Front suspension strut sheared off bolts.........

[CondorX5]

Well you just couldn't make it up.........having just collected the old 4.8 after an expensive warranty covered trip to the main dealer for a new snroof and door carrier,  I felt a bit of a wobble /judder when braking, on the way home, seemed to be coming from the drivers side front.  I thought it was likely to be a warped disk, having had similar problems years ago with a different car, and booked it in locally for front discs and pads - drove down this morning early, luckily very local to me - when they put the car up on the ramp and lifted the wheel they quickly called me - the drivers side suspension strut had come away from the bolts on the chassis - all three blots had sheared in the retaining nuts

[X5Sport]

Perhaps they think you are a good bet money wise because of the warranty, and 'encouraged' the bolts a bit.  Unlikely I know but it must feel like it.  I can only assume either old bolts were reused or were overtorqued and one sheared causing the others to either fail within seconds, or they gave failed one after the other unnoticed.  Neither is a good result, but you and the car are safe 

[CondorX5]

Thank heavens yes, could have been a dreadful motorway smash if I had been hurtling along as the 4.8 is prone to doing and it came adrift at 70mph...

[AW8]

Sorry to hear of this .....glad there wasn't an issue at higher speed.

[Horizon]

[quote="AW8"]
Sorry to hear of this .....glad there wasn't an issue at higher speed.
[/quote]
Look on the heads of the bolts, they should have 8.8 embossed on the top, this says if they are high tensile or not.
Non high tensile bolts wouldn't or shouldn't be used in this sort of application

[CondorX5]

Its an original BMW strut so should surely be up to the job.........I asked for the bits so will have a check when I get it back.

[CondorX5]

Update to this saga-  truck place retapped the sheared off bolts and refitted - drivng perfectly now, no shudder/ judder on braking.  ThenHGV guys were quite shocked as had never seen this happen before - they checked the sheared off bolts and said they were proper high tensile bolts so could not understand why they failed. Total cost to repair was £100 which included the retapping and labour.  They are really really busy - not surprised as they really seem to know their stuff with HGVs  and suspension etc. 

Better than a BMW main dealer that will be £750 for one replacement air strut then, thank you...........