B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 29, 2015 A lady with a young child drove this car over the harbour bridge & motorway into our workshop yesterday for me to do a pre-purchase inspection. One subframe bolt was completely missing and the other 3 were only secure by 2-3 threads. I have no idea who worked on it and nor does the present owner. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 29, 2015 I might add. Everyone is capable of making mistakes...sh*t can and does happen. We all strive in the industry to prevent this sort of thing happening. Injury or death from this negligence would put you before the courts. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted July 29, 2015 Wow, that is unbelievable. I've often though about shoddy work being done on cars in such ways. Scary prospect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted July 29, 2015 Crazy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MD13 494 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 Good thing you noticed! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobimmer 694 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 How do you even do that 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 2956 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 Wow, lucky lady to get there in one piece that would have ended horribly. Things like that are the reason I think the longer period between warrants is a bad idea. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 (edited) Also a reason for licensing the Industry too, establishments and technicians Edited July 30, 2015 by B.M.W Ltd 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matth5 471 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 "I have no idea who worked on it and nor does the present owner." DIY job by the owner maybe. How can he not know who worked on his car... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ahmedsinc 414 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 *Runs out to shed to look underneath the family car* Horrifying stuff, one assumes you replaced and refined the missing bolts for the poor creature Glenn? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 even scarier.... no PPI, chick drives the car around for 11 months! To get like that, car must have had a recent motor swapo/clutch replacement/something along those lines?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 (edited) The owner told me he knows nothing. I don't know and I won't disclose what I do know unless someone misrepresents it or tries to take advantage of someone. Yes we did fix it. I'm seeing far too much of this sort of sh*t lately... DIY maybe or dodgy workshops with untrained grease monkies... unlike trained technicians. If the owner or the purchaser want's to comment.. that's fine... I'm not going there...yet Edited July 30, 2015 by B.M.W Ltd Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1043 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 It is possible the bolts have worked themselves loose after vibration ? and the intention was there. Have seen it a couple of times when threads aren't cleaned up on high load areas. He'll I've even had it happen on my e30's diff twice after torquing them to the required spec. 3rd time the f**kers got glued in with loctite. Rear sub frame is a bit dodge though and bolt threads look fairly clean from the photos. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 (edited) Sorry Josh... that's wrong. There are witness marks on the bolts and other items. I'm too wise to not see this BTW... this is the front cross member on a E46 not the rear....look a little closer and you might see the witness marks and location Edited July 30, 2015 by B.M.W Ltd Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hotwire 352 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 Bloody scary & if it was a mistake - plain neglect & disgusting! You a re right Glenn - everyone makes mistakes & sh*t does happen In this case though - absolute neglect, one bolt not tightened - yes maybe, but all of them... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 If the owner or the purchaser want's to comment.. that's fine... I'm not going there...yet So its pretty clear the purchaser was Amber, yes? Its even scarier when its someone you know driving a car in this terrible state of neglect. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 No not Amber.... was the owners wife & child. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1043 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 In this case though - absolute neglect, one bolt not tightened - yes maybe, but all of them... With higher load components all it takes is one bolt to come loose then its only time before the others start. Its easy to over react and jump to conclusions. If you have ever done 4x4ing you will know this is a real problem with dirt getting into bolt threads, especially if the thread was dirty when put back in. Probably an honest mistake on one bolt and the other make their way loose after an amount of movement over a lengthly amount of time. It also probably not a great idea to drive a car around for a long time with a clunk going on. It would make a hell of a knocking sound when going over bumps etc. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 709 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 "It wasn't a mistake, it was a set up" ??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MISS BM 712 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 I didn't purchase no car or sell an E46 - last I checked I was looking at M3s... (going by the fact my name popped up) And everyone here knows where I get all my work done so why would I bother tracking to South Auckland for a pre-purchase? Pretty scary stuff.. At least they did a PPI Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apex 693 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 Did you run a OBD scan though Glenn? Seriously though, that is bad.. I have missed one on my car before when the self locking nut on the other side didn't catch, one missing out of three was not so bad... by the time I got a new nut the other three were looser for sure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted July 30, 2015 Did you run a OBD scan How else do you think the problem was found? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 How else do you think the problem was found? How else do you think the problem was found? Correct... you still trying to be the local dick here ?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 Correct... you still trying to be the local dick here ??No, just having a laugh. Lighten up. Sent from my SM-G360G using Tapatalk 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 (edited) No, just having a laugh. Lighten up. Sent from my SM-G360G using Tapatalk All good then.. Edited July 31, 2015 by B.M.W Ltd Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
