Important!

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

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change rear shock absorber on BMW 3 (E46) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: shock absorbers – BMW E46 touring. List of the tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Drive socket # 10 
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Torx bit T25
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Adjustable wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Ear clamp pliers
                    
                      Phillips screwdriver
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Vice
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: shock absorbers – BMW E46 touring. AUTODOC experts recommend:

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

Replacement: shock absorbers – BMW E46 touring. Take the following steps:

Step 1

Open the boot lid.
Step 2

Move the folding shelf and detach it from the retainers. By doing this, you will get access to the side trim plastic panels.
Step 3

Fold down the backrests of the rear seats.
Step 4

Remove the seat belt trim cover. Use a crowbar.
Step 5

Remove the plastic clip of the boot front side lining. Use a crowbar.
Step 6

Remove the battery cover.
Step 7

Detach the boot rear side lining.
Step 8

Unscrew the fasteners of the side plastic trim panel. Use Torx T25.
Step 9.1

Unscrew the fasteners of the boot vent panel.

Step 9.2

Use a drive socket #10. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 10

Unscrew the fasteners of the boot front side lining. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 11

Detach the boot front side lining from the upper fasteners. Use a crowbar.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: shock absorbers – BMW E46 touring. To avoid damaging the part during installation, do not use excessive force.
Step 12

Remove the lower clip of the boot front side lining. Use ear clamp pliers.
Step 13

Remove the boot front side lining. Use a crowbar.
Step 14

Clean the fasteners of the shock absorber upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 15

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 16

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 17

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 18

Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.
Step 19

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: shock absorbers – BMW E46 touring. AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 20

Remove the wheel.
Step 21

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 22

Clean the shock absorber fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 23

Unscrew the lower fastener of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 24

Unscrew the upper fastener of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.

AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock absorber when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 25

Remove the shock absorber.
Step 26

Grip the shock absorber in a vice.
Step 27

Clean the shock absorber rod fastener. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 28

Remove the shock absorber piston rod fastening. Use a combination spanner #16.
Step 29

Release the vice and take out the shock absorber.
Step 30

Remove the shock absorber mount, boot and bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: shock absorbers – BMW E46 touring. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 31

Install the mount, boot and bump stop onto a new shock absorber.
Step 32

Grip the shock absorber in a vice.
Step 33

Screw the shock strut piston rod upper fastening. Use a combination spanner #16. Use an adjustable wrench. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 20 Nm torque.
Step 34

Release the vice and take out the shock absorber.
Step 35

Clean the shock absorber mounting seats. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 36

Place the shock absorber in the wheel arch and secure it.

Replacement: shock absorbers – BMW E46 touring. Tip:
To avoid injury, hold the shock absorber cautiously tight when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 37

Tighten the lower fastener of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 100 Nm torque.
Step 38

Tighten the top shock absorber fastening. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 28 Nm torque.
Step 39

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 40

Install the boot front side lining.
Step 41

Install the lower clip of the boot front side lining.
Step 42

Screw the fasteners of the boot front side lining. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 43

Screw the side fasteners of the boot vent panel. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 44

Install the plastic clip of the boot front side lining.
Step 45

Screw the upper fasteners of the boot vent panel. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 46

Screw the fasteners of the side plastic trim panel. Use Torx T25.
Step 47

Install the seat belt trim cover.
Step 48

Install the boot rear side lining.
Step 49

Install the battery cover.
Step 50

Return the seat to its original position.
Step 51

Install the folding shelf to its mounting seat.
Step 52

Close the lid of the luggage compartment.
Step 53

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 54

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E46 touring
Step 55

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 56

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 nm torque.
Step 57

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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