E46 CSL Subframe Strengthening

[LeinsCSL]

As I think I mentioned to a few people last month, the CSL was going in for some preventative maintenance work at MProve: http://www.mprovesolutions.com/ This is mainly because I've been hearing too many horror stories about subframe cracks, and being an early one the car is very soon to fall outside of BMW's 10 year goodwill period, so I thought I'd bite the bullet and get the whole area strengthened up for a bit of peace of mind

I had a quick check around over here in Ireland but no-one seems to be doing this sort of work, and having seen a couple of recommendations for MProve (based outside Warrington) I got in contact with them. On speaking with Matt there, he informed me that he had already done the work on a few CSLs, and many E46 M3s including his own, and there were basically two options:

1) Just an epoxy resin injection on both sides of the subframe

or

2) Strengthening plates and the epoxy resin injection, plus all new subframe bushes

He recommends the second option for anyone planning to track their cars, but even though I don't I still thought it was the option worth going for to avoid any worries going forward. The whole procedure would take about a week, mainly because the resin has to set properly over a number of days before putting it under any stress

Anyway, I dropped the car over to MProve, and was quite impressed with their set-up. It's out in the middle of the coutryside so lots of space, and as well as the subframe repair/prevention work they also run a race team and a detailing business out of there (a few tasty motors around the day I arrived ). On getting it up onto the ramps, Matt showed me the potential weak points, and to both his and my surprise it was all intact, not even any hairline cracks

Here are a few before pics: