Subframe Cracks: what else to get done?

[Heisenburg]

Hello all,

Just wondering what other parts to consider replacing while the rear axel is off the car, and hopefully save on some labour.

I'm currently looking at becoming part of the club (if you will have me of course haha :notworthy:), and soon to seal the deal on one CSL I've had my eye on for a while. Just getting geared up now for potential works. It has done 33k miles.

Had my current M3 (e46 standard) repaired last year at Elms, so I realise that this is a good opportunity to get as much done as possible.

Cheers

[Bounce]

Hello all,

Just wondering what other parts to consider replacing while the rear axel is off the car, and hopefully save on some labour.

I'm currently looking at becoming part of the club (if you will have me of course haha :notworthy:), and soon to seal the deal on one CSL I've had my eye on for a while. Just getting geared up now for potential works. It has done 33k miles.

Had my current M3 (e46 standard) repaired last year at Elms, so I realise that this is a good opportunity to get as much done as possible.

Cheerswelcome to the register.I had the Rear trailing arm bushes changed and a couple of seals on the diff,Elms did this at a very reasonable price while it was on the workshop floor.:-D

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Welcome to the mad house, just ask Gareth what he thinks needs doing, he may even know the car :thumbs:

[portlandgrey]

I had new oem RTAB's & turner limiter kit fitted, all diff carrier bushes replaced, goodridge hoses allround & all new heatshields throughout.

[shimmy]

I had a new diff fitted, apparently old one was a bit knackered.

[philo]

Don't think my floor/subrframe was ever done,should I be worried?
Has never been on track mostly motorway miles almost 90 k now

Car hasn't got warranty but full service history (bmw) is this covered ? Or you pay yourself.

What's best way procedure ,did check when bought car and all looked fine,any info would be appreciated

[portlandgrey]

This was mine:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m41/darreni/subframe_zps48803ac6.jpg (http://s101.photobucket.com/user/darreni/media/subframe_zps48803ac6.jpg.html)
You need to drop the diff carrier to have a good look & remove the underseal (& shit).

The car should be covered by BMW if:

1) Its less than 10 years old
2) is not modified (this may depend on your dealer)
3) has covered less than 100k miles

[philo]

What's best alternative ,I see someone In here got some welding etc done and some epoxy chemical??

I think it was a specialist at this,what's best way of doing job better,do bmw just put new floor in?

[Heisenburg]

Cheers for the replies and welcomes. :thumbs:

RTABs seem to be the main culprits alright. Will look into the diff seals and bushes. Anyone got any more recommendations?

just ask Gareth what he thinks needs doing, he may even know the car :thumbs:

Gareth is a top bloke; he has done all my work on my current car. But doubt he will be able help as the car will go to one of their bodyshops and he won't see it when it's all apart. Doubt he knows the car either as it's Irish...I'm looking to import. Might get him to have a look before it goes in.

I had new oem RTAB's & turner limiter kit fitted, all diff carrier bushes replaced, goodridge hoses allround & all new heatshields throughout.

The Turner limiter kit look like a good mod. How do you find it? Also, why the heatsheilds?

I had a new diff fitted, apparently old one was a bit knackered.

Hello again Shimmy...hoping I don't need this just yet, fingers crossed though.

[deanobeano]

Philo, the alternative is Reddish Motorsport
http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46M3FloorSubframeCrackRepairReinforcement.html

Sure someone on here has had it done. Or search for them on cutters for reviews etc.

[Heisenburg]

What's best alternative ,I see someone In here got some welding etc done and some epoxy chemical??

I think it was a specialist at this,what's best way of doing job better,do bmw just put new floor in?

There is an extensive thread here of this issue with the E46 M3 generally and alot of peoples experiences are posted (quite a few different storys; many sucesses, some not so).
http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=21572

For an alternative other than BMW route, I believe Reddish Motorsport do a decent job for about a grand.

[Bounce]

Cheers for the replies and welcomes. :thumbs:

RTABs seem to be the main culprits alright. Will look into the diff seals and bushes. Anyone got any more recommendations?



Gareth is a top bloke; he has done all my work on my current car. But doubt he will be able help as the car will go to one of their bodyshops and he won't see it when it's all apart. Doubt he knows the car either as it's Irish...I'm looking to import. Might get him to have a look before it goes in.



The Turner limiter kit look like a good mod. How do you find it? Also, why the heatsheilds?



Hello again Shimmy...hoping I don't need this just yet, fingers crossed though.Deffo go for the Limiter kit,you can get them from Simpson Motor sport,probably the cheapest and best mod of them all.;)

[spoonz]

Don't think my floor/subrframe was ever done,should I be worried?
Has never been on track mostly motorway miles almost 90 k now

Car hasn't got warranty but full service history (bmw) is this covered ? Or you pay yourself.

What's best way procedure ,did check when bought car and all looked fine,any info would be appreciated

Mines 100k+ and been inspected independently twice and nothing found. I've put a grand aside to have Reddish sort if/when it does cause an issue. I'll have it checked again in 10k miles.

[LeinsCSL]

Mine was done as a preventative measure (no cracks found) by MProve near Warrington - plates, epoxy resin injection on both sides, new subframe bushings, etc. Would definitely recommend the guys there, and they've done a good few CSLs

[philo]

Philo, the alternative is Reddish Motorsport
http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46M3FloorSubframeCrackRepairReinforcement.html

Sure someone on here has had it done. Or search for them on cutters for reviews etc.


That looks great job,what type of cost from them?

[Heisenburg]

Mine was done as a preventative measure (no cracks found) by MProve near Warrington - plates, epoxy resin injection on both sides, new subframe bushings, etc. Would definitely recommend the guys there, and they've done a good few CSLs

Yeah...I may need to go down this route. Car has only done 33k, so not yet sure if it's cracked or not. BMW did mention the foam as a preventive measure briefly to me before...I take this will not be covered under their goodwill?

What sort of cost are we talking with MProve?

[philo]

Mine was done as a preventative measure (no cracks found) by MProve near Warrington - plates, epoxy resin injection on both sides, new subframe bushings, etc. Would definitely recommend the guys there, and they've done a good few CSLs

Yes it was your car I read about in here,is yours 03 lk ,reg?

Looked like a great job done by them also

[LeinsCSL]

Yeah...I may need to go down this route. Car has only done 33k, so not yet sure if it's cracked or not. BMW did mention the foam as a preventive measure briefly to me before...I take this will not be covered under their goodwill?

What sort of cost are we talking with MProve?

Mine had 54k at the time with no cracks, others with small mileage can. Talking to Matt there he reckons the damage is mainly done from hard 1st & 2nd gear manoeuvres

AFAIK, BMW will inject it afterwards, but only do one side, the weaker nearside. Suppose you could always ask them to do both, but I wanted the plates done too. I don't track my car so it's probably me just being paranoid!

Cost was £1200 as far as I rem


Yes it was your car I read about in here,is yours 03 lk ,reg?

Looked like a great job done by them also

Yep, that's my one
http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10598

[philo]

Just checked mine ,no cracks so all good now,I called mprove earlier ,James was very helpfull,if I ever decide to get done he will be getting the call,really know there e 46 m3s

Is it possible to DIY resin into cavity? Just preventative

[JamesR]

Just checked mine ,no cracks so all good now,I called mprove earlier ,James was very helpfull,if I ever decide to get done he will be getting the call,really know there e 46 m3s

Is it possible to DIY resin into cavity? Just preventative

Hi Philo,

It was good to talk to you yesterday. Hopefully you received the information you required.

If I can help or answer any more questions please let me know.

Best regards,
James Redish (www.facebook.com/redishmotorsport) :)

[philo]

Hi Philo,

It was good to talk to you yesterday. Hopefully you received the information you required.

If I can help or answer any more questions please let me know.

Best regards,
James Redish (www.facebook.com/redishmotorsport) :)

James thank you very much your info was very helpfull...sorry I put up wrong name ,genuine mistake was from looking at both names on this thread

When it needs doing you will get the call

Thanks again
Phil

[J2LTB]

This was mine:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m41/darreni/subframe_zps48803ac6.jpg (http://s101.photobucket.com/user/darreni/media/subframe_zps48803ac6.jpg.html)
You need to drop the diff carrier to have a good look & remove the underseal (& shit).

The car should be covered by BMW if:

1) Its less than 10 years old
2) is not modified (this may depend on your dealer)
3) has covered less than 100k miles

no.3 is not really correct :whistle:

My car was fixed under warranty @ 107k this Febuary. Full BM history helps too.

[Heisenburg]

no.3 is not really correct :whistle:

My car was fixed under warranty @ 107k this Febuary. Full BM history helps too.

Judging from the variance in the many stories I have heard, I think this is dealer dependant. When I got my standard M repaired last year, they just seemed interested in the age and if the car was (heavily) modified. Quite keen to look after me...for which I'm sure they are well compensated for.

J2LTB - did you have any other/ additional work done while the rear axle was off the car?

[J2LTB]

Yes my car had new RTAB and subframe bushes at my request. They charged me £400 for this additional work including parts.It was carried out at Knights BMW of north Staffs.

My car is a std Cecil with full BMW history. 107k at the time of repair. They said 2-3 weeks but it was close on 5 weeks in the end. With a Mini Cooper diesel to drive about in. Not to bad an experience really.

[Heisenburg]

Yes my car had new RTAB and subframe bushes at my request. They charged me £400 for this additional work including parts.It was carried out at Knights BMW of north Staffs.

Yeah...the RTABs again. I will be looking out for these. Did they offer you a saving on the labour?

[northernjim]

Hello all,

Just wondering what other parts to consider replacing while the rear axel is off the car, and hopefully save on some labour.
.

Cheers



The rear brake lines can be worth replacing while everything is off :beer:



and welcome aboard :smokin:



.

[J2LTB]

Yeah...the RTABs again. I will be looking out for these. Did they offer you a saving on the labour?

Lol labour rates. They all make it up as they go along. Cheaper rate but longer times to make the difference up !

Kim is quite right about the rear brake lines. It's a job I'm kicking myself about now. As the pipes are drained and easy to remove . When the cars in that state.

[Heisenburg]

and welcome aboard :smokin:

Cheers mate

Kim is quite right about the rear brake lines.

Yeah, heard this before. Are the OEM lines that rubbish? I have heard good things about what Goodridge offer...what sort of money are we talking to supply and fit?

[J2LTB]

Cheers mate



Yeah, heard this before. Are the OEM lines that rubbish? I have heard good things about what Goodridge offer...what sort of money are we talking to supply and fit?

Kim lol I meant Jim

We are taking about the actual lines not the hoses. But putting goodridge hoses on would hurt one bit.

[Heisenburg]

Kim lol I meant Jim

We are taking about the actual lines not the hoses. But putting goodridge hoses on would hurt one bit.

Cheers fella...my bad. But same question with the lines...just trying to work out how economical this is? Do you know what sort of life you get out of the originals and what sort of cost to replace. This car has done 33k miles but has been driven as a CSL should. May be a worthwhile exercise.

[J2LTB]

Cheers fella...my bad. But same question with the lines...just trying to work out how economical this is? Do you know what sort of life you get out of the originals and what sort of cost to replace. This car has done 33k miles but has been driven as a CSL should. May be a worthwhile exercise.

The problem is that the lines on any m3 corrode. It doesn't matter how its been driven. They tend to pit towards the nipples.
They took the lines off my car and refitted them. So in theory labour should be nil. Parts cost only. Not sure on cost though.

[billyboysm3]

Patrick (heisenburg), thanks for looking after my old car so nicely.

She looks mint, but the upgrade will be ever better:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e46-m3-00-06/e46-2003-m3-silver-red-smg-sat-nav-3d-maps--fbmwsh-mint-huge-spec/1698327#

[Heisenburg]

Patrick (heisenburg), thanks for looking after my old car so nicely.

She looks mint, but the upgrade will be ever better:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e46-m3-00-06/e46-2003-m3-silver-red-smg-sat-nav-3d-maps--fbmwsh-mint-huge-spec/1698327#

Thanks for the kind words Billy...but it was in great condition when I bought it :notworthy:

The CSL is coming on the 4th October. Can't wait. Will be getting it booked straight in for the subframe...I have until December until I'm outside the 10 year goodwill period.