Ant

looking at getting a bmw 323 e46 1999.

The car im looking at needs diff bushes, any mechanics on here that can advise me a ball park fugure what i'll be looking at?. before i agree to purchase

MMT WRX

Which bit are you talking about mate?

This is the diff carrier that bolts to the floor pan via four rubber bushes 2x part 2 and 4 which cost about £40 for the lot.

I think parts 7 and 9 hold the diff inside the carrier



Parts list
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...39&hg=33&fg=30

or do i have this totally wrong and youre after output shaft bushes?



Parts list
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...85&hg=33&fg=05

Ant

yeah the first bit, its got the notorious little knock from the back when you gear change

Ant

this to be precise

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

MMT WRX

The parts are cheap enough from BMW it's how much needs stripping down to do it. My M3 is going next week for a chassis repair. Where the carrier is bolted to the floor the chassis flexes and starts to crack. It's not unheard of for 323's to suffer this which can be heard as a banging noise on acceleration and decceleration. It's quite a major job as the whole back axle, fuel tank etc etc has to come out. I can't honestly say on a 323 though mate. Maybe it can be reached with it all in situ.
Maybe just give one of the BMW indies are call and ask if you don't get a response on here.

Ant

yeah going to do that i reckon unless someone pops up on here, its quite cheap anyway at £1200 as its from a good friend.

cant wait to have some straight six noise back in my life

bubba j

iTrader: (1)

are you sure its the rear bushes. if its an early coupe, they are prone to tearing them out of the chassis

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

As above.....

I have seen 2 323's that have ripped the chassis... Both manuals IIRC..

Ant

this is a saloon not a coupe, it only make a slight knock when gear changing which made me think it was the diff bushes.

would the crack appear a lot sooner than now? as it's a 1999

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Can happen anytime..

Needs to be put on a ramp and checked before purchase..

Ant

I'll get under it before I buy it then , cheers guys

The Zohan

Check the gearbox and engine mountings as well.

MMT WRX

Mines going to a specialist in Cheshire. He provides step by step photographic evidence of the work he does. Quite a few of the cars he's done have actually been given a clean bill of health by BMW and only taken to the specialist for resin injection preventative work. Of these a large number, once stripped down, have already started cracking and have ended up having the full repair/strengthening work. I've spoken to the guy in some detail and he reckons without dropping the diff carrier and cleaning all the underside around that area it's difficult to identify 100%. I am talking M3's so I'm not sure if this applies exactly for other E46.
Here's a link to Redish motor sport who also specialise in this repair.

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Who does the repair in Cheshire?

MMT WRX

I'm taking mine to a company called Mprove solutions who are based in Glazebury, Warrington. The guy owns another company called Off Your Marks Ltd car detailing company. http://www.offyourmarks.com/
Have you heard of them?

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Yep...

I have visited Matts detailing place on a few occasions...Its quite hard to find first time....lol...

He is a top bloke and has a superb eye for detail..You wont go far wrong if he is doing the job..

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

I know of a w reg 523 for sale in good condition if this falls through Ant,it's got full leather etc.
Give me a PM if you like fella

Ant

What price we looking at if it's diff bushes or mounts re-doing?

Ant

Noted

MMT WRX

That was my impression. Although I've not meat him yet I have spoke to him quite a bit on the phone and email. He's knowledge of M cars seem really good and he's advised me loads. He's doing me quite a bit of work at the same time: disks, pads, quite a few bushes, gearbox and diff oil, rear springs etc
Glad you rate him.

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

Yea...

He has a nice Laguna Seca M3 and a concourse Z3M roadster...He was selling the M3 last time i spoke to him...

You will have no problem with the car when Matts done it,ask him to flip over the body in the price..

MMT WRX

He posted some pics on M3cutters, they both look the bollox
I think hes looking to sell the M3 at the moment.
You know I was going to sound him out about giving mine a detail while its there. Good idea.

Sorry for the hijack Ant but ive just got to post these pics of Matts cars. The 3's done 30k and the Z's only done 5k miles

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

I tried the coax the roadster off him.......... he was having none of it,and i dont blame him!

Its just superb in every way!

MMT WRX

It looks as clean underneath as on top, i don't blame you for trying.

I've sent you a pm.

Ant

Well got the car, took it to a Indy BMW specialist and hes looked at and gone for a test drive and all the noises are perfectly normal

Result!!