...I need some help, badly

[BimmerE39]

So, my E39 has reached that special time where age/mileage makes things wear out/break. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and I can't figure this one out.

About a month ago, I started to hear this strange bumping sound in the front. What makes this even more odd is the sound dissapeared for awhile and has recently come back (I knew this was likely to happen).

I'm under the idea that I'm probably going to have to replace the upper and lower control arms as I occasionally feel a tad bit of play through the steering wheel.

If anyone else has experience this problem with a bumping sound, let me know what it was. I want to make sure I know what it is before I go and do the work.

Some additional information:
The car is 9 years old and has 81K miles.

Thanks for any help in advance. I appreciate any input and I'm sure this is a common problem.

[witeshark]

My first guess is lower control arm bushings.

[BimmerE39]

Originally Posted by witeshark

My first guess is lower control arm bushings.

Thanks whiteshark. I was thinking the same thing because I've seen a lot of threads regarding LCA failures. Either way, I still think I'll do both the upper and lowers while I'm in there.

[rashid]

In my case changing the control arms has not solved the noise problem fully but has improved the situation. I am still hearing some noise with sort of play in the steering wheel especially on a rough road. But my car has 342,000 Km.

You have nice looking car with nice rims.

keep us updated on your progress.

[MADDOUG]

Bumping sound on my old e34 turned out to be passenger side shock with no oil left in it,yes hard to believe but the handling apart from excess roll in corners was still good.I ended up replacing all round and found drivers side was not to clever as well.Still shocks me to this day that out of all the cars I have ever owned none would still drive and handle as good with suspension in that state.It already had new thrust and lower arms fitted so I expected the bump to be anti roll bar !!.It would make the bump noise the most when the suspension was full height and lets say 'unloaded' the first part of its travel made the sound,often accompanied by a feeling on rippled type roads that the wheels seemed to be wobbling as if all the wheel bolts were loose

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

Try the inner and outer tierod ends or strut caps

[BimmerE39]

Originally Posted by MADDOUG

Bumping sound on my old e34 turned out to be passenger side shock with no oil left in it,yes hard to believe but the handling apart from excess roll in corners was still good.I ended up replacing all round and found drivers side was not to clever as well.Still shocks me to this day that out of all the cars I have ever owned none would still drive and handle as good with suspension in that state.It already had new thrust and lower arms fitted so I expected the bump to be anti roll bar !!.It would make the bump noise the most when the suspension was full height and lets say 'unloaded' the first part of its travel made the sound,often accompanied by a feeling on rippled type roads that the wheels seemed to be wobbling as if all the wheel bolts were loose

I replaced my shocks last year with Bilstein sports, so I know that is not the problem. Thanks for the info though.

[BimmerE39]

Originally Posted by AlpineSixAndSeven

Try the inner and outer tierod ends or strut caps

Maybe, I'm going to replace my LCA's and UCA's first and see if it goes away.

[alswick]

! 1 Thing I Found Out Abut Owning A Bmw The Rattle N Roll In Th Places Hard To Get To

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

And did you do new strut caps when you intalled the billies? I would look into powerflex poly bushings btw

[BimmerE39]

Originally Posted by AlpineSixAndSeven

And did you do new strut caps when you intalled the billies? I would look into powerflex poly bushings btw

Powerflex doesn't make a whole lot for the E39. I'm going to add BavAuto heavy duty strut bearings. I replaced my control arms and it reduced the thumping sound. Now I know it's coming from the shock towers. No, I did not have them replaced and I knew I should have.

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

yeah if you have it that far abart just replace them there cheap... powerflex makes control arm(thrust arm) bushings and Rear bushings

[BimmerE39]

Originally Posted by AlpineSixAndSeven

yeah if you have it that far abart just replace them there cheap... powerflex makes control arm(thrust arm) bushings and Rear bushings

I've learned that lesson, but the only good thing here is that the front suspension isn't that hard to take apart or put back together.

[BimmerE39]

So I found the problem. It ended up being my front right strut which apparently had a real nasty defect. The replacement Bilstein is on the way and I'll post additional info when I get it.

[witeshark]

Glad you found it!