[AndyVR]

Failed MOT on this today. Pretty gutted as there's never been a single advisory for corrosion anywhere on the car, in all of it's MOT history.

I've not seen it fully yet, but I can see a couple of rusty holes in it from looking underneath.

The garage said a rear subframe would be £1200, so about £2200 with labour, and if anything else was seized on the subframe it could be annother £500 on top.

I've owned the car for over 9 years so really wish I'd kept an eye on it and prevented it.
I've had German cars at 20 years old and no subframe / rust issues before

Has anybody dealt with this recently? Used aftermarket psrts etc?

I think I'll at least get.a few more quotes, as it's probably too big a iob for me to do.

[ptpending]

there used subframes on junkyards a dime a dozen, because they are bought very rare
just get goog looking subframe from similar specced car and replace it and do alignment

[AndyVR]

Originally Posted by ptpending

there used subframes on junkyards a dime a dozen, because they are bought very rare
just get goog looking subframe from similar specced car and replace it and do alignment

I might have to look on breakers yards, as although atermarket parts exist at around £360-400 , most places seem to be out of stock at the moment.

I doubt i'll be doing it myself as I don't really have the time and would have to do it outdoors.

[AndyVR]

Spent loads of time trying to find a garage who was willing to do the job, then one that could actually source a new subframe for my Petrol model (320i E91)

They are available, just not from the usual suppliers to garages.
I went for one from Eurosubframes.com, matched exactly to my car reg/ RealOEM part number, £360 new including 2-3 day delivery.

My usual mechanic is going to fit it , 5 hours labour, maybe six hours if seized bushes etc, so £250-£300 labour, plus 4 wheel alignment to be done somewhere else.

[AndyVR]

For anyone looking to get this done, here's how it went.

The time served mechanic who did the job was surprised how much there was to remove.

An anti roll bar bolt snapped off in the hub, so it had to be drilled out at correct angle by eye and helicoiled.
A couple of brake lines wouldn't come apart so he had to make a couple of new ones up.
The main suspension bolts and bushes came apart ok.

At the same time, a rear wheel bearing was replaced, so that added quite a bit of time, removing the hub and putting it in press.
He said he had to call in a mechanic friend to help out.
The car was in the garage for 3 days, he said they spent 11 hours on it, some of that time two people working on it. He charged me for 10 hours labour, so £500 labour plus the £360 subframe & wheel bearing. Only basic wheel alignment done there, so booked in at a place with a Hunter machine, so that will be another £95 on top.

Bit of an issue with drivetrain whine since, I've started another thread about that.

Now I need to do some under body protection where the subframe mounts to the body, and anywhere else that needs it ready for next winter.

[M-technik-3]

https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/show-...created/page-1

Does UK use liquid calcium chloride for the roads in winter? I know they were using it in Germany, It ate two of my E30's during my 4 years there, shame as one was a Hartge car.