Rear Subframe

[Laidback]

Does BMW have rear subframe issues? i've read a couple of threads about the subframe giving out on e36,e46, e39

[mrtm2008]

I know the E46 does!

[HARLEY]

yes THE E46 DO!!!!!!! SO IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING SLIGHTLY GIVING OUT ON YOU GO CHECK FOR HAIRLINES

[ZeroG]

I am going to go out on a limb and so no, neither the E36 or E46 have subframe issues.

The issues only surface when coupled with aftermarket suspension, and increased spring rates. The OEM suspension uses progressive spring with a maximum rate of around 400# or so. When people throw on these GC Coil Over kits with 550/600 spring rates and hit these LA city pot holes there is bound to be some damage.

So in the stock for there are no issues, to my knowledge, and I have both an E36 and E46. My e36 is just now starting to show stress fractures after about 6 years on coil overs and lots of track abuse.

[the.marks]

I am going to go out on a limb and so no, neither the E36 or E46 have subframe issues.

The issues only surface when coupled with aftermarket suspension, and increased spring rates. The OEM suspension uses progressive spring with a maximum rate of around 400# or so. When people thrown on these GC Coil Over kits with 550/600 spring rates and hit these LA city pot holes there is bound to be some damage.

So in the stock for there are no issues, to my knowledge, and I have both an E36 and E46. My e36 is just now starting to show stress fractures after about 6 years on coil overs and lots of track abuse.

Very well put... Hit it dead on... :thumbsup:

[Laidback]

The E39 aswell have subframe issues and one example was Mfest member M feeva he had stock suspension (stock car) and what not but still suffered subframe damage...Dinan sells the Subframe reinforcement kit http://www.dinancars.com/store/product.php?productid=1907&cat=366&page=1 for the e39...the part iss cheap enough to buy but the labor?!?

[M Feeva]

Chris is correct. At the time I was all stock but suffered a severe rear sub frame failure. As most of you know, I am now no where near stock and I did the Dinan reinforcement kit, an a brand new rear sub frame as well. Talk about a lot of money on a non hp upgrade.

[Laidback]

D how much did you spend on the new subframe and reinforcement? did you go with Dinan?Chris is correct. At the time I was all stock but suffered a severe rear sub frame failure. As most of you know, I am now no where near stock and I did the Dinan reinforcement kit, an a brand new rear sub frame as well. Talk about a lot of money on a non hp upgrade.

[M Feeva]

The rear sub frame, dinan reinforcement kit & install was over 5k.

[Kapu1]

The subframe crack is extreemly rare on an E36,but I've seen it...(mostly with aftermarket stuff).E46's esp M-3's are more common and I've seen a few 330i's but only with aftermaket susp....The repair is anywhere from 5k to 8k depending on how clean you want it...

[ZeroG]

The preventive fix of installing a reinforcement kit like Dinan or Turner, is where most of the expense is going to come in. Even BMW makes a kit for the E36 cars.

The problem is that the plates need to be welded up and to get them in both front and rear cassettes need to be lowered.

[BlackOnBlack]

e46 m3.... lolz.... yup