BMW E46 Subframe class-action suit.

[SSSnail]

If you own an E46, this may apply to you. Basically due to engineering defects, the sub-frame of the E46 will eventually have tears on them.

This class-action suit was brought on due to numerous complaints, and BMW will inspect and repair at no cost to the owner or leasee of the vehicle. I think you just can't have any modified components to your car suspension or power train.

http://www.girardgibbs.com/bmwe46.asp


Updated:

(1) If you paid for a sub-frame repair to your 1999-2006 BMW 3 Series vehicle, you can obtain reimbursement from BMW by submitting a completed claim form and proof of expenditure to the Claims Administrator. Claim forms can be downloaded from http://www.e46subframeclassactionsettlement.com and should be mailed to the address listed on the claim form. The deadline to postmark you claim is September 9, 2010.

(2) If you currently own or lease a 1999-2006 BMW 3 Series vehicle, you can contact an authorized BMW dealer and make an appointment to receive a free sub-frame inspection. If the inspection reveals any sub-frame cracking, the dealer will provide a free repair as well. The deadline for free sub-frame inspections is September 9, 2010, for vehicles no longer under warranty. If your vehicle remains under warranty, you will have one year from the expiration of your warranty to receive a free sub-frame inspection.

 

[RichUK]

Hmm, I wonder if this sub-frame issue will affect me.

 

[ballmode]

good they are doing this

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Any sense of how common this problem is? I don't presently have an E46 but am toying with the idea of picking up an E46 M3.

 

[iamwiz82]

I wouldn't let it shy you away from buying one. Check for damage and if there is none you are good to go. You can buy reinforcement plates here: http://www.turnermotorsport.co...?PRODUCT_ID=TDR4675412

 

[evident]

wheres all the outrage like when this happened to toyota?

 

[crosshairs]

Originally posted by: evident
wheres all the outrage like when this happened to toyota?

There is no way to try and blame this on the American steel company's.....so there will be no outrage.:disgust:


sadly it seems as if its only cool to bash the American company's around here

 

[Zenmervolt]

The suit has already been settled.

http://www.e46subframeclassactionsettlement.com/

That site has information for anyone owning an affected car.

ZV

 

[SSSnail]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Any sense of how common this problem is? I don't presently have an E46 but am toying with the idea of picking up an E46 M3.

It's quite common actually, and people have been taken care off by BMWNA to have their cars inspected and fixed for free.

RichUK, yours is probably affected as well since it's E46 and chances are greater since you have the extra HP , have it looked at. There are some service bulletins out from BMW that specifically address these issues.

Service Code: 41119101
Description: E46 Cracking in rear axle support

Service Code: 41009385
Description: E46 Inspection of rear axle carrier (on customer request)

TIS article # 41 03 03 025 - Fractures on rear-axle support E46

 

[SSSnail]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The suit has already been settled.

http://www.e46subframeclassactionsettlement.com/

That site has information for anyone owning an affected car.

ZV

It's not settled until the 3rd of August, but people can get their cars inspected and fixed at no charge right now.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: SSSnail

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Any sense of how common this problem is? I don't presently have an E46 but am toying with the idea of picking up an E46 M3.

It's quite common actually, and people have been taken care off by BMWNA to have their cars inspected and fixed for free.

RichUK, yours is probably affected as well since it's E46 and chances are greater since you have the extra HP , have it looked at. There are some service bulletins out from BMW that specifically address these issues.

Service Code: 41119101
Description: E46 Cracking in rear axle support

Service Code: 41009385
Description: E46 Inspection of rear axle carrier (on customer request)

TIS article # 41 03 03 025 - Fractures on rear-axle support E46

Useful stuff. Thanks.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: RichUK
Hmm, I wonder if this sub-frame issue will affect me.

Actually, looking at the PDF on the site linked by ZV gave this:

11. What are the chances that my car has a Sub-Frame Condition?

BMW NA estimates that cars produced prior to February 2000 may experience the Sub-Frame
Condition at a rate believed by BMW NA to be below 2 percent. For Class Vehicles produced
beginning in February of 2000 and after, BMW NA believes the rate of Sub-Frame Conditions is
extremely low and BMW believes that it will be below 0.1 percent. Plaintiff and Class Counsel
have not adopted BMW NA's estimates or position in this regard.

As both our cars were built after Feb 2000 it's probably not going to be an issue, but still worth knowing about should anything crop up.

 

[exdeath]

So how about that superior German engineering

 

[SSSnail]

Well, they (BMW) didn't want to admit to the problem that's why they stated the percentage was so low, a lot more people seem to not notice this problem until it's too late. It's all started with hairline cracks...

Mine is a 2005, but I'm gonna have it checked out sometimes at the end of this year anyways. I've read that people with 2003 cars were having symptoms and actual damages as well, so it's better to be safe than sorry. To be honest, they didn't do anything to reinforce the frame on later E46 models, even the face-lifts.

 

[AMCRambler]

Props to BMW for fixing it. Bad that they didn't take it more seriously and the owners actually had to file a class action suit.

 

[secretanchitman]

mine is a 2000 328i...looks like ill have to take it in one day.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK
Hmm, I wonder if this sub-frame issue will affect me.

Actually, looking at the PDF on the site linked by ZV gave this:

11. What are the chances that my car has a Sub-Frame Condition?

BMW NA estimates that cars produced prior to February 2000 may experience the Sub-Frame
Condition at a rate believed by BMW NA to be below 2 percent. For Class Vehicles produced
beginning in February of 2000 and after, BMW NA believes the rate of Sub-Frame Conditions is
extremely low and BMW believes that it will be below 0.1 percent. Plaintiff and Class Counsel
have not adopted BMW NA's estimates or position in this regard.

As both our cars were built after Feb 2000 it's probably not going to be an issue, but still worth knowing about should anything crop up.

I have the car booked in for an oil service on 3rd July so I'll mention it to them then.

Cheers for the service code details, SSSnail, I'll pass it on when I take the car in.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: SSSnail
Well, they (BMW) didn't want to admit to the problem that's why they stated the percentage was so low, a lot more people seem to not notice this problem until it's too late. It's all started with hairline cracks...

Mine is a 2005, but I'm gonna have it checked out sometimes at the end of this year anyways. I've read that people with 2003 cars were having symptoms and actual damages as well, so it's better to be safe than sorry. To be honest, they didn't do anything to reinforce the frame on later E46 models, even the face-lifts.

Well that's one reason I'm not that concerned. The M3 actually has the bracing from the cabrio on the coupe for extra stiffening of the rear end subframe. That and the M3 community in the UK hasn't seemed to suffer from this issue. If it happens, I'll just roll it in for a warranty fix.

 

[overst33r]

what about the poor e36 and m-penis/z3 owners... they have been affected in greater numbers...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
what about the poor e36 and m-penis/z3 owners... they have been affected in greater numbers...

The Z8 as well. I think almost all Z8's are affected.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: mariok2006
what about the poor e36 and m-penis/z3 owners... they have been affected in greater numbers...

The Z8 as well. I think almost all Z8's are affected.

wow. that is totally unacceptable. $40k car I can understand, but $100k? They reinforced the subframe mounting points on the e36 M3, why not every other car using the same design that was built afterwards? tsk tsk

 

[lurk3r]

Originally posted by: evident
wheres all the outrage like when this happened to toyota?

ZOMG the Germans are such ripoff artists, I can't believe they left it so long, think of all the babies that have died because of their crappy engineering.














Seriously, this has been a know issue for ages, any forum I read about shopping a BMW at least mentioned it, most show you exactly where to look to see if the car has it.

 

[SSSnail]

So this is settled.

(1) If you paid for a sub-frame repair to your 1999-2006 BMW 3 Series vehicle, you can obtain reimbursement from BMW by submitting a completed claim form and proof of expenditure to the Claims Administrator. Claim forms can be downloaded from http://www.e46subframeclassactionsettlement.com and should be mailed to the address listed on the claim form. The deadline to postmark you claim is September 9, 2010.

(2) If you currently own or lease a 1999-2006 BMW 3 Series vehicle, you can contact an authorized BMW dealer and make an appointment to receive a free sub-frame inspection. If the inspection reveals any sub-frame cracking, the dealer will provide a free repair as well. The deadline for free sub-frame inspections is September 9, 2010, for vehicles no longer under warranty. If your vehicle remains under warranty, you will have one year from the expiration of your warranty to receive a free sub-frame inspection.