Subframe Inspection in SoCal

[JetErick]

What's going on guys. I was curious to know if any of you know of a shop in the Los Angeles area that could do an inspection on my subframe. I've been starting to hear some rocking noises from the driver side rear when I slowly accelerate in first gear. The sound seems to go away after I pick up some speed but it could be just hard to hear as the surrounding noises increase when picking up some speed. I'm wondering if it could be suspension related but I would like to first know if it is indeed my subframe before making assumptions. My M3 has over 200k miles so it is probably inevitable that I have some cracks that have not been inspected.

What would an inspection roughly cost? Would appreciate some input on this.


Thank you

[EthanolTurbo]

You don't want an inspection, you just need to get it done. Almost all of the work that it takes to inspect it (gas tank removal etc) has to be done to fix it and all E46s need reinforcement no matter what.

Kaiv in San Diego can do it, he did mine. $1800 👍

[siamkazi]

Racewerkz in burbank

[ra2fanatic]

EMW (European Motorworks) in Arcadia

[2004LSB]

Matt Lee w/ TechCraft in Irwindale is a great option too 👍

[cbean]

Matt Lee w/ TechCraft in Irwindale is a great option too 👍

I am following techcraft on Instagram and the work looks fantastic!

I have done all my work thru Kaiv . . . I cannot recommend him enough.

[kaiv]

You don't want an inspection, you just need to get it done. Almost all of the work that it takes to inspect it (gas tank removal etc) has to be done to fix it and all E46s need reinforcement no matter what.

Kaiv in San Diego can do it, he did mine. $1800 👍

I am following techcraft on Instagram and the work looks fantastic!

I have done all my work thru Kaiv . . . I cannot recommend him enough.

Thanks guys!! 🙌

[poss]

You don't want an inspection, you just need to get it done. Almost all of the work that it takes to inspect it (gas tank removal etc) has to be done to fix it and all E46s need reinforcement no matter what.

Having this discussion in another thread recently it is apparently possible to drop the subframe slightly to inspect the mounts (where cracking usually first starts)

However, given the cracking is the result of metal fatigue and every car suffers from this due to a design flaw (whereby the rear subframe mounts are not directly attached to the chassis rails and thus causes the RACP sheet metal to flex) I can't see the point of doing inspections, because the RACP will continue to weaken due to fatigue even if it isn't visibly damaged - so 'just fix it' is the correct advice IMHO.

...and fix the design flaw - not just the symptoms - which will require additional topside reinforcement (such as the Vince or CMP bar). BTW Structural foam is not an alternative fix given the reports of failures in cars with this 'fix'.