Quote:
Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd
One can draw some conclusions based on the fact that people have been reusing the bolts for two decades. And as for the reinforcement plate itself, well, that's a piece that BMW added to make the cars stiffer. Older BMWs didn't have them at all, and modern BMW subframes are a lot stronger than the flexible pieces that they used to use.
Note, however, that I am NOT advocating retorquing in the same manner. If you keep stretching the bolt it will fail. What method to reach torque specs do you use?
So yeah, if these were difficult to get to, or actually holding in a critical component, I'd say replace them. But the reinforcement plate is not a critical component. You can take it off entirely and drive the car.
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You can only assume that two decades of anecdotal evidence are proof. How many X5s owners do you know about that reuse the bolts? Whether the plate wasn't used on older or isn't on newer X5s doesn't matter. Didn't the first year of the X5 have the plate? Regardless, neither is applicable other than to reinforce the importance of the plate, bolts included.
I suspect the primary reason the bolts are reused and supporters are so adamant is the cost. And rather than pay the price some look for supporting input to justify not replacing them. I thought about reusing the bolts the first time I removed them but decided I didn't know as much as BMW about the reason they chose the not to reuse bolts.