(10-18-2017, 09:55 AM)GTBrandon Wrote: So other than reading through this and thinking to myself, wow I really want to get a 10 year older version of my car now (I love how insane that sounds to most non-car people), I have a question that doesn’t seem to be addressed. I’m not super familiar with the process so this might not make sense to do, but why not weld and fill with foam for double the reinforcement if you are already planning on doing the welding as it seems the foam isn’t that expensive? Planning for hopefully the future as this car has always been a dream of mine and I honestly regret going newer other than the whole broke in college and rely on warranty thing.
Granted it's been awhile since I've been on e46 forums and may not be fully up to date, but IMO, that's still potentially kicking the can down the road. Then you have a rock solid rear axle carrier, but then all of the energy goes to where the RACP mounts to the body...which is also a known failure point. The only way to bulletproof it is to add additional bracing to solidify the whole shebang. Some dude (VinceSE2? something like that on m3forum.net) made a kit that does exactly that, but it's a good sized job with lots of cutting and welding.
That said, I have epoxied plates on, enjoy the car but don't abuse it, and sleep pretty well at night.
2001 M5
2016 M3
2014 Grand Cherokee
Been had: 1984 318i | 2003 S2000 | 1990 330is | 2005 STi | 2005 M3
2016 M3
2014 Grand Cherokee
Been had: 1984 318i | 2003 S2000 | 1990 330is | 2005 STi | 2005 M3