Common problem or isolated incodent? Rear strut mount failure.

[Ewok Fetus]

I was driving down my dirt driveway today and heard a loud THUD followed by some clunking. Thought it could be a rock stuck somewhere it shouldn't be but it was going on all day. My rear strut tore THROUGH the body where it mounts, like a tin can... :shifty What is a good temp fix? Every bump I hit is a fun roller coaster ride as it gets VERY unstable... Is this even fixable? FML... Drank a whole bottle of wine by myself to celebrate this occasion... Surprisingly not slurring my typing or anything... :buttrock

[Brent 930]

Search and you will find 1039349457984652987604 hits on the subject.

[Capone9]

I'de say it is fairly common, It's happened to me before. Nothing major. You will have to weld in a shock tower support plate pt. #41148122344. be sure to replace your mounts with rogue engineering mounts b/c they have reenforced plates on them already. Don't sweat it bro!

[kevinwilly]

This is like THE most common problem with the e36 chassis.

You can get the body re-welded, though. There's not really much of a temporary solution, however.

I want to say that someone might make plates that you slap on top of the body and then just weld in place, but I don't know for sure. Before you get TOO freaked out, make sure the body is actually torn and that the bushing did not just tear out of the housing.

If it's just horribly, horribly torn, you can replace the shock mount and throw a reinforcement plate on there, and hopefully you'll never have problems again.

If it needs to be welded... well then I'd start calling up some places around you that do welding. Talk to BMW body shops, I PROMISE you at least one of them around there has seen this happen and knows a guy that has welded one back together.

[MasterKwan]

Typically you buy a new panel from BMW and weld (or bolt it) back into place.

[xxilikericexx]

Just curious to know how much mileage on the car and if you were on the original rear shock mounts?

[99MPower]

I want to say that someone might make plates that you slap on top of the body and then just weld in place, but I don't know for sure. Before you get TOO freaked out, make sure the body is actually torn and that the bushing did not just tear out of the housing.

If it's just horribly, horribly torn, you can replace the shock mount and throw a reinforcement plate on there, and hopefully you'll never have problems again.

If it needs to be welded... well then I'd start calling up some places around you that do welding. Talk to BMW body shops, I PROMISE you at least one of them around there has seen this happen and knows a guy that has welded one back together.

yes, AKG has "repair" plates depending on HOW bad it is torn

otherwise, the proper way is to weld in the new BMW OE pieces, and use reinforcement plates from then on

[nucci]

Do you want to fix it the right way? It involves replacing the rear shock mounts (these caused the failure in the first place) and installing reinforcement plates, on top of fixing the damaged sheetmetal (and you may find there to be cracks in the other shock tower).

[langley]

Read.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1429052

[das borgen]

Ewok Fetus is a pretty lollarious username btw

/offtopic

[Ewok Fetus]

Just curious to know how much mileage on the car and if you were on the original rear shock mounts?

LOL! Wow! Thanks a bunch guys! It's good to know this is an easy fix. I was thinking the whole 1/4 of the car would need to be replaced... Keep forgetting that the struts aren't the sole support of the rear of the car... :D

I had JUST hit 140k the day it happened... I drive 90 miles each way and I think they are original...

[MasterKwan]

Keep forgetting that the struts aren't the sole support of the rear of the car...

Yeah, the part you tore is the shock tower. It doesn't support the car in any way. Hell you could remove the shocks and it would still drive fine (a little bouncy). All the shocks do is damp out the springs. They don't support anything. I was wondering if this was primarily a '95 problem and whether BMW figured out their design F-up and used heavier gauge metal in the newer ones.

Edit:

I'm not suggesting driving without shocks, just that you could in an emergency.

[Chokingdogs]

Yeah, the part you tore is the shock tower. It doesn't support the car in any way. Hell you could remove the shocks and it would still drive fine (a little bouncy). All the shocks do is damp out the springs. They don't support anything. I was wondering if this was primarily a '95 problem and whether BMW figured out their design F-up and used heavier gauge metal in the newer ones.

Edit:

I'm not suggesting driving without shocks, just that you could in an emergency.

LOL

I was witness to that just the other day. I forget what kind of car, something American, but it was CLEARLY evident rear shocks were gone, or so hopelessly blown that they might as well have been removed.

Lets just say the occupants of said vehicle, I hope, had taken the recommended doses of Dramamine prior to going for a spin!

[shaeff]

Typically you buy a new panel from BMW and weld back into place.
Fixed that for you.

[MasterKwan]

Typically you buy a new panel from BMW and weld (or bolt it) back into place.

I knew that comment would tweek some of you. Was wondering who'd take the bait...

[Brent 930]

BMW didn't learn shit from the E36 as they made the same mistakes with the E46. Not to mention using the same old front and rear suspension topology. However I love the look and the S54 motor.

[bennyfizzle]

I have never heard of a failure here that didn't involve preventable rust and/or failed shock mounts.

Keep your mounts fresh, never have a problem.

[das borgen]

BMW didn't learn shit from the E36 as they made the same mistakes with the E46. Not to mention using the same old front and rear suspension topology. However I love the look and the S54 motor.
to be fair the rear suspension geometry I think is pretty great

the front........would be awesome to have ICAs but Macpherson struts are cheaper to design:buttrock

[EricP]

I have never heard of a failure here that didn't involve preventable rust and/or failed shock mounts.

Keep your mounts fresh, never have a problem.

^^

[shaeff]

I knew that comment would tweek some of you. Was wondering who'd take the bait...
Consider me tweaked. LOL.

[Ewok Fetus]

I have never heard of a failure here that didn't involve preventable rust and/or failed shock mounts.

Keep your mounts fresh, never have a problem.

There is ZERO rust back there though... I never knew of this problem and have only had the car about 4 months... Had I known, I would have prevented this issue.... Looks like as soon as this is fixed, I am getting all around supports and braces.... :buttrock Just wish this would have happened later as I have no money for any fixes right now... I've got to do my headgasket soon, weld the seat, replace the rear window and do a suspension overhaul... I don't have a problem fixing cars, I just have a problem bank account/crap paying job... Especially what I do for a living... :nono

[Ewok Fetus]

Got it fixed this week for $160 with parts and labor... Not too bad IMO... Now I just have to get the upgraded mounts and redo the suspension...

[bpeters]

Can you post pics on how it was fixed? Sounds like you got a killer deal.

[Lawrence1]

Can you post pics on how it was fixed? Sounds like you got a killer deal.

probably a hack job:cool

[Ewok Fetus]

Hahaha, I didn't get to take any pictures before putting the carpet back in... That was a pain to put back in, so it ain't coming back out for a while.

As for the job, it definitely wasn't a hack job. Took it to one of the best shops in town and only took them 3 hours. I was surprised though that it's $50/hr for labor. The owner of the shop loves BMW's too... Plus, cash deal, supplying info/parts... Made it pretty cheap...

[Hova]

Got it fixed this week for $160 with parts and labor... Not too bad IMO... Now I just have to get the upgraded mounts and redo the suspension...

Get the new mounts from UUC. They sell the Heavy duty Meyle mounts (I believe is how you spell it).

They are around $35, and come with the Z3 reinforcement plates. They have a lifetime warranty, and ride like stock.