Strut Mount or entirely new strut?

[bmwsam]

Picked up an '83 320is in pretty good shape. The previous owner replaced a bunch of gaskets and the starter.

I threw some winter tires on it as I plan on using it as my winter ride (looking forward to a true mechanical LSD).

The car drives great, but I hear a thunk sound at times from the front end when hitting a bump. I assumed the struts were shot but they rebound quickly and settle nicely. Some research has pointed me to the idea that I might simply need strut mounts. Anyone have a similar experience?

[polov8]

Mine are noisy at the moment, the best way to tell what it is is to jack the car up, take the cap off the strut top in the engine bay, and lift the wheel by hand, and let it drop. If the bearings in the top mounts are shot, you'll see play between the big nut on the shock top and the surrounding mount. They tend not to be super fine tolerance bearings on any car, so a fraction of a mm is normal, but a couple or more means they're shot.

[Jason_323i]

It will be the front anti roll bar bushes

[bmwsam]

Thanks for the info! Anyone have a suggestion of a good shop manual brand for this car?

[uwbuurman]

Well, the Walloth & Nesch rubberparts is crap. Just crap. Same goed for the Meyle rubberparts. Also crap. Both wear down very quick and within just a couple of 1000 miles, you're up for new parts again. I strongly advise BMW genuine parts for suspention and bushings and other rubber parts.

[nas80]

polyurethane rubbers are available. I think your in the states? Eurometric are your closest supplier.

[trash-berd]

Thanks for the info! Anyone have a suggestion of a good shop manual brand for this car?

https://www.bmwtechinfo.com/repair/main/027en/index.htm
Your friend.