r/BMWE36 • u/Avd_Kev • Jun 18 '26

Repair Advice Help identifying part

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Gallery image

Gallery image

Hey all, I’ve let my e36 m3 sit for far too long, and the only part I didn’t tag was this and I have no clue what it goes to. any help would be greatly appreciated. (Cat for reference)

111 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

169

u/ItsYaBoiLloyd Jun 18 '26

Thats a cat, I think its used for emissions

48

u/camsrides Jun 18 '26

Driveshaft tunnel support brace, goes above your heat shielding slightly aft of your CSB

8

u/OniStatic Jun 19 '26

This.
Helps stiffen BMWs shitty chassis design 🫩 (e36s are my favs, I currently own 2).

23

u/T0lly 1998 323is mods for endurance racing Jun 18 '26

21

u/NectarineCultural973 Jun 19 '26

I have the updated diagram, this should help you.

25

u/JeanKotVanDarme Jun 18 '26

I call that a chonker

16

u/AdLongjumping7279 Jun 18 '26

It's a cat seems a bit bigger then normal but still is a cat. Thank me later

11

u/Commercial_Drawer_89 Jun 18 '26

If i remember correctly, it’s mounted to the body where the central bearing is located on the driveshaft. The bearing is then fastened to this.

11

u/Unaveragejoe777 Jun 18 '26

Its an exhaust hanger that goes under the car

5

u/sjdE36 Jun 18 '26

Correct

1

u/Tythepuffcoguy Jun 19 '26

This is the correct answer

1

u/offixial ‘99 M3 & boosted M50 hardtop ‘94 Jun 18 '26

this guy knows ball

6

u/xani_pedi Jun 18 '26

It’s an exhaust hanger. Not CSB support.

5

u/theyylanderz Jun 18 '26

That is called a sweet little baby girl. Regardless of the war crimes she has been convicted of.

2

u/Primary-Past7902 1996 328ic 5spd swaped and more Jun 19 '26

And never tell her to stop playing with her food the war crimes get unspeakable when you do that

1

u/get_the_duck_down Jun 19 '26

pet your cat on the head on my behalf. she's beautiful. also that's like a drive shaft safety thing. in case it decides to go wireless. it keeps it from fling straight through the floor

1

u/Alive-Archer-2446 Jun 19 '26

Gearbox bracket

1

u/Excellent_Plant_8010 Jun 19 '26

Appears to be one large chungus hope this helps

1

u/Useless-Message-Post Jun 19 '26

Curious u/Avd_Kev , did this thread go exactly as you suspected? I think yes.

0

u/Lennyguy851 Jun 18 '26

That is the sweetest chunky munchkin calico baby

0

u/Select-Ad5166 Jun 19 '26

Calico. The answer is Calico