►Keeping up with your BMW E46 M3’s rear subframe is an essential part of the ownership process, especially when it’s prone to cracks and failures. In this video, Gareth Foley, our BMW catalog manager, is here to take you through the process of refreshing the rear subframe as well as some components around it including the differential mounts, trailing arm bearings, and camber arms.
The differential cover bushings are not a serviceable item per BMW meaning if the bushings have failed you will be required to replace the entire cover as a unit. This differential mount kit from Revshift includes new bushings for the differential cover, as well as the mount, pressed on the subframe.
Syncro Design Works’ rear trailing arm bearing updates and improves the rear suspension in BMW 3-Series E36 and E46, and Z4, by eliminating binding and deflection through adding precision and longevity. Syncro Design Works RTAB’s utilize an OE developed bearing, designed for long-life while offering full articulation for optimal suspension geometry.
Your camber will always change when you lower a car. Often times, it is impossible to get correct alignment with the factory cam bolts and control arms. For this reason, Eibach built this kit to allow for a wide range of adjustment that will help improve the adjustability of your BMW’s alignment but will also help get the best performance possible performance from pre-existing suspension mods. Additionally, adding this kit will also help cut down on excessive tire wear that can occur when you lower a vehicle.
Read this DIY on our blog: https://blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-overhaul-the-bmw-e46-m3-rear-subframe-part-1
Shop the parts used in this video here:
Synchro Design WorksTrailing Arm Kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-monoball-kit-syncro-design-works-rtab%20?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mps%20e46&utm_content=subframe%20diy
Revshift Differential Mount Kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-differential-mount-80a-revshift-pdbe46m80a%20?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mps%20e46&utm_content=subframe%20diy
Eibach Camber Arm Kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-pro-alignment-kit-steel-5-67110k?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mps%20e46&utm_content=subframe%20diy
Bushing Removal/Install Tool: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-subframe-mount-removal-and-installation-tool-baum-b334140?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mps%20e46&utm_content=e46%20subframe%20bush%20tool
You will need the following tools for this job:
25-inch crowbar
12-inch crowbar
24oz mallet
32oz ball peen
24oz ball peen
Metal file
Brass punch
1/2 inch torque wrench
1/2 Flex head
1/4 Flex head
1/2 inch flex head stubby
10″ 3/8 extension
10″ 1/2 extension
Large & small channel lock pliers
Pliers
Side cutters
Needle nose pliers
Various picks
Screwdrivers
16mm stubby ratcheting wrench
13mm stubby ratcheting wrench
12mm stubby ratcheting wrench
17mm stubby ratcheting wrench
19mm stubby ratcheting wrench
12mm box end ratcheting wrench
11mm box end ratcheting wrench
10mm box end ratcheting wrench
13mm box end ratcheting wrench
16 box end ratcheting wrench
18mm box end ratcheting wrench
19mm box end ratcheting wrench
21mm box end ratcheting wrench
14mm wrench
16mm wrench
17mm wrench
18mm wrench
19mm wrench
24mm wrench
27mm wrench
E12 socket
E14 socket
E16 socket
8mm socket
10mm socket
13mm socket
16mm socket
17mm socket
19mm socket
22mm socket
6mm six-point
7mm six-point
8mm impact socket
9mm impact socket
12mm impact socket
13mm impact socket
16mm impact socket
17mm impact socket
18mm impact socket
19mm impact socket
21mm impact socket
22mm impact socket
30mm impact socket
This DIY Applies To The Following Vehicles:
BMW M3
2001 BMW M3
2002 BMW M3
2003 BMW M3
2004 BMW M3
2005 BMW M3
2006 BMW M3
BMW Z4
2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster
2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe
2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe
2007 BMW Z4 M Roadster
2008 BMW Z4 M Roadster
2008 BMW Z4 M Coupe
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Shop the parts used in this video here:
Synchro Design WorksTrailing Arm Kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-monoball-kit-syncro-design-works-rtab%20?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mps%20e46&utm_content=subframe%20diy
Revshift Differential Mount Kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-differential-mount-80a-revshift-pdbe46m80a%20?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mps%20e46&utm_content=subframe%20diy
Eibach Camber Arm Kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-pro-alignment-kit-steel-5-67110k?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mps%20e46&utm_content=subframe%20diy
Fire the videographer.
One note for this video is about the E-brake. Should really be advising to take the lines from the cabin. Try to pull the line with ferrul through the subframe tunnel is nonsensical. I don't even want to see how it is pushing it back through. Perhaps I missed it but seems that part was left out =). Thanks for all the amazing content and parts service.
17:00 for those watching, don’t waste your time removing parking break cables back-to-front. It is a major PITA to get them off the trailing arm in the first place and then if you have my luck, the cables will NOT physically fit through the subframe channels. Like there is no way. The channel on the subframe is about 0.5mm smaller in diameter than the large metal end of the parking break cable.
Just remove them front to back and save yourself 2 hours.
How many miles were on the M3 when you did this work?
Long time watcher first time commenter. Would love to see a video about replacing the starter! Thaks for the awesome parts and content y'all.
Every time I watch this video and I hear you say "This is really a 2 day job" I reflect back on the 3 months I have been working on this (with reinforcements).
Great video but that was a lot of work to avoid removing two 10mm nuts in the interior.
That was an amazing video, much more work to replace those than I ever thought. Thanks again for taking the time to document the process! WHEW
You put the inner screws for the upper control arm in the wrong way. This way you will not be able to chage the contolarm again, without taking out the whole subframe again.
But very nice video otherwise:)
That's the rustiest "southern" car I've ever seen.
Thank you very much for the video, it will be perfect if a clean up of the dirty pieces be cleaned.
Man, I love all of you'll videos. I wish you could work on my car and do a full front and rear suspension job. Thanks for all!!
Great stuff guys ! Just made a purchase at fcp euro the other day !