something I had not noticed before on my E93 M3

gone · 11-30-2010, 11:18 PM

Took my 2008 E93 M3 in for its 15000 mile "free" service at dealership. Ended up costing me $130.00 this time after being told I needed a wheel alignment. News to me since car was breaking and driving correctly with normal wear to my tires (they have hit me up for something at every normal "free" service since I got the car, but what do you do?). I paid the piper and on the way home stopped at a store to do some shopping. To make a long story longer, as I came out of the store I thought I noticed something hanging down in the back on my car. When I got home I looked underneath with a flashlight and see a black tripod looking thing with a handle on it, in between my muffler and what I assume is my rear differential. Any ideas from anybody on what this is? I had never noticed it before and the reason I ask is when I took my old 335 E93 in for its service upon picking it up and driving home I heard a loud rattleing in back and when I got home found they had not put the battery back together in the trunk of the car. Is this tripod deal something they have accidentally left on the car from the wheel alignment or am I just dumb and it has been there all along? Any help would be appreciated. Pretty sorry when you have to double check your own dealership on a $78k car.

pittsy · 11-30-2010, 11:28 PM

My car doesn't have that, just went into the garage and checked.

sor · 11-30-2010, 11:29 PM

Mine does, E93 here. looks like it extends all the way to the sides of the frame, between the front/rear wheels on either side. It might be a part of the extra chassis bracing that the 'verts have.

gone · 11-30-2010, 11:32 PM

hmm, some sort of chasis strengthener for the E93's? Man I just wish I could trust the dealer once in a while. I dread taking the 3 in for its services. Thanks guys for checking for me.

Cheers

KJM3 · 11-30-2010, 11:34 PM

Its a hook for hanging the car on the garage wall if you dont have a lot of space

I would assume its extra chassis bracing for the convertible since it has no roof.

gone · 11-30-2010, 11:38 PM

some better pics of why I keep coming back to BMW's. I was a Mustang freak from age 17 to 40 and then got my first Bimmer. E39 530 then a E46 330, next E93 335 and finally my E93 M3. This one is a keeper I think, despite dealership.

pittsy · 11-30-2010, 11:46 PM

I guess it is a E93 thing, cause I have a E92 and didn't have it.

mkoesel · 12-01-2010, 05:44 PM

$130 might not be too bad a price for an alignment, but I would still get a second opinion next time on principle. If they are nickel and diming you every time, I wouldn't trust them. After all, an alignment is one of those things that they can easily charge you for even the car doesn't need it.

V1.47fan · 12-01-2010, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pittsy

I guess it is a E93 thing, cause I have a E92 and didn't have it.

I want something like that to protect the rear pumpkin on my XJ for when I go rock crawling.

quality_sound · 12-02-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shogrence

Took my 2008 E93 M3 in for its 15000 mile "free" service at dealership. Ended up costing me $130.00 this time after being told I needed a wheel alignment. News to me since car was breaking and driving correctly with normal wear to my tires (they have hit me up for something at every normal "free" service since I got the car, but what do you do?).

If your car is driving straight and the tires are wearing evenly guess what? You got taken. They're doing it every time you go in. Trust me, they know which customers they can fleece and you, Sir, are the sheep.

skywalker562 · 12-02-2010, 10:45 AM

+1
mine has it too.
protects your tranny and gives structural strength

Quote:

Originally Posted by sor

Mine does, E93 here. looks like it extends all the way to the sides of the frame, between the front/rear wheels on either side. It might be a part of the extra chassis bracing that the 'verts have.

Poleposition · 12-02-2010, 11:14 AM

Its all about structural rigidity and the prevention of any body flex. Its also one of the reasons the verts handle better than the coupes and sedans.

aka_phox · 03-15-2012, 08:47 PM

BUMP

AlteredBe4st · 03-15-2012, 10:10 PM

It almost looks like a tow hook, I see why you question it but if all E93 verts have it then most likely it's for structure brace. E90 does not have it.

persian54 · 03-15-2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aka_phox

BUMP

why bump a super old thread? lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

$130 might not be too bad a price for an alignment, but I would still get a second opinion next time on principle. If they are nickel and diming you every time, I wouldn't trust them. After all, an alignment is one of those things that they can easily charge you for even the car doesn't need it.

130 is good for an alignment, but I still wouldn't let a dealer do it.
I wonder if the op ever got an alignment printout

JB_Vert · 03-16-2012, 08:22 AM

It's always been there. It is structural bracing. It, along with a bunch of other braces you don't see are the main reason why the E93 weighs 400lbs more than the others. This particular brace has been known to protect the rear diff heat exchanger when a bump was stradled.

JB

Nine · 03-16-2012, 09:38 AM

Its for tracking or racing your car.

Grail05 · 03-16-2012, 10:18 AM

that support bar is only on the E93 M3

OH SHOOT old ass thread..

Giggs · 03-16-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone

some better pics of why I keep coming back to BMW's. I was a Mustang freak from age 17 to 40 and then got my first Bimmer. E39 530 then a E46 330, next E93 335 and finally my E93 M3. This one is a keeper I think, despite dealership.

pure bliss!

11-30-2010, 11:18 PM	#1
gone Private 2 Rep 68 Posts Drives: M3 E93 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida iTrader: (2)	something I had not noticed before on my E93 M3 Took my 2008 E93 M3 in for its 15000 mile "free" service at dealership. Ended up costing me $130.00 this time after being told I needed a wheel alignment. News to me since car was breaking and driving correctly with normal wear to my tires (they have hit me up for something at every normal "free" service since I got the car, but what do you do?). I paid the piper and on the way home stopped at a store to do some shopping. To make a long story longer, as I came out of the store I thought I noticed something hanging down in the back on my car. When I got home I looked underneath with a flashlight and see a black tripod looking thing with a handle on it, in between my muffler and what I assume is my rear differential. Any ideas from anybody on what this is? I had never noticed it before and the reason I ask is when I took my old 335 E93 in for its service upon picking it up and driving home I heard a loud rattleing in back and when I got home found they had not put the battery back together in the trunk of the car. Is this tripod deal something they have accidentally left on the car from the wheel alignment or am I just dumb and it has been there all along? Any help would be appreciated. Pretty sorry when you have to double check your own dealership on a $78k car. Attached Images __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]2008 M3 E93, Alpine White
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11-30-2010, 11:28 PM	#2
pittsy Captain 60 Rep 860 Posts Drives: Jerez...E92 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	My car doesn't have that, just went into the garage and checked. __________________ 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black \| Bamboo \| 6MT \| 18s \| 5% tint \| No iDrive \| Heated Seats \| V1 hardwire \| ///M Alu Pedals \| Matte Black Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| CF Roundels \| GP Thunder 8500k \| Remus Race Exhaust \| VMR V701 18s Matte Black
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11-30-2010, 11:29 PM	#3
sor Brigadier General 3107 Rep 3,072 Posts Drives: 2023 iX M60 Oxide Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW iX M60 [0.00]	Mine does, E93 here. looks like it extends all the way to the sides of the frame, between the front/rear wheels on either side. It might be a part of the extra chassis bracing that the 'verts have.
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11-30-2010, 11:32 PM	#4
gone Private 2 Rep 68 Posts Drives: M3 E93 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida iTrader: (2)	hmm, some sort of chasis strengthener for the E93's? Man I just wish I could trust the dealer once in a while. I dread taking the 3 in for its services. Thanks guys for checking for me. Cheers __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]2008 M3 E93, Alpine White
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11-30-2010, 11:34 PM	#5
KJM3 Private First Class 5 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 6MT Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: East Tennessee iTrader: (0)	Its a hook for hanging the car on the garage wall if you dont have a lot of space I would assume its extra chassis bracing for the convertible since it has no roof.
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11-30-2010, 11:38 PM	#6
gone Private 2 Rep 68 Posts Drives: M3 E93 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida iTrader: (2)	some better pics of why I keep coming back to BMW's. I was a Mustang freak from age 17 to 40 and then got my first Bimmer. E39 530 then a E46 330, next E93 335 and finally my E93 M3. This one is a keeper I think, despite dealership. Attached Images __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]2008 M3 E93, Alpine White
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11-30-2010, 11:46 PM	#7
pittsy Captain 60 Rep 860 Posts Drives: Jerez...E92 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	I guess it is a E93 thing, cause I have a E92 and didn't have it. __________________ 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black \| Bamboo \| 6MT \| 18s \| 5% tint \| No iDrive \| Heated Seats \| V1 hardwire \| ///M Alu Pedals \| Matte Black Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| CF Roundels \| GP Thunder 8500k \| Remus Race Exhaust \| VMR V701 18s Matte Black
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12-01-2010, 05:44 PM	#8
mkoesel Moderator 7512 Rep 19,368 Posts Drives: No BMW for now Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (1)	$130 might not be too bad a price for an alignment, but I would still get a second opinion next time on principle. If they are nickel and diming you every time, I wouldn't trust them. After all, an alignment is one of those things that they can easily charge you for even the car doesn't need it.
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12-02-2010, 11:14 AM	#12
Poleposition ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 514 Rep 1,437 Posts Drives: very well Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	Its all about structural rigidity and the prevention of any body flex. Its also one of the reasons the verts handle better than the coupes and sedans. __________________ 2022 Individual M5 Comp Venetian Violet 2021 X6M Comp 2024 i4 M50 on order IG @purpleM5Comp_NY
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03-15-2012, 08:47 PM	#13
aka_phox Captain 81 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Convertilble Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	BUMP __________________ '11.5 SG E93/6MT/ALL BOXES CHECKED BLACK GRILL/BLACK SIDE GILLS/15% TINT/PAINTED REFLECTORS/SPACERS/ANGEL iBRIGHTS/20'' VOSSEN CV3/VINYL WRAPPED SHADOW LINE TRIM/ETS-POWER TUNE/ ///M-FLIGHT MEMBER
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03-15-2012, 10:10 PM	#14
AlteredBe4st First Pride 110 Rep 1,557 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Connecticut.. iTrader: (8)	It almost looks like a tow hook, I see why you question it but if all E93 verts have it then most likely it's for structure brace. E90 does not have it. __________________ Modded M4
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03-16-2012, 08:22 AM	#16
JB_Vert Private 5 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	It's always been there. It is structural bracing. It, along with a bunch of other braces you don't see are the main reason why the E93 weighs 400lbs more than the others. This particular brace has been known to protect the rear diff heat exchanger when a bump was stradled. JB
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03-16-2012, 09:38 AM	#17
Nine Banned 49 Rep 1,922 Posts Drives: Not ZCP, FML. Join Date: May 2010 Location: DC, Miami, NYC iTrader: (2)	Its for tracking or racing your car.
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03-16-2012, 10:18 AM	#18
Grail05 Putcha ang ganda... 281 Rep 5,441 Posts Drives: 17 F82 M4 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles, Brea CA. iTrader: (10)	that support bar is only on the E93 M3 OH SHOOT old ass thread..
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