BMWCCA CLUB RACING TECH BULLETIN 01-98

E36 M3 Trailing Arm Mounting Pad Failures     Issue date: 5/98

ISSUED BY: MICHAEL YASKIN, NATIONAL CHIEF SCRUTINEER
PHONE: (610)277-6037
FAX: (610)277-6039
E-MAIL: BAVSPEC@AOL.COM

Upon inspection of several E36 M3 race cars we have found the trailing arm mounting plate, also called the toe adjuster plate mounting pad, to have FAILED. The plate is fastened to the body with three 18 mm head bolts, the bolts thread into a threaded tube, the tube is tack welded in two or three spots around the outer circumference to the body , these welds crack  and then PULL OUT OF THE BODY .

We recommend at minimum the following preventive measure be taken.  A good, solid, 360 degree weld on all six tube inserts should provide sufficient reinforcement. This must be done by a skilled welder with mig or preferably tig welding equipment. It should be noted this is much easier to repair as a  preventive measure than after the pad tears out of the body.