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Known fault

E46: cracking rear subframe mounts

It does not show up on every car. Check before you buy.

critical

severity

not available

mileage

3

sources

3 sources next to the write-up.

The fault

How you spot it

A known structural fault of the E46 is the rear subframe mounting. The sheet metal of the rear axle carrier cannot take the twisting load of the subframe and the differential: the floorpan cracks around the mounting points, and in extreme cases the mount tears out of the body.

The phenomenon affects the entire 1999 to 2006 series, and it does not depend on mileage: it occurs on low and high mileage cars, and on standard and modified ones alike.

The inspection is hard. The crack is often only visible once the subframe is removed, It is easy to get a "no crack" result if they do not look where the metal cracks. The maker's foam filled repair was short lived; the durable fix is welding in reinforcement plates.

Which model

Who it affects

The card opens the generation, the engine or the transmission.

Generations and models

1 generations.

Checklist

E46: cracking rear subframe mounts

What you would check for this fault. Take it to the car.

Before you buy

Checklist

What you tick stays on this device only.

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Sources

How we know

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms