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*** Sub frame Damage *** Sign here if you have this Problem (Letter to BMW)

610K views 2K replies 658 participants last post by  Alex323Ci 
#1 ·
Put your full model of the vehicle, your user name and year of the car.
*Write out the way i did below*


1) 02bmw330ci - 2002 BMW 330Ci - Sub Frame / Diff mount Tears (9/12/04)
 
#327 ·
1) 02bmw330ci - 2002 BMW 330Ci - Sub Frame / Diff mount Tears (9/12/04) 77,000 Miles
2) Cuore_alfa - 2000 BMW 323Ci - Cabrio Sub Frame (whit less than 20k miles)
3) Atrytone - 2000 BMW 328Ci - Sub Frame/Cracked 8/1/04 70,000Miles
4) Ps323ci - 2000 323ci - Sub Frame Damage (rear) - 23,000 Miles - 3/15/04
5) Mpower619 - 2000328Ci - Sub Frame Damage(left rear)-42,000 miles Oct/03
6) 3quarterI - 2001 BMW 325i - Sub Frame / Control Arm Bushing Tear - 57,000 miles
7) Tavy8010- 1999 BMW 328i- Sub Frame(Rear) / Diff. mounts torn - 70,000 miles (9/8/04)
8) bimmerchop - 2000 BMW 328i - Rear driver's side Sub Frame/ Diff. mounts torn - 25,000 miles
9) M3wannaBEE - 2000 323Ci - SubFrame - 80,000 miles
10) SharifM3- 2002 M3- Subframe ripping out of trunk -30,000 miles
11) dinane46328i- 1999 328i -subframe damage- 59,000
12) hoodust - 2000 323ci - subframe damage (fixed :reinforced) - 80,000
13) BLKMJK - 1999 328i - Subframe tear drivers side - 50,000 miles
14) sycE46 - 2000 323ci - subframe started to crack. Fixed by BMW 40,000 miles
15) Demsuga - 1999 BMW 328 i- Sub Frame Damage(left rear) - 63,000 miles (9/10/04)
16) HamannGirLR714 - 2000 328ci -subframe torn from trunk 44,500 miles
17) Asmodeus - 1999 BMW 328i- Sub Frame Rear / Diff. mounts torn - 125,000 Km
18) ///M PWR 00 - 2003 BMW M3 Coupe - Sub Frame / Diff mount Tears
19) Blazin e46 - 2000 323ci - subframe cracked - 51,000 miles (9/20/04)
20) Sir.B - 2000 328i - subframe cracked about a year ago ($600 fixed)
21) wolf328ci - 2000 328ci, Subframe torn in 2 points, 52,000 miles
22) kevmo - 1999 323i , subframe cracked 70 K
23) srcstc - 2000 BMW 323Ci - Left-rear SubFrame mount torn from trunk 08/03 55K miles, stock suspension!
24) Allen Yad - 1999 323i - subframe torn in both places, 42,000 miles
25) jtecnik- 2000 328ci - Rear driver's side Sub Frame/ Diff. mounts 77k miles
26) madmak - 1999 328i - 100,000km - both sides gaping tears - still on cpo warranty and dealer says "you should keep an eye on that!"
27) burrito007 - 323i 83000 mi subframe broke in 2003 trying to get dealer to fix but not looking promising
28) tommiexboi - 2000 328i - driver's side subframe ripping/tearing/cracking - 85,000 miles
29)yayopwr-1999 328i 95k miles- driver's side rear cracking....paying out of pocket in hopes that bmw will soon fess up and pay me back
30) ffabbroc - 2000 BMW 328Ci 50K chassis cracked at rear subframe mounts
31)Jetblast - 1999 328i - 100k drivers side rear subframe mount completely tore out
32)sbk25 - 1999 328i - 86k drivers side rear subframe mount tearing apart
33)sanjaypatelis - 2000 328i - 49k drivers/passenger side rear and differential mounts torn out/and almost torn out
 
#330 · (Edited)
BluE46, cracked subframe, drivers side, driveshaft mounts busted too @54k miles

It does effect 323i too. Mine WAS a 323i to begin with. It happens because the subframe isn't strong enough to deal with the force of the power distribution from the driveshaft to the rear end. The subframe takes all the punishment from the power transfer before it absorbs into the chassis. It is definately a weak point and it is an issue of concern on e36 chassis as well. They tried to remedy it on the e46 by installing a crossmember, but it didn't do much good but to redirect the damage to the other side. If the tear is on the drivers' side, it is cheaper to repair than on the passenger's side due to the gas tank being on the passengers side.

Mine was noticeable by a knocking from the rear end. The whole subframe was twisting under load. Also when engaging first gear it sometimes made a hard squeak. It would also squeak hard when shifting gears and hitting bumps.

For reinforcement kits, www.turnermotorsport.com sells a reinforcement kit for the subframe for about 150 usd. Definately worth a look

OEM SUCKS!
 
#331 ·
i wish this kit was out when mine ripped. i know it got reinforced but im not sure how well, at least with this, you know what is going in

BluE46 said:
BluE46, cracked subframe, drivers side, driveshaft mounts busted too @54k miles

It does effect 323i too. Mine WAS a 323i to begin with. It happens because the subframe isn't strong enough to deal with the force of the power distribution from the driveshaft to the rear end. The subframe takes all the punishment from the power transfer before it absorbs into the chassis. It is definately a weak point and it is an issue of concern on e36 chassis as well. They tried to remedy it on the e46 by installing a crossmember, but it didn't do much good but to redirect the damage to the other side. If the tear is on the drivers' side, it is cheaper to repair than on the passenger's side due to the gas tank being on the passengers side.

Mine was noticeable by a knocking from the rear end. The whole subframe was twisting under load. Also when engaging first gear it sometimes made a hard squeak. It would also squeak hard when shifting gears and hitting bumps.

For reinforcement kits, www.turnermotorsport.com sells a reinforcement kit for the subframe for about 150 usd. Definately worth a look

OEM SUCKS!
 
#338 ·
Cuore_alfa said:
OMG, how long is the list now?
lol, just got a call back about my car, after it was looked at further its actualy cracking in 6 different Places... WTF!!!!??? its coming through the floor and cracking through the chasis? :rolleyes: ... I really wonder if they fixed this problem for the E46's cause i was thinking about gettin an 05 M during the summer.....
 
#339 ·
sanjaypatelis said:
1) 02bmw330ci - 2002 BMW 330Ci - Sub Frame / Diff mount Tears (9/12/04) 77,000 Miles
2) Cuore_alfa - 2000 BMW 323Ci - Cabrio Sub Frame (whit less than 20k miles)
3) Atrytone - 2000 BMW 328Ci - Sub Frame/Cracked 8/1/04 70,000Miles
4) Ps323ci - 2000 323ci - Sub Frame Damage (rear) - 23,000 Miles - 3/15/04
5) Mpower619 - 2000328Ci - Sub Frame Damage(left rear)-42,000 miles Oct/03
6) 3quarterI - 2001 BMW 325i - Sub Frame / Control Arm Bushing Tear - 57,000 miles
7) Tavy8010- 1999 BMW 328i- Sub Frame(Rear) / Diff. mounts torn - 70,000 miles (9/8/04)
8) bimmerchop - 2000 BMW 328i - Rear driver's side Sub Frame/ Diff. mounts torn - 25,000 miles
9) M3wannaBEE - 2000 323Ci - SubFrame - 80,000 miles
10) SharifM3- 2002 M3- Subframe ripping out of trunk -30,000 miles
11) dinane46328i- 1999 328i -subframe damage- 59,000
12) hoodust - 2000 323ci - subframe damage (fixed :reinforced) - 80,000
13) BLKMJK - 1999 328i - Subframe tear drivers side - 50,000 miles
14) sycE46 - 2000 323ci - subframe started to crack. Fixed by BMW 40,000 miles
15) Demsuga - 1999 BMW 328 i- Sub Frame Damage(left rear) - 63,000 miles (9/10/04)
16) HamannGirLR714 - 2000 328ci -subframe torn from trunk 44,500 miles
17) Asmodeus - 1999 BMW 328i- Sub Frame Rear / Diff. mounts torn - 125,000 Km
18) ///M PWR 00 - 2003 BMW M3 Coupe - Sub Frame / Diff mount Tears
19) Blazin e46 - 2000 323ci - subframe cracked - 51,000 miles (9/20/04)
20) Sir.B - 2000 328i - subframe cracked about a year ago ($600 fixed)
21) wolf328ci - 2000 328ci, Subframe torn in 2 points, 52,000 miles
22) kevmo - 1999 323i , subframe cracked 70 K
23) srcstc - 2000 BMW 323Ci - Left-rear SubFrame mount torn from trunk 08/03 55K miles, stock suspension!
24) Allen Yad - 1999 323i - subframe torn in both places, 42,000 miles
25) jtecnik- 2000 328ci - Rear driver's side Sub Frame/ Diff. mounts 77k miles
26) madmak - 1999 328i - 100,000km - both sides gaping tears - still on cpo warranty and dealer says "you should keep an eye on that!"
27) burrito007 - 323i 83000 mi subframe broke in 2003 trying to get dealer to fix but not looking promising
28) tommiexboi - 2000 328i - driver's side subframe ripping/tearing/cracking - 85,000 miles
29)yayopwr-1999 328i 95k miles- driver's side rear cracking....paying out of pocket in hopes that bmw will soon fess up and pay me back
30) ffabbroc - 2000 BMW 328Ci 50K chassis cracked at rear subframe mounts
31)Jetblast - 1999 328i - 100k drivers side rear subframe mount completely tore out
32)sbk25 - 1999 328i - 86k drivers side rear subframe mount tearing apart
33)sanjaypatelis - 2000 328i - 49k drivers/passenger side rear and differential mounts torn out/and almost torn out
don't forget me. i just took mine into the shop because of a big thug when car is put into reverse. Just found out that the rear diff. mounts are torn in 2 places.

2000 BMW 323ci-rear diff mounts torn/sub-frame damage (75k)
 
#342 ·
Any wagons???????

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bawling:

I have been a BMW owner now for about 1 week and now I find out my car is engineered like a freakin Yugo, except I don't think I ever heard of a Yugo having the rear end fall off. Anyway, I have a 2000 323iT. Has this been happening to wagons? Should I sell this car now before this happens? Is their any way to prevent this, ie is it cheaper to fix it before it cracks somehow.
 
#343 ·
preventitive reinforcement?

Looking at this photo from Turner Motorsports (http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/susp_e46_subframe_reinforcement.pdf), it seems to me this problem might be prevented as well as fixed after the fact. Their procedure is a little complicated, partly I think because they assume the damage has already happened and the sheetmetal is ripped loose. If my car presently has no issues, it looks like I could weld in some reinforcing totally from the top and avoid taking the whole car apart. I will have to see what I have back there, but it seems you could even do some triangulating from the sides.
Joe
2000 323iT Steel Gray 54K
93 MR2 MKII NA 252K
:idea:
 

Attachments

#344 ·
subframe damage

02BMW330ci said:
1) 02bmw330ci - 2002 BMW 330Ci - Sub Frame / Diff mount Tears (9/12/04)
2) Cuore_alfa - 2000 BMW 323Ci - Cabrio Sub Frame (whit less than 20k miles)
3) Atrytone - 2000 BMW 328Ci - Sub Frame/Cracked 8/1/04 70,000Miles
4) Ps323ci - 2000 323ci - Sub Frame Damage (rear) - 23,000 Miles - 3/15/04
5) Mpower619 - 2000328Ci - Sub Frame Damage(left rear)-42,000 miles Oct/03
6) 3quarterI - 2001 BMW 325i - Sub Frame / Control Arm Bushing Tear - 57,000 miles
7 )Tavy8010- 1999 BMW 328i- Sub Frame(Rear) / Diff. mounts torn --- 70,000 miles (9/8/04)
8) bimmerchop _____________________________________________
9)titomolotov-2000 bmw 328ci-subframe rear four deifferents areas torn
 
#346 ·
CPG80 said:
Forgive me but.. What is a rear subframe? What are the symptoms of something cracking or cracked? How do I know if I have this problem? Someone, please give me the low down. :yikes:
:search: has been talked about alot. read the first postings of this thread. there are links to other threads that talks about it in detail.
 
#347 · (Edited)
My 2000 323Ci started squeaking from the rear when i changed gear and pulled away. I decided to get under the car to see if i could locate the squeak. Left Rear Subframe mounting has torn out of the chassis. The squeak was the aluminium covering the under side moving around.

Took the car to a dealer. After they diagnosed a handbrake pad squeak I pointed out the obvious. Armed with my printout of the repair schedule I printed from this forum which I duly presented to the service manager, I was told my car was dangerous to drive and they would look into getting repair approval from BMW. A week later (today) the dealer called me and told me it was going to be repaired as a good will gesture so I should have my ride back within the next week repaired free of charge even tho its outside of the 3 yr warranty. I was shittin myself over the repair cost. I live in the UK btw. :woot:
 
#348 ·
doosk said:
My 2000 323Ci started squeaking from the rear when i changed gear and pulled away. I decided to get under the car to see if i could locate the squeak. Left Rear Subframe mounting has torn out of the chassis. The squeak was the aluminium covering the under side moving around.

Took the car to a dealer. After they diagnosed a handbrake pad squeak I pointed out the obvious. Armed with my printout of the repair schedule I printed from this forum which I duly presented to the service manager, I was told my car was dangerous to drive and they would look into getting repair approval from BMW. A week later (today) the dealer called me and told me it was going to be repaired as a good will gesture so I should have my ride back within the next week repaired free of charge even tho its outside of the 3 yr warranty. I was shittin myself over the repair cost. I live in the UK btw. :woot:
yea no wonder they repaired yours cause over seas they had a recall on this. in the US they did not and they will either not repair it or it is almost impossible to get them to repair it for free
 
#349 ·
ok....everytime i jack up my car i hear creaking noise from the rear.... i checked the subframe myself and no tears/cracks. i also hear creaking noise when i go over curbs/bumps. took it into the dealer they said it was my swaybar bushings....they just lubed em. the noise was gone but htye are back again. what should i do?
 
#350 ·
djsunkim said:
ok....everytime i jack up my car i hear creaking noise from the rear.... i checked the subframe myself and no tears/cracks. i also hear creaking noise when i go over curbs/bumps. took it into the dealer they said it was my swaybar bushings....they just lubed em. the noise was gone but htye are back again. what should i do?
new bushings
 
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