Randy makes and sells the kits.
2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, Black Soft Top, Steel Gray Metailic Hard Top, TC Kline Double Adj Shocks with H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C Wheels. Looking for a new home.
2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Prem Pkg, Driver Assistance Pkg
2023 X5 M50, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.
Yup. Randy's kit is the ONLY way to go. We put one on our roadster 6+ years ago. Its the way it should have been from the Factory IMO.
I have a hypothesis (based on looking at realoem.com) that the e30 had a connecting frame rail between the 2 longitudinal rear frame rails, and the diff mount tabs were hung from this. Our rear subframe/diff setup is basically the e30's, however BMW took out the connecting frame rail and just spot welded the diff mount tabs to the sheetmetal trunkfloor. Combined with the soft floppy subframe bushings allowing subframe movement, this was a disaster in the making. Why didn't they keep the frame rail for the diff mount???
I don't know if the e30 diff mount tabs are any better than ours (those also fail on the Z3), and I don't know if their subframe bushings were firmer than ours, but a big part of the problem would have been solved by making the diff mount onto a proper frame rail as the e30 does. Randy's kit basically does this (and also reinforces the attachment points between the connecting rail and longitudinal rails, and also reinforces the diff mount tabs). I need to look at the e36 compact (which is what our body is based on) and see how their diff mount works...
Interestingly, the e46 has a different (but similar) structural problem. Their diff mounts onto just the subframe, and the subframe has 4 mount points to the body. But the subframe, rather than mounting onto strong frame rails, attaches to weaker areas which tear apart! I'm assuming eventually BMW learned not to do this sort of thing... ? They tried to make the ride cushier and more isolated with soft bushings, which allow more movement, and yet apparently tried to save weight/cost with weaker structure.... Can't have it both ways.
Last edited by raubritter; 06-26-2019 at 03:48 PM.
I'm sure you will be back to normal in no time.
2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, Black Soft Top, Steel Gray Metailic Hard Top, TC Kline Double Adj Shocks with H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C Wheels. Looking for a new home.
2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Prem Pkg, Driver Assistance Pkg
2023 X5 M50, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.
Emailed with RF. Considering purchasing a M Coupe found by a great guy locally in the M Coupe Buyers guide. Randy was hours away from surgery and still responded with the price of the kit. What a great guy. Both Randy and seller. The kit is around $610.00 shipped according to Randy. We will see how the PPI goes at a local shop. Wish me luck with the potential purchase.
https://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/li...istingID=19513
You landed on a thread that's been inactive >3 yrs, but maybe I can help; I have this shop on my list, so it would be a good place to start looking.
Mworks Garage
622 North Bay Ct
Cincinnati, Ohio 45238
Brian @ mworksgarage@gmail.com
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