Weird cracking noises.

[a3ternus]

Well,at this point I could say I m about so fed up with my E30 that I m
considering stripping the car down to make it a trackday car only. :(

The problem is a cracking noise coming from the right front corner of the car.
At least from what I hear while driving over potholes or when the car
is going on an even slightly elevated driveway.
The noise is like wood about to break and its driving me mad to
an insane level.I m sure E30 drivers relate to this feeling of frustration pretty well.

Things I ve tried:
I.Changed front anti roll bar mounts.All of them.
II.Changed 1 year old (and not properly fitted) M3 front
rubber mountings f wishbone AND the brackets.7+8 in the image.

III.Pulled both right doors apart,tightened everything and put them back.
IV.Tightened my front strut bar as much as I could.
V.Lubricated everything I could on the right side of the car.

Result:The noise just about became somehow quieter.
Still its there,driving me nuts.I ve spent 100€ and still its there.
My strut towers are ok all around.

Please help me.I have no clue how to get rid of this.
N.

[jlevie]

Check the crossmember bolts (#3 above), check the crossmember for cracks and check the frame and strut towers for cracks or broken welds.

[Sagaris]

I also have the same creaking sound on the front right corner. Let me know what you find.

related to subframe cracking: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=428982

[a3ternus]

I ll double check again tomorrow and see what else I can find.
I m 1000% sure the noise is coming from the engine bay around the front right wheel.
Its definitely NOT coming from inside the car in any way.
Truth is I never ever came across a noise like this in any E30 I ve driven.
I ll post more as soon as I can.

Any other suggestions?

N.

PS.THANK YOU very much for the answers.

[Sagaris]

Does your car have an RPM dependent vibration? mine does. I have been trying to figure it out for a while but a cracked or bent subframe might explain it. I need to check mine.

[a3ternus]

Hm,I agree.But the noise I talk about is not RPM related.
Sequence of potholes and low car speed make it louder.
If I m lucky I ll check underneath the car again tomorrow.
N.

[oldcarskickass]

REMOVE the strut bar and try again.

[jw 325ic]

After continuous potholes to my left front, the tab on the front subframe that holds the swaybar snapped off. Check that.

[a3ternus]

REMOVE the strut bar and try again.

There is an alarming amount of misinformation in your post(s). I don't want to get into it, but please stop sharing your knowledge.

Nuh,just kidding! :p:D
I did try that and made no difference.
I just forgot to tell you in person.

After continuous potholes to my left front, the tab on the front subframe that holds the swaybar snapped off. Check that.

All Swaybar links in the front are new man!


Well,I ll be checking the car again tomorrow afternoon.
I m gonna jet wash it underneath the engine so we can get
a better look at every weld and screw and everything again.
Meanwhile my mechanic suggested that maybe the right front
fender maybe is the culprit.Maybe something is out of place.

Anyway,I ll update tomorrow afternoon!
N.

[Sagaris]

I checked mine out. My RPM related vibration was due to overtorqued engine mounts. No subframe cracks but I did notice a little bit of paint peeling off the pass. side frame rail at the same height as the exhaust manifold. I am not sure whether the cause was heat, a wrench hitting the frame rail while replacing an oxygen sensor, or chassis flex (or a combination of the 3) but everything else checks out okay. I have yet to replace sway bar end links. The only thing I noticed that was out of place was my radiator. The passenger side lower radiator support cup (plastic/rubber dealio) was hardly sitting underneath the radiator. That got rid of a rattle up front. I don't know about the creaking since my creaking is infrequent.

[a3ternus]

Glad you sorted something out in the end.

Unfortunately,time was short and couldn t inspect the car today.
One thing my mechanic suggested though was that maybe we need to get the right fender out and inspect the welds on the chassis for any cracks and what not.
I ll report back soon!
N.

[a3ternus]

Well,we could nt locate anything,so we may need to remove the fender and inpect the factory welds.I ll do it in a month cos my mechanic is going on vacations till September.
N.

[a3ternus]

Hey,upon further investigation on the noise I can also say
that no matter how much I move the car shoving the front
right suspension towards the ground I cannot reproduce the noise.
Nothing.No noise at all.Only when there is some movement
both horizontally and vertically I can hear it.

So,is there any chance this is caused by a worn upper or lower spring pad
enabling the spring to move even just a little?!
A friend of mine could clearly locate the shock tower as the sourse.
Also he can feel vibrations on the shock tower whenever there is the noise.

I m talking about parts #10 and #15.


I m guessing that s the culprit.
That or worn top mount?!

If the noise was coming from a damaged weld,wouldnt it
make the noise every time I apply force to the fender?
Please bear with me a little.I need to fix it.
N.

[jlevie]

A worn strut mount is a possibility.

[a3ternus]

Changed right front top mount.
Got the strut bar out and inserted metallic rings under its mounts (spacers).
Its a 3 piece strut mount in the front.
The noise is less but definitely still present.
Damn.Fuck E30s.
N.