Front suspension circus - my loss your gain
#1
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2018 E43 | 2017 GLS450 | 2004 CLK 500
Front suspension circus - my loss your gain
Alright fellas,
I've been having clunking noises coming from my front suspension starting around January. I took it to my mechanic and they thought it was the sway bar links. changed that, noise still there. Then he told me it was the front struts. So I contacted Sonic Ms that normally works on my car to order some Bilsteins. installed those, noise still there. After some more testing, Sonic figured out that the bolts that hold the sway bar brackets to the chassis were stripped. Actually 1 of the 2 bolts on each side were stripped. so that the bolts were actually pulling in and out and causing the noise. Sonic mentioned that the oem bolts were pretty inadequate for sway bars, becasue they have small teeth and are threading into aluminum, and BMW uses heftier bolts and larger teeth - and have less problems. So they ended up re-tapping the holes in the chassis and securing with larger bolts - and the noise was resolved.
So my loss as you figured out is a perfectly good set of H&R struts/shocks. They are in great working condition with about 15,000 miles on the front, and 30,000 on the rears. One thing about them - they are the shock units from an H&R w203 Street Coilover kit which Sonic originally paired with my Eibach springs. So if you do grab them from me, and at some point you need a replacement your shop will need to know this to order correctly. But they are pretty much the same fit as any other shock/strut for the w203/w209. If you're intersted I'm willing to let them go for $200. Local preferred. Shipping would be extra. Perfect if you're looking to replace OEM shocks. Overall the ride quality is very smooth, but probably on the stiffer side compared to the Bilsteins I have now. PM me if intersted - you can talk to Barett @ Sonic MS he'll vouch for me and the condition. Sonic works on a lot of cars here in the Bay Area.
I've been having clunking noises coming from my front suspension starting around January. I took it to my mechanic and they thought it was the sway bar links. changed that, noise still there. Then he told me it was the front struts. So I contacted Sonic Ms that normally works on my car to order some Bilsteins. installed those, noise still there. After some more testing, Sonic figured out that the bolts that hold the sway bar brackets to the chassis were stripped. Actually 1 of the 2 bolts on each side were stripped. so that the bolts were actually pulling in and out and causing the noise. Sonic mentioned that the oem bolts were pretty inadequate for sway bars, becasue they have small teeth and are threading into aluminum, and BMW uses heftier bolts and larger teeth - and have less problems. So they ended up re-tapping the holes in the chassis and securing with larger bolts - and the noise was resolved.
So my loss as you figured out is a perfectly good set of H&R struts/shocks. They are in great working condition with about 15,000 miles on the front, and 30,000 on the rears. One thing about them - they are the shock units from an H&R w203 Street Coilover kit which Sonic originally paired with my Eibach springs. So if you do grab them from me, and at some point you need a replacement your shop will need to know this to order correctly. But they are pretty much the same fit as any other shock/strut for the w203/w209. If you're intersted I'm willing to let them go for $200. Local preferred. Shipping would be extra. Perfect if you're looking to replace OEM shocks. Overall the ride quality is very smooth, but probably on the stiffer side compared to the Bilsteins I have now. PM me if intersted - you can talk to Barett @ Sonic MS he'll vouch for me and the condition. Sonic works on a lot of cars here in the Bay Area.
Last edited by lowpost; 06-08-2011 at 11:43 PM. Reason: add more pics
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hey lowpost when did you hear the noise while backing up....then hitting the brakes or when you drove fwd then touched the brakes.....i have a weird noise aswell replaced the bushing brackets to the larger ones but its still makes noise...might have to take a trip to sonic aswell
Last edited by Flame3g; 06-07-2011 at 06:42 PM.
#7
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2018 E43 | 2017 GLS450 | 2004 CLK 500
I don't know - I'll check
my noise issues did not occur due to steering wheel movement
Not from backing up - just driving, going over terrain changes - clunk clunk
I'll try when I have more time.
i also hear like a strange sound from the front wheels area lately everytime i turn my steering wheels to the left or to the right. do u think i have the same problem as yours?
Flame3g hey lowpost when did you hear the noise while backing up....then hitting the brakes or when you drove fwd then touched the brakes.....i have a weird noise aswell replaced the bushing brackets to the larger ones but its still makes noise...might have to take a trip to sonic aswell
Hey Lowpost do you think you could PM me pics of the shocks? I live in the East Bay too. Thanks
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#11
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BTW, in caseyou want to estimate shipping on your own, the box is:
12x18x30
45 lbs
I'll give you w209 bros until the weekend and then I'm gonna throw these on ebay/craiglist/Classified.
12x18x30
45 lbs
I'll give you w209 bros until the weekend and then I'm gonna throw these on ebay/craiglist/Classified.
Last edited by lowpost; 06-09-2011 at 12:10 AM.
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Stiffer than OEM, so will it help eliminate rubbing over bumps and dips?
How will it perform in combination with H&R springs?
I'll be in the Bay Area later this week, might want to pick them up.
PM me your phone#.
Thanks!
How will it perform in combination with H&R springs?
I'll be in the Bay Area later this week, might want to pick them up.
PM me your phone#.
Thanks!