Hello All, I have a 1994 M3, a 1994 325IS, and a 2002 Z3 Convertible. Both the M3 and 325 have around 100k miles on them. They are all are terrific vehicles in my humble opinion. I have spent just under 17 years as an "Automotive Technician" at various dealerships. I even managed the shop at a big box Pep Boys. (So I kinda know my way around a wrench or two.) About three weeks ago my 325 started making this groaning / creaking noise when I'd corner. I wrote it off mentally to the struts and shocks aging and needing to be replaced. As these things will do when ignored, it got progressively worse. Every time I hit a bump it sounded like a bolt being pulled through a piece of sheetmetal. Like the threads rubbing. It was getting to the point where it could no longer be "ignored". I put it up on the rack at work to check the bolts on the struts and shocks. Nothing was loose, or looked out of sorts. I decided to bring the ailing 325 to Moss Motors BMW in Lafayette Louisiana. They are my local dealer and have been good to me over the years. They took my baby in and almost 2 hours later pontificated that my springs, struts, shocks and rear shock mounts were all shot, and needed to be replaced immediately. I said "let me think about it" as the price tag for the repair was just over $1,800.00. Plus, something about the whole thing was setting off my BS detector. The noises continued. I found myself in Baton Rouge LA two days later. I brought the car to Brian Harris BMW. I have done plenty of business with them as well. In general they have a good bunch of guys in their shop. They diagnosed the same suspension issue and wanted $2,100.00 to do the same exact repair. (I have print outs of both estimates. They are almost identical - except for the price tag.) Again, something set off my BS detector. I had the following weekend off. I had already been doing plenty of research into the issues my baby was facing. I decided it was time to put the 325 up on my Ron Stygar (of unofficialbmw.com) modified Jack Stands. I had already pulled back the carpet in the trunk. (No glaring problems with the shock mounts) I checked out the bottom of the shock mounts. Hmm they looked fine. A tad bit dirty, but nothing like the pictures of busted ones I had seen online. I had already decided to order a complete suspension kit for the car. I bought one by Tokico on eBay for around $600.00. It's custom made for the e36 and is fully adjustable. I've used their shocks for years, and I have had good success with them. (Yes, I know everyone has their preference - that's the wonderful thing about our country - you have that right!) I got the kit in, inspected it. Looked great! I spent the majority of a day popping it in. While I was down there, I also changed both front control arms, associated bushing, and tie rods. I also installed Front and Rear Strut Braces from John Mason (in CA - (805) 527-6624 - his gear is WAY Better built than the Dinan braces on my M3.) After all this was installed, I trailered the 325 over to the shop to have it aligned. When she was done I took her out for a ride. I proceeded to turn a bumpy corner at a decent speed, and there was the noise again!! The string of curse words would have reddened the face of the most hardened criminal. :-) Long story short - yesterday I brought the car in to have a new SS exhaust installed. (Nice setup from BavAuto - Dual cats - crossover pipe - no resonators). In the process of their installing it, they found that both of the metal reinforced rubber mounts which hold up the muffler were broken and the factory exhaust was swinging around freely and bumping into the surrounding undercarriage items every time I hit a bump and / or cornered at speed. Thankfully I had taken the advice of the rep at BavAuto and ordered two with my new exhaust. The mounts were around 40.00 each. So basically what I'm trying to say is that two dealerships tried to get me to change out my entire suspension system for around $1,800.00 when all the car actually needed was two $40.00 muffler brackets. Just take some time to think over what they are telling you to do before you let then go hacking on your baby!
Whew - Rant over!
Thanks for hearing me out!
-=Wayne K=-