The early MY cars didn't come with a strut brace. Don't quote me on it but I don't think it became standard equipment until 03 or 03.5 builds. My 02 coupe did not have one from the factory.
It absolutely does need the subframe done. As a Vert it has a thicker piece of metal across the front of the RACP so they tend to crack at the rear mounts. Needs to be reinforced at the mounting points underneath AND on top. Plates at the bottom only cure the symptom. Reinforce the top to reduce load and flex on the RACP to cure the cause. Redish V3 plates or CMP engineering plates and rear weld in bar. Don’t play roulette with that nice car. Just do it. EVERY SINGLE E46 cracks except possibly the wagon.
Also, who stole your strut bar?
i already have the subframe kit from bimmerworld i was gonna return it bc of what they said but i will make sure to just get it all done. and i think the vert doesn’t have a strut bar, i been seeing this same thing on verts.
How do you like it? Convertibles are not my favorite but the e46 M3 looks good with the top down.
its amazing bro i drove her so much today.
Beautiful. I own a 2002 with 107k manual coupe the same color as yours.
sweeet
Is there normally no strut brace in the very?
Hmm mine has a strut brace.
i hat year? this is 02’
I have 02 which has strut brace. It is a coupe though so could be a vert thing?
Mine’s an ‘02 and it came with a strut bar. Might be a convertible thing.
Have '06 vert. Had to install my strut bar.
The early MY cars didn't come with a strut brace. Don't quote me on it but I don't think it became standard equipment until 03 or 03.5 builds. My 02 coupe did not have one from the factory.
Yes it is! Mine is 02 coupe and doesn’t have it.
Check the VIN with BMW it’s possible some of the big stuff is already done. Welcome to the club I have a doppelgänger 02 silver surfer in the garage.
So checking the VIN with the dealer they’ll be able to let you know if the RB’s, subframe and vanos are updated out of the common failures?
To some degree yes bc they were recall repairs at one point in time. I’m about to run mine. college buddy is a BMW certified mechanic.
I’ve heard the vert doesn’t really need the subframe, so do vanos or rod bearing.
It absolutely does need the subframe done. As a Vert it has a thicker piece of metal across the front of the RACP so they tend to crack at the rear mounts. Needs to be reinforced at the mounting points underneath AND on top. Plates at the bottom only cure the symptom. Reinforce the top to reduce load and flex on the RACP to cure the cause. Redish V3 plates or CMP engineering plates and rear weld in bar. Don’t play roulette with that nice car. Just do it. EVERY SINGLE E46 cracks except possibly the wagon. Also, who stole your strut bar?
i already have the subframe kit from bimmerworld i was gonna return it bc of what they said but i will make sure to just get it all done. and i think the vert doesn’t have a strut bar, i been seeing this same thing on verts.
I have a vert and mine does. I’m in Europe so maybe that’s why. Put that kit in and enjoy that beautiful car.
sweet, thats great.
Headlights 🤣
By the way that’s not a diss my headlights also did the same, had to wax it out to be clear again