theCARhack

Cars with stock suspension seem to be unaffected, but those with aftermarket suspensions-- particularly those with Ground Control camber/caster plates-- are prone to cracking between the stud holes (cracks already chamfered):

If the cracks have not propagated too far, the fix is relatively simple. First step is to remove the front suspension and clean up the area:

Chamfer the cracks and weld:

Grind and clean:

Repaint and then put it all back together again:

Next time you're under the hood of your BMW E36 or E46 3 Series, take a look for the telltale signs of cracked paint around stud slots and/or under the strut tower brace end caps. If you see any cracking, get it fixed as soon as you can.