E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Will show some small project of some E46 M3 which just left my place.
Tom booked it in for BMW Performance brakes , H@R suspension upgrade and Inspection 2 .Car got quick check over and was found few small cracks in the floor on subframe fitting points ,mostly cracks rear left and front right ones .Owner without any big questions gave me green light to go ahead with all work and left car for over two weeks to get it done without hurry .
So i started ,subframe and fuel tank was removed.rusty fuel filling hose clips and brake lines ,subframe bushes with cracks ,worn stud axle bushes and track adjust bolts rusty inside to death ,needed to cut them in parts to remove ball joins without damaging track arms. Diff front bush as gets most pressure and prop shaft CV joint gasket .Exhaust back box clams so rusty as felt of in bits ,one of hanger rubbers cracked and few rusty exhaust bolts .
Front suspension, very rusty and still OEM steering tie rods,the guys on tracking would not start work with them .
Plates got from Redish Motorsport ,very nice guys to deal and with quick delivery .So car got all 4 new subframe bushes, 4 new stud axle bushes ,OEM rear brake lines from front to back wheels ,steel braided hoses all around ,rear new shock top mounts and gaskets ,all around new hose clips on fuel tank,prop shaft CV joint gasket,oil +air+fuel+pollen filters ,engine oil,oil constant pressure valve ,rocker cover gasket full set ,oil pick up filter cover gasket in the sump,complete tie rods,spark plugs ,valve adjustment - 8 of them was out of limits.new BMW E46 M3 CSL front brake discs and BMW Performance Brembo callipers with BMW OEM brake pads and brake pad wear sensor. All this fitted in and full tracking done .
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RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
All rusty spots was cleaned with steel wire brush and got coat of rust remedy ,left for over 24h. Cracks welded ,plates measured ,welding places grinded for best weld result and plates welded on. Welding lines cleaned with grinder and covered with primer .All weld covered with silicone and over painted .the back left fitting point was opened from car inside in the boot to make sure its no cracks and re-weld .
Now pictures coming on ;)
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RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
the left floor and side wall crack
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cleaned ,made some more custom weld spots and full weld
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rear suspension and car washed off ,rust remedy on
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front brakes coming on
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tie rods,brake hoses and brakes on
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suspension rebuild
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oil pick up filter gskt and oil constant pressure valve replaced
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diff bush , rocker cover gasket set
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plates and start of weld
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weld works
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primer,silicone,paint and brake lines
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fuel tank is back,CV joint gskt, brake hoses,exhaust clamps and blue racing brake fluid
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car is back on the road for customers joy!
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Great work Vald! I think there will be more and more E46s coming your way, as word of this issue is spreading fast and it seems to be getting to the point where it's tricky to sell one without either it having been checked for cracks by an expert or having had some preventative or repair work done
I'd suggest that if someone is going to look at an E46 M3 with a view to buying, they get someone like Valdas to throw an eye over the subframe as he knows exactly where to look for these potential cracks
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
After U posted the thread about Your car ,3 more M3 came in for check and all had same cracks as this
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so its same as bold tires :D on RWD
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Yeah, and I think even without cracks it's worth doing on cars that are keepers. I certainly didn't fancy having to pay for a whole new floor when the car went out of the 10-year goodwill period!
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Great to see someone is stepping up to the mark and taking this sort of work on!!
So many "mechanics" steer clear of this sort of as its too much like hard work.
Fair play Valdelis!
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leins
Yeah, and I think even without cracks it's worth doing on cars that are keepers. I certainly didn't fancy having to pay for a whole new floor when the car went out of the 10-year goodwill period!
yes i would go for this work straight away ,not waiting for cracks ;)
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Great job Valdas. Very tidy job.
Great job on the brake lines, not easy to get them to look like that.
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Always an education reading threads like Valdas' ones. Thanks for sharing and highlighting exactly what/where this issue seems to occur.
Re: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Thanks for sharing, great to see quality work being done. :cool:
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RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
As always Valdas great work. I never know this was a issues with the e46.I will be able to look smart now saying " Make sure you check the subframe on that e46 your looking at later";)
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Quote:
Originally Posted by E36Austin
As always Valdas great work. I never know this was a issues with the e46.I will be able to look smart now saying " Make sure you check the subframe on that e46 your looking at later";)
Yes lot of them do crack, depends on driving style and without reason on M3 E46 ;) Not so long time ago did 00 E46 320d with completely broken off one of the fitting points ,but its going well now
RE: E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
Great work Validas, wouldnt bring my M anywhere else!
E46 M3 subframe reinforcement and other upgrades
One more M3 got subframe reinforcement !
Plates welded , subframe all 4 corners power flex bushes installed ,diff bushes all around -power flex ones ,diff and gearbox oil changed , stub bushes - ball joints (all 4) ,trailing arm bushes ,new camber bolts washers and nuts ,eibach lowering springs all around and rear coil springs pads as these was missing ,exhaust back box new joints and new hangers ,exhaust new bolts abs lot other small bolts washers and nuts replaced including rear shock top mount gaskets
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