BMW E46 MODS // Cracking at the rear subframe mounts - is YOUR E46 at RISK?

It's a well-documented problem - cracking of the chassis at the Rear Subframe mounting points, but is this something that you should be concerned about? Is it simply an 'Urban Legend', or is it a legitimate fault with the BMW E46 chassis? 🤔
In this episode of Five Minute Fridays, I provide my analysis on the issue of cracking at the rear subframe mounting points and give you some valuable answers to help you with maintaining your E46. 😀🛠👍
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T.M.S. Subframe Reinforcement Kit
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E46 Suspension Bushes
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😢 Sorry - the ECS Tuning Foam Chassis Repair Kit is no longer available - ooops!
Thanks For watching, and I hope to see you on the next video.

[@acef_performance8416]

I made and welded my own reinforcement, saved a bunch but I weld for a living, I upgraded full suspension bushings to poly and supercharged the car so reinforcement was a must

[@johnmarek8985]

Welcome back, certainly missed you last week, enjoy your 'aussi slight larrikin style ' of presentation. Your presentation is as informative as ever. Cheers.

[@timtowne2866]

Sixty4, I love your videos and find them very helpful! Question… In a previous five minute Friday you talked about the turner motorsport reinforcement plates which are a simple bolt on item. Benefits and limitations of those versus the full weld on braces explained here would be very helpful. Looking forward to your thoughts regarding this.
Thank you very much!

[@dazzamac70]

Did you consider the CMP Auto Engineering? They're an Australian company and are also up there in Qld and their knowledge and detail instructions are what I consider is to be second to none!

[@0megalul309]

they are good

[@v.s.727]

It's allways the driver side aka left side which cracks first.
Cars after February 2001 ar less effectet, but still suffer often from the subframe cracking, sensibly driven and maintaint cars shouldn't be affectet.
After somewhen in 2004 they have reinforced the left side mountingpoints once again. But when they get driven really hard they can still crack at the right side or other points.

[@stubbk3]

wait what its thursday.... holy shit time travel is real......🙃

[@manfredaspundzius9264]

I got a little crack on a rear subframe, can i drive till i got time to fix it?

[@westondoyle1969]

I an 04 330ci and I’ve heard that these cars don’t suffer (or don’t suffer as bad) as the early cars. Is there any truth behind it?

[@maxsluiter1856]

Prefacelift is mutch more common to have the problem

[@murphy1138]

How would you know you had the crack from driving?

[@anniewilkes6011]

I'm curious too

[@bommer772]

Does the TMS kit need a TIG welder to be welded in or could it be done with a stick or MIG?

[@Sixty4motorsport]

No, it doesn't specifically require TIG Welding, although it will probably give you a nicer finish.

[@dan8789]

Does the touring suffer the same cracking?

[@0megalul309]

all do

[@fal121]

Hey, off topic question. What is your opinion on manual swapping auto e46? Let's say a 330

[@dracula293]

just did my 330 i put in a 5 speed zf ask me any questions

[@fal121]

@@dracula293 awesome.
Alright.
1) what gearbox is to swap? Can they all(manual gearboxes from any e46) handle the torque of the 330?
I could get a donor car, but, unfortunately, i don't know which ones got the appropriate gearboxes.

[@dracula293]

@@fal121 your best option is the zf 5 speed from the 330i or the 328i. there is also the 6 speed found in the later 330i’s but i dont know much about them. the lower displacement e46s use the getrag 5 speed which isnt strong enough for our 3.0s

[@fal121]

@@dracula293 how about the M3 6 speed?
Also, what else needs to be swapped? I hear that the drive shaft and the differential should be swapped from the manual donor as well

[@dracula293]

@@fal121 i have no idea about the m3 gearbox. yes you will need the driveshaft from the manual car, but you can use your current differential its just that the final drive ratio is much higher on the automatic diffs compared to the manual (3.38 auto 2.93 manual for the 330 with zf 5 speed). the 325i’s and under use a 4 bolt flange on the differential to the driveshaft whereas the 330s use a 6 bolt flange