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Thread: Any recent options for subframe mount reinforcement?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    NJ, USA
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    My Cars
    '07 335I 6MT, '01 330i

    Any recent options for subframe mount reinforcement?

    Hey guys, I know this is a repetitive topic, but things do change. Recently in my research I came across vincebar, but the production times for the new version is up in the air. I'm looking to reinforce in about a month, I have a friend of a friend who welds that I'm going to be paying for some of his time. the CMP kit would be great, but $550 without shipping, and only for 2 of the mounts, just doesn't seem feasible right now. Kessel Performacne was recently recommended to me on a facebook drifting page, and their plates seems super thick, and well designed. Right now I'm thinking about going with them, but after months of research I still cant decide if weld-on plates are truly enough. Maybe just go with the $650ish Mason engineering bolt in brace? My car is a stock 330i, stock power, and I'm going to replace all bushings and such while the subframe is off the car.

    Are plates enough to prevent cracking and tearing while drifting? I certainly beat the piss out of the car, and I'd rather just do it right and pay for the welding once.
    Last edited by awp235; 02-09-2018 at 09:24 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    fairfax,va, usa
    Posts
    6,660
    My Cars
    2 E30s and a maxima
    I got the condor speedshop reinforcements and welded them in a week or so ago. Still haven't even put back in the subframe.

    I'm not a structural engineer so I have no clue. My chassis has shy of 200k on it and I only found 1 crack. I can see a rear strut bar helping but I don't really think you need to go that ham on it. Maybe seam stitching will help more than this vincebar thing. I've seen a bunch of other heavily tracked E46s still running the normal weld on stuff without issue.

    Status: Someone put glitter in my oil. Wait. Why's all my oil outside the engine? What's that knocking?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kelowna, Bc, canada
    Posts
    523
    My Cars
    1995 BMW M3 coupe
    We used pbm with 3m panel bond. Lots of surface area so I’m sure it’s on there good. The plates showed up mildly rusty which was lame but scotch brite took that off easily

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    NJ, USA
    Posts
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    My Cars
    '07 335I 6MT, '01 330i
    As always, Promotor coming in and dropping some knowledge! Thanks for the quick response. My car has 225k and I didnt see any cracks from the underside when I was under there replacing the axle. though I saw one, but when I rubbed off all the gross insulation stuff, it looked totally fine. I'd have a hard time believing it's totally fine, but I dont see any yet!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    fairfax,va, usa
    Posts
    6,660
    My Cars
    2 E30s and a maxima
    I dunno about knowledge. Anecdotal evidence :-p

    You really won't see the cracks until you wire wheel back the under coating. If you can visibly see them through it, it's pretty bad.

    Do what you think will solve the issue. If you want to go ham with vincebar, go for it. It isn't wasting money. With a welder, you could probably do the same stuff for significantly less though.

    On my personal car, I'm running the 330 setup as is for a year or two before I do the M3 rear suspension swap and LS swap. So I'll have info there on whether or not the normal weld on stuff is good enough. I think the fear of a frame crack drives a lot of E46 guys to open their wallets.

    Status: Someone put glitter in my oil. Wait. Why's all my oil outside the engine? What's that knocking?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Denver, Colorado
    Posts
    1,483
    My Cars
    99 328i, a few more
    I used the Turner kit 2 years ago on my car, attached them with 3M panel bond. I had one 2" long crack once I got everything cleaned up. They're still holding up after 2 years. I also got some tubes of that BMW expanding foam, but have never got around to putting it in.
    Last edited by Novablue454; 02-09-2018 at 10:58 AM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    211
    My Cars
    e36 325ic
    Same boat as protomer, got the condor reinforcements but not exactly sure structurally if they're better than any other reinforcement

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