly driving me nuts, sounds like a loose screw or something. Shaking the car doesn't help. I'm going to check the differential, but if that's not it then I'll be back for some of your advice. Now if it's a differential, is it something that can be tightened etc myself or do I need a "pro" help?

Teh Prof · 06-03-2006, 12:25 AM

One thing to check, I suppose, is whether the battery is properly seated in its compartment. Otherwise it might move around and thunk on the sides of the compartment under acceleration and deceleration.

taylor · 06-03-2006, 12:54 PM

Here's the whole story:
1) Had the shocks and brakes done by a mom and pop guy (cause for alarm)
2) He heard the thunk, said it was unrelated to the work (it was there before I brought it in), and suggested something in trunk (no cause for alarm). He didn't want to fix because he spent 2 days on my car, and thinks BMWs are tough to work on because of the special tools needed. I provided the parts, courtesy of BAVauto, so I saved there. He also fixed the right rear wheel bearing.
3) I bounced the car up and down on the quarterpanels - no noise
4) I bounced the car up and down with my hands on the trunk - noise

Here's my dilemma: I just spent $1300 on this repair, and want to know if I can just live with this noise (trunk arm?) for awhile, or should I be worried about a safety issue (differential?) that I should bring to the stealership for a top-quality fix?

Thanks to any who can help

Teh Prof · 06-03-2006, 01:56 PM

The trunk arm should be a fairly straightforward DIY. Fix it and you will know whether the thunking was just that or something else.

taylor · 06-15-2006, 04:55 AM

The outcome was that it was a bushing on the right side that connects to the frame. I still have to order teh part. Have had good luck with bavauto.com
For those who have the same problem, get that checked out. I guess it's hard to find because it's "up" under the frame. A passenger in my car told me he could feel the bumps under his right arm, when he put the arm on the rest.
Thanks to all, hopefully this info can help somebody, too.

toymachine595 · 06-18-2006, 01:20 AM

Now is it a constant thunking or every now and then? Cause i had a problem as well and everytime i hit a small bump i would hear this loud ass clunk. come to find out the passenger side trailing arm bushing was worn out.so every time i hit a bump i heard the arm hit my frame. problem is you cant just replace the bushing so i gotta buy the whole arm so hopefully its not gonna cost me an arm and a leg
good luck