E46 rear subframe/axle carrier

[Swanny87]

More specifically a V reg 328Ci Coupe...

I am toying with the idea of buying one and have found one that looks mint not too far away. I did a bit more research last night and saw the horror of some cars where the rear subframe doesn't want to be on the car anymore. In one of the videos, one where they are driving the car with the camera looking at the rear floor panel without interior, it looked like buckaroo! (This particular E46 was an M3) Does this only affect M3s? Or should I be wary?

I guess it's age and the fact it is still on the road is a good sign but I don't want to assume anything. It's MOT history doesn't mention anything similar but thats just an indicator rather than a guaranteed bill of health.

There are some videos on YouTube that show where to look/what to look at but that's only if cracks have gone a fair way out from under parts that would cover them up if they were smaller. (I'm no mechanical expert either)

Edited by Swanny87 on Tuesday 3rd March 09:51

[anonymous-user]

It does affect other models, but not as often and not usually as badly. It really depends on if they have lived a hard life (0-60 runs, hard acceleration etc.) or not.

[Sump]

I wouldn't bother. I'd be constantly paranoid about it. Either get a later one or look at E39s perhaps?

[Swanny87]

That's what I was thinking. It's a shame because it looks like a really nice example. It's like going on a first date with a stunning girl and then finding out shes got a weird fetish or something...

[Sump]

Weird fetish? Na it's like going on a date with a hot bird and her vagina being torn open whilst she claims it's her first time.

[Swanny87]

I know BMW did do warranty work with this fix, if owners were proactive and went to BMW I guess it might be worth looking for documentation of that. Even then, was it a guaranteed fix or a "oh st we gone done built some cars wrong, we better solve it as cheaply and as quickly as possible and hope it works" thing?

[Swanny87]

Sump said:

Weird fetish? Na it's like going on a date with a hot bird and her vagina being torn open whilst she claims it's her first time.