Car Model Guide/ Issues/ Corrosion at the rear subframe and arch seams

Corrosion at the rear subframe and arch seams

Attaches to E9X at chassis level · Body & corrosion · carried by 171 variants across 19 chassis

Overview

Corrosion at the rear subframe and arch seams is a occasional fault recorded against E9X at chassis level, at any age. It shows up as bubbling at the rear arch lip, scaling on subframe mounting points and rear suspension components. Where it's documented, the repair runs €300–€2,000 (arch repair at the low end; structural subframe work at the high end, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be checked before you buy. 171 variants across 19 chassis in this database inherit it.

€300 – €2,000

arch repair at the low end; structural subframe work at the high end · costs dated 2026-07

Likelihoodoccasional

Typical onsetany age

Detectableyes

Walk awayno

Evidencedocumented

What happens

Symptom. Bubbling at the rear arch lip, scaling on subframe mounting points and rear suspension components.

Cause. Age plus road salt. This generation isn't a notorious rotter, but nothing from 2005–2013 is immune in a salted market.

How to check it

Static checks

Put it on a lift and look at the rear subframe mounting points and the arch lips from behind. Largely a non-issue on cars from southern Europe, a real one on northern and Baltic cars.

Engine off, ideally on a lift.

Body & corrosionoccasionalDetectable at viewingevidence: documented

Every variant that carries this

Variant	Chassis	Body	Years	Risk	Good buy	Cost as % of good buy
318i N46	E90	sedan	2005–2011	R3	€3,100	37%
318i N46	E91	wagon	2005–2011	R3	€3,300	35%
320i N46	E90	sedan	2005–2007	R3	€3,400	34%
320i N46	E91	wagon	2005–2007	R3	€3,600	32%
320i N43	E90	sedan	2007–2011	R4	€3,950	29%
320i N43	E91	wagon	2007–2011	R4	€4,200	27%
320i N43	E92	coupe	2007–2011	R4	€4,550	25%
320i N43	E93	convertible	2007–2011	R4	€4,450	26%
323i N52	E90	sedan	2005–2007	R2	€4,050	28%
323i N52	E91	wagon	2005–2007	R2	€4,300	27%
323i N52	E92	coupe	2006–2007	R2	€4,650	25%
325i N52	E90	sedan	2005–2007	R2	€4,750	24%
325i N52	E91	wagon	2005–2007	R2	€5,050	23%
325i N52	E92	coupe	2006–2007	R2	€5,450	21%
325i N52	E93	convertible	2007	R2	€5,350	21%
325i N53	E90	sedan	2007–2011	R4	€5,250	22%
325i N53	E91	wagon	2007–2012	R4	€5,550	21%
325i N53	E92	coupe	2007–2013	R4	€6,050	19%
325i N53	E93	convertible	2007–2013	R4	€5,900	19%
328i N52	E90	sedan	2006–2011	R2	€5,150	22%
328i N52	E91	wagon	2006–2012	R2	€5,450	21%
328i N52	E92	coupe	2006–2013	R2	€5,950	19%
328i N52	E93	convertible	2007–2013	R2	€5,750	20%
330i N52	E90	sedan	2005–2007	R2	€5,600	21%
330i N52	E91	wagon	2005–2007	R2	€5,950	19%
330i N52	E92	coupe	2006–2007	R2	€6,450	18%
330i N53	E90	sedan	2007–2011	R4	€6,000	19%
330i N53	E91	wagon	2007–2011	R4	€6,350	18%
330i N53	E92	coupe	2007–2011	R4	€6,900	17%
330i N53	E93	convertible	2007–2011	R4	€6,750	17%
335i N54	E90	sedan	2006–2010	R4	€7,350	16%
335i N54	E92	coupe	2006–2010	R4	€8,450	14%
335i N54	E93	convertible	2007–2010	R4	€8,250	14%
335i N55	E90	sedan	2010–2011	R3	€11,700	10%
335i N55	E92	coupe	2010–2013	R3	€13,450	9%
335i N55	E93	convertible	2010–2013	R3	€13,100	9%
316d N47	E90	sedan	2009–2011	R5	€4,200	27%
316d N47	E91	wagon	2009–2011	R5	€4,450	26%
318d N47	E90	sedan	2007–2011	R5	€4,100	28%
318d N47	E91	wagon	2007–2011	R5	€4,350	26%
320d M47	E90	sedan	2005–2007	R3	€3,800	30%
320d M47	E91	wagon	2005–2007	R3	€4,050	28%
320d N47	E90	sedan	2007–2011	R5	€4,400	26%
320d N47	E91	wagon	2007–2012	R5	€4,650	25%
320d N47	E92	coupe	2007–2013	R5	€5,050	23%
320d N47	E93	convertible	2007–2013	R5	€4,950	23%
325d M57	E90	sedan	2006–2010	R2	€5,200	22%
325d M57	E91	wagon	2006–2010	R2	€5,500	21%
325d M57	E92	coupe	2006–2010	R2	€6,000	19%
325d N57	E90	sedan	2010–2011	R3	€7,200	16%
325d N57	E91	wagon	2010–2012	R3	€7,650	15%
325d N57	E92	coupe	2010–2013	R3	€8,300	14%
330d M57	E90	sedan	2005–2008	R2	€5,950	19%
330d M57	E91	wagon	2005–2008	R2	€6,300	18%
330d M57	E92	coupe	2006–2008	R2	€6,850	17%
330d M57	E93	convertible	2007–2008	R2	€6,700	17%
330d N57	E90	sedan	2008–2011	R3	€8,500	14%
330d N57	E91	wagon	2008–2012	R3	€9,050	13%
330d N57	E92	coupe	2008–2013	R3	€9,000	13%
330d N57	E93	convertible	2008–2013	R3	€8,750	13%
335d M57	E90	sedan	2006–2010	R3	€6,900	17%
335d M57	E92	coupe	2006–2010	R3	€7,950	14%
M3 S65	E90	sedan	2007–2011	R4	€35,700	3%
M3 S65	E92	coupe	2007–2013	R4	€35,000	3%
M3 S65	E93	convertible	2007–2013	R4	€30,800	4%
2.0 TFSI CDNC	B8	sedan	2008–2012	R5	€4,300	27%
2.0 TFSI CDNC	B8 Avant	wagon	2008–2012	R5	€4,500	26%
2.0 TFSI CNCD	B8	sedan	2012–2015	R3	€8,200	14%
2.0 TFSI CNCD	B8 Avant	wagon	2012–2016	R3	€8,600	13%
2.0 TDI CJCA	B8	sedan	2008–2015	R3	€5,200	22%
2.0 TDI CJCA	B8 Avant	wagon	2008–2016	R3	€5,500	21%
3.0 TDI CCWA	B8	sedan	2008–2015	R4	€7,500	15%
3.0 TDI CCWA	B8 Avant	wagon	2008–2016	R4	€7,900	15%
1.8 TFSI CABB	B8	sedan	2008–2015	R4	€3,900	29%
1.8 TFSI CABB	B8 Avant	wagon	2008–2015	R4	€4,100	28%
C 220 CDI OM651	W204	sedan	2009–2014	R3	€5,700	20%
C 220 CDI OM651	S204	wagon	2009–2014	R3	€6,000	19%
C 180 Kompressor M271-KOMP	W204	sedan	2007–2011	R5	€3,450	33%
C 180 Kompressor M271-KOMP	S204	wagon	2008–2011	R5	€3,650	32%
C 180 CGI M271-EVO	W204	sedan	2011–2014	R2	€7,650	15%
C 180 CGI M271-EVO	S204	wagon	2011–2014	R2	€8,050	14%
C 320 CDI OM642	W204	sedan	2007–2011	R3	€6,600	17%
C 320 CDI OM642	S204	wagon	2008–2011	R3	€6,950	17%
1.9 TDI BKC	Mk5	hatchback	2003–2009	R2	€2,000	57%
1.6 TDI CAYC	Mk6	hatchback	2009–2013	R3	€5,350	21%
1.4 TSI CAXA	Mk5	hatchback	2007–2009	R4	€3,300	35%
1.4 TSI CAXA	Mk6	hatchback	2009–2013	R4	€4,250	27%
2.0 FSI BLR	Mk5	hatchback	2004–2008	R3	€2,450	47%
116i N45B16	E87	hatchback	2004–2007	R2	€2,700	43%
116i N43B16	E87	hatchback	2007–2011	R3	€3,500	33%
116i N43B16	E81	hatchback	2007–2011	R3	€3,100	37%
118i N46	E87	hatchback	2004–2007	R2	€2,900	40%
118i N43	E87	hatchback	2007–2011	R3	€3,900	29%
118i N43	E81	hatchback	2007–2011	R3	€3,450	33%
118i N43	E82	coupe	2007–2011	R3	€4,000	29%
118i N43	E88	convertible	2008–2011	R3	€4,200	27%
120i N46	E87	hatchback	2004–2007	R2	€3,250	35%
120i N43	E87	hatchback	2007–2011	R3	€4,250	27%
120i N43	E81	hatchback	2007–2011	R3	€3,800	30%
120i N43	E82	coupe	2007–2011	R3	€4,400	26%
120i N43	E88	convertible	2008–2011	R3	€4,650	25%
125i N52	E82	coupe	2008–2013	R2	€7,000	16%
125i N52	E88	convertible	2008–2013	R2	€7,400	16%
130i N52	E87	hatchback	2005–2011	R2	€7,000	16%
130i N52	E81	hatchback	2007–2011	R2	€6,800	17%
135i N54	E82	coupe	2007–2010	R4	€9,800	12%
135i N54	E88	convertible	2008–2010	R4	€10,350	11%
135i N55	E82	coupe	2010–2013	R3	€12,600	9%
135i N55	E88	convertible	2010–2013	R3	€13,300	9%
1M N54	E82	coupe	2011–2012	R3	€50,700	2%
116d N47	E87	hatchback	2009–2011	R4	€4,050	28%
116d N47	E81	hatchback	2009–2011	R4	€3,600	32%
118d M47	E87	hatchback	2004–2007	R2	€3,200	36%
118d N47	E87	hatchback	2007–2011	R4	€4,600	25%
118d N47	E81	hatchback	2007–2012	R4	€4,100	28%
118d N47	E82	coupe	2007–2013	R4	€4,700	24%
118d N47	E88	convertible	2008–2013	R4	€4,950	23%
120d M47	E87	hatchback	2004–2007	R2	€3,550	32%
120d N47	E87	hatchback	2007–2011	R4	€5,150	22%
120d N47	E81	hatchback	2007–2012	R4	€4,600	25%
120d N47	E82	coupe	2007–2013	R4	€5,250	22%
120d N47	E88	convertible	2008–2013	R4	€5,550	21%
123d N47S	E87	hatchback	2007–2011	R4	€6,450	18%
123d N47S	E81	hatchback	2007–2012	R4	€5,750	20%
123d N47S	E82	coupe	2007–2013	R4	€6,650	17%
123d N47S	E88	convertible	2008–2013	R4	€6,950	17%
1.6 BSE	8P	hatchback	2003–2010	R2	€2,350	49%
1.6 BSE	8PA	hatchback	2004–2010	R2	€2,400	48%
1.4 TFSI CAXC	8P	hatchback	2007–2013	R3	€3,300	35%
1.4 TFSI CAXC	8PA	hatchback	2007–2013	R3	€3,400	34%
1.4 TFSI CAXC	8P7	convertible	2008–2013	R3	€3,800	30%
1.8 TFSI CDAA	8P	hatchback	2007–2013	R3	€3,900	29%
1.8 TFSI CDAA	8PA	hatchback	2007–2013	R3	€4,000	29%
1.8 TFSI CDAA	8P7	convertible	2008–2013	R3	€4,500	26%
2.0 FSI BLR	8P	hatchback	2004–2008	R3	€2,800	41%
2.0 FSI BLR	8PA	hatchback	2004–2008	R3	€2,850	40%
2.0 TFSI CCZA	8P	hatchback	2008–2013	R3	€5,000	23%
2.0 TFSI CCZA	8PA	hatchback	2008–2013	R3	€5,150	22%
2.0 TFSI CCZA	8P7	convertible	2008–2013	R3	€5,300	22%
S3 CDLA	8P	hatchback	2006–2013	R3	€8,750	13%
S3 CDLA	8PA	hatchback	2006–2013	R3	€8,950	13%
1.9 TDI BKC	8P	hatchback	2003–2010	R2	€2,450	47%
1.9 TDI BKC	8PA	hatchback	2004–2010	R2	€2,500	46%
2.0 TDI BKD	8P	hatchback	2003–2008	R3	€3,300	35%
2.0 TDI BKD	8PA	hatchback	2004–2008	R3	€3,400	34%
2.0 TDI CBAB	8P	hatchback	2008–2013	R4	€4,700	24%
2.0 TDI CBAB	8PA	hatchback	2008–2013	R4	€4,800	24%
2.0 TDI CBAB	8P7	convertible	2008–2013	R4	€4,950	23%
1.6 TDI CAYC	8P	hatchback	2009–2013	R3	€4,150	28%
1.6 TDI CAYC	8PA	hatchback	2009–2013	R3	€4,250	27%
1.6 TDI CAYC	8P7	convertible	2009–2013	R3	€4,400	26%
E 220 CDI OM651	W212	sedan	2009–2016	R3	€6,300	18%
E 220 CDI OM651	S212	wagon	2009–2016	R3	€6,650	17%
E 200 CDI OM651	W212	sedan	2010–2016	R3	€5,500	21%
E 200 CDI OM651	S212	wagon	2010–2016	R3	€5,800	20%
E 250 CDI OM651	W212	sedan	2009–2016	R3	€7,300	16%
E 250 CDI OM651	S212	wagon	2009–2016	R3	€7,700	15%
E 350 CDI OM642	W212	sedan	2009–2016	R3	€8,750	13%
E 350 CDI OM642	S212	wagon	2009–2016	R3	€9,200	13%
E 200 CGI M271-EVO	W212	sedan	2009–2013	R3	€5,200	22%
E 200 CGI M271-EVO	S212	wagon	2009–2013	R3	€5,450	21%
E 250 CGI M271-EVO	W212	sedan	2009–2013	R3	€6,000	19%
E 250 CGI M271-EVO	S212	wagon	2009–2013	R3	€6,300	18%
E 200 M274	W212	sedan	2013–2016	R2	€8,450	14%
E 200 M274	S212	wagon	2013–2016	R2	€8,850	13%
E 250 M274	W212	sedan	2013–2016	R2	€9,600	12%
E 250 M274	S212	wagon	2013–2016	R2	€10,100	11%
E 350 CGI M272	W212	sedan	2009–2011	R3	€7,250	16%
E 350 CGI M272	S212	wagon	2009–2011	R3	€7,650	15%
E 350 M276	W212	sedan	2011–2016	R2	€10,500	11%
E 350 M276	S212	wagon	2011–2016	R2	€11,050	10%

The last column is the point. The same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.