Where and when it clunks
The repair pages separate clunks by when they happen. A clunk or creak over bumps or when turning is suspension. A clunk on takeoff or a thud on and off throttle is the driveline. A clunk when shifting into gear is the engine mounts. Match the timing to the list, then confirm on a lift. This guide shows what owners priced, not a diagnosis. For shaking rather than clunking, see the BMW Vibration and Steering Shimmy: Brakes, Mounts and Driveshaft.
Front control arms and thrust arm bushings
The fluid-filled thrust arm bushings on the F30, F32, E90 and E92 often wear out by 40,000 to 60,000 miles per the page. Signs are a steering wheel shimmy under braking, a car that wanders at highway speed, a clunk or creak over bumps and a cracked or leaking bushing on the front arm. Torque the bushing bolts at ride height or the soft bushing wears early, and xDrive cars need the axle disconnected from the hub to remove the tension strut. See Front Control Arms & Thrust Arm Bushings.
Tie rods and struts
Tie rods show up as loose or wandering steering, a clunk over bumps from the front, uneven inner and outer tire wear or a torn boot. Ask whether the quote is inner, outer or both and one side or both, and always get an alignment after. See Tie Rods (Inner / Outer) and Wheel Alignment.
Worn struts show up as an oil-wet strut body, a floaty ride, nose dive under braking and clunks over bumps. Adaptive dampers cost far more than standard ones, so confirm which your car has. Front struts take about 3 hours per owners. See Struts & Shocks Replacement.
Air suspension on the X5
On X5s with air suspension, a rear that sags overnight and a constantly running compressor point at the rear air bags on the E70 and F15 (X5 Rear Air Suspension Bags). On the G05, knocking or clunking from a strut over bumps, one corner sitting low and a "chassis function restricted" warning point at the air strut, which is replaced as a sealed unit and then calibrated (G05 X5 Air Strut Replacement).
Driveline and rear subframe
A clunk on takeoff, a thud on and off throttle or a clunk in parking lots and stop-and-go traffic is the driveshaft flex disc, also called the guibo. Mark the driveshaft orientation before unbolting and inspect the center support bearing while it is loose. See Driveshaft Flex Disc (Guibo).
On the 1999 to 2006 E46, a clunk when shifting from reverse to drive or accelerating from a stop, plus cracks around the rear subframe mounts in the trunk floor, is the rear subframe reinforcement job. See E46 Rear Subframe Reinforcement.