Bad rear shock mount causing the right rear to sag down??????

[m3f_Flybry07_aa2e46014a]

Wow this is the first time I have sat down in two days!!



I picked up my M on friday and have been doing nothing but looking at, driving, showing, and detailing it all weekend!



I cant believe its mine!!





Anyways



I know about the rear shock mounts being a problem. And I think I have a bad one in the Right rear (passinger side) it make a kind off muffled rattle/knocking sound. Im guessing thats what it is (car has 43k miles)





MY question is could a bad shock mount cause the car to sag down on one side??? The side that has the worn mount seems to sag down about half a inch or so lower than the other side! Some times it seems a litte more or less.



The car dosent look tilted but its noticeable from looking at the gap between the tire and the fender. Nothing else appears to be bent or out of place back underneiththere either.



Im hoping thats what it is!



Also can I just go with the stock mounts? Are thoes going to be fine for sprited street driving? I thought I heard about upgrading to e46 M3 ones. I dont want to spend too much I just want it fixed!



Thanks

Brian

[m3f_SG_M3_d1201712b5]

busted shocks will make the car sit lower, but unless the shock mount is totally blown and the shock is in the trunk it won't look low.



If you plan on upgrading your suspension go with the GC or JTD mounts. If not, then e46 mounts with z3 plates will work just fine.

[m3f_WSkids97]

Is there any particular replacement that gets rid of the notorious shock mount problem or will any upgrade remove that?

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

First, congrats FlyBry, second, Wskids, see what SG said above.

[m3f_Flybry07_aa2e46014a]

Hey thanks!! Im still in shock,, as a matter of fact let me go make sure its still in the garage!! Ok good it didient vanish!! ITs the same color as yours (hellrot).













So would the bad shock mount be the most likey cause for the sagging?? Its kind of got me worried!!!









ALSO FOR: dark_sirius or anyone else with a non grey or silver M



Does your car have what appears to be over spray on the underside of the spare tire well, inside the wheel well, and underneith past the side skirts? Its not perfectly even and its fades into grey further underneith the car. ITs ONLY on the undercoating not anything else!!! The gas tank, plastic fender liners and the black plastic pieces etc. are all perfect. Im almost positive the car has never been painted (just the right side mirrior) but it has me worried!! MAby another fellow RED car can help me out. Everyone I know has silver or grey so its hard to tell!!!





Thanks again guys!!

[m3f_romh_9db5ad5d95]

Flybry07:

I also own a 98 hellrot m3. I bought mine ~ 10k miles, and the overspary under the tire well also had me worried. My car has no signs of beeing re-painted either and I did notice the red painting when somebody else was driving my car one day, and I was behind it. I've never noticed

" inside the wheel well, and underneith past the side skirts"

but I'll double check later tonight.





I had never asked your question before because I simply delt with it and my car now has 105k miles and in perfect mechanical condition. M3's are great.

[m3f_Extrav.Dre_53c7fb859e]

I know it is a dumb question but I had to make sure... Z3 plates + JT or GC RSM doesn't work

[m3f_SG_M3_d1201712b5]

GC and JTD include their own style z3 plate.

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Sometimes bmw ends up spraying their colors in odd places. I have seen it alot at work. When its light out tomorrow, Ill go take a peek. Are you talking right behind/under the rear bumper cover, and under the rocker panals up under the floor of the rear?



Theres a few ways to look for a repait job. One of the biggest give aways is clear coat. Alot of shops dont' realise this, but BMW doens't clearcoat their interior panals. This includes the trunk floors (spare tire area), engine bay, underside of the hood. The inside of the doors are cleared though.



Tape lines are another good give away. Most shops half-ass their paint jobs and tape around mouldings and such, instead of removing them from the surface to be painted and painting under them like you're supposed to.



If you have a good enough eye, you can compare orange peel. BMW has a certain ammount of orange peel from the factory, as to all makers. Excessive buffing on a car will also 'smooth' out orange peel.

[m3f_Flybry07_aa2e46014a]

[QUOTE=dark_sirius]Sometimes bmw ends up spraying their colors in odd places. I have seen it alot at work. When its light out tomorrow, Ill go take a peek. Are you talking right behind/under the rear bumper cover, and under the rocker panals up under the floor of the rear?





Yea my car was definately not reapinted, that is the first thing i check for on any car i look at. IT was just that thoes little spray marks had me worried, but not any more!!



I peeked underneith a new 2004 dark red 325 at the dealer and it has the same spray marks in the same places! So now I feel much better!!!