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JBird · 09-12-2013, 07:17 PM

Hi Alex (OP Alex that is)

Where abouts are you? Before you go ahead with the plate kit, I would wait for the photos from Monkey, and have the floor thoroughly checked by someone who knows what to look for. The cracks on the LH tend to be more visible, you can get a small camera in through stabiliser bar bracket to take a photo. Those on the RHS (for me at least) were not visible till the floor was removed. You need to get in there with a probe camera to have a chance of seeing them, and the the wax and dirt on the surface would have to be cleaned off. I just put some updated info on my repair here.

You are right that there appears to be less acknowledgement of the problem in other countries compared to the UK. When I was trying to get my (UK) CSL done in Germany I asked at M directly (through some friends that work there) if they could recommend a Garage in sthn Germany experienced with the repair. To my surprise they claimed that the cracks never happen on any late model E46s/M3s, only on the very early 98/99 std E46s. I laughed and explained that every second car with an SMG in having the floor replaced, to which they were sceptical. I really wonder how many of the goodwill claim statistics filter through to the engineers responsible for issuing the repair guidelines, and if (as you hinted at) it is still the correct repair method long term. i.e., is a replaced-and-foam-filled-floor only going to crack again in a few years?

If you read German M3 forums it seems some people have had the repair done by BMW under goodwill / kulanz. When asking in Switzerland, try to differentiate between body warranty and goodwill. AFAIK goodwill is 10yrs worldwide, and that is how everyone gets the repair done. The 3yr factory warranty you mention should be irrelevant. I don't think anyone in the UK ever had more that a 3yr base warranty without paying for it. There is a 6 or 12 years on body corrosion depending on if it is an 03 or 04 car. Many 03 models have been repaired under goodwill between 6 and 10 years age for example. I suspect you need to push harder / ask the right person. Print out the repair guidelines, and go to a bodyshop with pics of the damage. Obviously remove any go faster bits, and you never went on track if asked!

Anyway, if you manage to find cracks, and are considering trying to get it fixed in Germany feel free to PM me for some garages. I did quite a bit of enquiring before ultimately getting it done in the UK.

09-12-2013, 07:17 PM	#14
JBird S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Munich Posts: 280 Casino cash: $5259	Hi Alex (OP Alex that is) Where abouts are you? Before you go ahead with the plate kit, I would wait for the photos from Monkey, and have the floor thoroughly checked by someone who knows what to look for. The cracks on the LH tend to be more visible, you can get a small camera in through stabiliser bar bracket to take a photo. Those on the RHS (for me at least) were not visible till the floor was removed. You need to get in there with a probe camera to have a chance of seeing them, and the the wax and dirt on the surface would have to be cleaned off. I just put some updated info on my repair here. You are right that there appears to be less acknowledgement of the problem in other countries compared to the UK. When I was trying to get my (UK) CSL done in Germany I asked at M directly (through some friends that work there) if they could recommend a Garage in sthn Germany experienced with the repair. To my surprise they claimed that the cracks never happen on any late model E46s/M3s, only on the very early 98/99 std E46s. I laughed and explained that every second car with an SMG in having the floor replaced, to which they were sceptical. I really wonder how many of the goodwill claim statistics filter through to the engineers responsible for issuing the repair guidelines, and if (as you hinted at) it is still the correct repair method long term. i.e., is a replaced-and-foam-filled-floor only going to crack again in a few years? If you read German M3 forums it seems some people have had the repair done by BMW under goodwill / kulanz. When asking in Switzerland, try to differentiate between body warranty and goodwill. AFAIK goodwill is 10yrs worldwide, and that is how everyone gets the repair done. The 3yr factory warranty you mention should be irrelevant. I don't think anyone in the UK ever had more that a 3yr base warranty without paying for it. There is a 6 or 12 years on body corrosion depending on if it is an 03 or 04 car. Many 03 models have been repaired under goodwill between 6 and 10 years age for example. I suspect you need to push harder / ask the right person. Print out the repair guidelines, and go to a bodyshop with pics of the damage. Obviously remove any go faster bits, and you never went on track if asked! Anyway, if you manage to find cracks, and are considering trying to get it fixed in Germany feel free to PM me for some garages. I did quite a bit of enquiring before ultimately getting it done in the UK.