Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 3 Touring (E46) 330 d, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 330 xd, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 318 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 328 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320 d, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 330 xd, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 330 xi, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 330 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 325 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 325 xi, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320 d, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 318 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 316 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 318 d, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 318 d … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front strut mount / top munt BMW 3 (E46) Touring [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Strut Mount for 3 Touring (E46) and other BMW models

Top strut mount

        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Petrol (150 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Petrol (118 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Petrol (193 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Diesel (136 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Diesel (184 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Petrol (231 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Petrol (231 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Petrol (170 hp)
      
        Top strut mount for 3 Touring (E46) Petrol (192 hp)

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. List of the tools you'll need:

                        Wire brush
                      
                        WD-40 spray
                      
                        Copper grease 
                      
                        Combination spanner #17
                      
                        Combination spanner #19
                      
                        Combination spanner #21
                      
                        Drive socket # 13 
                      
                        Drive socket # 18 
                      
                        Drive socket # 21 
                      
                        HEX bit no.H6.
                      
                        HEX bit no.H7.
                      
                        Wheel impact socket #17
                      
                        Shock absorber socket
                      
                        Ball joint puller
                      
                        Ratchet wrench
                      
                        Torque wrench
                      
                        Tap wrench
                      
                        Crow bar
                      
                        Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                      
                        Hydraulic transmission jack
                      
                        Fender cover
                      
                        Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. AUTODOC experts recommend:

The replacement procedure is identical for the mounts of the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
All mounts of the front shock struts should be replaced simultaneously.
Be sure to replace all self-locking nuts and bolts during installation.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Take the following steps:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 4

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 5

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 6

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 7

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 8

Remove the wheel.
Step 9

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 10

Unscrew the nut and remove the stabilizer rod from the shock strut. Use HEX No.H7. Use a combination spanner #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Treat the retaining bracket that secures the brake hose and the wiring harness. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 12

Disconnect the wiring and the brake hose from the bracket on the shock strut.
Step 13

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Clean the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 15

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19.
Step 16

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 17

Disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 18

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 19

Disconnect the lower arm from the steering knuckle.
Step 20

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 21

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber.
Step 22

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 23

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 24

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. BMW E46 touring
Step 25

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 26

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
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

Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a crowbar.
Step 28

Compress the spring.
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 combination spanner #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 31

Remove the top strut mount. Use a crowbar.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. AUTODOC recommends:
Examine the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop. Replace them if necessary.
Step 32

Install a new top shock strut mount. Use a crowbar.
Step 33

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 64 Nm torque.

AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 34

Decompress the spring.
Step 35

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 36

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 37

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 38

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E46 touring – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 39

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 40

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 41

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 42

Install and tighten a new bolt of the steering knuckle.
Step 43

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.
Step 44

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E46 touring – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 45

Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 46

Treat the fasteners connecting the control arm to the steering knuckle. Use copper grease.
Step 47

Connect the lower arm to the steering knuckle. Install the control arm fasteners.
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

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.
Step 51

Secure the stabilizer link on the suspension strut. Use HEX No.H7. Use a combination spanner #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 55 Nm torque.
Step 52

Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Use copper grease.
Step 53

Fasten the brake hose on the strut. Connect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable to the shock absorber strut.
Step 54

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 55

Install the wheel.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Professionals recommend:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 56

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 57

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 58

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 59

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 60

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 61

Close the hood.

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