1999 BMW 323I Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. WHILE INSPECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE NEAR THE MOUNTING OF THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,600.

AFTER 6 MONTHS OF SQUEAKING & RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING ON CA ROUTE 10 WHEN I NOTICED THE SOUNDS WERE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT, AS THE CAR'S HANDLING BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE. I REDUCED SPEED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, FEARING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND UPON ARRIVING HOME HAD MY VEHICLE INSPECTED BY BEVERLY HILLS BMW, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME WAS DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CAR WAS "NOT ROAD WORTHY" ([XXX]) AND I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF THE SHOP. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT [XXX], WHO INFORMED ME THAT BMW HAD A PROGRAM (THAT I BELIEVE IS PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT), IN WHICH THEY RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE EARLY E46 BMW MODELS' SUB-FRAMES AND OFFERED TO...

REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS DEFECT. *TR

THE SUBFRAME HAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE FLOORPAN. THROUGH INVESTIGATION THIS HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A VERY COMMON FAILURE ON E46 BMW 3 SERIES. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL BY BMW TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE SUBFRAME SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF ANY CAR. *TR

REAR SUB FRAME TEAR GREATER THEN 20 MM WHEN INSPECTED BY THE BMW DEALER

NUMEROUS BALL JOINT REPLACEMENTS. *PH THE CLOCK BULB, THERMOSTAT, CONVERTIBLE TOP TENSIONER AND POWER STEERING INTAKE WERE REPLACED. *JB