E46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy
So I'll be testing it as soon as I receive the components. Member Slater (who is BTW also a member of ZHPMAFIA) has volunteered to test it on his personal ZHP (sedan obviously), and the rear end I've gotten as a development platform is also a sedan. Sedans and tourings are however yet to be confirmed by actually installing the kit. And this is what makes the design even worse as the load now has to take a detour through most of the RACP on its way to the chassis leg.Īs far as I know (by comparing part numbers and looking at pictures) it'll fit coupes, sedans and tourings. Here it's only attached to the outside perimeter of the chassis leg. Notice the dashed line directly outside of the rear mounts, this is where the RACP is NOT connected to the chassis leg. In this picture I've outlined the chassis leg in red. Here's a picture of the underside of the rear part of the E46 chassis. And it's taking that detour via the flimsy, 0.75mm sheet metal of the RACP. The design of the E46 chassis forces the load to take a "detour" on it's way, from the subframe mount, to the chassis leg. In technical terms this (the path the load needs to take) is referred to as the "load path".
![e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2t0qq/styles/communityIcon_z6xq4y5ko4t81.png)
This is the culprit of the infamous so called "subframe issue" of the E46 ( and E36 afaik). The latter results in a, let's say, unfavorable and inefficient way of coupling/sending the rear axle torque load to the sturdy chassis legs (frame rails). But both are attached to the "floor panel" (the RACP) rather than directly to the chassis leg. Notice how the rear mounts are almost all the way out to the chassis leg, but the fronts are very close to the center of the car. One M12x1,5mm threading tap (for threading the top part of the threaded receiver).Two 3,0mm drill bits for the smallest rivets.One 3,25mm drill bit for the medium rivets.One 4,8 mm drill bit for the large rivets.One 10mm drill bit (to drill through the top of the threaded receivers).One drilling guide rod that fits the bore as well as the minor diameter of the M12x1,5 hole in the threaded receiver.One small spray bottle of POR15 metal prep, for "etching" the bonding surfaces prior to applying the epoxy.One for the epoxy and one for the seam sealer
![e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy](https://www.moreheadspeedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Subframe.jpg)
One tube of a very versatile seam sealer that is sticky and results in a semi solid, rubberish, bond.( This is an example of the recent weld quality.)Įpoxy/Rivet installation style VinceBar - Assembled kit $575Įpoxy/Rivet installation style tool kit - short drill bit $90 Weld installation style VinceBar - Assembled kit $450 Weld installation style VinceBar - Component kit (to be assembled/welded by the installer) $335 (The extended subframe bolts/studs, the collar nuts and the washers) Now they are professionally electro zinc plated as shown in the picture below (the shorter bolts and studs are the OEM hardware).Īll kits include the custom hardware pictured below. I've previously coated them with a Zinc spray.
![e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160729/21805cfbb6a72da5bb5d64d44e943db0.jpg)
The extended subframe bolts (which are key components in the VinceBar solution) are made from the high strength Chrome Nickel alloy 34CrNiMo6.
#E46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy install
The new kit option "Weld install style components kit"ĥ. "Subframe fix", AKA weld install style VinceBar (mostly post #2 & #3)Ĥ. This is an opportunity to collectively buy laser cut components for, or completed units of, the so called VinceBar at a reasonable cost. Especially in high power/torque models as the M3, 330i/d. Over the last couple of years it has become clear that the design of the rear axle subframe, or more specifically the way the rear axle subframe is attached to the rear of the E46 chassis, is not up to it's task. It's a solution that addresses the root cause to (not just the symptoms of) the dreaded "subframe" failures of the E46 chassis. Two kits and one tool kit in one box- $155 *All kits containing the laser cut components will count towards the total number. Weld installation style VinceBar- Assembled kit- $450Įpoxy/Rivet installation style VinceBar- Assembled kit- $575Įpoxy/Rivet installation style tool kit- short drill bit- $90Įpoxy/Rivet installation style tool kit- long drill bit- $110
![e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy e46 m3 subframe reinforcement epoxy](https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw271%2Fj3nks%2Fmym3_zpskfldk9ym.jpg)
Weld installation style VinceBar- Component kit (to be assembled/welded by the installer)- $335 In order for this to make financial sense, and to lessen my personal risk (to order parts not knowing if I'll be able to sell them) I need to know that at least 15-20 kits will sell. This way a laser cutting shop can provide me with components of great quality and in much larger numbers than I could ever fabricate myself. Rather than manually fabricating the sheet metal, the square tubes and round tubes, I've modeled the design in 3D and generated dxf and STEP files.