New Purchase Hidden Rear Frame/Alignment Repair (Thoughts?)

[JESFromASC]

Just bought this '97 Z3 and took it in for a four wheel alignment. Shop called with some very not good news. Rear suspension mountings have been "fixed" by some rather odd methods. "Washer" in through bolt, drilled - elongated mounting holes. Closest he could get camber on rear was Total Toe -0.10 Camber -0.8 and toe -0.09. This is a play car, pleasure car that we'll drive a few thousand miles a year. Not sure what to think. Thoughts appreciated. Thanks

 

[PYX]

Hello, forgive me I’m also a new owner, but those are the rear beam / subframe mountings. Not the suspension mounts. Wonder if the bushes have failed and they’ve done a fix rather than replacing. Also again newbie question I thought the Z3 rear was fixed so no rear alignment possible. Could be completely of the mark. I’m sure someone with way more knowledge than me can correctly answer.
Good luck.

 

[Ianmc]

You are correct, there is no adjustment on the Z3 rear.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Should look like this.

 

[Althulas]

If it was mine I would drop the rear beam and replace the ‘mods’ with oem parts and leave as stock at least nothing can loosen and change.

 

[Delk]

I wonder if someone didnt try to make thier own home version of an alignment kit? You can get different pushings and adjustment plates for the trailing arms to make adjustments for lowered cars. Has to be done correctly and if this is what has been done to yours not sure it has with ground and cut washers etc.

 

[IainP]

2 things,
I think Delk is quite right, someone has tried to realign the rear because it's lowered, that usually involves lowering the rear beam. . .that is why the spacer.

BUT

Closest he could get camber on rear was Total Toe -0.10 Camber -0.8 and toe -0.09.

HOW?
The shop you took it to, did they adjust the lower brackets? Looks like they did. If there's a spacer at the top of the beam the lower bracket won't fit, which is why they've been redrilled upwards (badly), and the bolts would then be at the top of the bracket, not the bottom as shown. I can't imaging that's doing the bushing much good.

The rear on a Z3 is adjustable, or more accurately can be properly adjusted/made adjustable, but all three methods (that I know off) involve welding.

 

[JESFromASC]

That sounds about right except the rear isn't lowered - in fact it is about a 1/4" high when compared to BWW specs.
Which happens to be about the thickness of the shim plate so maybe they are a left over?

 

[Delk]

You raise the rear subframe bar to compensate for lowering the car. You can get 12mm offset bushings that raise the beam and remove some of the additional caster added when lowing the car. Additionally you can get concentric trailing arm bushings or weld in caster correction kits to adjust the trailing arms.

My car is lowered and heavily modified. I have raised the rear subframe and welded in adjuster plates to get the rear alignment correct. Below are a few examples.

BMW Rear Subframe Bushings Raised 12mm, Poly 75D - E36 318ti, Z3

Our BMW 318ti, Z3 poly 75D raised rear subframe bushings eliminate movement and raise the subframe to dial out negative camber. Made in USA.

akgmotorsport.com

036232A: Rear trailing arm bush kit eccentric SPORT - Polyurethane

036232A: Rear trailing arm bush kit eccentric SPORT - Polyurethane strongflex.eu

www.strongflex.eu

Toe Adjustment BMW E30 E21 E34 Z3 E36 COMPACT

Speeding - Performance parts - We supply Europés leading fuel systems, The widest range of AN-fittings, AN-hose, Turbos and accessories

www.speedingparts.co.uk

 

[JESFromASC]

Thanks

 

[JESFromASC]

Assuming my goal is to bring everything back to stock - anyone know how to find the part number for the stock subframe mounts?
I have the full service manual and have had a good look around online but can't seem to find them.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Type in the last 7 digits of your VIN into here.

BMW Parts Catalog

Welcome to RealOEM.com! This site can be used to look up BMW part numbers and approximate part prices.

www.realoem.com

 

[the Nefyn cat]

RealOEM BMW will be your friend. That's what I've found, anyway.

Edit Beat me by seconds.

 

[JESFromASC]

That did it!
Thanks

 

[Althulas]

Or ask @spurs fan in a coupe if he has a set.

 

[PYX]

There’s a set for sale on this site powder coated £48.00 posted
From @spurs fan in a coupe .

 

[JESFromASC]

Thanks!
I'm in the US and found one new for about the same in USD.
Sure appreciate it!

 

[PYX]

Ah cool, didn’t realise you were in the US