Loud/Nasty rattle when going over bumps

tk005x · 08-30-2010, 10:17 PM

Was wondering if anyone else is getting the same sound/problem as me.

When I go over bumps, when the front wheel hits it, it's perfectly fine but when the back wheels hit it I get a loud nasty rattle.

The bumps honestly aren't big bumps and any other car I've had/driven, was never a big deal (just a thud sound/or a little rattle).

And to test it out I drove my bro's car which is a lot stiffer then mine (M45 with 19inch wheels + stiffer tires + springs + sport suspension) on the same roads/bumps. It does not even get close to the sound I get when my rear wheels hit the bump and on his car I just get a regular thud sound, no crazy rattle.

Tried to put it in comfort mode as well and it doesn't really seem to help.

I've got the dynamic handling + sport package.

Can't pinpoint exactly where it is coming from. I'm wondering if it has to do with either the sunshades on the doors/rear or because the rear is a multilink suspension

ibimmer954 · 08-30-2010, 10:33 PM

I haven't noticed any rattle. Is this at a higher speed, like hitting a bump in the road? Or is it when going over a curb at low speed? Maybe there's something bad going on in the rear of your car. Like a wheel, suspension, or bearing problem.

Hoss NY · 08-30-2010, 10:35 PM

No rattle with mine when going over bumps as you've described.

CJ · 08-30-2010, 10:39 PM

Ive had this happen a couple of times in my car, 550i with sport package the dynamic ride control. On sudden depressions where the car just "drops" the front seems to step down normally but the rear seems to slam down as if the rear suspension firms up super hard. Ive noticed this does not happen with I switched to comfort on the same road, same road irregularity but I plan to get this checked out anyway. Ill post back if something comes up.

fireman550 · 08-30-2010, 11:31 PM

Had a 3 series with the sport package and it did the same thing that you are describing, it was mostly due to the lower position in the suspension. since you live in NJ I suspect that it is like here in NY, many bumps and pot holes. I dont have that problem now with the new F10. I wanted the comfy ride after a couple of mishaps with the afforementioned 3. Might be something else but I think its just the sport suspension....

bm323 · 08-30-2010, 11:35 PM

My 535i with adaptive drive does not have this problem.

tk005x · 08-31-2010, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

I haven't noticed any rattle. Is this at a higher speed, like hitting a bump in the road? Or is it when going over a curb at low speed? Maybe there's something bad going on in the rear of your car. Like a wheel, suspension, or bearing problem.

Don't get it at low speeds, seem to notice it when going > 20 mph.

Quote:

Ive had this happen a couple of times in my car, 550i with sport package the dynamic ride control. On sudden depressions where the car just "drops" the front seems to step down normally but the rear seems to slam down as if the rear suspension firms up super hard. Ive noticed this does not happen with I switched to comfort on the same road, same road irregularity but I plan to get this checked out anyway. Ill post back if something comes up.

Yeah that's a great way to describe it. But for me comfort mode doesn't seem to soften the rear up enough for those bumps.

Looks like I may have to get it checked out.

topologe · 09-02-2010, 06:42 PM

I do get that thud on sudden depressions of the road. It feels like the springs fully compressing due to lack of dampening. I do not have any rattles though

d-rive · 09-03-2010, 04:20 AM

I have the same noise, but i think the rear wheel suspension became very hard to not let the wheel go down to violent.

HighlandPete · 09-03-2010, 04:48 AM

I've read this type of rear suspension thump/crash exists in the 5GT and testers have shown it up as the 'weakness' in the suspension/ride comfort balance.

My own take, the rear spring rate (possibly too stiff) for some imperfections and run-flats get out of phase, or hit the wrong frequency in some situations, another negative for run-flats, IMO.

Result... it amplifies rather than surpress some road imperfections. BTW, it happened on my 330 before I removed the run-flats, doesn't do it on normal tires.

HighlandPete

d-rive · 09-03-2010, 06:11 AM

Must say that, this noise occurs especially when the suspension is set to comfort mode.
Is like car senses that the front wheel has hit a pothole and then hardens shock rear suspension for not to be as violent whet hit it but is noisy like something is breaking over there.

tk005x · 09-03-2010, 06:49 AM

Over the weekend I just switched over to non run-flat Michelin Pilot A/S Sport Plus and I haven't heard that nasty noise yet.

Gonna have to drive a bit more to really see the results. But overall first impression is that it is much better than the Good Years. I wonder if BMW engineers intended for the cars to be running on RFT because the ride got much better.

5ster · 09-04-2010, 04:56 AM

I had a similar sound. I found it was the smaller sun shades on the rear doors. The retract unit was loose. I extended the smaller sun shades to put tension on the spring rewind component. The sound went away.

tk005x · 09-04-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5ster

I had a similar sound. I found it was the smaller sun shades on the rear doors. The retract unit was loose. I extended the smaller sun shades to put tension on the spring rewind component. The sound went away.

Ah ok because it seemed like it was coming from the door but was not really sure.

I prefer to keep it down because I have my windows tinted.

F10550xi · 09-08-2010, 01:27 PM

Do you have fold down rear seats? They are notorious for rattling.

tk005x · 09-08-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F10550xi

Do you have fold down rear seats? They are notorious for rattling.

No do not, some of the other cars that we had rattled so I made sure not to get that option.

Seems like it is the sunshade, or that or the tires that I switched to are soaking up the bumps better.

5ster · 09-08-2010, 05:41 PM

I do not have folding rear seats either. The vertical sunshades retract unit (for the smaller sunshades) seem to move up and down a few millimeters. That was enough travel to make them rattle when going over a bump without any tension.

Youssef · 12-01-2010, 12:30 AM

I get the same noise from my 2011 528i, it is a massively loud thump that only comes from the rear when i ride over the slightest bumps or into the slightest of troughs. It sounds as if the rear wheels are going to break off the car.

After some testing I figured out why it happens much more often in comfort mode. The thump is not caused when the suspension contracts, it happens when the rear suspension expands to its maximum; which explains why in sport mode, which doesn't allow for much expansion and contraction, the sound is not as common.

The whole of the 5 series owner community in Egypt has this problem. I figured that it was an Egyptian assembly flaw (which it still could be) but now I see this post and I'm rethinking it. Then again, this is the only post I've seen on the matter from abroad and it doesn't seem nearly as extreme as it is with our locally assemble vehicles.

08-30-2010, 10:17 PM	#1
tk005x Private 12 Rep 86 Posts Drives: F10 535i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Loud/Nasty rattle when going over bumps Was wondering if anyone else is getting the same sound/problem as me. When I go over bumps, when the front wheel hits it, it's perfectly fine but when the back wheels hit it I get a loud nasty rattle. The bumps honestly aren't big bumps and any other car I've had/driven, was never a big deal (just a thud sound/or a little rattle). And to test it out I drove my bro's car which is a lot stiffer then mine (M45 with 19inch wheels + stiffer tires + springs + sport suspension) on the same roads/bumps. It does not even get close to the sound I get when my rear wheels hit the bump and on his car I just get a regular thud sound, no crazy rattle. Tried to put it in comfort mode as well and it doesn't really seem to help. I've got the dynamic handling + sport package. Can't pinpoint exactly where it is coming from. I'm wondering if it has to do with either the sunshades on the doors/rear or because the rear is a multilink suspension
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08-30-2010, 10:33 PM	#2
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	I haven't noticed any rattle. Is this at a higher speed, like hitting a bump in the road? Or is it when going over a curb at low speed? Maybe there's something bad going on in the rear of your car. Like a wheel, suspension, or bearing problem.
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08-30-2010, 10:35 PM	#3
Hoss NY Private First Class 17 Rep 142 Posts Drives: 2011 F10 535i Sport Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 535i [0.00] 2000 BMW E39 528i [0.00] 2002 BMW X5 3.0 [0.00]	No rattle with mine when going over bumps as you've described.
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08-30-2010, 10:39 PM	#4
CJ Private 50 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 2011 550i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Glenview IL iTrader: (0)	Ive had this happen a couple of times in my car, 550i with sport package the dynamic ride control. On sudden depressions where the car just "drops" the front seems to step down normally but the rear seems to slam down as if the rear suspension firms up super hard. Ive noticed this does not happen with I switched to comfort on the same road, same road irregularity but I plan to get this checked out anyway. Ill post back if something comes up.
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08-30-2010, 11:31 PM	#5
fireman550 Private First Class 16 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2011 550 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Yonkers iTrader: (0)	Had a 3 series with the sport package and it did the same thing that you are describing, it was mostly due to the lower position in the suspension. since you live in NJ I suspect that it is like here in NY, many bumps and pot holes. I dont have that problem now with the new F10. I wanted the comfy ride after a couple of mishaps with the afforementioned 3. Might be something else but I think its just the sport suspension....
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08-30-2010, 11:35 PM	#6
bm323 Captain 194 Rep 850 Posts Drives: 12.2 E92 M3 ZCP; 12.7 C63 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sg iTrader: (0)	My 535i with adaptive drive does not have this problem.
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09-02-2010, 06:42 PM	#8
topologe Enlisted Member 2 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 13 Porsche 991 S Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I do get that thud on sudden depressions of the road. It feels like the springs fully compressing due to lack of dampening. I do not have any rattles though
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09-03-2010, 04:20 AM	#9
d-rive the iREAL STIG 13 Rep 182 Posts Drives: BMW X3 3.0d 2007 & 530d 2011 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Europe, Romania iTrader: (0)	I have the same noise, but i think the rear wheel suspension became very hard to not let the wheel go down to violent.
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09-03-2010, 04:48 AM	#10
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	I've read this type of rear suspension thump/crash exists in the 5GT and testers have shown it up as the 'weakness' in the suspension/ride comfort balance. My own take, the rear spring rate (possibly too stiff) for some imperfections and run-flats get out of phase, or hit the wrong frequency in some situations, another negative for run-flats, IMO. Result... it amplifies rather than surpress some road imperfections. BTW, it happened on my 330 before I removed the run-flats, doesn't do it on normal tires. HighlandPete
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09-03-2010, 06:11 AM	#11
d-rive the iREAL STIG 13 Rep 182 Posts Drives: BMW X3 3.0d 2007 & 530d 2011 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Europe, Romania iTrader: (0)	Must say that, this noise occurs especially when the suspension is set to comfort mode. Is like car senses that the front wheel has hit a pothole and then hardens shock rear suspension for not to be as violent whet hit it but is noisy like something is breaking over there.
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09-03-2010, 06:49 AM	#12
tk005x Private 12 Rep 86 Posts Drives: F10 535i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Over the weekend I just switched over to non run-flat Michelin Pilot A/S Sport Plus and I haven't heard that nasty noise yet. Gonna have to drive a bit more to really see the results. But overall first impression is that it is much better than the Good Years. I wonder if BMW engineers intended for the cars to be running on RFT because the ride got much better.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-04-2010, 04:56 AM	#13
5ster Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2011 535i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I had a similar sound. I found it was the smaller sun shades on the rear doors. The retract unit was loose. I extended the smaller sun shades to put tension on the spring rewind component. The sound went away.
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09-08-2010, 01:27 PM	#15
F10550xi Private First Class 26 Rep 124 Posts Drives: 550xi ZMP Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Do you have fold down rear seats? They are notorious for rattling.
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09-08-2010, 05:41 PM	#17
5ster Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2011 535i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I do not have folding rear seats either. The vertical sunshades retract unit (for the smaller sunshades) seem to move up and down a few millimeters. That was enough travel to make them rattle when going over a bump without any tension. Last edited by 5ster; 09-08-2010 at 05:58 PM..
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12-01-2010, 12:30 AM	#18
Youssef Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2011 528i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Egypt iTrader: (0)	I get the same noise from my 2011 528i, it is a massively loud thump that only comes from the rear when i ride over the slightest bumps or into the slightest of troughs. It sounds as if the rear wheels are going to break off the car. After some testing I figured out why it happens much more often in comfort mode. The thump is not caused when the suspension contracts, it happens when the rear suspension expands to its maximum; which explains why in sport mode, which doesn't allow for much expansion and contraction, the sound is not as common. The whole of the 5 series owner community in Egypt has this problem. I figured that it was an Egyptian assembly flaw (which it still could be) but now I see this post and I'm rethinking it. Then again, this is the only post I've seen on the matter from abroad and it doesn't seem nearly as extreme as it is with our locally assemble vehicles.
	Appreciate 0 Quote