Clonking Front Suspension

I purchased a used i3 in August 2017 with 25K miles from a London dealer, and before I purchased the car I noticed a clonk from the front left suspension, I was told this would be sorted out before I take delivery. Mmmmmm.........

Since I took delivery the car has been in for loose door handles, Drive train errors twice, and for the clonking noise. A new near side shock and upper mount was replaced. Clonking still there. What a surprise!

In the several times the car has been in for repair the dealer has damaged my rear bumper and rear alloy wheel, so i'm not impressed.
My wheel that was damaged had the scratch machined out making the edge rounded so did not match the other wheels. To make matters worse the rear alloy was replaced (from one of their other used cars, with a chip on it) I WILL mot be taking my car there again.

The clonking is still there and worse when cold. The steering wheel has play in it when moved up/down left/right, as the dealer clearly does not have a clue, I decided to have a look myself, and removed the storage box from the front and noticed straight away the steering input shaft had a lot of play in it.

On further examination the lower steering column has a small blue plastic ring at the end of the lower bearing and the shaft goes through it.
I think this plastic ring/sleeve has worn out as the play is most evident here. I have not seen any threads regarding this problem so typical its happened to me!

Whats wrong with BMW having the shaft going directly through the center of the bearing, like they did in the old days, where people never had such problems!

I don't trust or have confidence that the original dealer knows what they are doing, so the car is booked in at another dealer for next week, and hopefully they will have the expertise to fix it.

Hopefully this will help someone else with similar problems..........

Heloo Christopher
My I3 same problem, front axle is noisy-Clonking, 2015 I3 rex 24000Km

BMW service exchange left & right shock absorber and bearings ... noisy ... next time... BMW service speek - noise is normal

Check other bmw ...
0. 2018 2000km quiet CIN - N/A
1. 2018 7000km noise VIN - WBY1Z610907A14662
2. 2018 14000km noise VIN - WBY1Z610807A14278
3. 2018 7000km quiet VIN - WBY1Z610007A14579
4. 2016 33000 km quiet VIN - N/A

Video:
https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/xZoxugYdKoDYuMT

It is probably a manufacturing defect that BMW does not recognize for repair.
It's a nice car, but if BMW says it's supposed to have a sound like 15 years old and 400,000 km mileage, I warn new owners before buying.

Havrla

Looks like the coupler has worn out. It is a simple U-joint type of part. They can wear out quickly or last for ever. All depends on how good the manufacturer of the part is.

The part runs for about $150 USD and the dealership should be able to install it so it is properly torqued and aligned.

Coupling - BMW (32-30-6-864-587)

Heloo PBNB

Coupling - BMW (32-30-6-864-587) is OK ;-(

Thanks.
Havrla

Heloo, next news...

Here's the blue circle.
The shaft is free (play in) and noisy for movement.
https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/5CbmHkEGPHQxvrV
https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/SrZMwErDJyv7kLZ

If I hold the steering wheel while driving and test the axle, it will not change. The front is noisy. The muted wounds come from a source other than the steering shaft.
https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/zrJ56nEiMKFkm5v

:-(
Havrla

Helooo problem is solved.

Replacement of front shock absorber - unnecessary, no change.
Replacement of front wheel bearings - 40 percent of noise removed
Water cooling pipe fix-mounting - Water pipe not hard. - 40 percent noise removed.
There's still something going on there, but it's bearable 20 percent.
Repair in Deutchland Dresden - BMW Melkus House Gut service.

video:
https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/nbXGYndtBB2tw29
https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/W7JWcDyMKTxkerY
Right and left site.

The Czech BMW Invelt Service told me that the noise from the front axle seemed to me, and they paid cca $ 100.


Wanting BMW is a diagnosis .... something like sadomasochism. Voluntarily tolerate the service that BMW provides.


Havrla

Actualization 26.6.2020

havrla said:

Helooo problem is solved.

Click to expand...

Congratulations!

havrla said:

Water pipe not hard.

Click to expand...

Is this water pipe part of the REx engine cooling system or the motor and motor electronics cooling system? Hopefully, this is a REx problem that won't affect BEV's.

Helo

It looks like the tube is the same for both BEV and REX

https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/aDl6YkRtw2cB0Vw


Havrla

I think I have the same problem. Is the pipe on the left or right hand side?

Thanks for your help!

Hi I have the same problem. Clunking sound somewhere from the front. It is very annoying have been three times to the dealer, they changed a few things but nothing has changed. I can hear that clunking even on very minor road problems...
I have also the moving coupler u-joint. Can this be the problem or it is not worth to change this, it is normal that has a little movement. Any idea would make me happy as I do not know what to do. Thanks.

Same here Dealer has changed both struts yet no noticeable effect

I have the same. Dealer has changed the two front struts but no effect.

Although this is the same dealer that told me that my i3 needs the pressure of the engine to run the aircon

Hello gentlemen.
I'm sorry I don't speak English well.

BMW equips cars with defective wheel bearings at the factory so that BMW can obtain post-warranty service. The same is the rubber cover of the front shock absorber, service life max. 3.5 years.

I was in Germany with a friend to buy a BMW i3, most cars have free (play in) front wheels, some noticeable only in the hand, others noticeable by sound, others with an ominous metallic sound at 42,000 km.

https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/rdbHMjScFBNLE7r after 31 048 km
https://cloud.itnaklic.cz/itnaklic/index.php/s/bRWs8T7fdosizaS after 42 211km **** BMW !!!!!



The right wheel sways more because it is more loaded at the roundabout.

I don't like the behavior of the manufacturer who made the timed defect on the car.
I also had these defects, a bearing and a protective cover for the front axle shock absorber. After 1/4 year of speculation at the German BMW office, they repaired everything for me half a year after the warranty free of charge.
Another timed defect is opening the REX tank, depressurization.
I said that the car does not pass the state technical inspection in the Czech Republic. BMW fixed everything.

I expect more timed defects on my car.

Here is the forum in my native language about I3:
http://www.elektroforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=665


Havrla

Czech Republic - Europe