I broke my M3...HELP! What'd I break, whats the extent of it? Pics inside...

E46MBM · Sat, Oct-23-2010, 04:02:10 PM

Alright where to start, the other night I went out to the drag strip to see what my E46 could do, I made 2 passes and on my 3rd one as I was warming the tires I hear a loud pop/bang come from the rear of the car. We push the car off to the side and I look under, all I see is what appears to be a bracket broken directly after the rear end pumpkin if you are viewing it from the rear of the car.

After this happened the car would still move under its own power, it was making some not soo nice sounding sounds when I started to accelerate, also when I was trying to go up hills the clutch would slip a bit. RPMs would climb, car didnt. Slippage was not too bad nor did I smell burnt clutch, but the unit was deff slipping a little bit.

Also it should be noted that one of the traction lights, the one with the explination point (one in the lower right corner of dash) is lit up and is lit up red, not yellow as it is when you manually turn off traction. From looking under the car all I can see is where it broke, I do not have a jack so I cannot investigate further, I am supposed to have the car towed to a Eurotek this weekend for them to look at Monday, but I would potentially like to know before hand so I dont have a mechanic telling me different things it very might not even be. I am new to this car, please help! Here is a pic I took of the broken part:

Sean@Scorza · Sat, Oct-23-2010, 04:17:08 PM

The car has to be looked at to really tell what is wrong, it is more than the pic shows likely...not to make light of the situation, but the E46 M3 is not a drag machine...it's a track machine...

Rolling starts is where it is at with an E46 M3 for straightline, just my

Here is the typical type of damage that occurs when our cars are dragged, the video is in good spirits, but very true...

If I had to guess, I would say the rear axle spline was stripped...the slipping was not the clutch but the rear axle spline spinning on the spindle since it was not griping and transferring the power to the axle shaft, in turn to the rear wheel...see vid for explanation...I hope it is something else being very minor but on a worst case scenario, this is likely the worst it could be...

Keep us informed & G/L

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSEkUV7torQ

tjpatte · Sat, Oct-23-2010, 05:43:07 PM

That's the center of the V brace. I wonder if either it was loose and fell out or if it was sheared?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...76&hg=33&fg=30

bolt #17
Tom

E46MBM · Sun, Oct-24-2010, 06:23:11 PM

So what is this fix going to consist of? What all will need to be replaced?

GRKM3 · Sun, Nov-07-2010, 04:37:51 PM

I would inspect the subframe for any cracks while you have it up.

GR///M3 · Sun, Nov-07-2010, 06:07:05 PM

ah yes, i've seen that video before ...

do yourself a favor, rent or borrow a Z06 and get your thrills from that ...
like the guy said, m's are well balanced track cars, not strip cars. german muscle cars don't do drag strips ...

Sat, Oct-23-2010, 04:17:08 PM	#2
Sean@Scorza Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,395 Reputation: 0 Location: Oakville	The car has to be looked at to really tell what is wrong, it is more than the pic shows likely...not to make light of the situation, but the E46 M3 is not a drag machine...it's a track machine... Rolling starts is where it is at with an E46 M3 for straightline, just my Here is the typical type of damage that occurs when our cars are dragged, the video is in good spirits, but very true... If I had to guess, I would say the rear axle spline was stripped...the slipping was not the clutch but the rear axle spline spinning on the spindle since it was not griping and transferring the power to the axle shaft, in turn to the rear wheel...see vid for explanation...I hope it is something else being very minor but on a worst case scenario, this is likely the worst it could be... Keep us informed & G/L http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSEkUV7torQ Last edited by Sean@Scorza; Sat, Oct-23-2010 at 04:30:06 PM.

Sat, Oct-23-2010, 05:43:07 PM	#3
tjpatte Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 505 Reputation: 0 Location: San Diego	That's the center of the V brace. I wonder if either it was loose and fell out or if it was sheared? http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...76&hg=33&fg=30 bolt #17 Tom __________________ 2004 Mystic Blue M3 Last edited by tjpatte; Sat, Oct-23-2010 at 05:58:00 PM. Reason: Bolt number change

Sun, Nov-07-2010, 04:37:51 PM	#5
GRKM3 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,081 In the garage: '03 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Long Island, NY	I would inspect the subframe for any cracks while you have it up. __________________ 2003 Steel Gray Metallic M3 - Imola Red Interior - SMGII - Premium - HK Sound - NAV - BT -Sirius Mods :VFE Stage 2 SC, SS Ceramic Coated Stepped Headers, S-Pipe, X-Pipe,TMS Subframe Reinforcement, KWV2 Coilovers, TMS Camber Plates, Powerflex RTAB's, Rogue RSM's, ZCP F/R Brakes, OEM CSL Roof, VCSL D/S Carbon Trunk, diffuser and bumper, Armrest Delete, carbon mirror shells, OEM LED tail lights, BBS CH, Alcantara steering wheel, Armrest delete, Valentine V1, Laser Interceptor... 5D Mark III \| 24-70 2.8 IIL \| 17-40 4L \| 50 1.8II \| 580EXII

Sun, Nov-07-2010, 06:07:05 PM	#6
GR///M3 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,050 Reputation: 0 Location: NY/NJ	ah yes, i've seen that video before ... do yourself a favor, rent or borrow a Z06 and get your thrills from that ... like the guy said, m's are well balanced track cars, not strip cars. german muscle cars don't do drag strips ... __________________ ///M fan

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Sat, Oct-23-2010, 04:02:10 PM	#1
E46MBM Fly B Laguna Seca ///M3 Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 63 Reputation: 0 Location: Poconos	I broke my M3...HELP! What'd I break, whats the extent of it? Pics inside... Alright where to start, the other night I went out to the drag strip to see what my E46 could do, I made 2 passes and on my 3rd one as I was warming the tires I hear a loud pop/bang come from the rear of the car. We push the car off to the side and I look under, all I see is what appears to be a bracket broken directly after the rear end pumpkin if you are viewing it from the rear of the car. After this happened the car would still move under its own power, it was making some not soo nice sounding sounds when I started to accelerate, also when I was trying to go up hills the clutch would slip a bit. RPMs would climb, car didnt. Slippage was not too bad nor did I smell burnt clutch, but the unit was deff slipping a little bit. Also it should be noted that one of the traction lights, the one with the explination point (one in the lower right corner of dash) is lit up and is lit up red, not yellow as it is when you manually turn off traction. From looking under the car all I can see is where it broke, I do not have a jack so I cannot investigate further, I am supposed to have the car towed to a Eurotek this weekend for them to look at Monday, but I would potentially like to know before hand so I dont have a mechanic telling me different things it very might not even be. I am new to this car, please help! Here is a pic I took of the broken part:

Sun, Oct-24-2010, 06:23:11 PM	#4
E46MBM Fly B Laguna Seca ///M3 Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 63 Reputation: 0 Location: Poconos	So what is this fix going to consist of? What all will need to be replaced?