One for technicians rear coil spring/wishbone

[pony]

Can you (technicians) out there tell me if it is possible and indeed common for a (single) rear coil spring/wishbone to get damaged by a pot hole from the road?

This is in relation to BMW E46.

Thanks very much.

[Jhonno]

Yes. Ish.

Known for snapping.

[pacerpete]

E46 rear springs snap for fun, undoubtably helped by potholes/ speedhumps etc. To damage a rear suspension link would need a very substantial pothole or impact , one that would generally be seen and avoided.

[pony]

This is in relation to a M3.

So for wishbone damage need very big impact? What about hitting the kerb?

I just slightly suspicious it might be cover up for accident.

I was having nightmares about it last night.

[pacerpete]

This is in relation to a M3.

So for wishbone damage need very big impact? What about hitting the kerb?

I just slightly suspicious it might be cover up for accident.

I was having nightmares about it last night.

If it is a low mileage blue CS ,it hit something a bit bigger than a pothole....

[pony]

I checked with the BMW Dealer the Service Manager said both rear coil springs and both front wishbones and their brackets were replaced.

He said it was "normal" after basically refusing to conduct a BMW AUC Check for me on it. As at this Dealer the current owner bought the car as BMW Approved Used Car a few years ago and it has visited this particular BMW Dealership since. He said pretty much he did not want the liability claim.

Full story...........


I have enquired at the BMW Dealer nearest to the vendor about getting a BMW AUC Check on it. This is the BMW Dealer the vendor bought the car from some years ago as a BMW Approved Used Car and it has visited there numerous times for BMW Service etc.

Everything was going alright in the conversation with the BMW Dealer lady till she asked have i got the registration...........and then i said hold on just a minute............then i gave it...........and she said ah yes been here before most recently a couple of months ago for MOT............then she checked with her service manager and then said they are not allowed to do BMW AUC check on it because they would be liable.

I suggested other BMW Dealers would do it and indeed rang one near me which is much further from the vendor and they do not mind. However, i prefer the dealer near the vendor as they have ALOT of the history of the car there. I did ask is it because the car has been there alot and the lady said no.

I rang back again and told them another dealer offered to do it so what is the problem? They would do the "Health Check" but frankly i want the AUC check. I even offered to pay "a bit extra" but still she said no.

I might try ringing again and if i get hold of a different person just get it booked in and not give them the registration but that involves alot of luck.

This is an enormous inconvenience for me.


The nearest BMW Dealer where the car was bought from and been serviced at i just got off the phone with the Service Manager said he wont do it because he dont want to expose himself to the liability.

For example, if i dont buy vendor might complain or if something goes wrong there could be a claim. However, he told me winter health check + fault code memory should be enough information to go on. A geometry check would be good too.



However, i rang up two or three BMW Dealers different they happy to do it near London.

I might have to find a BMW Dealer the next nearest near him which happy to do it.
The Service Manager gave some pointers what to look for but very surprised they will not do a AUC Check on it.

I rang up the BMW Car Club which i was a member, they suggested i contact the Service Manager and if they do not have a valid reason why they cannot do a PPI then i have every right to take it up with BMW UK.

Should i take it up with BMW UK or just go to another BMW Dealer near the vendor?

[Ajsingh]

As pete has mentioned, E46's love snapping rear coil springs and suspension damage could be from hitting a pothole at immense speed, maybe the previous owner lost the rear end and shunted it somewhere, damaging the rear suspension

Edit: rear trailing arm bushes could be worn and perished if its had a hard life

[pacerpete]

Front wishbones are regularly replaced on E46s as the balljoints can not be changed. Replacement rear wishbones, now that is a different story........

[Ajsingh]

Front wishbones are regularly replaced on E46s as the balljoints can not be changed. Replacement rear wishbones, now that is a different story........

Pete u get my PM regarding the Zaust?

[Low_E30]

Can you (technicians) out there tell me if it is possible and indeed common for a (single) rear coil spring/wishbone to get damaged by a pot hole from the road?

This is in relation to BMW E46.

What? Snapped Springs?! What ever happened to the E46 M3's over engineering?



Sorry, couldnt help it mate...

On a serious note, my moneys on the crappy state of the roads in this country at the minute.... your probably really unlucky that its happended to a new spring, but age probably doesnt play a big part in this but the size of the pothole does...

With regards to it being part of a cover up for a accident, any obvious signs of body repairs?....

[harry_p]

i would say it's very unusual for rear arms to be damaged by potholes simply due to the basic geometry relating to the direction of travel of the vehicle. broken damper topmounts, springs, blown dampers, cracked wheel, blown tyre etc yes, but i find it hard to imagine a damaged arm through driving through a pothole.

however, the arms are fairly poor at taking sideways loads, a sideways glance against a curb could very easily bend one of the rear lateral arms. in fact, theyre designed to be the weakest link and prevent a moderate impact damaging the rear subframe or the shell.

[BenHar]

The dealer is trying to hide something.

Walk away.

Ben

[pony]

With regards to it being part of a cover up for a accident, any obvious signs of body repairs?....

Lol.

i got yet to view it. i got him down on price though before seeing so saves me a journey. i hope i see it this wkd. if he gets bk to my email for further request for information so i can do some checks such as HPI etc.

He sent me photographs and it has had one accident. Basically, someone ripped front spoiler off in station car park. He sent me full photogrpahs of acccident and pdf file of the estimate. So he was at least honest enough to do that. It was not repaired through BMW though is the snag. However, it was a new front spoiler, one front wing, though the old one was damaged in the corner.

In the photographs prior to this the number plates show the BMW logo as of the period such as with a BMW Logo next to the Dealership name. So a slight good sign.

However, i do not want to get my hopes up.

[pony]

i would say it's very unusual for rear arms to be damaged by potholes simply due to the basic geometry relating to the direction of travel of the vehicle. broken damper topmounts, springs, blown dampers, cracked wheel, blown tyre etc yes, but i find it hard to imagine a damaged arm through driving through a pothole.

however, the arms are fairly poor at taking sideways loads, a sideways glance against a curb could very easily bend one of the rear lateral arms. in fact, theyre designed to be the weakest link and prevent a moderate impact damaging the rear subframe or the shell.

Dealer says it is both rear springs/both front wishbones & brackets. I will double check with the vendor though.

I got confused earlier on as i thought it was the rear wishbones, however, Service Manager said it was the front wishbones.

[bss325i]

i would say it's very unusual for rear arms to be damaged by potholes simply due to the basic geometry relating to the direction of travel of the vehicle. broken damper topmounts, springs, blown dampers, cracked wheel, blown tyre etc yes, but i find it hard to imagine a damaged arm through driving through a pothole.

however, the arms are fairly poor at taking sideways loads, a sideways glance against a curb could very easily bend one of the rear lateral arms. in fact, theyre designed to be the weakest link and prevent a moderate impact damaging the rear subframe or the shell.

The rear Arms were not replaced, both front wishbones and both rear springs were replaced.

Soni, i told you all this in response to your PM two weeks ago!

E46 rear coil springs are VERY common for snapping and front wishbones are often replaced due to excessive play in the ball joints. Inner and outer.

[bss325i]

The "brackets" will be the wishbone rear bushes as the only come with the bracket.

[pony]

The "brackets" will be the wishbone rear bushes as the only come with the bracket.

Yeah sorry im slow.

Should i be worried by these "brackets"?

[bss325i]

The "brackets" will be the wishbone rear bushes as the only come with the bracket.

Yeah sorry im slow.

Should i be worried by these "brackets"?

NO! The brackets will be the front wishbone rear bushes as they are part of the bracket.

Number six in this pic,



You have to replace the bush when replacing the wishbone.

[Ajsingh]

Lol lots of people get that confused ^^

Especially the born dumb service advisor

[bss325i]

Service advisors!

[pony]

It was the Service Manager!

[bss325i]

I was referring to AJ's remark.

[pacerpete]

Fitters !

[pony]

Seller mucked me about.

Maybe scared of inspection, maybe the Dealer offers him a decent price now that Service Manager knows i interested, it could be anything.

I was planning a viewing and inspection whilst i am there this Saturday so i can see for myself and see the inspection.
We been in contact for about a month.

This is what he tells me last night:

"Thanks for your email & text

I've just been asked to work in the US for the next 3 to 4 months. I'm flying on Sat AM, and although I'll be travelling back over some weekends, I'm not going to have time to sell and buy a car

So unfortunately I'm unable to see you on Sat, but wish you every success in finding the car you want

All th Best"

This is why i hate secondhand cars i have to put up with crap like this and the big risks of secondhand cars.

[bss325i]

Fitters !

Whats your name? Brian?!

Or are you really a Kiwi called Will?