BMW E46 330i 2002 Subframe Crack

[alucard]

R 695 for Rear Plates

cant comment on install cost as I stripped the car myself and had a welder come in to do the job (dont like others working on my car but My welding is not that good)

Doesn't sound that expensive at all. Is it 4 plates in total or just the two way at the back?

Do you just weld them over the existing ones with a snug fit or is there cutting involved?

 

[DieselFan]

Procedure

 

[alucard]

Procedure

Thanks DieselFan

Must say I do not like the cutting inside the boot.That looks messy. I want to repair this with OEM look.

Sent from Street Standing Telkom Payphone

 

[DieselFan]

It gets covered by the carpet anyway...

 

[alucard]

True...but I will always have that in the back of my mind.

Please let me know tomorrow how much Powerflow is quoting you for the job?

Sent from Street Standing Telkom Payphone

 

[moranor@axis]

R 695 for Rear Plates

cant comment on install cost as I stripped the car myself and had a welder come in to do the job (dont like others working on my car but My welding is not that good)

Doesn't sound that expensive at all. Is it 4 plates in total or just the two way at the back?

Do you just weld them over the existing ones with a snug fit or is there cutting involved?

all 4 plates pointless doing two I have them laser cut locally so cost to produce is very low and no import duties

 

[Cerberus]

Awesome, thanks Moranor...:thumbs: eager to see what Ralf says about fitment...:fencelook:

 

[Loom]

So much for the E46 being a "solid" car :thumbdo:

Yup, it's things like this that make me question the BMW brand. As far as I know it has only been a problem on the higher performance models up to about 2001/2.

 

[Cerberus]

So much for the E46 being a "solid" car :thumbdo:

Yup, it's things like this that make me question the BMW brand. As far as I know it has only been a problem on the higher performance models up to about 2001/2.

I would have guessed as much, still want to have my 320i checked out all the same. Diesels must be at a much higher risk in this instance.

 

[Dbn540i]

Heys Guys,

What sort of welding is needed? Aluminium, Stainless Steel?

If theres any assistance that is needed with welding, im willing to help.

I'm based in Durban tho.

Regards:idea:

 

[InFrA007]

Kind of scary that they didn't pick up on this after the e36's started cracking. Then again the chances are the e46 was already developed and the production lines being readied at the various plants for the car's launch before they could address it as they did with later model e46's as well as the OEM Reinforcing Plates you can get for the e36 Rear Subframe.

 

[DieselFan]

Wheels are off, and they were busy dropping the propshaft when I left. I am going back in an hour to bring them my bushes and Eibach rear springs (as the H&Rs were too low. My phone camera is not working but I will try take pics.

 

[GPGrobler]

Eish, my car is a 2002, is it maybe only a problem with the pre-facelift models?

 

[Cerberus]

Eish, my car is a 2002, is it maybe only a problem with the pre-facelift models?

Nope - if you look at alucard's signature you'll see that his car is a facelift model

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Just look at the position of the indicator - not in line with the rub rail

 

[GPGrobler]

If it is badly cracked one can probably hear it, scary!

@ Cerberus, about the indicator/rub rail inspection, is that inside or outside the trunk?

 

[Cerberus]

If it is badly cracked one can probably hear it, scary!

@ Cerberus, about the indicator/rub rail inspection, is that inside or outside the trunk?

Check out this image man :thumbs: :

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Failed to upload...

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To be honest I wish I could own one of each raise:

The pre-facelift and facelift models are both so beautiful

 

[alucard]

Eish, my car is a 2002, is it maybe only a problem with the pre-facelift models?

Like Cerberus said....mine is the facelift model.

Sent from Street Standing Telkom Payphone

 

[GPGrobler]

Thanks,

Read on E46 Fanatics that also this was something that affected the 323i models very badly, BMW did a free repair to the 323i's due to this common fault.

 

[DieselFan]

No cracks at 416k kms. They are still busy working on it.

I don't actually have a price at the moment, but they should be finishing early tomorrow. I dropped the car there at 7:30 this morning.

Bushes are going in as well. Which is also why its taking so long.

It's also quite a procedure to strip down. The petrol tank comes out as well. So make sure you use most of the fuel in the tank before taking it in to get done.

Here is a video where the surface area has been prepped.

[video=youtube]

Here is a video of why it is bad to drive on dirt roads.

So in this whole process I have done some serious weight reduction.

[video=youtube]

 

[moranor@axis]

vids are private