Picture of "subframe" failure repair panel.

[daniel]

Hi,

I found the below pictures while investigating what BMW intended to do with my car (standard m3, not csl) while in for its subframe repair. They were a bit coy about the whole procedure and what exactly was being replaced so I found it interesting to see the actual size of the part that needed replacing and what exactly it entails(ie front and rear subframe mounts plus RTAB cradles).

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5894/dsc00075khm.jpg
And this is where it goes
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6870/dsc00066hb.jpg


Here are some pictures courtesy of the m3forum (http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=304367&page=7) of the old panel removed prior to install. Decent sized job...
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0001.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0005.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0006.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0007.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0008.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0009.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0007-3.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0014-3.jpg
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/mickaphely/Cracked%20Subframe/DSC_0015-1.jpg

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the work being done to mine.

:thumbs:

[TMAQ]

hope BMW know what they are doing :whistle: .... looks like a big job.

[daniel]

hope BMW know what they are doing :whistle: .... looks like a big job.


Guess it depends where you take it. The place mine went apparently had a lot of experience!

[DuncanR]

Fair play to BWM for what they have done with this failure. I carry out lots of installation work in the Automotive business, including installation of the very large presses for banging out the steel underbody and body panels. (No ! im NOT responsible for the installation of the E46 press line before you fookers ask !!!)That replacement panel, due to the complex nature of it, represents a huge investment in additional tooling obviously not allowed for in the original budgets. Im sure others would have probably tried to get away with a much cheaper work around ... . Cant believe I have just poured praise on the Germans !! :banghead:

[AlexGTT]

Thanks for sharing these pics mate, will be of interest to all those with E46.

Good to meet you the other day. Maybe see you at a few TD's this year.:thumbs:

[grumps]

I would not be having that back after that kind of intrusion!(check out the air chisel marks)no fooking way....

[daniel]

Thanks for sharing these pics mate, will be of interest to all those with E46.

Good to meet you the other day. Maybe see you at a few TD's this year.:thumbs:


No problem. It looks like it is a bit of an eye opener when people see what BMW actually do with the car.

Hopefully going to be on track in the next month or so, just need to replace the rear pads now!

[Bounce]

Glad to see bmw doing a sound job,ive heard some say they just fill with a special bonding foam in the cracks.:eeek::smt017

[DuncanR]

I would not be having that back after that kind of intrusion!(check out the air chisel marks)no fooking way....

Underseal will sort that out grumps ! :hahaha::hahaha:

[grumps]

Yippi just noticed my boot floor is fooked! off to westerly tomorrow for warranty inspection and to think i've just decided to keep it as opposed to a gt3 woh some reward!

[Bounce]

Yippi just noticed my boot floor is fooked! off to westerly tomorrow for warranty inspection and to think i've just decided to keep it as opposed to a gt3 woh some reward!Keep us updated on this Grumps,i know a few have had it done,and some get turned away.

[grumps]

Should know by next week! And on what grounds do they tend reject as fore armed is fore warned?

[shimmy]

Should know by next week! And on what grounds do they tend reject as fore armed is fore warned?

I think the only reason it would be refused on CsL is

1. Mods affecting area (suspension or diff a/m)
2. Bad dealer who doesn't know what to ask BMw
3. No bad enough crack (yet)

[grumps]

I like the not bad enough cracks bit!

[grumps]

Got the go ahead for the boot floor repair this afternoon and it in on monday!:thumbs:

[mattCSLnut]

Got the go ahead for the boot floor repair this afternoon and it in on monday!:thumbs:
Congrats :thumbs: I hope it all goes well :smokin:

[Bounce]

Got the go ahead for the boot floor repair this afternoon and it in on monday!:thumbs:Well done mate:thumbs:

[grumps]

I shall be inspecting after completetion! Now what are your thoughts on polybush subframe mounts as i read that part of the cause of this failure is down to to much load over a small area! ie the insert in the subframe mountings are relatively small about 20mm as opposed to the uprated bushes which have an overall diameter face mount of around 80mm.
P.S Cheers for the support in these testing times lol

[dafoe]

I did this to mine a few months ago, along with 3.91 gears! :)

Got the kit here, http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-91-e46-rear-chassissubframe-reinforcement-kit.aspx

And the shop took some photos for me, enjoy!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nc44xGgCbcU/TrTzkJy_PFI/AAAAAAAAewc/E3fUpsQFQf0/s800/IMAGE_20EE9972-0E6C-4143-A99E-DB0B3F43C52D.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FYetgaY_amA/TrTzk_eMKZI/AAAAAAAAewk/cH771D2CONg/s800/IMAGE_48FEBAAE-AE36-494E-9F9C-C430B17BC52C.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Hn7dASgVHc/TrTznIMiEwI/AAAAAAAAew8/4hFCY1fpg_s/s800/IMAGE_06EC24D4-E34E-48B3-9FD5-38C06908EA56.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TZeYFa-GDOU/TrTzov1Ws1I/AAAAAAAAexM/mUEdGn9d6AA/s800/IMAGE_0D43DD6E-361D-4545-9777-2EC84AF5475A.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JetUjoOkToY/TrTzpFExQLI/AAAAAAAAexU/TgGqbO9U6WQ/s800/IMAGE_A491C8F7-F0FD-4948-98D6-B31949623918.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zKUmS3z8KRE/TrTzqpOVUcI/AAAAAAAAexk/3e-MnCt5VmM/s800/IMAGE_E0E6AAAE-76DC-4624-BBAD-9BA567B1B434.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oZXS2npAwwM/TrTzrSrnTiI/AAAAAAAAexs/Qvx4pkuTDPc/s800/IMAGE_95A5179B-F4C2-446B-8C5A-3D6E6FB93435.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SQ_Z2fXNI4g/TrTztp5nAUI/AAAAAAAAeyE/MN882mj6FF8/s800/IMAGE_E50FF943-6AA6-4171-80A8-578EEC7EBE3D.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ewcMDSCsfiI/TrTzyuCDLeI/AAAAAAAAey8/kSrNU_VPXXc/s800/IMAGE_DD2255E7-D864-40B9-83EA-23F07CEF0ED8.JPG
The Shop that did the work.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Mou2qRKZdrE/TrTzzQvDRsI/AAAAAAAAezE/go4JFCWogfk/s800/IMAGE_3FDA3C41-6760-41AD-BFA7-44438E31BE28.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iKLhwWxGS-E/TrTzzwxW2LI/AAAAAAAAezM/X2nrwIkX6B0/s800/IMAGE_37DD2C5D-FB9D-4742-A2A7-0F710A24C13C.JPG

[grumps]

Nice strong looking repair! have you uprated the mountings?

[s.mac]

nice workshop, expensive ??

[grumps]

Got me car back today at last! they have filled the section above the subframe up with resin although it wasn't that badly damaged the car now feels a bit tighter and the rear seats don't squeek anymore, I also fitted as set of front ap's and miltek rear silencer and have been out messin about this evening don't the brakes make a difference! so am now looking foward to some track action possibly the ring at easter.:thumbs:

[northernjim]

Fair play to BWM for what they have done with this failure. I carry out lots of installation work in the Automotive business, including installation of the very large presses for banging out the steel underbody and body panels. (No ! im NOT responsible for the installation of the E46 press line before you fookers ask !!!)That replacement panel, due to the complex nature of it, represents a huge investment in additional tooling obviously not allowed for in the original budgets. Im sure others would have probably tried to get away with a much cheaper work around ... . Cant believe I have just poured praise on the Germans !! :banghead:

I am sure will find time to slag ze germans off soon enough mate :partyman:

but is the replacement panel a new shape then compared to the old? ie stronger hopefully:whistle: