Next challenge - under harder braking my E9 pulls to the left

Another option is to source a good used subframe, have it coated, install new bushings, and then swap em out?

Would be quicker and likely same cost as having someone repair yours. Cheaper still to weld it up yourself anyway.
 
If you have to change the bushing anyway... then it is easy enough to weld that up, grind it smooth and paint it in situ.

Those bushings are tons of fun (not) having just done them... out of the car.
 
Don has recommended another source for the tension strut bushings and they don't appear to be available anywhere that I can find? Any other sources? I recall a post with someone using a polyurethane from a UK company...
 
Weld the crack and then have them bend the hooks back in shape. I bent them with heat and a long crowbar. Repaint. Coupeking used to sell the hooks, don't know if he still does, I bought a couple thinking I'd need to replace one, but gave them to other members because welding was the way to go for me.
 
Thanks all and to Drew, I can't wait for that. I was always jealous of Chris Macha's undercarraige (that sounds terrible) and zinc plated stuff. I also found a few obscure sources on eBay in Europe that sold some OEM bushings (FYI original part # is 31121116587 but is superceeded by 31121123552, apparently). Bimmerworld also sells them for $93 for the pair but sources in Europe. I will probably get this done after the Vintage in mid May where I plan to visit Chris Ohmes and Tom Baruch to get help installing replacement tie rods and centerlink. A few months from now my car will be driving like new, I hope.
 
I decided to go ahead and replace my forward tension rod bushings as well as the large cupped washer. I bought both the stock and "motorsport" harder bushings from WN. I ended up installing the motorsport version as the ones I removed had a similar durometer to the stock ones from WN and were actually in good condition.
I also had some damage similar to what you described, I assume my car bottomed out as well at some point in the car's history. In my case a previous owner just cut the tiedown off on one side.
I never had any for / aft freeplay in the bushings / tension rod, however I did see a surprising amount of for / aft compliance in the bushing itself which is much less now with the harder bushings. Hopefully the weather will cooperate next week so I can test the theory. I'll post what results I get.
BTW Installing the bushings was "fun"...
 

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Wayne…. It is listed for both cars I guess… but as the above poster mentioned there are two… one regular and one harder. Both are available from WN.
 
There are several old posts about these parts that I had forgotten about.
In this one Don mentioned that the W&N parts are impossible to install.
In another one I haven't found he has a video of how easy they can be installed.
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Dan Wood said:
There are several old posts about these parts that I had forgotten about.
In this one Don mentioned that the W&N parts are impossible to install.
In another one I haven't found he has a video of how easy they can be installed.
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View attachment 200952
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sfdon

Thread 'We get asked how to install compliance bushings…'

Here’s Ed at the shop installing one in 32 seconds. Out of practice I think from all the huffing and puffing. No special tools needed.

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