2013 BMW X1 front passenger side suspension making screeching noise on speed bump

[clackamas35]

Hi All, I had my new X1 for 2 months, 3000 miles on it. When I drive over small speed bumps in my apt complex, sometimes the front passenger
side speed bump makes a screeching noise(metal on metal). Took it to a dealer place different from where I purchased, they blew me off saying they could not reproduce it and they did a visual inspection with a torch light and nothing seemed broken. After I got it back from the dealer, I heard the noise twice, it doesn't happen always but I do hear a distinct loud screeching noise over a specific speed bump.

Looks like the dealership won't take a closer look unless they can reproduce it, but I need to get it fixed and willing to pay on my own. I am sure if they look carefully they will find the problem. I need help with my options.

1)Is an independent BMW specialist shop(Pacific Motor Sports, not a dealership, these guys specialize in maintenace of BMWs ) better than a dealership.

2)Should I have it looked at by a regualr mechanic, my old mechanic who
works on my Honda Accord. Will he be able to figure out the issue.

[bimmerfile]

Assuming your apt complex is not too far away for the dealer, why don't you take one of the dealer technicians to your apt complex so he can hear the sound produced by the speed bump?
Should be covered by warranty.

[danielj]

Which BMW dealer?

I have a noisy driver seat and they couldn't reproduce it either when I dropped it off. Last week it was popping again while driving so I stopped in unannounced and said "now listen to it".

[CIWS]

Attempt to record the noise with a video camera inside/outside the vehicle. I've had to use that trick before. It is very possible they are not able to reproduce it in the shop. But video proof should make them replace something.

[clackamas35]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Assuming your apt complex is not too far away for the dealer, why don't you take one of the dealer technicians to your apt complex so he can hear the sound produced by the speed bump?
Should be covered by warranty.

The issue is the noise occurs randomly. When they told me they couldn't reproduce it at the dealer shop, i thought there might be no issue , but this weekend i heard the noise twice. Now I know for sure there is some problem in there, but just can't reproduce it all the time. It happens when the front passenger side shock compresses a bit more than normal ( like when only the front passenger side tire passes over the bump, the driver side goes on normal road level).

[clackamas35]

Originally Posted by CIWS

Attempt to record the noise with a video camera inside/outside the vehicle. I've had to use that trick before. It is very possible they are not able to reproduce it in the shop. But video proof should make them replace something.

Thanks, I will see if I can get one of those helmet cams and fit it somewhere on the side of the car so there will be video and audio evidence.

[FLX1]

My 07 Avalanche makes a squeak on cold weather mornings from one of the front corners if I go over a speed bump - my thought is that it is a bushing in the suspension on that corner, although I've never bothered to climb under there and look because the noise stops when it warms up or the suspension has worked a few times. So it could be something like that, rather than metal on metal.

[MidgetInBikini]

Originally Posted by CIWS

Attempt to record the noise with a video camera inside/outside the vehicle. I've had to use that trick before. It is very possible they are not able to reproduce it in the shop. But video proof should make them replace something.

This.

[clackamas35]

its frustrating that it's my job to prove to the service tech that something is wrong on a new car, when it might take abt an hour for the tech to figure it out. i heard the noise 4 times over the last week, its intermittent but its loud and i could hear it inside the car with the windows rolled up.

[paradoxical3]

This is happening to me as well.

Happened a few times after I hit a bump in the road - there is a metallic impact sound from the passenger side, then there is a loud metal-on-metal screeching. It sounds like I ran over a soda can, and then the can got stuck in my wheel spokes. It varies directly with RPM, which means something is hitting the wheel.

The only problem is, I've actually pulled over and examined it and there is no signs of anything hitting the wheel. It goes away on it's own and I have no idea how to consistently reproduce it. It's happened three times this month.