We invested a lot of time and money into them. If the “other kits” on the market have holes in different locations I would question why, the spot welds/features are in fixed locations on the car’s rear axle carrier panel so why are the holes located differently? Additionally there is a specific number of holes in our kit so as not to interfere with the structural integrity of the plate and how they dissipate loading forces across their surface area, we didn’t just design a kit, we engineered it (probably over engineered it) to be the best we could make it, it took 6 mths to develop and correctly test. This kit has been designed to fit perfectly, each hole lines up with a corresponding feature, as it is supposed to,īe it spot weld locations, the contour of the panel, the shape of the floor or bolt hole/mounting features etc.Įach kit is checked before it leaves our workshop to ensure this is the case. The above images clearly show fatigue cracks 2 separate locations on the rear axle carrier panel. From continuous transition between on-off throttle, the panel begins to fatigue due to a pitching movement of the rear subframe.
![e46 m3 subframe crack e46 m3 subframe crack](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200828/b6cd195df561fb4cab14bd9498d16799.jpg)
The rear axle carrier panel is highly susceptible to cracking and tearing due to varying design flaws. The BMW E46 has been plagued with an unfortunate weak point since the birth of it's chassis.
#E46 M3 SUBFRAME CRACK SERIES#
PSDesigns have redeveloped our original famous plate kit to offer an even better cost effective long term solution to the well-documented problem of floor cracking which the BMW E46 series suffers. If you have a question please don’t hesitate to ask. Please take advantage of our vast experience with fitting this product,
#E46 M3 SUBFRAME CRACK FULL#
We offer full online support during the fitment of this kit. The most comprehensive kit to keep your E46 on the road for many years to come.This Kit requires little introduction, supplied and fitted by numerous repair shops around the world. Turner's subframe reinforcement kit paired with structural foam to assist in load dispersal and prevent new cracks from forming by limiting sub frame mount movement. With this comprehensive kit, you get the best of both worlds. This is accomplished by installing reinforcement plates at the subframe mounting points, which thicken the metal and distribute the load over a larger area.ĮCS Tuning has come up with what we believe to be the best possible solution. Turner Motorsport has also developed a solution to address subframe issues.
![e46 m3 subframe crack e46 m3 subframe crack](https://vanos-bmw.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/E46RearSubframeReinforcementPlateKit.jpg)
Though structural foam helps, it does not completely address the issue. Option 2: Turner Motorsport Reinforcement Kit. The key component missed is the failure of the spot welds in the sheet metal. Though this addresses the failures in the subframe, it is not a complete fix. Their solution was structural foam to fill the void between the underside of the chassis and the top of the trunk. BMW realized this issue shortly after the release of the E46. There are two common fixes for this issue. However, this also causes the load to be transmitted to the left rear of the subframe, which has become a common failure point.
![e46 m3 subframe crack e46 m3 subframe crack](https://cdn3.volusion.com/rbxuu.aosbq/v/vspfiles/photos/33-AM-RK-R-E46-2.jpg)
The result is reduced twisting action on the sheet metal. When BMW designed the rear suspension they placed a cross member on the front two mounting points of the subframe, which keeps the front mounting points from having problems by placing the bushing and the stud in double-sheer.
![e46 m3 subframe crack e46 m3 subframe crack](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5dzv0Ui2PA/maxresdefault.jpg)
As with any problem, the important part becomes finding the cause. With failures showing in all mileage ranges of cars, ECS and Turner come together to give you the most comprehensive fix available. The E46 subframe has come to be known as a problem child.