Suspension Clunk

[Xeo01]

When my E90 335i w/ sport suspension goes over a shallow bump I hear a good clunk come from the front suspension. This only happens the first few miles. After it warms up it goes away. I'm thinking it is my sway bar end links. I have 58k miles on my car so it could be time for new suspension. Any thoughts? Thanks!

[Sticky]

It goes away when the car warms up? That is really, really weird.

I have no idea on this one.

[Xeo01]

It goes away when the car warms up? That is really, really weird.

I have no idea on this one.

I think so too. When my Saab clunks like this it is always the sway bar endlinks. However when this happens on my 335i it feels like the suspension is loose. Once I drive a few miles it stops. Goes back to normal. I checked the shocks, springs and endlinks for play or leaks but I found nothing. I'm thinking it is something internal of the driver side shock. Wanted to see if anyone else had experienced this before I throw a couple grand at a new suspension.

[Sticky]

I don't think you necessarily need to spend on a new suspension.

Weird as hell though maybe someone else will chime in.

[DavidV]

I checked the shocks, springs and endlinks for play or leaks

Have you checked if one of your springs is broken? That would explain the clunk. I had that happen to me once. Only showed up on a particular waivy road, mostly when the car moved up. Normal driving it made no sound whatsoever.
Hit a pothole recently or drove over a speedbump a tad fast?

[Xeo01]

Have you checked if one of your springs is broken? That would explain the clunk. I had that happen to me once. Only showed up on a particular waivy road, mostly when the car moved up. Normal driving it made no sound whatsoever.
Hit a pothole recently or drove over a speedbump a tad fast?

I checked for broken springs as well but they are all intact, clean and rust free. No pot holes or speed bump jumping. I avoid those when ever I can.

[Sticky]

I checked for broken springs as well but they are all intact, clean and rust free. No pot holes or speed bump jumping. I avoid those when ever I can.

Talk about a puzzle.

[DavidV]

Talk about a puzzle.

It is a process of elimination.

However when this happens on my 335i it feels like the suspension is loose.

Ok, explain this further.
It should hold the key to what is happening.
Do you need to correct steering/straight line?
Is the suspension suddenly softer?
Does the steer jolt?
After it happens, does the loose suspension feeling stay, or is it just momentarely?

[Xeo01]

It is a process of elimination.

Ok, explain this further.
It should hold the key to what is happening.
Do you need to correct steering/straight line?
Is the suspension suddenly softer?
Does the steer jolt?
After it happens, does the loose suspension feeling stay, or is it just momentarely?

No need to correct steering.
Now that you mention it the suspension feels a little softer than usual. Some days it is normal other days softer.
The steering wheel will jerk a little depending on the bump and angle of the steering wheel.
The loose suspension feeling is just momentary.

I've been driving all day and everything feels fine. Firm suspension and no clunk. It was 73 degrees this morning when I left. The days when I get the clunk it is usually in the upper 50's.

[DavidV]

Torsion bar rubbers? Maybe a broken bolt on one of the clamps of the rubbers?

[Xeo01]

Torsion bar rubbers? Maybe a broken bolt on one of the clamps of the rubbers?

I checked the sway bar bushing and bolts and look to be intact. Nothing loose or worn. It could be that the bushings need some grease. Frustrating! Thanks for trying to help me figure it out. I'll look more this weekend at the rubber seats that the spring sit on and maybe they are worn through.

[Xeo01]

Just an update... I greased up the sway bar bushing and tightend everything down (bushing caps) and the clunk went away.

[Sticky]

Just an update... I greased up the sway bar bushing and tightend everything down (bushing caps) and the clunk went away.

Thanks for the update glad you figured it out.