1998 BMW 323is question?

After taking my car outta 5th gear when i have been driving 60 mph or more.. i notice that every time i take a left turn.. i hear a sound kinda resembling "a stick being dragged across a picket fence" type noise.. i was thinking it was something around the axle but i noticed when i turn the car off and then drive it later on that day .. i can take left turns just fine without having to hear that sound. What could be the problem and does it have something to do with the 5th gear?

1998 BMW 323is question?computers

I don't know about your 5th gear theory, but from your description of the sound, I feel it's most likely the control arm bushing. The rubber in the bushing becomes brittle over time, and eventually falls out bt by bit, leaving the control arm rattling in the bushing mount.

This is what it looks like:

http://e46fanatics.com/features/images/p...

The factory bushing isn't purple like in this picture. It's black rubber; which is inferior to many polyethlene aftermarket replacements that is supposed to be superior to the factory part.

Here's the full article: http://www.e46fanatics.com/features/feat...

You can easily see and inspect this part under the front end with the car up on a lift. You of course can also crawl under the car with it on ramps or jack stands too.

1998 BMW 323is question?hijack this

Sounds like a bushing, a bearing or a control arm differential.
This could b many things but it sounds like it could be your diff which is on the way out, hopefully not, could be a wheel bearing in which case i would guess its the o/s/f because thats the one taking the weight when cornering left. (drivers side front wheel.)Good luk!