Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 316 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 328 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 323 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 325 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 316 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 318 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 318 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 316 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 318 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 316 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 325 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 328 i … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change springs on BMW E46 [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Springs for 3 Saloon (E46) and other BMW models

Coil spring

Coil spring buffer

        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 328 i Petrol (193 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 d Diesel (136 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 323 i Petrol (170 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 i Petrol (150 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 316 i Petrol (105 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 i Petrol (170 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 325 i Petrol (192 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 316 i Petrol (105 hp)
      
        Coil spring for BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 318 i Petrol (143 hp)

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Tools you might need:

                        Wire brush
                      
                        WD-40 spray
                      
                        Brake cleaner 
                      
                        Copper grease 
                      
                        Combination spanner #18
                      
                        Combination spanner #19
                      
                        Drive socket # 13 
                      
                        Drive socket # 17 
                      
                        Drive socket # 18 
                      
                        Drive socket # 19 
                      
                        Drive socket # 22 
                      
                        HEX bit No.H6.
                      
                        Wheel impact socket #17
                      
                        Ratchet wrench
                      
                        Torque wrench
                      
                        Water pump pliers
                      
                        Flat Screwdriver
                      
                        Ball joint puller
                      
                        Crow bar
                      
                        Hydraulic transmission jack
                      
                        Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                      
                        Fender cover
                      
                        Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. AUTODOC recommends:

Both coil springs of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right coil springs of the front suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Recommended sequence of steps:

Step 1

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 2

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 3

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.

Step 4

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. BMW E46
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 7

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 8

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 9

Clean the fastener connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 10

Unscrew the end fastening nut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 12

Clean the fastener that connects the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 13

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 14

Disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 15

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 16

Treat the retaining bracket that secures the brake hose and the wiring harness. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the brake hose fastening bracket from the shock strut. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Disconnect the wiring and the brake hose from the bracket on the shock strut.

Step 19

Remove the steering knuckle together with the hub.
Step 20

Lower the car.
Step 21

Open the bonnet.
Step 22

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.

Step 23

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 24

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Tip:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 25

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 26

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 27

Compress the spring.

Step 28

Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 29

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 30

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 31

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 32

Release the coil spring.

Step 33

Remove the spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 34

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 35

Compress the spring.

Step 36

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing. Use water pump pliers.
Step 37

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 64 Nm torque.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Tip from AUTODOC:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 38

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 39

Decompress the spring.

Step 40

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 41

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E46
Step 42

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 34 Nm torque.
Step 43

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 44

Close the hood.
Step 45

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.

Step 46

Install the steering knuckle.
Step 47

Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Tip:
During the installation process, use only new bolts and nuts.Do not damage the ball joint cover.
Step 48

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 49

Screw the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 Nm torque.
Step 50

Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.
Step 51

Tighten the fastening nut connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 nm torque.
Step 52

Fasten the brake hose on the strut.
Step 53

Connect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable to the shock absorber strut.

Step 54

Tighten the brake hose fastening bracket to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 55

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 56

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 56

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.

Step 57

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 58

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 59

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 60

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 61

Install the wheel.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 62

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 63

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 nm torque.
Step 64

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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