Good places to get subframe reinforced on an e46?

[LLC24]

So I bought a mint 328i saloon a few months back. I’ve had 2 E46 coupes previously over the past couple years both of which were post 2001 and so the subframe issue wasn’t on my mind as much. The first was a 318ci and the underpowered engine wouldn’t put as much stress on the area anyway and a slightly neglected 325ci with higher mileage that had a lot of issues eventually causing me to fall out with it so I never bothered getting it done. The 328 was the engine I wanted originally anyway but the insurance was far too much for me at my age until recently.
Anyway, being a W reg I know that the boot floor issue was a bit more common on the pre 2001 cars and for this reason I want to get it reinforced as I plan to keep this one for the long haul. Does anyone know of any decent places in the south of the UK that they have taken their cars too?
Redish are the main one I know of but it’s not exactly close to me and it would be a bit of a hassle to take the car there considering it’s my only car and I’m still working regardless of lockdowns etc.

[E-bmw]

Non-specific answer I'm afraid, but pretty much anywhere that can weld & can follow instructions wrt a few pics should be able to do it.

IIRC there are several walk-throughs with pics out in internetland.

Did mine myself over a weekend including all rear bushes.

[Touring442]

LLC24 said:

So I bought a mint 328i saloon a few months back. I’ve had 2 E46 coupes previously over the past couple years both of which were post 2001 and so the subframe issue wasn’t on my mind as much. The first was a 318ci and the underpowered engine wouldn’t put as much stress on the area anyway and a slightly neglected 325ci with higher mileage that had a lot of issues eventually causing me to fall out with it so I never bothered getting it done. The 328 was the engine I wanted originally anyway but the insurance was far too much for me at my age until recently.
Anyway, being a W reg I know that the boot floor issue was a bit more common on the pre 2001 cars and for this reason I want to get it reinforced as I plan to keep this one for the long haul. Does anyone know of any decent places in the south of the UK that they have taken their cars too?
Redish are the main one I know of but it’s not exactly close to me and it would be a bit of a hassle to take the car there considering it’s my only car and I’m still working regardless of lockdowns etc.

Also £££££.

The main problem is the threaded lug that the passenger side rear mount bolts into. Nothing wrong with the boot floor, it's the lug welds that can fail. It's them trying to pull through the boot floor lower skin. Tbh, if it hasn't broken by now it possibly won't. I'd leave it until you do have a problem and at most examine the metalwork around the mounts. To do the job properly you need to open up that box section from inside the boot to re-weld the lug and then zip up the cracks underneath. The last one I did was a V plate 323i and it lasted another 4 years before the car was scrapped anyway.

[Touring442]

I've stolen these pics.

One shows clearly the lug that the subframe bolt screws into is pulling out. The second shows the lug removed and also the two holes where the spot welds have failed. To access the other side of that chassis member and redo the welds you need to cut open the boot floor skin above it from inside the boot. I drilled four extra holes and plug welded it before welding up the 'new' access hole I made.

[Touring442]

This bloke took pics!

http://www.e46zone.com/forum/topic/14652-e46-saloo...

[LLC24]

Touring442 said:

LLC24 said:

So I bought a mint 328i saloon a few months back. I’ve had 2 E46 coupes previously over the past couple years both of which were post 2001 and so the subframe issue wasn’t on my mind as much. The first was a 318ci and the underpowered engine wouldn’t put as much stress on the area anyway and a slightly neglected 325ci with higher mileage that had a lot of issues eventually causing me to fall out with it so I never bothered getting it done. The 328 was the engine I wanted originally anyway but the insurance was far too much for me at my age until recently.
Anyway, being a W reg I know that the boot floor issue was a bit more common on the pre 2001 cars and for this reason I want to get it reinforced as I plan to keep this one for the long haul. Does anyone know of any decent places in the south of the UK that they have taken their cars too?
Redish are the main one I know of but it’s not exactly close to me and it would be a bit of a hassle to take the car there considering it’s my only car and I’m still working regardless of lockdowns etc.

Also £££££.

The main problem is the threaded lug that the passenger side rear mount bolts into. Nothing wrong with the boot floor, it's the lug welds that can fail. It's them trying to pull through the boot floor lower skin. Tbh, if it hasn't broken by now it possibly won't. I'd leave it until you do have a problem and at most examine the metalwork around the mounts. To do the job properly you need to open up that box section from inside the boot to re-weld the lug and then zip up the cracks underneath. The last one I did was a V plate 323i and it lasted another 4 years before the car was scrapped anyway.

Ah I see, I knew it was around that area. It’s only just reached 86k, is this likely to happen at a higher mileage or does it vary quite widely. I’ve not actually had the area inspected so I don’t know wether there is anything to worry about, I was just thinking as a preventative measure.
I wouldn’t think there is an issue as it drives perfectly and had a full respray a few months back with the whole underside waxed and brakes rebuilt etc without mention of anything like that.

[LLC24]

E-bmw said:

Non-specific answer I'm afraid, but pretty much anywhere that can weld & can follow instructions wrt a few pics should be able to do it.

IIRC there are several walk-throughs with pics out in internetland.

Did mine myself over a weekend including all rear bushes.

I may have an ask around then thank you. I would never attempt that myself I don’t think, I can tinker around with a few bolts but no experience with welding whatsoever. Did yours turn out well?

[Touring442]

LLC24 said:

Ah I see, I knew it was around that area. It’s only just reached 86k, is this likely to happen at a higher mileage or does it vary quite widely. I’ve not actually had the area inspected so I don’t know wether there is anything to worry about, I was just thinking as a preventative measure.
I wouldn’t think there is an issue as it drives perfectly and had a full respray a few months back with the whole underside waxed and brakes rebuilt etc without mention of anything like that.

If it does break you'll hear it creaking and knocking. Repair it then - no point making work for yourself.

[BFleming]

Touring442 said:

Also £££££.

A quick web search suggests £1000-£1200 to do the work, which includes taking the tank out. It really would want to be a keeper.

[2 GKC]

Can’t be worth doing until / if it becomes an issue. I haven’t heard of it affecting 328is that much. I did 180k in one and had no issues.

[LLC24]

BFleming said:

Touring442 said:

Also £££££.

A quick web search suggests £1000-£1200 to do the work, which includes taking the tank out. It really would want to be a keeper.

I will probably wait for any noises as previously mentioned then. It’s definitely a keeper I reckon. Just ticked over 86k miles with FSH, no rust anywhere, only ever failed one MOT. I think it is a very rare bmw individual colour as well (“violet blue”) , I’ve never seen another e46 in person or for sale in this colour other than mine. Saw 2 e36s and an old 840ci for sale in the colour over the past couple years since I’ve been into the older BMWs but that’s it.
I guess I shouldn’t worry about it too much, my previous 325 had nearly double the mileage and it never had any trouble with this issue (just many other issues aha).

[pidsy]

Deutsch tech in Milton Keynes did my old m3.

Think it was about £700 at the time.

[E-bmw]

LLC24 said:

E-bmw said:

Non-specific answer I'm afraid, but pretty much anywhere that can weld & can follow instructions wrt a few pics should be able to do it.

IIRC there are several walk-throughs with pics out in internetland.

Did mine myself over a weekend including all rear bushes.

I may have an ask around then thank you. I would never attempt that myself I don’t think, I can tinker around with a few bolts but no experience with welding whatsoever. Did yours turn out well?

It worked fine, although slightly different as it was an e36.

Basically you end up with large "washers" of steel welded round the mounts & a bit of additional bracing and then from the inside, an area of the floor cut open, additional internal welds and re-welding the floor, it is a big job for the man at home.

[959]

BMW modified the body mounting point for the subframe from april 2000 build date cars.

Most kits do not address the stress point between the boot floor and inner arches which want to separate. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Motor-Vehi...

[LLC24]

959 said:

BMW modified the body mounting point for the subframe from april 2000 build date cars.

Most kits do not address the stress point between the boot floor and inner arches which want to separate. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Motor-Vehi...

Mine was registered 9th June 2000 but I don’t know when the actual build date was. Okay cheers

[Mr Tidy]

LLC24 said:

959 said:

BMW modified the body mounting point for the subframe from april 2000 build date cars.

Most kits do not address the stress point between the boot floor and inner arches which want to separate. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Motor-Vehi...

Mine was registered 9th June 2000 but I don’t know when the actual build date was. Okay cheers

I've always read positive reviews of Redish Motorsport for boot floor issues.

Although the mounting point may have been modified by BMW in April 2000 I've seen quite a few posts about E46 M3s having splits in the boot floor. But then the S54 is going to stress the shell a bit!

[E-bmw]

LLC24 said:

Mine was registered 9th June 2000 but I don’t know when the actual build date was. Okay cheers

The build date is on the VIN panel under the bonnet.

[959]

LLC24 said:

Mine was registered 9th June 2000 but I don’t know when the actual build date was. Okay cheers

I was mistaken, its cars up to February 2000 which are effected by the left rear mount failure.

My 323ci production date is april 2000 and was registered May 2000 so you probably have the modified axel support.