stringy93 Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Well ive had a bad day so i thought id ring BMW up again! This time i got a nice lady who seemed to know of the problem and she took my details. She told me to take it to my local dealership and have it looked at. I asked her about the fact that its had an attempted repair before and she was unsure if they could still cover it so i guess ill have to wait and see. The annoying thing is my cars receipts are all from the same dealership so i was suprised when i saw the welding. When i asked the service manager at the same dealership he knew nothing of the problem so im wondering if they just fobbed the previous owner off (it was an oldish guy so i guess he didn't use forums) and he was forced to have it repaired elsewhere? If so i dont see why i them messing up first time and giving flase information should result in them not footing the bill. I can see this being a long and difficult job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Hi the other day my car a 1999 318i se model developed a squeak from the rear, i booked it into the garage to have the bushes changed and hopefully cure the squeak. On collection the squeak was still there so up in the air the car went again and to mine and the mechanics horror we realized the left hand subframe mount had come away from the floor pan and the squeak was the metal rubbing against the tear (crack). I got home and typed in subframe problems and found in America they are repairing the E46 right back to 1999 free of charge and its a known issue with BMW. I rang up the BMW dealership in Leeds and they said they do not know of the problem so i then phoned BMW head office and they said they do not know of the problem and what did i want them to do. So i looked on the internet again and found this site printed the PDF document off and again rang BMW in Leeds this time they suddenly became aware of the problem and told me to ring BMW head office, now armed with this document they seemed to now know of said problem. They told me to book car in with BMW dealership for inspection, i have done that and car is there now a Monday job. I also showed the service reception chap the document and he asked if he could photo copy it so i let him do that. Now i wait with baited breath as to the result will they fix or wont they because the repair bill will be greater than the car is worth. What should my next step be if they give me the knock back. Thanks for looking one well and truly hacked off E46 owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted September 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Hi the other day my car a 1999 318i se model developed a squeak from the rear, i booked it into the garage to have the bushes changed and hopefully cure the squeak. On collection the squeak was still there so up in the air the car went again and to mine and the mechanics horror we realized the left hand subframe mount had come away from the floor pan and the squeak was the metal rubbing against the tear (crack). I got home and typed in subframe problems and found in America they are repairing the E46 right back to 1999 free of charge and its a known issue with BMW. I rang up the BMW dealership in Leeds and they said they do not know of the problem so i then phoned BMW head office and they said they do not know of the problem and what did i want them to do. So i looked on the internet again and found this site printed the PDF document off and again rang BMW in Leeds this time they suddenly became aware of the problem and told me to ring BMW head office, now armed with this document they seemed to now know of said problem. They told me to book car in with BMW dealership for inspection, i have done that and car is there now a Monday job. I also showed the service reception chap the document and he asked if he could photo copy it so i let him do that. Now i wait with baited breath as to the result will they fix or wont they because the repair bill will be greater than the car is worth. What should my next step be if they give me the knock back. Thanks for looking one well and truly hacked off E46 owner Its funny how a BMW only document (that has been leaked) seems to wake them up! Good luck with it. I had my '99 fixed for free, just dont back down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cdubbs Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 I have also seen lots of pics, where people have lifted the boot liner, and looking from the back of the car towards the front, just beyond the spare wheel wheel, before the rear seats, on the left hand side, you can see distortion of the metal, compared with the right hand side, almost like a small bulge or dent. If you see this, then odds on, the subframe is breaking or broken away. Just a way to check before getting the car up in the air if thats difficult to do. But would suggest, even if you cannot see any problems, still getting the car up in the air and checking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Its funny how a BMW only document (that has been leaked) seems to wake them up! Good luck with it. I had my '99 fixed for free, just dont back down. Hi Sam how long ago was this cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted September 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Hi Sam how long ago was this cheers Andy About 2 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringy93 Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Hi the other day my car a 1999 318i se model developed a squeak from the rear, i booked it into the garage to have the bushes changed and hopefully cure the squeak. On collection the squeak was still there so up in the air the car went again and to mine and the mechanics horror we realized the left hand subframe mount had come away from the floor pan and the squeak was the metal rubbing against the tear (crack). I got home and typed in subframe problems and found in America they are repairing the E46 right back to 1999 free of charge and its a known issue with BMW. I rang up the BMW dealership in Leeds and they said they do not know of the problem so i then phoned BMW head office and they said they do not know of the problem and what did i want them to do. So i looked on the internet again and found this site printed the PDF document off and again rang BMW in Leeds this time they suddenly became aware of the problem and told me to ring BMW head office, now armed with this document they seemed to now know of said problem. They told me to book car in with BMW dealership for inspection, i have done that and car is there now a Monday job. I also showed the service reception chap the document and he asked if he could photo copy it so i let him do that. Now i wait with baited breath as to the result will they fix or wont they because the repair bill will be greater than the car is worth. What should my next step be if they give me the knock back. Thanks for looking one well and truly hacked off E46 owner Mate mines in at Scothall BMW Leeds having the subframe issue done as we speak, they have been great so far. BMW gave them the go ahead even tho mines had the damaged section welded. Im sure you'll be fine, what month of 99 was yours registered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muly Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 avgasandy - mine was repaired in March this year as stringy said you should be fine mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravy Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Has anyone had this happen to them in a e46 compact? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Mate mines in at Scothall BMW Leeds having the subframe issue done as we speak, they have been great so far. BMW gave them the go ahead even tho mines had the damaged section welded. Im sure you'll be fine, what month of 99 was yours registered? Hi thanks for your reply my car is also at Scothall in Leeds my car was registered on the 29/10/1999 they are inspecting it tomorrow, hope all goes well and they don't try and get out of doing it. Cheers Andy P.s your only 12 mile away from me how long before you get your car back and did they let you have a loan car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Hi thanks for your reply my car is also at Scothall in Leeds my car was registered on the 29/10/1999 they are inspecting it tomorrow, hope all goes well and they don't try and get out of doing it. Cheers Andy P.s your only 12 mile away from me how long before you get your car back and did they let you have a loan car? Happy now got the nod from BMW yesterday and a brand new Renaullt Clio 1.2T to use, ETA on repair 12 Oct. Do you know what parts they take off the car to do the repair? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muly Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Glad your getting it repaired mate, they remove all the parts from under the rear , so they can have access to the floor pan then they remove that and replace with a stronger one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMBIRKETT Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 I must of been the only person that hasnt had this done under warrenty! I was messed about for well over a month by John Clark aberdeen. 4 workshop visits and all the other trips into town i wasnt a happy bunny at all. They tried to fob me off for a start saying the crack was under the size where the boot floor gets replaced. They told be they pressure tested it (yeah how the hell did they do that!) and i would get the crack weleded and filled with foam. 2 workshop visits later at around 1.5hr each it gets book into the bodyshop. I requested that i could see the extent of the damage when the subframe was removed from the car at the bodyshop. I got a phone call to say the crack was 3-4 inches long and it would need the floor replaced! Back into john clark again to 'value' the cost of repair another hour on a ramp, this time it is road tested???!!! Another claim submitted for replacement of the whole boot floor. A week passes, so i decide to chase them up again! Get told to take the car in again urgently?? Get down there and was told the car needed to be valued because the cost of the repair might exceed the cost of the vehicle! The price given to the car was as if it was on their forecourt, no a trade in price it would be full wack. A couple of days later i get a phone call, 'BMW wont be covering the cost of the repair'. 'Hmmmmm, so whats the car valued at then?' '£3250' hmmm thats convenient that it falls under the £4k repair costs! 'We can give you a credit to that value to buy a new car through us'. Said bye and hung up the phone.... F*cked me about for a month and fobbed my off expecting me to buy a car through them. Booked it into a garage in Aberdeen and got it fixed (plated and welded) and a few other bits done for a days labour. BMW John Clark = Shower of c*nts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassa-d Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 so does this only affect pre feb 2000 cars???? as it says in the pdf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 so does this only affect pre feb 2000 cars???? as it says in the pdf? If you look at the first page of this thread Sam has listed cars that are affected by year. In America its all E46 1999 to 2006. Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Mate mines in at Scothall BMW Leeds having the subframe issue done as we speak, they have been great so far. BMW gave them the go ahead even tho mines had the damaged section welded. Im sure you'll be fine, what month of 99 was yours registered? Hi hows your car doing mate have you got it back yet?Scotthal rang me yesterday and said my diff mounts are worn out and would i like them replacing at a cost of over £300 fitted has anyone else incurred extra cost on components because ive read on other sites that all bushings have been replaced under the repair scheme and the only costs people have paid for are brake pipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Hi hows your car doing mate have you got it back yet?Scotthal rang me yesterday and said my diff mounts are worn out and would i like them replacing at a cost of over £300 fitted has anyone else incurred extra cost on components because ive read on other sites that all bushings have been replaced under the repair scheme and the only costs people have paid for are brake pipes. Car is now due to be collected on Wednesday looking forward to getting it back. Like an earlier poster said Scotthall have been really helpfull and have kept me informed of progress. They have not spoken off any money that i might have to pay hopefully it will be a total F.O.C. Do they give you a print out off work carried out? Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 The work will be stored on the BMW database and will be available for printout on request Glad to see theyve been so helpful and it should cost you nothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgasandy Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 The work will be stored on the BMW database and will be available for printout on request Glad to see theyve been so helpful and it should cost you nothing Got the car back today the end bill to BMW was £2960.00 and that did not include the hire car. After the denial when i first asked BMW UK and the dealership they have been fantastic since, all down to the leaked service instruction available to download on this site. The car drives straight and is now a pleasure to drive when overtaking. Thankyou to all on this site and good luck to any one else having to go through this process. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Got the car back today the end bill to BMW was £2960.00 and that did not include the hire car. After the denial when i first asked BMW UK and the dealership they have been fantastic since, all down to the leaked service instruction available to download on this site. The car drives straight and is now a pleasure to drive when overtaking. Thankyou to all on this site and good luck to any one else having to go through this process. Andy We tend to take 50% of any money saved, as your token to us for support Glad its all sorted at BMW cost. Feels so much better when you get it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James128 Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Just been reading up on this sticky and its definately been a interesting read...i scanned the pdf briefly and it mentions affected vehicles are from production to feb 2000...any members with bmws beyond this year have subframe problems? i own a may 2001 330 ci....i def be looking at mine 2moro morning for any obvious cracks =S scary stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Just been reading up on this sticky and its definately been a interesting read...i scanned the pdf briefly and it mentions affected vehicles are from production to feb 2000...any members with bmws beyond this year have subframe problems? i own a may 2001 330 ci....i def be looking at mine 2moro morning for any obvious cracks =S scary stuff From the ones i have heard of, and thats quite a few E46's, only one ever 330 has been reported as a subframe issue. And that may be down to other factors. There was a chart on bimmer forums of e46fanatics showing BMW's list. Lots of 328's and 323's, and a few 318's etc, as they only have a hamster powering them (waits to get flamed ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 You guys seen this? - Video showing a bad case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravy Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 You guys seen this? CLICKY - Video showing a bad case. Link not working for me mate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Link not working for me mate? Sorry mate, copy and paste error... Working now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
