Re: Creaking/Cracking Out Of First Gear.....? (archive)

I own a 1986 BMW 528e with 129,000 miles on it. When starting from a stop in first gear, there are creaking/cracking sounds that seem to come from the doors or back of the car. It almost seems like the body is twisting or something. It also happens in second gear, but not once you get moving. I think it has more to do with the movement of a take off. Also, the passenger's front door has trouble closing, it closes, but only to that first position, you usually have to open it a second time and close it a bit harder to get it to fully latch. Its more annoying than a problem. Could alignment of the doors cause the creaking, or is it just natural? The car was rear ended about a year ago, but everything was fixed, the frame wasn't bent. Thanks for your help. Tom

Mark's suggestion about using a little electrical tape does work well, if the problem is a loose door latch. I also developed a creaking noise later that came from the rear of the car. It was worn trailing arm link bushings, called "dog bones" sometimes because of their shape. To detect the sourse of the problem, I had a friend bounce the rear of the car while I listened and then felt the bushing. Whenever it creaked, I could feel it vibrate. After replacing, no more noise! Hope this helps if the door taping doesn't. With the miles you have on your car, I think it will be the bushings.

Jim
1983 533i

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