How to tell if front strut mount is bad

[qwickm3]

How do tell if the front strut mount is bad. I heard a metallic clanking sound coming from that area today when I hit a bump. Any help is apprecaited.

[Seth Thomas]

Go raise your hood and press down hard on the strut tower. If you here the popping noise again then it is probably bad. If everytime you push on the strut tower then you know it is bad.

[jgrotkier]

Sorry about raising this thread from the dead but I believe I have this problem but after an hour of searching I was not able to find a specific answer to my question. My front driver's side makes a slight clunking noise when I go over bumps, and I did this test and I can hear something clunk when I jerk the strut tower back and forth. Also, the driver's side sits probably 1/2" lower than the passenger side.

Does this sound like a bad strut mount?

If so, exactly what do I need to buy, one thread I found here linked to realoem.com that had about 20 parts inside the upper mount. Which do I need to replace to resolve this problem?

Thanks in advance.

Sorry if I sound like a newb, I'm new to the BMW world :-)

[wsmc831]

oem boge suspension? Make sure the strut top nut is tight, often that's the clunking. I have bilsteins and have had to tighten them up once.

if I where you, I'd just get the entire strut hat, around 70 apiece..

[monkeywrench]

Also, check the sway bar end links - they're bolted directly to the struts on the M3's. The ball joints at either end of the the links wear and cause clunking noises over bumps.

[jgrotkier]

oem boge suspension? Make sure the strut top nut is tight, often that's the clunking. I have bilsteins and have had to tighten them up once.

if I where you, I'd just get the entire strut hat, around 70 apiece..

Yes, this is the OEM suspension. The previous owner had some sort of aftermarket suspension on the car but returned it back to stock sometime last year.

Also, where do you get the strut hat?

[tangled]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...nce&n=15684181

That is one of the best bang-for-buck diagnostic tools you can own.

[jgrotkier]

Also, check the sway bar end links - they're bolted directly to the struts on the M3's. The ball joints at either end of the the links wear and cause clunking noises over bumps.

When I shook the strut tower the noise definately seemed to be coming from the top of the strut, wouldn't that noise be lower?

[resisTm3]

do something abou tit before this happens!!!

[jgrotkier]

do something abou tit before this happens!!!

Holy crap! Well where can I buy the hat? Does anyone know the part #, etc?

Thanks!!

[4ZPN]

The picture above is the rear shock tower, not the front strut tower. 96+ E36 M3s have a reinforcement plate that does between the strut "hat" and the strut tower. 95 M3s don't have that part. Scroll to the end of the camber plate section.

http://www.meisterschaftmotor.com/su...mp.html#camber

If you are shaking the strut and its making noise, i would check the 3 bolts that hold the strut hat to the strut tower, the hat itself, or the top nut that tolds the strut to the hat.

[B.Watts]

Holy 5 year old thread Batman!

[jgrotkier]

The picture above is the rear shock tower, not the front strut tower. 96+ E36 M3s have a reinforcement plate that does between the strut "hat" and the strut tower. 95 M3s don't have that part. Scroll to the end of the camber plate section.


If you are shaking the strut and its making noise, i would check the 3 bolts that hold the strut hat to the strut tower, the hat itself, or the top nut that tolds the strut to the hat.

I'm not shaking the strut itself, I'm shaking the strut tower from inside the engine bay. I will still check those bolts, but if thats not it?

[jgrotkier]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a strut hat? I am still confused about specifically which part to order.

Thanks again.

[95bimm3r]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a strut hat? I am still confused about specifically which part to order.

Thanks again.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/cata...pg3.htm#item11

[jgrotkier]

Awsome! Thank you!

[BMW&PorscheDude]

Yes, thank you all for the helpful info. I have M3 suspension on my 328i and have this exact same problem. Now I know and there I go! -Paul

Oh ya, and this 5 year old thread is getting kinda old. Someone should start a new one all over again. That's never been done before.

[BMDubalew]

going to bring this thread back to life.

ordered bilstein sports for my baby. just searching around for helpful hints and tips for install.

the front strut mounts i should test by pushing down on the car and seeing if theres clunking noises and also try wiggling the shock to see if theres play. any other ways to test if my FRONT strut mounts are okay? visually?

ive only had the car for a couple of months and i dont know how long its been since shes been riding on h&r sports and blown shocks all around. it seems the front passenger bottoms out on almost anything sticking out of the road. like big sewer caps. im concerned about the front shock mounts during my install. ive tested the push and wiggle and it seems okay

[Balthazarr]

going to bring this thread back to life.

ordered bilstein sports for my baby. just searching around for helpful hints and tips for install.

There are a plethora of installation threads with pics.
Also we have a DIY Library that has a compilation of diy's from various sources.
Twice resurrected...must be a record. lol

[BMDubalew]

i know where the install threads are and the diy section, thanks

im asking questions about the front strut mount. how else can i tell if its broken visually and by other means of testing while its on the car so i can determine if i need new ones..

[bmwpower]

i know where the install threads are and the diy section, thanks

im asking questions about the front strut mount. how else can i tell if its broken visually and by other means of testing while its on the car so i can determine if i need new ones..

Take off the cap from the engine bay and look down into the mount. You may see anything from torn or worn rubber on the mount, worn bearings, etc.

The other thing you might be able to do is to take measurements of both sides. The clunk is due to either the rubber, bearing wear or a loose top nut, so there may be sight differences in the mount dimensions.

Check the amount of threads viewable at the top nut on each side. If the nut is loose, you will get the clunk. Had the same problem on my E30. Over time it loosened. I was about ready to replace the mount when I took my impact gun to the top nut and just gave it a little zap. No more clunk. Unfortunately, you can't do that on the M3 without removing the strut assembly from underneath the shock tower.

Getting ready to check my mounts as I'm getting the clunk on my M3...

[czapa11]

i hate to bring this thread form dead but is this the problem
and how did any one solve it ???
I got e36 m3 sedan
Since i got the car i been experiencing knocking in the front passenger tower its only on low speed
All components as far as suspension where changed except the shock with is bilstein everything is tight on the car
I changed the upper mount twice since its when i push the car on that front corner it sound like the upper mount
What i have noticed when i lift the car on a lift and put it down the noise is goes away when i start driving
Or when the car sits for two days not driven and i push on the front it knocks once and then no more
could that be the shock its self
don't have any spear ones to check
i made a video not the best quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcn1KQpIiKU
if any one could help or steer me in any direction would be great
Thanks

[ThreeD]

Holy 12 year old thread Batman!

ftfy

[czapa11]

No one
i have changed the stabilizer links
tighten the top nut nothing

[RatedM3]

No one
i have changed the stabilizer links
tighten the top nut nothing

Take it to a shop.