(I first posted this on the general M3/MS3 forum but got no response. Hoping to hear from readers in this suspension forum. There must be others who noticed this problem. I can't believe I am the only one!)

I was disappointed to find that my 2009 was clanking over bumps and small ruts. It felt like cheap, poorly-designed setup. Checking tire pressures, they were in the 33-34 lb. range. Sticker calls for 32 lb. After setting to 32, the problem was still there. So I set them to 30 lb. Finally the problem went away, with only occasuional clunks. (I have the 205/50-R17 tires). Of course the handling is degraded some.
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I've noticed this too, sounds like there's something loose but it's happened since new, and no changes after 34k miles.
I've just ignored it, once it needs struts or something i'll probably dig into potential loose spots, but it's probably no issue, just a poor design for something.

 

Thanks for responding. I was beginning to think I was imagining things. I don't plan to do anything about it, but I wonder if the springs are the culprit. Anyway reducing the tire pressure to 30 # is a cheap solution.

 

I just recently bought a 2006 Mazda 3...bought it with the same problem, when you go over the bumps or ruts does the noise go away if you have the brakes pressed? Because my noise did, so I popped the rear wheels off and my problem was solved instantly. The person before me had both springs from the brake pads on the left wheel so there was no spring clip on the right back brake pad...just put it on the right and have had no problems since!! Let me know if that works!

 

Glad you had a fix for your ride & rattle.
I know mine isn't the pads rattling. Sounds closer to a worn steering tie rod end or sloppy strut on mine, as in a heavier clunky sound... and seems to do it more from the front wheels than the rear.

 

My clunking is definitely in the suspension. I hit a pothole recently(small one, going about 35mph) and it bottomed out, like it hit the bump stop. I think it is the springs.

 

i had the same problem but it was fixed after i retightend all the suspension parts

 

any particular part you found looser than expected? strut mount, steering rod ends, subframe mounts anything?

 

ya un fortunaately i dont know what it was called but its the rod that connects the strut to the roll bar under the car

 

That would be the stabilizer bar end links - thanks for the info, i'll have to check mine to see if it's a sloppy joint.