So this happened....(subframe crack!!!!!!!!) ZOMG!!!! helpp

[ak-]

Castro can fix it and will also give you the same advice to gets other shell

[Wh33lhop]

Don't hate, thats how you mod e30 right, bro!

thisisr3v.jpg

[nando]

best bet would be to find another shell and swap everything over. you could probably sell it as is, but in parts-car condition. the shell is basically dead. :(

this isn't a typical E30 weakness. something about your particular chassis/suspension caused that. there were almost 3 million E30s made - how many have seen the subframe rip out like that (and not from extreme rust)? 2-3?

[worangejuice]

yep. I hear it too going into certain driveways. It has nothing to do with broken E46 subframes - people have been running stiff, solid suspension and bushings for years without problems. he had stiff suspension, no travel, and worn out stock bushings. that's asking for trouble. :(

I wouldn't worry about running solid/urethane subframe stuff. My car has had all solid urethane bushings for the last 100,000+ miles, I'm sure there are many here who've gone longer without problems.

The rear shocks/struts may have only had like 1 inch of travel. I think rear passenger one had blown. Or my frame could have even been off, when Tony1.8t cut the fenders he said the car looked off. With this car I was like whatevers most cost effective way. So I shoulda changed the bushings and that may have helped prolong the damage.
What the fuck can I sell the car for at all?
Frustrating as the rest of the car is a 'beautiful honey baby" and the one severe point that cannot be replaced but maybe patched broke. The break looks severe.
Only thing i could think of is buying the e46 subframe re-enforcement kit and have a shop 'patch it up' then just run on regular suspension?
It would seem to be strong enough then if the car was 'floating' on stock bottlecaps and monster truck suspension. And of course change le bushings.
If I had money to burn it'd be one thing. But seeing no money out of this does not fund the 'new shell'............fuck me in the face fuck.
(car is still sitting in a neighborhood)
Any suggestions for a Los Angeles westside shop to fix it?
Maybe castro's as they are some cool guys.
.........................
thanks for all the input here fella's!
Lots of man love up in here.

[nando]

Those of you who are saying you have creaking in off camber curbs and stuff with stiff suspension, I'm about willing to bet it is your back window. No joke. When an e30 undergoes torsional loading, it flexes, and because the glass is not glued in, it can shift in the rubber. This is actually the reason the e30 M3 has a glued in windshield-it ads to the stiffness of the frame. Stiff suspensions just exacerbate the twisting under load.

yep. I hear it too going into certain driveways. It has nothing to do with broken E46 subframes - people have been running stiff, solid suspension and bushings for years without problems. he had stiff suspension, no travel, and worn out stock bushings. that's asking for trouble. :(

I wouldn't worry about running solid/urethane subframe stuff. My car has had all solid urethane bushings for the last 100,000+ miles, I'm sure there are many here who've gone longer without problems.

[Jean]

OP - don't even waste your time/$ on fixing the shell.... get another e30/swap stuff over. done.

[Jean]

yep, this is r3v alright - nice shiney wheels, dumped ass stiff suspension, 25 year old worn out 100% stock everything else..

Don't hate, thats how you mod e30 right, bro!

[Jonny Cash]

They made sportmax wheels 20+ years ago?

hahahaha

I freakin love this website

Ive taken an Mcoupe apart with a minor 'clunk', and what was revealed after removing the sound deadening was catastrophic- The entire cross member was pulled apart- He was a few miles away from his diff on the floor.

My e36 m3 parts car was hit in the rear at some point, and was split and seperated all the way from subframe mounting point to shock tower. After some researching, actually pretty common for the seam on the shock towers to delaminate.

Now Im reading the e46 issues which is new to me but not suprising. This to me was an issue thats easily overlooked, but still had to be obvious that something was wrong for the entire frame to RIP OUT OF THE CAR... for the e30's to be this old, and not have these frame issues compared to the newer bmw's says alot. You either have a car that was severly hit in the rear in the past, or... you know.

[Stanley Rockafella]

The e46 issues (mostly the diff mount) is very common. It's a problem that occurs from BMW making the sheetmetal too thin. The car doesnt' even need to be modified to have the issues.

[LJ851]

^ This, but now I am leary of solid mounting my subframe...

No need to do that on a car that is street driven at all. Poly at all 3 corners is as far as i would go if you plan on driving the car and hanging on to it for more than a couple seasons.

[Holland]

^ This, but now I am leary of solid mounting my subframe...

[gearheadE30]

Those of you who are saying you have creaking in off camber curbs and stuff with stiff suspension, I'm about willing to bet it is your back window. No joke. When an e30 undergoes torsional loading, it flexes, and because the glass is not glued in, it can shift in the rubber. This is actually the reason the e30 M3 has a glued in windshield-it ads to the stiffness of the frame. Stiff suspensions just exacerbate the twisting under load.

[regnu]

Geebus! Do yourself a favor. Get a clean shell swap what parts you like and a good complete refreshed suspension so you don't do this again. It will be cheaper than paying to fix that.

[kingston]

Warren,

Dude, I am really sorry to hear this : ( I always looked forward to seeing new looks for your car. Not sure what to say, since I don't have any experience with this.

I might suggest emailing those pics to a frame ship and see what they have to say before you pay to tow it anywhere.

Keep us in the loop as far as what you end up doing.

Good luck, man!

[delatlanta1281]

I don't need to get under my car, I routinely inspect it to make sure nothing is wrong, or on the way out. Then again, when I did my suspension, I chjanged EVERTYTHING out for new parts. My car is low, but not stupid low for two reasons, this one, and pot holes leading to something like this or an oil pan. Rolling hard is lame. Rolling smart is the way to go.
Stance on brother.