Subframe welding

[Neil.D]

Has anyone had experience of or used anyone for subframe welding?

Whilst under my car today I noticed this,



(sorry picture is hoooge). Car is a MY 2000 M5.

Apparently a BMW weakspot.

Not ideal.


I have ordered a 2nd hand subframe but now I hear chatter about having them TIG'd?

Does anyone have any knowledge/experience?

TTFN,

Neil

[biper]

[Neil.D]

Shock + horror indeed!

I could almost understand it but I dont - what I would call - abuse the car.

The Americans have this a lot more than we seem to do and they put it down to smoking starts, burnouts and drifting. Pretty much all pub club exit type stuff. All of which I dont do.

[Steve_D]

Are you going to weld that one or just replace it with the second hand one?
Or
Are you planing to reinforce the replacement before fitting?

Steve

[Neil.D]

Hi Steve.

Can it be repaired? I was just going to have them swopped over - but now am thinking about having the new/second hand one reinforced prior to fitting. If the current one can be fixed - and made stronger at the same time then that seems a lot more logical.

[Steve_D]

Is it steel or ali?

Steel will be a relatively easy repair/reinforce ali will require the attention of a specialist.

Steve

[Neil.D]

Its Aluminimum.

Do you know of anyone Steve?

[Steve_D]

Neil.D said:

Its Aluminimum.

Do you know of anyone Steve?

Sorry no, Just starting to learn Ali TIG so am still at the 'All the gear - no idea' stage.
If it was steel I could have MIG welded the break then re-enforced it.

Steve

[Gingerbread Man]

Good ally welders are hard to find.

I had a cracked sump on my Caterham which I had welded up. Bloke lives in Bordon and is a very good welder, used to, or still does do a lot of welding for Mercedes I think I recall him saying.

[stainless_steve]

Take it to you local sheetmetal shop,they will weld it up and plate it no prob.

[normalbloke]

If you are taking the subframe off the car, I know just the person to do it.
If you are not, he will not be interested.
Email me if you need further details.

[Neil.D]

normalbloke said:

If you are taking the subframe off the car, I know just the person to do it.
If you are not, he will not be interested.
Email me if you need further details.

Hi.

I have actually bought a second hand one now so if I am removing then I may as well just replace it.
Will probably flog the car after this!

Thanks though.

[normalbloke]

No problems, good luck with it, seems an eye opening failure!