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) 330 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 330 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) 330 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 318 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 316 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 d, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 330 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 318 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 325 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 328 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 320 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 323 i, BMW 3 Saloon (E46) 325 i … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change wheel bearing on BMW E46 [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

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

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Replacement: wheel bearing – BMW E46. Tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 46 
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6.
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Flat Screwdriver
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: wheel bearing – BMW E46. Professionals recommend:

Do not re-use the bearing assembly of your AUDI A4 B6 car.
The wheel hub bearing replacement procedure is identical for both wheels on the same axle.
Warning! Shut down the engine before starting any work – BMW E46.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

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.

Replacement: wheel bearing – BMW E46. AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

Detach the brake caliper retaining spring. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 7

Remove the dust boot caps of the brake caliper guide pins. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 8

Clean the brake caliper fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 9

Unscrew the brake caliper fastening. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 10

Spread the brake pads. Use a crowbar.
Step 11

Remove the brake caliper.

Replacement: wheel bearing – BMW E46. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Tie the caliper to the suspension or to the body with a wire without disconnecting from the brake hose to prevent depressurization of the brake system.Make sure that the brake caliper is not hanging on the brake hose.Don't press the brake pedal after the brake caliper has been removed. As a result, the piston can fall out from the brake cylinder, and brake fluid leakage and depressurization of the system may occur. Check the brake caliper bracket, brake caliper guide pins and boots. Clean them. Replace, if necessary.
Step 12

Remove the brake pads.
Step 13

Clean the brake caliper bracket fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the caliper bracket fastening. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the caliper bracket.
Step 16

Clean the brake disc fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 17

Unscrew the brake disc fastening. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Remove the brake disc.

Step 19

Remove the hub bearing protection cap. Use a flat screwdriver. Use a hammer.

Please note!
Some cars are not equipped with wheel hub caps.
Step 20

Unstake the wheel hub retaining nut. Use a flat screwdriver. Use a hammer.
Step 21

Clean the fasteners of the wheel hub bearing. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 22

Unscrew the hub bearing mounting. Use a drive socket #46. Use a tap wrench.
Step 23

Remove the hub and the bearing together, since they are a sealed unit.
Step 24

Clean the hub bearing mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 25

Install the new wheel hub with a bearing. Use a hammer.
Step 26

Tighten the fastener of the wheel hub bearing. Use a drive socket #46. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 290 nm torque.
Step 27

Restake the wheel hub retaining nut. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 28

Install the hub bearing protection cap. Use a hammer.
Step 29

Treat the hub where it contacts the brake disk. Use copper grease.

Step 30

Install the brake disc.
Step 31

Tighten the brake disc fastening. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 9 Nm torque.
Step 32

Clean the brake caliper bracket from dirt and dust. Use a wire brush. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: wheel bearing – BMW E46. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 33

Install the brake caliper bracket.
Step 34

Tighten the brake caliper bracket. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 35

Install the brake pads.
Step 36

Install the brake caliper and fix it. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 30 Nm torque.
Step 37

Install the dust boot caps of the brake caliper guide pins.
Step 38

Install the brake caliper retaining spring. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 39

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.

Step 40

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 41

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: wheel bearing – BMW E46. Tip from AUTODOC:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 42

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. BMW E46
Step 43

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 44

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 45

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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