So, How Screwed Am I? What I found in my trunk! (pictures) - Page 2 - United Bimmer Community

**Dudesky** · 08-25-2005, 04:43 PM

You can't bondo that. It's a structural area. Even the shape of the strut tower is specificaly designed to handle the stress induced by the shocks. Trust me, I deal with electro-mechanical engineering every day at work.

DEATH2000 · 08-25-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky_E36

It's not the actual welding. It's taking the entire rear area apart, not to mention the gas tanks, then prepping the area for welding the new plate on there. Then it all has to be reassembled.

Also, there are different types of welding. Most auto shops have MIG (metal inert gas) welders on hand for jobs like exhaust systems and such. That job on your car requires a TIG weld (tungsten inert gas), and that equpment is more expensive. Very few shops have them, and even fewer mechanics are trained well enough to use them.

A friend of mine knows about welding and her step dad is a proffesional welder. Ill show him the pic and see what he things about the damage and if itd worth fixing it or not.

**Dudesky** · 08-25-2005, 05:20 PM

^^Ask him if he thinks an oxy-acetylene welder would do the trick. Those are more common than TIG welders.

**Rooz** · 08-25-2005, 05:27 PM

YOu could do it like that one guy that came to our shop did.

He blew up hit tire and had a hole on the sidewall, he put electrical tape on top of it. :lmoa

So to be on the safe I'd recommend Duct tape.

But on a more serious note...

Yes, weldine it's self isn't that expensive, but the labor involved in it is. Also fixing this wrong will affect your allignment so take it to the pros!

Now you got me worried, I know mine looked good when I put the Dynamat on, but sitll going to check now ...

**catalyst** · 08-25-2005, 05:38 PM

Haha, yeah rooz i ran out to the car and checked my towers too after i saw this, lol.

**RealBmw 02** · 08-25-2005, 07:16 PM

del I am sorry to see such horrific damage. You must have some shitty road in NY for that to happen. Hope it doesn't cost TOO much to get fixed... although it will be pricey, it will most likely be more economical to fix than to buy a new car. Especially with all the work you have been doing lately.

**94bmw325i** · 08-25-2005, 09:34 PM

With that kind of damage you might break even, or end up paying more than your car is worth..

**Dudesky** · 08-26-2005, 05:02 AM

We're all freaked out about this, and those pics are pretty scary. But who knows . . hopefully the job won't be as expensive as we're imagining. Del, if there's any way I can be of help, I'm right across the river

**Dudesky** · 08-26-2005, 05:40 AM

Del's found the solution:
http://www.tcdesignfab.com/E36%20Rea...ck%20Tower.htm

Now, people here gave him sh%# for cross posting to different boards, but that's how he got the right answers . . maybe that's why he hasn't (at least not yet) shared his findings here