So I just bought a 1994 BMW 318is coupe. It's in rough condition mechanically although the body is in pretty good shape aside from paint problems.

Anyways, every time I brake, or anything causing the front end to go down when I'm moving (at any rate of speed. I do not brake hard), I hear a loud smack, metal on metal. The brakes work great, no grinding or anything, just smooth easy braking. There are also several other sounds coming from the engine that I don't trust... But I'm willing to put money into buying parts, and don't want to get ripped off on labor.

I just need a few ideas of what to look at/shop for to fix this problem. I'm scared this will turn into a larger issue if left without further investigation.

 

TEst the shocks. Bounce the car by standing on bumper Etc.. do you hear the noise?
Once car is in up down motion step back. Does the car contunie to bounce? Or does it go up to ride height and stop?

Have some one drive the car slowly while you walk next to it. Have them hit the brakes does the wheel shift outwards _ IE tow. or does it actually move back in the wheel well?
There are many things like upper strut bearings or lower control arms that can make noise.
If the nose of the car dives down when you break that is the struts.

 

blown struts will cause the car to slam the bump stops.

blown bushings in the control arms will cause a lot of noise and the car to be all over the road

if you have the wrong pads in the calipers when they move they can make a lot of noise (i've seen this a few times lately)

and I echo everything bam says

 

I would go with the rubber bushings.
A lot of trailing arm suspensions have bad rubber/worn away/etc. As the brakes
come on, the weight transfers and the lack of rubber causes metal to clunk metal to metal.-Bob

 

the whole E36 front axle construction is basicly a mess.

best thing would be you put the car on a lift and look at everything, wishbone bushings are responsible for most of the problems.

go somewhere where you can get your shocks have tested, take a look at the strut mounts as well.

if the whisbone or one of the attached bushings need to be replaced and you're low on cash try to get a complete assembled reinforced HD wishbone set from Meyle.

MEYLE USA - Technical Support for USA / Canada


I bought a set incl reinforced HD sway bar connecting links for 180 € on Ebay Germany (you may check if theres an equivalent in the US)

Some people say they dont last as long as OEM parts but I cant say anything about it because I installed them just last year, the driving feel was way better than before (almost no wheel whobble >60 mph anymore, if my Bilstein dampers wouldnt behave that strange as they do I think it'd be gone for good)


and dont forget the rear axle. if the rear strut mounts are worn out too, get yourself some from the E46 M3 convertible, they fit 1:1 and are stronger.