rear subframe trunk mounted reinforcement

[miatawnt2b]

I remember reading somewhere (about 2-3 years ago) about someone who constructed rear subframe reinforcement by mounting steel plates in the trunk. I have searched a bit, and came across Randy Forbes solution for his Z, but can't find anything about the E36. Does Anyone have any info as to what I am talking about?

Thanks,
-J

 

[Kirby]

Mounting steel plates in the trunk will not reinforce the subframe on an E36. The E36 bolt holes are part of a box frame of sorts. The subframe mounting bolts screw into the bottom/underside of the box (this is where the weakness and failure can occur) and do not pass thru the upper part of the box into the trunk. I can't see how an in the trunk reinforcement would solve this problem, unles they cut the top of the box frame and reinforced INSIDE the box from the top of the trunk. That's just too much work, when you can buy M3 reinforcing plates and do it the factory way.