How common are e46m3 subframe cracks?

[mcmikey43]

As said by others this is an inherent fault on an e46 M3 and it looks likely that all will go eventually. It's a4-4500 job to fix. I had mine inspected and repaired by Coopers Teesside and this is an example of why you need to be very careful. It seems likely that the inspecting garage has to do the work, once they have done the inspection they report to BMW tech liaison and they make an offer. Some tech liaisons cover all the cost where some don't. Cooper Teesside offered 50% but when I complained it was raised to 75% and Coopers made a goodwill gesture of 12.5% leaving me to pay 500. When they get the car on the ramp they then charge you for other work, my final bill was 2k.

This is why where you take it is important, if you think you have a car that needs the repair check on the M3 cutters forum, the information on where the best deals are is there in their technical section. Needles to say I can only recommend Cooper Teesside on the quality of their work if you are prepared to pay premium prices, others are likely to do work of equal quality for much less.

[shim]

is the bit you paid due to the value of the car.....ive never heard of anybody paying for BMW dealer repairs to subframes before.....mine was certainly free with loaner

[Mr Wolf]

Some dealers try it on - maybe use excuses like high miles or non BMW SH etc

[mcmikey43]

The issue seems to be with the BMW Uk liaison for the garage concerned, some allow 100% and some either a proportion or even nothing. This is why you really need to be careful where you take it. I would say look on cutters and only go to garage on the list, I took a recommendation to go to Coopers who had done them for free in the past but their policy seems to have changed and they are now seeing this as a significant commercial opportunity. The key thing is buyer beware, if you are buying a car you have to think buy one that's been done if you are looking at one past 8 years

[solidlad84]

Its a worrying problem but I wasnt as bothered by it when I found out Reddish can do their highly regarded repair for 1k. It's no different to splashing out on a new set of tyres.

[BalhamBadger]

I'm taking mine in to my local dealership next week for inspection and potential fix. No idea if they will cover it under goodwill, I certainly hope so. I do have the Mondial warranty but not sure if subframes are covered. Anyway I'll let you all know how I get on.

[Rahul uk]

solidlad84 said:

Its a worrying problem but I wasnt as bothered by it when I found out Reddish can do their highly regarded repair for 1k. It's no different to splashing out on a new set of tyres.

Completely agree. Not sure I like the idea of having BMW take out a massive chunk of the boot floor when a localised fix with reinforcement plates does the job. Reddish seems to be a good option if your paying out of your own pocket.

[mcmikey43]

Rahul uk said:

Completely agree. Not sure I like the idea of having BMW take out a massive chunk of the boot floor when a localised fix with reinforcement plates does the job. Reddish seems to be a good option if your paying out of your own pocket.

If its done properly you have to assume it will last another 10 years unless they have changed something. I agree that reddish is a good option if you have to pay but even their kit is untested over 10 years so we really don't know. I do think if you buy one it should be the first thing you ask though.

[The JM]

My first E46 M3 suffered at 60k. It was fixed by Woods BMW under warranty. It was the first one they had seen at the time. I used to drive the car very hard on track and a certain amount of drifting which caused a lot of wheel hop at times. My Current E46 M3 has now done 95k and has just been check and is fine! The side windows still get used but I avoid really high grip tires and dry drifting.

[BalhamBadger]

BalhamBadger said:

I'm taking mine in to my local dealership next week for inspection and potential fix. No idea if they will cover it under goodwill, I certainly hope so. I do have the Mondial warranty but not sure if subframes are covered. Anyway I'll let you all know how I get on.

Well, I took it in yesterday and received a clean bill of health. I was told it was inspected by both a master tech and a bodywork specialist - they couldn't find any evidence of cracking.

The chap I dealt with reackoned that had there been an issue I would most likely have been covered given the service history, condition, warranty etc. They also didn't charge me for the inspection and valeted the car so I was pretty impressed with the overall service (Dick Lovett, Bristol).

I know that some say the subframe going is an inevitability but I can only hope that's not the case, or that it applies to cars that have had an especially hard life. I've only had mine for 4k miles (2003, 63k miles total) so I can't be sure how its been treated previously, but I take some comfort from the fact that it's in top condition for its age and has an immaculate service history.

As a bit of closure DL are providing me with a note confirming inspection and no issues so I'm happy with that.

[gaz1234]

i will be taking mine to bmw and an indy as i dont trust my local dealers.

[Mr Wolf]

This guy had the all clear by BMW....Turns out they didn't look close enough

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=715...

[BalhamBadger]

Ah, just when I thought I was in the clear..

If I really need to be certain I'll need to book it into a specialist for a second opinion. Frustratingly I gave Redish Motorsport here in Bristol multiple calls to try and book in but got no answer.

I think that while all bmws may have microscopic cracks only a small proportion go on to develop into something worse. I'd be interested to know how the issue makes itself known through day-to-day driving, because most if not all seem to be picked up on a ramp under a microscope.

[MOTK]

In case no one has, it is worth noting that 05/06 cars had a redesigned boot floor supposedly not susceptible to this problem. As I understand it, it is this version of the floor that they replace the cracked one with.

[Kananga]

Just out of interest, is the issue covered by the regular BMW AUC warranty ?

[Mr Wolf]

MOTK said:

In case no one has, it is worth noting that 05/06 cars had a redesigned boot floor supposedly not susceptible to this problem. As I understand it, it is this version of the floor that they replace the cracked one with.

I'm afraid that ain't true my friend. They are the same panel in the later cars and crack like the rest.

There is indeed a new floor design (its internally braced to deal with the loading) but it's only a retrofit,

[MOTK]

Mr Wolf said:

I'm afraid that ain't true my friend. They are the same panel in the later cars and crack like the rest.

There is indeed a new floor design (its internally braced to deal with the loading) but it's only a retrofit,

Indeed I can't verify that statement, but it is something that I have come across before. Can you clarify how you know your statement to be true? I have an '06 M3 so keen to get to the bottom of this one!
Cheeers

[benny.c]

Not sure if you can see the poll results without registering but there are at least four 05/06 cars on M3cutters that have cracked boot floors (two of which BMW refused to fix):

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=476...

Edited by benny.c on Tuesday 19th February 23:13

[hot66]

any CSL's effected ?

[benny.c]

Yes. There were two in for new floors when mine was being done. 26 cars affected on the CSL Register:

http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=...

Edited by benny.c on Wednesday 20th February 09:24