E46 M3 Rear Subrame - Fixed or not

[eamo]

We all know the issue with the rear subframe and we all know the various ways of tacking the issue. But it seems that some of these methods are not really fixing the problem

Now I don't want to get into a debate about which way is best but if you were in the market for an e46 m3 would you buy one with the work already done or one that hasn't been touched.

Personally I think I would buy one untouched

Thoughts?

[Paddy]

If I was in the market I'd be wanting it done already and there's receipts from Motor Confidence for subframe work - that's the only way I'd be sure it would be done right.

[eamo]

But the repairs (welding in plates) that people have been doing are only kicking the problem down the road and not actually fixing the problem?

[SmokyMo]

But the repairs (welding in plates) that people have been doing are only kicking the problem down the road and not actually fixing the problem?

To get it "properly" fixed, is a lot of money + labour + knowledge.

I got Motor confidence to do mine with reddish plates plus various other jobs due the lack of the above. Zero complaints.

Majority of m3 owners get redish plates and I havent come across a thread where the subframe cracked again... Unless if you track your car all time maybe, even then..

[dergside]

If you're buying for the long term I'd probably prefer to buy one undone and get it dealt with and documented to a known standard, unless it was done by BMW or a very well renowned specialist, with appropriate documentation/details of who, what, when and how.

[Chillipepper]

Marc (Schooner) has a great write up on the sub frame fix, it seems to be a permanent fix but a lot more than the reddish plates and welding is involved.

http://www.bmwhaus.ie/vbulletin/show...light=schooner

[JohnH]

I'd buy either, tbh I'd probably prefer one where the work was already done but only by a known quantity.

Given that most cars have 75k+ miles at least and only have a few cracks to show for it I'd be happy enough to buy one with the plates in on the assumption that it'll be a cold day in hell before the car does another 75k in my ownership.

[dergside]

Not quite comparing apples with apples here but just to highlight that mileage, etc. is no real determinant of when the problem might occur, our old e46 328i Touring was repaired by BMW at less than 6 years old, with 40k miles. That is a car that was the proverbial one lady owner, never been raced example.

[HealyC]

Either way tbh but depends on what actual repair was done to the car if it was done.

Everybody has there own theory on how they should be repaired. My own theory is once the affected area has been repaired and plated then this is good enough. But this is only in cases where there's minimal cracks. If there's bad ones then further action needs to be done.

I've seen a good few E46s with repairs done to the floor that years later are still fine.

I love the way Schooner went about doing his but each to there own.


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[318is-joe]

Schooners approach is the best I've seen to date (belt and braces). If I was buying I'd buy untouched and try to emulate the Schooner way lol