2013 BMW 318d Part 1 - Front suspension rattle

This video marks the debut of this car on the channel. It is a 2013 (don't be fooled by the personalized plate) BMW F30 318d in Motorsport trim. The owner (I'll call him Tom) as asked me to investigate a rattle that appeared to be coming from the front suspension on the right hand side. I was able to confirm the problem after some extensive test driving. I got the right front wheel off and after checking obvious stuff I wasn't able to find anything obviously wrong. The only other thing I could think of was worn strut tops. I've decided to leave it until the MoT is due and see if the tester picks anything up. After making this video I realized I should've checked the left hand side as well so I'll make a video when I get a chance.
#BMW #F30 #3Series
PLEASE NOTE: I’m just a DIY mechanic. I try to do things the correct way but sometimes I have to manage with what I have. Please treat this video as a “how-I-did-it” rather than a “how-to”.
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Intro & outro music: Sweeter Vermouth Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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[@mystichare8924]

Nice one Dave. Just subbed! 👍

[@Parknest]

Thanks for stopping by.

[@EugeneRCDrezgalovo48rus]

very cool video my friend, with me like!!!

[@Parknest]

Thanks for stopping by.

[@backwoodsbungalow9674]

Some of the F30 diesels have low road tax whereas the E36 is in the higher band for older cars which is a shame. What were your impressions of the F30 compared to your E36?

[@Parknest]

The F30 is nice to drive and this one is in M sport trim. This has the later N47 2.0 diesel which is more bulletproof than the earlier ones. I like the relative simplicity of the E36 which means it is cheaper to run and fix.

[@snake3rd]

I'm having a similar problem with mine, did you get to the bottom of this?

[@Parknest]

I've left it for now. I'm suspecting the strut top mount.

[@snake3rd]

@@Parknest cheers, hoping it won't be an MOT issue as I've got mine next week!

[@ewanbrown9333]

Hi there did you ever find where the noise was from??

[@snake3rd]

@@ewanbrown9333 hey, fixed it, could have been one of two things, either the steering rack, which I used the BMW repair bush on mine. Or oddly enough it could have been the brake caliper, which on mine had lost the spring that pushes the caliper body away from the carrier.
I did both jobs at the same time, so not sure which one cured it!

[@ewanbrown9333]

@@snake3rd thanks for the reply I will have a look. Such a common problem but no one seems to know how to fix it 🤣🤣

[@stephensharpe6309]

Did you solve this issue

[@Parknest]

Nothing was picked up on the subsequent MoTs.

[@mindgames11]

so you established that it was rattling. Which you already knew. I have the same problem, and already did what you did so I'm no farther ahead.

[@Parknest]

I never found out. I thought it was the strut top mounts but it hasn't caused it to fail the MoT.

[@darren_f]

Wishbone the problem

[@Parknest]

I couldn't see anything obvious.

[@carservice4481]

Ну ты ремонтник 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@Parknest]

I'm just a DIY-er. I have my limitations.