Not only P6's do it, it seems...

darth sidious

darth sidious

New Member
One of the possible failures on a P6, as we're all too aware on this fine forum, is the rear De-Dion elbow breaking off.
i.e.

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(which I have taken the liberty to "borrow" from /viewtopic.php?f=22&t=17109&p=141756&hilit=elbow+de+dion#p141821) ( And hoping that dmcsweeney isn't too cross with me for using his picture! :D )

Watching today's episode of the BBC's "Real Rescues" on iPlayer earlier (Real Rescues - Series 10 - Episode 4), there was footage of an accident that happened in Milton Keynes with a BMW and Citroen. The Citroen had basically shunted the passenger/near side (RHD) of the BMW (the story starts at 30:30 into the programme):-

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However I was somewhat shocked to see the rear driver/off side (i.e. the opposite side!) (RHD) suspension arms (yes, two of them it seems!) had snapped off; one arm which was part of the "subframe" under the passenger compartments (where the occupants sit!), the other arm which was part of the coil spring "area" (really close to the spring itself, from the picture!)

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Surely that should not have happened after a shunt to the other side?!?!

But it seems that the P6 is not alone in snapping rear suspension parts!
 
I love seeing BMW's broken down . Their smug owners think they are so wonderful
This one is obviously not due to rust but other classic cars suffered from rusting suspension arms- eg Volvo 120 / 140
 
Cracked springs are very common on moderns, it must be said.
Also, the amount of underside corrosion on some moderns is alarming. I've seen a few 75s with very rotten rear suspension arms. Generally, these are cars that have lived by the sea, or in the middle of nowhere. As ever, maintenance is key.
 
FrazzleTC said:
Cracked springs are very common on moderns, it must be said.
Also, the amount of underside corrosion on some moderns is alarming. I've seen a few 75s with very rotten rear suspension arms. Generally, these are cars that have lived by the sea, or in the middle of nowhere. As ever, maintenance is key.
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But this was in Milton Keynes, which I don't think is near a sea nor the middle of nowhere (that said, maybe the car and/or owner are not local Milton Keynes-ers [word I made up!])

I can definitely see cracked/broken springs being a problem, but in this case the spring is apparently not broken, rather the suspension arm it resides in!
 
1396midget said:
looks like that's snapped as a result of being shunted sideways rather than under 'normal use'
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No doubt that's exactly what happened, but I'd expect the suspension components to at least keep their integrity from a lateral 'wallop', especially seeing the shunt/impact was on the other side! The suspension on the side that suffered the impact hasn't given way.

colnerov said:
Hi, it might also have been shunted into a kerb.

Colin
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Doubtful. The car was in the middle of the roadway, not near (enough to) a kerb or central reservation.
 
Some moderns have aluminium suspension parts. Aluminium is much more prone to fracture isnt it?
 
darth sidious said:
But this was in Milton Keynes, which I don't think is near a sea nor the middle of nowhere!
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Oddly enough, ISTR hearing a radio programme in which it was stated that Milton Keynes is the furthest point away from a coastline you can reach in the UK.
Although googling it reveals that there are other contenders too, so take your pick.
 
When you see the level of corrosion evident in both that BMW and the P6, its little wonder both those areas failed.
That extent of rust in the BMW is simply unheard of here given its age.
Frankly, its a disaster waiting to happen; given the driving/cornering stresses the car endures.
My eyes constantly boggle when I see the underside of many a P6 and the deep metal corrosion the rear suspension has. :shock:
 
billoddie said:
My eyes constantly boggle when I see the underside of many a P6 and the deep metal corrosion the rear suspension has. :shock:
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They were engineered to include that level of sacrificial metalwork specifically for our climate. If they'd been designed in Australia, they'd have weighed half as much. :D
 
Willy Eckerslyke wrote,...
They were engineered to include that level of sacrificial metalwork specifically for our climate. If they'd been designed in Australia, they'd have weighed half as much. :D
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I would agree with that Willy. For its overall size, the Rover is pretty heavy, especially given that bonnet, boot and the vast bulk of the engine are all aluminium alloy. Local Fords, Holdens and Valiants not to mention Japanese cars from the 1970's used to rust pretty quickly, whilst the Rover 40 years on is almost completely void of the stuff. The quality of the steel used throughout the car both in panels and bolts was pretty good, it is just that the U.K conditions are so very hostile to a car's longevity.

Whilst rust may not be a problem here, sun damage certainly is. Rubber turns to stone, vinyl and leather can both be badly burnt, especially if the car sits parked outside day in day out.

Ron.
 
I would say it is an aluminium lower arm (most Bmw's have front and rear ally control arms to save weight) as you can tell by the colour of the clean break, probably as a result of the nearside collision and shunting the rear offside into a highish kerb causing the lower arm to break/snap under the impact. If it was a fracture overtime (highly unlikely under normal driving and even more unlikely for BMW) you would see the aluminium discolour to a dull grey until final failure of the remainder which would be a clean, light ally colour, clean break, but the photo shows it to be a clean break all across the arm suggesting a sudden impact rather than a failure over time. Even though as ron suggests we in OZ don't have the climate for snow nessesitating salt on roads, we can be pretty confident that if the de dions dont look too rusty then we have a sound attachment at this point. But thats not to say that the weld is sound and may very well be starting to fracture/fail. Still I'll give my de dion the once over soon,
 
The Rovering Member said:
darth sidious said:
But this was in Milton Keynes, which I don't think is near a sea nor the middle of nowhere!
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Oddly enough, ISTR hearing a radio programme in which it was stated that Milton Keynes is the furthest point away from a coastline you can reach in the UK.
Although googling it reveals that there are other contenders too, so take your pick.
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I think Meriden (clue is in the name - I think it means middle)

Plus thats an E46 3 seies of which I have had two - rear suspension breakages arent uncommon on these, many people (inc me) replaced with better quality aftermarket bits.
 
My SAAB 900 has aluminium control arms up front. Not a big fan if I'm honest, especially as the bottom ball joint is part of the arm and the whole lot has to be replaced as a whole.
 
With any car fitted with pressed steel suspension arms you can arrest the progress of corrosion by drilling a small hole, pumping it full of cavity wax and sealing the hole with a grommet afterwards.
 
Willy Eckerslyke said:
They were engineered to include that level of sacrificial metalwork specifically for our climate. If they'd been designed in Australia, they'd have weighed half as much
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Thats reassuring.
Perhaps a logical question is...if the P6 was engineered as such, and still suffers from such corrosion, how in the blazes are "lesser" engineered classics kept to be still operational on salted U.K roads?
Some Jags spring to mind...
And other B.L products
 
i think survival rates for p6s are pretty high... you dont see 1970s xj6s or dolomites or allegros as often as you see p6s... (at least in my experience!)
 
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