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

Originally Posted by jtt777

Here a link to the complaint website...

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Consumer.cfm

PLEASE DO THIS!! THIS WILL GET ATTENTION IF EVERYONE ON THE LIST WRITES IN!!!

This is the only way to go....With all this hype, there are only 2 complaints registered with NHTSA

Originally Posted by eksath

Adanali,

How many miles on your 2002 and is it stock wheels & suspension?

18k and yes car is all stock.

Originally Posted by Adanali

18k and yes car is all stock.

Only 18k miles

Guys, as I said, I have not had this problem (yet). I was just showing solidarity with those who have had it.

Do I have sub frame damage? Here are my symptoms:

-Rear cracking / knocking prevalent when over a certain ramp or bump
-Do have the ski folding seat option
-have replaced rear differential (last summer/fall acutually)
-numerous times have asked for the sway bar in the back to be tighted
-"clanking" when entering and exiting car sometimes
-at some points rear passenger wheel side looks lower!

Hope I didn't anger anybody by bringing up this issue, but this pisses me as hell! Why can't BMW fix their damn problems appropriately.

Thanks!
Silva

Advise to everyone, buy the extended warranty. I got mine for $2200 that covers to 12/31/10 or 115k miles. bumper to bumper. Good for piece of mind. I will sell before it expires.

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

has anyone had their subframe crack a second time after they had it welded back together (reinforced)?

I'm always keeping my fingers crossed, i hate it.

I drive my car really hard on the track and street, and my subframe just tore out of my dang car......... 99 328i 80000 miles

luckily, i can weld......

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!

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

Originally Posted by BluE46

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!

Add me to the list ... 323Ci - 72,000 miles rear subframe damage... getting more info tomorrow ..

i ordered the TMS kit for the E46, after i get that put in ill see how the car will hold up..

have anyone got their car fixed and how much it cost...thanks

Originally Posted by jtecnik

have anyone got their car fixed and how much it cost...thanks

It depends where you go and how they fix it. I hear some ppl just get it welded back together and get it done for as low as 700. But it can be up to 3-4k at some shops. so.. shop around.

Just discovered that my rear subframe is cracked and it is coming through the chassis. Dropped the car to a local BMW dealer and they are looking into it. Will let you know if a get it sorted under warranty!!

OMG, how long is the list now?

Originally Posted by Cuore_alfa

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? ... I really wonder if they fixed this problem for the E46's cause i was thinking about gettin an 05 M during the summer.....

Originally Posted by sanjaypatelis

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)

After reading these horror stories I think I will have to start looking for another model than the 328Ci. Probably 330Ci or 325Ci. Well, the 330Ci is too expensive for me and the 325Ci could have more power. Man, I really don't know what to do now.......