2006 E83 Suspension Pops

[stphnlwlsh]

First post here, so be gentle. I got a new to me (and my first BMW) '06 X3 with about 127k two months ago. Drives wonderfully except for a few pop like sounds coming from front and rear from a standing start. Seems like suspension as it happens when the weight of the vehicle shifts. I took it to a reputable shop here in Dallas (non-dealer) and had it looked at. He replaced ball joints up front and a strut mount in the front right. $900 later and the pop still exists. I think the shop was fair in terms of labor and parts, but I'm not interested in shelling out $800 for each look at the car... The one on the front right has been minimized, but it still exists.

I'm fairly adept at repair, but I've never done suspension. I'd like to give it a go for the next round of replacement parts.

So, two questions.

1). What else could this popping sound be? Start with strut mounts and go from there as they are the cheapest? Control arms? Not exactly sure where to start...
2). When purchasing parts, where should I look? Dealer is probably pricey, but I don't want to skimp on quality. If that's the best option then I'll cough it up, but if there's a better source online or locally that people trust and recommend, I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks from a newbie.

[tommy d]

Find an independent shop that specializes in BMW's to look it over if you can. Could be tie-rods, control arm bushings or the struts themselves. At 127K, you should be replacing suspension parts if you haven't already.

[stphnlwlsh]

That's good to know. I might just start with the sway bar end links, move to control arms, tie-rod ends, etc. Thanks for the reply!

[91e34M5]

That's good to know. I might just start with the sway bar end links, move to control arms, tie-rod ends, etc. Thanks for the reply!

When you check your sway bar end links, also check the rubber bushings where the sway bar is bolted to the frame. #2 in the diagram within this link:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=31_0673

[stphnlwlsh]

When you check your sway bar end links, also check the rubber bushings where the sway bar is bolted to the frame. #2 in the diagram within this link:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=31_0673

Will do. I saw on another forum that the sub frame bolts and retention plate bolts could be a culprit as well. Going to spend some time this weekend poking around to see what's making all the noise.