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Boot floor / Sub frame issue

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  • Boot floor / Sub frame issue

    Hi,

    My car is undergoing some extensive refurbishment on the suspension.

    The suspension components have all been stripped from he car, and thankfully the subframe looks to be in perfect health.

    Is the subframe issue on the Z3M exactly the same as the e46? Been tying to find a definitive answer and can’t locate the info.

    Also, would people generally recommend some kind of preventative action? I’m not planning to track the car and always drive it with “mechanical sympathy”.

    But confused having read too much about the subject so would appreciate the latest thinking on the subject!

    Thanks

  • #2
    Loads of detail in this thread https://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2332
    1998 ///M Coupe

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    • #3
      Yes have read through that and didn’t see/find a definitive conclusion to the questions I asked above.

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      • #4
        It depends on what you mean by subframe. To me it's the beam that bolts to the car and has the arms bolted to.

        There is no resemblance between Z3/M and E46 or even E36 at the rear. It's design is the same as E30; so a subframe crossmember across the car in front of the rear wheels that has the trailing arms attached.

        The "subframe" failure that people refer to is the actual body of the car, not the suspension subframe. More specifically, the chassis rails, the left side of the cross rail and the left rail that runs from front to back inside the boot which can pop welds. It's quite difficult to detect if a few welds have popped; requires the toolkit and soundproofing removing and deadening scraping off inside the boot.

        There seems to be no correlation between how the car is used.

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        • #5
          Random question - are you based in Tadworth?

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          • #6
            I am

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            • #7
              So you bought one ! Boot floor on mine has been sorted the same as the suspension !

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              • #8
                Originally posted by kwoffa View Post
                So you bought one ! Boot floor on mine has been sorted the same as the suspension !
                Yes! Sorry I thought yours was lovely but really fancied an S54.

                The boot floor on mine is fine but I am just wondering if worth doing any preventative maintenance to strengthen it. Is the Randy Forbes enhancement designed to prevent this issue ?

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Scaramanga View Post
                  Yes! Sorry I thought yours was lovely but really fancied an S54.

                  The boot floor on mine is fine but I am just wondering if worth doing any preventative maintenance to strengthen it. Is the Randy Forbes enhancement designed to prevent this issue ?
                  Yep
                  1998 ///M Coupe

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                  • #10
                    Thanks. Spoke to a few people (including some specialists in the trade who sell these cars). Been advised to leave alone unless there are already issues, unless the car is planning to be driven hard (track work, etc) or have a suspension upgrade. Thanks for the views!

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                    • #11
                      I worked for BMW when these cars were new.

                      Some failed at 30,000 miles but had usually been driven hard or tracked, there are some car out there that have had no work done & still have no issues.

                      If your not going to abuse it I’d leave it & ideally have the rear boot trims removed every few years to have a proper look at the welds etc, if they do start to fail the earlier it’s caught the better but if your not planning any track days or hard driving I don’t think you will ever have any issues.

                      Hope your enjoying ownership.

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                      • #12
                        I check mine every few years for obvious signs of popped welds or tears but its only possible to do a basic check without removing the tar insulation on the boot floor.

                        I am happy to leave mine as is until it actually fails if it ever does and don't want to alter the car from factory spec if at all possible or as a last resort but appreciate that some people prefer the prevention is better than cure mind set .

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                        • #13
                          Thanks Walk and Dave.

                          Agree with you both and the car is going to be pampered and enjoyed, and not abused. Never done a track day, but this car wouldn’t be used even if I did!

                          Appreciate the views. Thank you!

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