chikoo

Did you ever examine the car in such detail before the pothole incident? Or you discovered it's existence as a result of this examination?

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

^Yes, did a pre-purchase inspection while it was up on a lift. Myself and a 20-yr mechanic, looked this thing over with a fine-tooth comb. It was as the salesmen had say, an older lady with a white dog was the previous owner. Kept very good care of it and definitely wasn't previously damaged by any sort of accident. In fact, at 30k miles when I purchased it in 2011, it still have the factory tires on it!

MWIS350

My wife have 2007 Is250 and I have 2007 Is350. I have small dent on my sunroof and both of our car hood does not line up with fender. I need to double I her sunroof. But the car still drive great. My front right wheel alignment is off and will get it straight out with ball joint. My mechanic recommends.

I bought my car about a month ago and wife Is250 a year ago. If I have known this issue I probably got Is F or 2014 IS350 instead.

Sceanzo

Didn't OP say his headlight brackets broke upon impact? That's a hell of a pot hole.

240harrier

As someone had already mentioned earlier, this maybe due to chassis flex with little or no strengthening. My question is, will the addition of chassis strengthening bars be somewhat somehow alleviate the issue, such as underbody floor center power braces, underbody rear braces, front and rear strut-towers? I have installed front and rear strut towers, awaiting underbody strengthening parts...

chikoo

Do any of you recall if you braked hard when you hit the pothole?

Areli87

I have an 06 IS350, and have hit MANY potholes in my years with her. Luckily I can say I have never had this issue. I am also lowered and have a steep driveway which I have to enter and exit sideways daily in order to avoid scraping. Even when I was riding stock height and not avoiding potholes I never had this issue. Hopefully you are happy with the BMW, best of luck with it lol

IS-SV

Hitting a pothole hard enough to bend a OEM Lexus alloy wheel takes a considerable amount of force. Most of us have not bent our wheels.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

I did not because the vehicle ahead of me blocked my vision of it until it was too late.

twitte

I just sold my 2006 IS350. I never had any problems like you all are describing. I hit quite a few pot holes around San Diego over the last 9 years and the only damage was to my front wheel rims. I also had a sunroof.

IS-SV

About how many miles did you have on the IS350 when you sold it?

twitte

I had 118,704 miles on it when I sold it last week. The dealer actually has it on his website for sale (perfect condition). I had a clear bra on it that made the paint look like new in the front and hood.

chikoo

I was wondering if this was happening when one brakes hard in order to stop going into the pothole. Doing so, if the car dives, there is no suspension travel left and the shock would transmit right up the chassis.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Even though braking hard can make the car dive in front but there are still some suspension travel available. No matter what, hitting a pot hole at certain speed will transmit that force right up to the chassis. If there is action, there must be reaction in physics.

chikoo

Suspension travel would be available, albeit, much less. And If the pothole or the speed bumper is large enough, that would do it.