subframe issues on 99 model e46's

[freerider]

SO...... please tell us what BMW says about this and if you had to fit the bill for their badly manufactured parts?

 

[lucian]

Well BMW insist that this is an isolated case and since an approved dealer did not inspect the car and sadly I do not have any photographic evidence, there's nothing they can do:cursin:. They suggest I go moan at BMW Germany.
Anyway I would not even bother insurance with this cos excess and premium increases would not make it worth it. The repair cost me just about what insurance excess would have been.
In future it would be best to take the car in to an approved repairshop ($$$$), and maybe have it repaired somewhere else later. In my case I am at peace with my financial loss and I have a car back that is fully functional (for now). But hey, look at it this way, there's stil a lot of E46's on our roads and this can happen again. I am seriously reconsidering buying one of these again.

 

[Hellas]

The subframe problem have been sorted after 2002.
So it wasn't so expensive then? I still say kick up some dust!

 

[freerider]

Lucian, I would def not leave it at that! I would bring up the class action suit against them that was settled BY THEM (BMW NA), indicating an admission of guilt.

 

[e46jase]

lucian i spent months and months moaning arguing with bmw unfortunatley without a full service history and ANY evidence of a previous accident bmw are convinced that the issue is not a latent defect! they also pulled the "neva heard of this" card on me which is bs but if your car has never been involved in an accident and you have service history with them they have no excuse and according to them they will pay up. its a hugggee isssue and anyone buying a pre facelift e46 ESPECIALLY a 328 should chek underneath the car for signs of cracks or already torn mounting in the us there is a reinforcment kit dont know if its available here but a panel shop could easily reinfocre it with a bracket or something

 

[blaze94]

Would anybody be able to guide me as to what i should be looking for in terms of a torn subframe on a E36 so i can check it out and make sure everything is as it should.

 

[Hellas]

With the rear wheels off and the car on a lift, you will easilty see where the mounts fit to the chassis/body and if there is some metal torn down there.

 

[Sherwin@xcede]

This is a common fault with many BM's.

 

[evilsee]

This is a common fault with many BM's.

Ok so does BMW SA fix these problems? The cars in the states that have this problem where were they built?

 

[pierrejoubertsa]

Hey Lucian,

I have the same prolem (left rear subframe mount cracking). Same procedure with BMW SA amnesia. I did log a formal complaint which they promissed to follow up, but not expecting much.

Have you got contact details for your bro's panelbeating business. Any ideas what this would cost to get fixed ?. I need to get the car fixed so that the damage does not get worse, but will be sure to take some pics for use later. I will also get a BM dealer to visually inspect.

Cheers, Pierre

---

BTW, my car is a 328i (1999).....

 

[evilsee]

Does anyone know if a 2000 model coupe would suffer from the same faults, I only have the detuned 2.5L (323ci) engine, is there even enough grunt in that engine to rip the subframe ?

 

[StK]

Does anyone know if a 2000 model coupe would suffer from the same faults, I only have the detuned 2.5L (323ci) engine, is there even enough grunt in that engine to rip the supframe ?

Yeha it has enough grunt to cause these issues....they're more common on the bigger engined cars but they can happen to any E46....BMW will fix them if the car is under a certain age and under a certain mileage...best thing to do is get as much info as you can so you are fully armed when you go to BMW....fortunately the internet has all the info you need if you do the right searches :thumbsup: so if BMW SA say this is an isolated case you can take all this info to them...alas most E46 are now getting beyond warranty fixes but you can try...:thumbsup: Huge recall and litigation in the states...not so much elsewhere cause we are too lame to complain :bawling:

 

[moranor@axis]

i have been reading up on this because i have a rip i dont think bmw sa will do a thing about this... the cars are too old now and there has been no case is sa... they are not even liable to fix the cars in the US anymore...