Re: Clunking noise from rear of 325i

["Alan Alfano" <aalfano02@xxxxxxxx>]

Rick,

> a solid "clunking" noise in the rear when I back down
>my fairly steep driveway.

Consider checking the simpler and less expensive options first.

1) rear shock upper mounts
These have been known to need replacement every 30k miles.
They will always look ok.
After removing them, hold the mount in one hand and with the other place a
screwdriver into the mount into the metal tube where the rear shock stud
enters.
Stressing the two usually will show the the metal tube has separated from
the
surrounding rubber mount.

2) rear swaybar end links and rear trailing arm brackets to swaybar.
replace one or both

3) rear brake pads are loose in the caliper pad carrier.
easy fix. loosen upper caliper bolt, remove the other.
rotate the caliper up, readjust the pad spring clips.

Could also be less expensive non-BMW pads which do not fit the
caliper pad carrier.

Now that I think about it.
My car sometimes makes that sound.
As the pad is slightly moving in the pad carrier from the front rotation
point to the rear rotation point.

IMHO
never go to the independent BMW mechanic who thought it might be the
transmission
and
never go to the local BMW dealer who thought it might be in the
differential.
These guys just want your money, and many thosands at that.

Regards,
Alan Alfano
88 325iX


>Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 01:00:07 -0400
>From: Rick Kaiser <kaiser@domain.elided>
>Subject: Clunking noise from rear of 325i
>
>I own a '93 325i manual transmission with 97 K miles. In the last few
>months, its developed a solid "clunking" noise in the rear when I back down
>my fairly steep driveway. I've checked the battery, and its secure. I've
>taken it to an independent BMW mechanic who thought it might be the
>transmission, but told my wife to ignore it. I just left it for a week with
>the local BMW dealer who thought it might be in the differential. But their
>mechanics couldn't find a problem and were too damned lazy to back it down
a
>ramp to reproduce the noise.
>Any ideas?
>Rick Kaiser
>909-496-8400

------------------------------