E46 m3 owners talk to me about boot floors

[bigvanfan]

Think it's time to try the m3 , what are the symptoms of the cracked floor? Can you feel it or hear it or is it just something you see when up on a ramp or in the boot?

[TheEnd]

See it first underneath, and eventually hear a creaking, and then a banging.

[bigvanfan]

Thank you

[pidsy]

Can only be seen with a proper inspection.

Get it checked.

[Ciff]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH1MqZ3ncMQ

[Stone Cold]

pidsy said:

Can only be seen with a proper inspection.

Get it checked.

And I would have it done at a reputable Indy, I had mine done recently as nearly 10 years old and it was fine, I was told it depends a lot on how it's been driven in the past and it's not a foregone conclusion that it will happen, apparently

[bigvanfan]

Wow, just watched that YouTube clip!, didn't realise it could go as bad as that (extreme case I know)yip I'll get it on a ramp

[VonSenger]

Not if but when.

[Bradders901]

I've just had my floor reinforced - it was not cracked but it's a track car so I had it done as a precautionary measure - 05 model

[Coker]

I think I'm right in saying that 05/06 cars are slightly stronger than earlier ones, in that they have a revised rear axle carrier panel. It can still happen to the later cars though, but as above, it's a case of how hard a life it's had. Just had mine properly inspected at Darren Wood (Oct 05 reg) and got the all clear - you need someone looking at it who knows what they're looking for.

[MitchT]

As I understand it BMW's repair is simply to replace the component like for like, which means you'll eventually have the same happen again. With that in mind is there an alternative solution that fixes the car forever?

[Coker]

MitchT said:

As I understand it BMW's repair is simply to replace the component like for like, which means you'll eventually have the same happen again. With that in mind is there an alternative solution that fixes the car forever?

Yep - Reddish, ETA and Infinity Racing are the go-to places to have plates welded in to to reinforce the underside. Others possibly others. I'm told Geoff Steel Racing may have done it too.

You can also then have it resin injected.


edit: reinforcement:

http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46M3FloorSubfram...

Edited by Coker on Sunday 27th September 17:30

[pidsy]

Deutschtech in Milton Keynes did mine using reddish supplied plates. Had the resin injection done as well as a precaution.

[thebigmacmoomin]

When I had mine, it had a completely new boot floor, judging by how new & clean it looked.

[Davidonly]

BMW replace the whole panel but it is a slightly different design and they inject the resin too which 'should' prevent future problems.

Mine was done a year ago (04) so FoC. They gave me a lifetime guarantee anyway so its great for the current owner if they get the goodwill solution.