Differential & Subframe Ripping Out Of Body!!!!!

x2dg · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 05:20 PM

does anybody got pics of how it looks and how u fix it??

Pressurizede36 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 06:35 PM

Happened to my 1993 325I, can’t remember exactly but there are four arms coming from the rear axle that bolt up to the subframe, two of mine ripped out. You have to remove the rear seats, gastank, drop down the rear axle. Then if you’re an able welder you simply weld the fucked up part to the other fucked up part. I used the reinforcements plates just incase. I had a couple quotes done and it would have cost 1000~1500 bucks and many shops including the BMW dealership didn't want to mess with it.

Matthew C Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 07:11 PM

http://home.comcast.net/~matthew.c.s...rame/index.htm

komet · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew C Smith

http://home.comcast.net/~matthew.c.s...rame/index.htm

Thats a great write up and great pics, this should become a standard mod on the E36. the service centre where i work is seeing more and more E36"s with torn rear subframes

///M3UT · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komet

Thats a great write up and great pics, this should become a standard mod on the E36. the service centre where i work is seeing more and more E36"s with torn rear subframes

its a standard mod on 96+ M3s (I assume your talking about reinforcement plates)

nondescript · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 08:49 PM

That is a great writeup. One thing to drive home. This is a mod that is best done before your car develops issues - while everything is where it is supposed to be. Otherwise you might have alignment and tracking "issues"... It is also rather important to have an experienced welder do the work, warping the material because you are not as experienced as you should be is not something you want to do on this one.

komet · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2006, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M3UT

its a standard mod on 96+ M3s (I assume your talking about reinforcement plates)

Yeah they should have been on to it a lot earlier

BMWE36325i · #8 (**permalink**) 02-24-2006, 05:25 AM

i've had this problem and had it re welded. though i didn't know about the reinforcement

TheNorthWaves · #9 (**permalink**) 02-24-2006, 08:57 AM

ok it's a factory mod in 96+ M3's... mine is an 11/94 ('95) so the question (which has probably been killed already) is:

Does this tear-out only happen when you abuse/track your M3 with high mileage/etc? I use mine as a daily driver and occasionally drive "fun" when nobody else is around to kill. I never abuse it. What are my chances, and is there an observable symptom before it tears out?

Thanks....

nondescript · #10 (**permalink**) 02-24-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorthWaves

ok it's a factory mod in 96+ M3's... mine is an 11/94 ('95) so the question (which has probably been killed already) is:

Does this tear-out only happen when you abuse/track your M3 with high mileage/etc? I use mine as a daily driver and occasionally drive "fun" when nobody else is around to kill. I never abuse it. What are my chances, and is there an observable symptom before it tears out?

Thanks....

Are your swaybars stock? It mostly happens when you go to a more agressive suspension setup, but I think (someone confirm this please?) that somewhere out there are stories of some with stock components that have had failures when they were very high mileage (170,000 mi - or so)...

Matthew C Smith · #11 (**permalink**) 02-24-2006, 07:58 PM

I've been watching this for years and honestly have not seen any strong correlation between modified suspensions and the failure.

I've heard of it in most higher mileage cars which have not had the appropriate rear subframe bushing changes.

nondescript · #12 (**permalink**) 02-24-2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew C Smith

I've been watching this for years and honestly have not seen any strong correlation between modified suspensions and the failure.

I've heard of it in most higher mileage cars which have not had the appropriate rear subframe bushing changes.

If you can proove that, I can make the case that it should be a repair that dealers should perform and BMW should eat. I've always been under the impression that the high ground they stand on is the modified suspension. ???

Matthew C Smith · #13 (**permalink**) 02-25-2006, 05:03 AM

Even still, I believe it to be a worn subframe bushing issue. But what do I know

TheNorthWaves · #14 (**permalink**) 02-25-2006, 08:34 AM

when do the rsb's go out? (mileage, on an avg driven car)

///M3UT · #15 (**permalink**) 02-25-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nondescript

Are your swaybars stock? It mostly happens when you go to a more agressive suspension setup, but I think (someone confirm this please?) that somewhere out there are stories of some with stock components that have had failures when they were very high mileage (170,000 mi - or so)...

there have been incidents where cars with stock suspensions have had sub-frame problems. For the most part though it happens on non-M E36 models with aftermarket/tighter suspension.