[mavic1010]

Looking to see if anyone has had this experience. It has occurred 3x now. When backing out of the driveway (2x), within 10-15 secs a loud metal bang/pop sound. And the latest happened after I parked in the garage and exited the car. Completely caught me off guard. Sound appears to be coming from the rear passenger side.

The sound is very similar to the metal popping sound of a Tesla battery expanding while supercharging (to those that have a tesla).

Any ideas? Does not happen while driving normally.

[SteveinArizona]

Only when you are backing out of your driveway but not when backing out anywhere else? Consider moving! Seriously, can you replicate it anywhere else? Could it be your garage door closer?

In almost five years of ownership of my 530e I have never heard that.

[2022M550i]

Mechanically, I don't see what can make that noise either while or while not moving the car. The only thing I can imagine that will pop like that on a car would be if the gas tank wasn't properly vented...expansion or contraction. Or some kind of metal expansion/contraction when heated then cooled...maybe exhaust?

[mavic1010]

Well, pops are getting slightly more frequent in addition to an annoying squeek while driving. The popping sounds more like a piece of metal that is under pressure and then releases. I thought maybe it was my rear spring...

Times when I hear the popping:

1. Right turns at slower speed like going into a parking spot, or right turn into my neighborhood. So less than 30 mph. I have yet to hear while making a left turn.

2. Occurred after driving (I make a left into my driveway), parked in garage, turned off engine. And while daughter was getting out of car, pop sound. Startled my daughter. Pop sound has occurred when driving with a rear passenger and without (under load and without).

3. Now getting occasional squeeking sounds, same side, but not all the time over bumps. Occurs at any speed.

Been researching sway bar, tie rods, suspension etc, but I would think if anyone of those were failing, the sound would be consistent going over speed bumps etc....

Any ideas? Since its hard to reproduce due to the frequency and I'm out of warranty, trying to narrow it down before going to a mechanic to fix.

[LogicalApex]

I’d record the sound and take it to BMW to get it looked at.

You’re in CA and the HV battery is warrantied for 10Y/100K miles and various parts are covered up to 15Y/150K miles.

It sounds like it could be an issue with the HV battery venting which should be warrantied.

[mavic1010]

After some more investigating, I think I found the problem. My left rear swing support that connects to my sway bar no longer has the bolt that connects to the camber control arm. Don't know how this happened, maybe it snapped off from too much tension from a wheel alignment?! Anyways, I ordered the bolt and nut.

Any alignment issues if I just thread the bolt and nut??

I posted the picture of the rear swing support as reference (#6). The bottom of that connects to the control arm.