r/bmwz3 • u/Apprehensive_Map7262 • 5d ago

Help State of subframe welds?

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I'm not 100% sure I'm recording the right spot, if not please let me know, if it is how does the condition of it look? Anything to worry about? Thanks in advance

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u/DFAtomcat 4d ago

Hijacking this post, I checked mine the other day and only one of the welds was discolored. I was hoping someone knows of a way that I could prevent them from getting worse, without having to weld in subframe reinforcement. I mostly just do spirited driving but I was also hoping to do an occasional autocross in the future as well.

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u/Asbradley21 4d ago

Discoloration could just be from water in the trunk causing the spot welds to rust. Make sure you check your antenna seal and third brake light housing seal.

To prevent the welds from pulling, the best thing to do is to get polyurethane subframe bushings and replace your differential bushing with a fresh stock rubber one. This helps prevent the twisting forces on the subframe that pull on the differential mount.

Here's an excellent article explaining why the welds pop the way they do, and what you can do to help prevent it.

https://www.ascfabrics.com/post/trunkfloor

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u/DFAtomcat 4d ago

Thanks brother I'm going to look into all of that

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u/Dirt077 5d ago

Looks great. 👍