trabots

My just acquired 2005 E55 with 70k km which replaced my 2006 E55 with 130k km with a blown motor has the "dead body thump", the newer car did not have it before the Airmatic failed. Before I swap in the Arnott coil overs I salvaged from the 2006 car I want to be absolutely sure it is shocks not the sub frame bolts. Shardul, in the old posts you usually say shocks but you on occasion said it was the bolts. I want to use the Airmatic to its demise on the 2005 car before switching to the coil overs. I have put a wrench on all the large torx head bolts I could see and all were tight and gaps equal both sides. Shardul, I trust you as I see you have been thanks so many times. Based on what I have said, is it shocks or not? Cheers in advance.

JohnLane

I'd give the subframe mount bushings a long sideways look. Yup... The captive nuts in the body want to pull outta there. Many have been repaired.... With varying levels of success. I weld a burly nut to a 1/4" piece of sheet steel cut out to fit into the frame rail that I've cut upon and weld that in after the bolt gets tightened up real good to hold the plate in place.

trabots

Thanks John, but surely if the captive nuts are pulled out, the bolt will feel loose? I did check the torxs head bolts and all were tight.

trabots

I put my Arnott's coil overs on my 2005 E55. Th thump in the trunk is now gone. Thankyou Shardul for your advise on this. I am still mystified how shocks can thump like that despite operating perfectly with no leaks or warning lights.

chawkins2001

Check your rear subframe bolts that bolt to your frame rail.

PieRat

I think the bolt housing can tear upwards and still be in the chasis but loose over bumps etc. it then later can tear itself through the chasis hole and the subframe corner will hang low and start creaking and groaning when momentum switches forwards and back..
if the bolt has torn itself upwards into chasis you can probably check their still tight with a t28 socket i think it is..

I just got done with Stumptown benz diy Google Stumptown e55 subframe bolt he got a blog with good diy..