I talked to more than a few folks who told me that the front subframe of E36 cars take a lot of load and this is indeed perceivable. As such TMS has a kit that reinforces the front subframe. This kit they said is for E36 cars including the M3 which I was told by TMS does not have the front subframe reinforced from the factory, so in essence all E36 cars M series or not had the same non reinforced front subframe which is a weak point & area of fatigue in the chassis if not reinforced ...does anyone know if this is true? TMS told me that the E36 M3 should definately have this kit installed if raced.

The kit requires some very minor prep, welding, then a little primer & paint for corrosion resistance and is an easy upgrade with the engine out of the car especially. How many of you guys (track/race) with E36 M3's have this kit & the area reinforced? I was told that it was an extremely easy and effective thing to do while the engine is out, plus the kit itself is inexpensive and is really supposed to help the chassis considerably in that front subframe area...

a link to the kit and detailed instructions:

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/E36_Front_SF_%20Reinf.pdf

any thoughts?

thanks:) ,

Sunir

The kit is not so much to help with chassis rigidity as to keep the engine mounts from pulling apart the subframe. They will eventually crack it, and pull out and away.

Some of the subframes are perforated so that different rotations of the engine mounts can mount different engines.

Stock M3 subframes are lacking those extra perforations, but the metal is still too thin where the stud of the engine mount goes through. On some of the non-M3 subframes, its almost like the perforated section of computer paper.... pre-drilled to aid in eventual failure.

By welding in the extra thickness of metal that TMS supplies, you do most of what is needed, the other section, well, that too probably stiffens things up, but really, my impression is that its to stabilise the engine mount area, not increase performance from the standpoint of chassis stiffness.

"highly recomended"

Alex Lipowich

Yea, I've seen many rip right apart, its ugly.

Is it prepared legal?

Is it prepared legal?

Nick,
Check 2.K under stock.

Sunir
My car had cracked both sides after the first season of DE while it was still completely stock. As Alex mentioned the mounting surfaces have some extra holes (even the M3's). Broken motor mounts (I'm on my 3rd set of stock mounts) probably don't help the loading either. I repaired the cracks and welded the kit in, and have only had to replace motor mounts since. Cheap insurance!

I used the TMS kit and had my front subframe done when the oil pump was replaced and new engine mounts were installed. My mechanic said it was pretty easy to do and very prudent for a tracked E36.

Having experienced a subframe fail due to this....and retrofitting the Turner Reinforcement kit...I'll say...if you drive spirited...or do DE's/Racing....it's a must do.

Is it needed..yes..no question about it..all E36 subframes had the same inherent weakness...

It is possible that the subframe I used on my most recent version was from UK, and or, there may have been improvements in design or execution of the design over the years.

At least one subframe I've had, stamped M3 from the factory was lacking the extra holes...

But perhaps some came punched too!

Alex.

Nick,
Check 2.K under stock.

Sunir
My car had cracked both sides after the first season of DE while it was still completely stock. As Alex mentioned the mounting surfaces have some extra holes (even the M3's). Broken motor mounts (I'm on my 3rd set of stock mounts) probably don't help the loading either. I repaired the cracks and welded the kit in, and have only had to replace motor mounts since. Cheap insurance!
Doh. Guess that goes on the winter list.

thanks for the info...I will have to get this done. I don't wan't to have a damaged subframe as a result of not having done this...

Too late for me. I just crawled out from under the car after finding both mounts pulled through completely.

Bumping this thread since I have a question relevant to this particular thread...

Has anyone been able to confirm that the front subframe "evolved" (with respect to the reinforcement of the engine mount areas) over the years despite retaining the same p/n? The part numbers are the same in the ETK for all E36 M3 build dates, ECE or US.

The reason I ask is because I heard that a 95 M3 owner retrofitted a 99 M3 front subframe but I couldn't understand why since they're the same p/n in the ETK.

Has anyone been able to confirm that the front subframe "evolved" (with respect to the reinforcement of the engine mount areas) over the years despite retaining the same p/n? The part numbers are the same in the ETK for all E36 M3 build dates, ECE or US.

The reason I ask is because I heard that a 95 M3 owner retrofitted a 99 M3 front subframe but I couldn't understand why since they're the same p/n in the ETK.^

Just for those who read this, GET IT DONE!! I was VERY lucky and TMS caught mine with a little tear, they welded these in and no issues to date!! :)

got it done also with the engine pulled the Sub Frame can be removed and reattached...

sg

If you are doing work that exposes or removes the sub frame, anyway, one may as well beef it up.

But if not, a great racer and tech in my area, Ed York, suggested the use of larger washers for the motor mounts to spread the load. With OE mounts, in good condition, I would imagine that this is all that's needed, and its very easy to do.