Crossmember/Subframe replacement

[Heysüß]

I have searched and couldn't find any info on this but before I buy a replacement I wanted to be sure of a few things. Oh btw if this is in the bentley please make me feel like a dumbass and point out the page numbers where it talks about subframe removal, I could not find that section. realoem didn't have the measurements as well so that's why I am here.

Is the subframe crossmember interchangeable between all E30s? or do older and newer ones have slight variations?

And since this is the first time I've done anything like this, is there any part of the crossmember that's prone to damage? Any key places I check before handing over a whole entire 11 dollars?

Thanks again R3V I don't know what i'd do without you.

[iamsam]

rear subframe or front subframe?

Also, www.realoem.com will pretty much answer most of your questions.

[Heysüß]

sorry. rear.

and I just realized this is in general.

I tried realoem. but all that gives you is the trailing arm measurements.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1413&mospid=47322&btnr=33_0213&hg=33&fg=30

is that implying that it's safe to assume that they all share the same subframe crossmember?

[iamsam]

sorry. rear.

and I just realized this is in general.

I tried realoem. but all that gives you is the trailing arm measurements.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1413&mospid=47322&btnr=33_0213&hg=33&fg=30

is that implying that it's safe to assume that they all share the same subframe crossmember?

if the part number in realoem matches part numbers for any other E30 in realoem, then they are the same part.

also, what are you doing? replacing your subframe with another subframe? there is no problem areas on the subframe other than perhaps where the trailing arms bolt to the subframe, if you are running high horsepower or something. But I have never seen them fail.

[Heysüß]

yes I'm replacing the subframe crossmember.

I kept hearing a loud rattling coming from the back of the car under hard acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear. Mechanic said that it was cracked but wanted to charge me 700 bucks just for labor so my student budget said no.

The old man and I are getting one from a metal bumper e30 at the local junkyard tomorrow. Hopefully it'll go smoothly.

One other question. where can I find bushings? I went on turner motorsports and pelican autoparts and all I kept finding was some kit that turner motorsports makes. Any place where I could look at other brands?

[87e30]

er... this sounds unlikely to me. You've looked and seen the crack, right?

[Teaguer]

Yes all e30 rear subframes are the same and interchangeable.
Also unlikely that yours is cracked, more likely is that the bushings are shot.
But whatever replace it if you want.
For urethane bushings try AKGmotorsports or even IE although AKG has better prices.

[iamsam]

dude. First of all, the subframe itself will NEVER break before something else breaks. It can't be the subframe itself. Second of all, there is NO way a mechanic will charge only $700 for a subframe replacement. The labor alone will run you at least $1000, and that is for CHEAP labor. Sounds like you have yourself a knucklehead mechanic.

Also, they sell subframe bushings all over the place. Ireland Engineering, Turner, Bimmerworld, Bavarian Auto, AKG Motorsports, I can go on and on. If you are replacing bushings, which is much more likely to be the cause of your problem, I would go with polyurethane bushings. They barely cost more than the factory rubber ones (especially from Ireland Engineering) and they are WAAAY easier to install, and they last WAAAY longer than rubber.

[Heysüß]

damn, you might be right. But I WANT to believe he's right.

I've used him for a lot of other stuff and he's been right so far. He's figured out misfiring problems, tough to find shorts, and sporadic lighting problems.

[Rennsport]

I'd rather want to believe he is wrong. bushings are a hell of a lot cheaper than a subframe (which you'd put new bushings in regardless)

[Heysüß]

my local junkyard says the crossmember will run me an entire 11 dollars. if you find bushings for 10 bucks please let me know.

[iamsam]

I'd rather want to believe he is wrong. bushings are a hell of a lot cheaper than a subframe (which you'd put new bushings in regardless)

Brand new subframe from Pelican is > $1000, but used subframes are nearly free.

my local junkyard says the crossmember will run me an entire 11 dollars. if you find bushings for 10 bucks please let me know.

Yep they won't charge you much, but good luck getting it out of the car in a timely fashion. You may want to research on how to remove a rear subframe before you go looking for an E30 with a handful of wrenches.

[Rennsport]

my local junkyard says the crossmember will run me an entire 11 dollars. if you find bushings for 10 bucks please let me know.

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=w1bh2f452nkqhs45crsyab45&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1011687@325I&year=1988&cid=bushing@bushing&gid=10942@Subframe%20Bushing

[iamsam]

^^ Rubber bushings suck. However, I take my previous statement back about the price of poly being nearly the price of stock rubber. Poly isn't this cheap.

[Heysüß]

done and done!

me and mein vater got it all out in under an hour!

even picked up a nice non-gooey and sticky steering wheel and some other random specialty screws that i needed for the gauge cluster trim. all in all ... a good day. now drinking some beers and playing fifa