New V3 Redish subframe plates vs CMP plates ?

[kermmmit7]

Which of those two you guys prefer ?

[lvm3sm46]

I went with Redish V3 and the installer was very impressed with them. I have pictures I can share of the install.

[t3ddftw]

I went with Redish V3 and the installer was very impressed with them. I have pictures I can share of the install.

Can you share pictures of the front topside reinforcements after install?

[poss]

The Redish V3 plates are equivalent to the CMP reinforcement plates + CMP rail plates. I went CMP reinforcement because they more comprehensively wrapped the subframe mounts than the older Redish plates did - but I don't think there's much in it now with their new version.

Personally, I'd spend the extra money on a Vincebar-type topside reinforcement rather than the rail plates as it adds more rigidity, but the rail plates of both providers should address the 'subframe cracking' issue in any case (only time will tell).

[t3ddftw]

Personally, I'd spend the extra money on a Vincebar-type topside reinforcement

I did CMP as well, with the rail plates. The VinceBar just costs leaps and bounds more than the chassis rail plates, so I'm personally not sure it's worth it just for rigidity.

Do we know that the chassis rail plates are "enough" to prevent future cracks?

-Ted

[lvm3sm46]

VinceSE2 is on here so maybe he can answer that.

[poss]

Do we know that the chassis rail plates are "enough" to prevent future cracks?

-Ted

I remember CMP had a good section on this concept - prevent future cracks over what timeframe?

At one end of the scale some designs are impervious to fatigue - others are immune beyond the serviceable lifetime of the vehicle, and yet others - like the M3 E46 RACP - will fail (well) within their serviceable lifetime (or even within their warranty period :-( )

Do the chassis rail plates make your RACP impervious to fatigue cracks forever? Probably not. For the serviceable lifetime of the car? Probably, but it may well depend upon how you treat your car. Will they delay fatigue for years? Definitely.

[Arith2]

I went with Redish V3 and the installer was very impressed with them. I have pictures I can share of the install.

Please do. A big issue with original plates is that they just redistribute to another weak point without addressing the problem. I think if these cover what they should mixed with a Vince bar, that seems like the actual fix. I don't think a Vince bar is unavoidable

[lvm3sm46]

[Epsilon]

Just visually, I don't see how Redish's V3 top front plate cover can address the issue underneath:

[AussieE46M3]

Just visually, I don't see how Redish's V3 top front plate cover can address the issue underneath:

From what I can tell it looks like the front plates serve a similar function to the rear plates over the subframe mount being a cover for the hole you have to cut to repair the cracks on the top welds.

The failure found around the front two mounts (excluding the welds themselves shown above) is where the floor meets the chassis rail (spot welds popping) and cracks around the anchor points under the back seats as they seem to be point loads exerting the stress in the RACP on the bench seat sheet metal (the female threads are actually a part of the RACP).

I'd say they're structurally similar with the Redish kit offering the simplicity to the installer to use a provided covers rather than tack welding the sheet metal that was cut away back in.

[Avusbluem3]

I went with Redish V3 and the installer was very impressed with them. I have pictures I can share of the install.

Do you mind telling what shop you went to and how much it ran? You can pm me if you done want it public. Thanks.

[lvm3sm46]

Avusbluem3 Ill keep who did the work to PM but here is the receipt

I provided all parts except for the seam sealer, paint etc

[Arith2]

$85 an hour is unheard of. That's almost a steal.

[lvm3sm46]

$85 an hour is unheard of. That's almost a steal.

He works out of his home garage. The guy is a meticulous wizard. Im lucky to live close to him.