Quick Check: E46 Subframe Cracking/Tear
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ต.ค. 2016
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In this video I show you how to check a BMW E46 325i for subframe cracks. I also explain what subframe cracking is.
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Spider over there re-enforcing the subframe
YES
I'm an e46 owner because of your thorough and clear teaching content. Keep up the great work.
Just finding this channel because I picked up a 2001 bmw 325ci convertible. Literally the most thorough video I could find on this. Thank you 💯
Nice Video. As always, to the point and precise information. Thanks!
your videos are the best no bullshit no ego just straight facts
Great job as always! Thanks for the info and time! I'll be watching more for sure.
I heard that the manuals are more prone than the automatics based on the amount of load being taken on the transmission. My 2002 325i never had the issue because it was mainly kept as a weekend car for the past 16 years with the previous 3 owners. The subframe cracking is based on transmissions mainly but also on what life the E46 had. My friend has only seen four the past 20 years working on BMW E chassis as a specialist. He even has owned more than one E46 and E36.
great advice buddy, i had heard of those cracks before.
Jason, do you recommend installing the reinforcement plates the same time when doing the rear bushing ?
Thanks for making this video.
The convertible subframe does crack just like the others, and the year will not matter I've seen 2005 models with the rear floor flaping about
just depends on how hard its driven lol, this guy is not very well educated
@@StoicBroic it’s possible but very rare for it to crack as verts do have reinforced subframes. Don’t think he’s not well educated mate
My 2005 330ci has a nice reinforced subframe
Hey Jason! I really like your channel. You're very knowledgeable with vehicles. I was involved in a little collision last year and now my rear passenger side sits very low. There is absolutely no gap between the fender and the tire. I replaced the pass side rear lower control arm to fix the camber issue but i cant figure out why it sits so low. the springs are fine and the shocks are fine too. Is it possible i may have damaged the rear trailing arm itself? It didnt look damaged when i had it out. Im thinking it may have something to do with the stabilizer bar. What are your thoughts? Oh and another thing that i noticed is that when i have both rear wheels in the air, the passenger side wheel hangs alot lower than the drivers side
right to the point ! great vid bro
Nice video, I was looking forward to this video and it explained everything I needed to know. I'll get a 2002 model and a convertible if I can find one under 5K. Will try my best to find the cracks but don't know how easy it will be to get under the car without jacking it lol
How did you do it cause this is the problem I’m facing at the moment ?
@@justicekaye5927 Just don't buy an E46 lol
@@justicekaye5927fuck it just buy it yolo
Now that we know what to look for, how do we prevent it if we don't have any cracks yet... Or is it inevitable?
No wonder why the M3 GTR from the Need for Speed games didn't have much luck lol.
You need to finish the race soon, you left your subframe at the start!
Why you checking for cracks when you got spider webs holding??
Well said!
So if theres no cracks when buying how can you avoid them cracking? Also would an extended warranty cover this?? I have a chance to trade my 335i for a e46m3
thansk helps alot!
I'm dealing with this. highly recommended getting the Redish Motorsport reinforcement plate.
Yes the Redish plates cover more surface area than most of the other plates out there.
Siro Hernandez what year is your car?
Siro Hernandez what year was your car
How does this happen? Drive to hard on bumps? Drive the car on winters where there is a lot of salt that destroy the metal? Or just happens if you are unlucky?
Happens because of stress on the metal. Hard shifting/hard driving can cause it as well as sudden impacts.
I am wondering, does wheel spacers affect this problem? I am talking about 2003 automatic sedan.
lol mine completely tore out lol on the drivers rear...I still baby her cause she's my daily but she's getting ready to be put away for the winter and fixed...maybe manual swap
you're still driving it???
What about wagons ?
Nice video. Thanks. Why don’t you see this happening on convertibles?
I think the floors are a little thicker. In case you’re still wondering 4 years later lmao.
Man i was worry about that subframe everybody says e46 has problem with cracking the mounting points you are the only one who said accept the convertible because i got the car from one owner rich man he sold it for for 1500 very very clean car has 90.000 miles very happy when you said not for convertible I don't have problems but i was worried
Can it happen on 318 gasoline, 2003-2004? thank you!
Hello Jason, I want to make sure that I heard you correct, the M3 E46 convertible is not prom to subframe cracking.
That is what he said, but its not true. I have personally seen a convertible with a crack that was about 12 inches long.
No recalls on this safety problem? Thanks for sharing with us.
They had recalls.
Is it just me or the rear driver side tyre, looking at the thread pattern is not mounted correctly
I'm hearing a clunking noise on my 2002 330ci when I accelerate then again as I come off the throttle and the weight shifts, gonna jack it up tomorrow and have a look in the places you showed, I'm fearing the worst
The differential mount fails on them often, makes a huge difference in feel if you go to poly bushing.
ever find out the problem?
What was the issue in your case?
@@miras170884 broken rear suspension spring!
I have a 2002 bmw m3 convertible without cracks but should I just get it reinforced to be safe?
Yes. Immediately. It's only a few hundred. It's up to 5k if it goes.
Shoplife TV I have a 03 325I automatic sedan when I shift from drive to reverse I can hear a noise from the back I'm trying to figure out what it is I have a video of the noise
patrick lynch mine does too
Does the e86 have this problem too?
Is welding the diff (for drifting) going to affect the subframe mounting points?
Yes it will put more stress. Weld another are to make it stronger first. Many youtube videos on it
@@YaBoiShadow1 too late mate😂😂😂, I bought an e46 3,5 years ago and done the full X brace and plates reinforcements.
cool I subs you
If the cracks are small, is it okay to use that BMW Adhesive to patch it up since it was discovered early?
No, you should get the cracks drilled to stop further spreading and then welded before putting the reinforcement plates.
Erick Alamo. vs as sa 59th
My e46 99 328ci had cracks. To fix it they welded and seemed to inject some sort of foam. Whatever. The creaking stopped and it looks and feels solid. That was a few years back and all still good. Not a big deal to me although the internet talks about this as if its the original sin... lol
What was the price though ?
@@nene6569 R8000 which is about $550
haegor thanks, I really appreciate the quick response. I have a 03 530i and have had no major problems even after being my daily for school which is an hour away so about 10+ hours of constant driving a week. Been wanting an e46 but my friends just always bring up this problem but it sounds like that small investment is worth it. Are their any other issues I should be aware of on an e46, I prefer 01-03.
@@nene6569 The cooling system including water pump and coolant expansion tank. Its all plastic and cracks after about 10 years. I got all the parts replaced in one go for peace of mind
@@nene6569 I've driven a 03 4dr 5spd pretty hard for the last 3 years with no problems. 162k miles.
my subframe rear driver side cracked. it broke where it holds the drivers side rear wheel. I was in shock. I have to put my e46 to bed forever :(
Hey I just found out a mod you can do with the paddle shifters on the M3 steering wheel! You can wire it to the steptronic transmission and actually use them. If you want to you could look it up and try it, and make a video if you do please!
Yes you definitely can do that, it's been done on the forums before. There might even be a diy on the forums as well, but if I end up retrofitting the paddles I will definitely make a video for it.
ShopLifeTV Hey thanks i would love a video for it
Why is the convertible not part of the subframe cracking problem ?
That spider is reinforcment
and next video - rebuilding cracked 2004 e46 convertible subframe
Do the sedans suffer from cracking ?
I have a e46 328i sedan and i found a crack in my driver side rear subframe the mount near the muffler
Let me be the one to let yall know, verts crack too. I'm doing my diff bushings right now and seen the driver side rear mount is giving it a dangle and a half... and it's just a 323..
I have a 2000 323ci vert and I’m getting a clunking noise from the rear diff area in 1st-2nd. I recently replaced the diff bushings so now I’m worried my subframe floor might be cracked
I'll never forgive BMW's ass for this shit.
LMFAO
Bought my 99 328i 5MT for $1600, I've heard clunks and creaking so the subframe is probably f'd but fixing it would cost 20% of the value of the car lol.
Probably more like 120%.
I have a high mileage chassis (200k) with no visible cracks. The previous owner was definitely rough on it. Now I'm using it for a drift car. Would you say it's worth it for me to install reinforcement plates? On the one hand, I feel that a car that made it 200k without cracking isn't likely to crack in the future. On the other hand, I feel that introducing it to new stresses like drifting could cause it to crack. What do you think?
how's the drifting going man?
did you wind up reinforcing it?
What they said
wish old cars were this rust free in england. jeez
arent the R L tire rotating the wrong way?
Yes they are lol, thanks for pointing it out!
no problem. Drive safe :)
could this happen to my 325i 2002 e46?
Yes, get your car inspected.
Anyone know of any affordable southern OC shops / welders that do rear sub frame repair / welding? Also what happens if you continue to drive the car like this but not very often? I work from home but once in a great while need to drive somewhere.
Dave Bohr have you found anyone who does it in the socal area?
Dave Bohr
I live in the San Fernando Valley. I own two E46's and had to repair my rear subframe due to the infamous crack on the rear driver side of the subframe. BMW HQ office won't do anything. I happen to be a welder/fabricator and my mechanic/good friend worked at a BMW dealership for 15 years. It came out AMAZING!!! Our shop is out in Simi Valley. If you want your subframe reinforced with a lifetime guarantee on the welds. Feel free to shoot me a message. I have several options to reinforce the rear subframe using the welding process. Feel free to message me if you would like to have us examine it
Hardstyle818 Dave bohr... I have a crack where my shock tower mounts to the car .. about an inch away from the bolts that hold in the shock... where can I send you a picture of the crack and see if you'd be able to fix it... I sm in San Bernardino county, not to far from you... thanks
Hardstyle818 what’s your email? I live in the valley as well and need to fix my e46!
so this M3 didn't have any cracks ?
This isn’t an M3
Tires are mounted backwards
I'm late. Best comment
What about the compact e46?
We didn't get those in the US so I am not too familiar with them.
That spider looks like a Black Widow.........
Yeah, tis indeed.
BMW should fix this
They won't.
@@sirbader1 Apparently they do: www.motortrend.com/news/bmw-settles-3-series-subframe-suit-will-inspect-repair-affected-models-4619/
@@tractioncontroldelete Yeah, as you can see, that article is from 2009. They gave about a 12 month window. I almost got them to do it shortly after I made this comment. Turns out that it wasnt the subframe, the guibo had just come apart. I think they would've done it, only because we are the original owners and the car is stock.
Ppl when you buy one don't matter if it's a 06' even if it's in good condition just go ahead and reinforce it, do that work before your forced to. Oh and water pump, if u buy a car around 100-130xxx miles and hasn't had that done, do that too. Oh and lol jk I could go on the big 3. Great cars buy a good 330 for bout 3k-6k with 100-130xxx miles, then do all the pre-maintenance.. That car will last till 250-300xxx miles if u keep up with it. And lastly dont beat them lol get a 323 or 325 and beat it but my ZHP it's perfection and only 110k.. Treat um like ur wife's, beat um sometimes jk again lol
Why wasn't there a recall on this obvious problem?
ikr
Sad part is that there actually was..from what I remember (I could be wrong) BMW just injected structural foam in the gaps of the body panels where the subframe is and then washed their hands of it. I took my subframe off a couple days ago and i saw the hardened foam through one of the holes in the surrounding areas. In their eye they did SOMETHING about it, not like it helped much though
I don’t think there was since bmw declared its a wear and tear and for the most part cracking happens when the driver floor and the all that torque go to the rear thus cracking. I think something like that. Just read it somewhere
there actually was somewhat of a recall. all the way up until 2010 you could have bmw drop the subframe and check for cracks for free. repairs wouldnt be free but the labor to drop the subframe was. they also after 2001 started using the structural foam to try and help the problem. while it helped, even post 01 models still have this problem.
tyler3691 e30 never had this issue .... that’s poor engineering... wtf happen to German engineering??