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 rear strut mount / rear top munt BMW 3 (E46) [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. 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: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Tip from AUTODOC experts:

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

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Recommended sequence of 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: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Do not use excessive force when removing the part as this may damage it.
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: strut mount – 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.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Tip:
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.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Examine the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop. Replace them if necessary.
Step 31

Install the new mount, boot, and bump stop on the 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.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the shock absorber while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E46 touring
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:
Replacement: strut mount – BMW E46 touring. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 40

Install the boot front side lining. Install the lower clip of the boot front side lining.
Step 41

Screw the fasteners of the boot front side lining. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 42

Screw the side fasteners of the boot vent panel. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 43

Install the plastic clip of the boot front side lining.
Step 44

Screw the upper fasteners of the boot vent panel. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 45

Screw the fasteners of the side plastic trim panel. Use Torx T25.
Step 46

Install the seat belt trim cover.
Step 47

Install the boot rear side lining.
Step 48

Install the battery cover.
Step 49

Return the seat to its original position.
Step 50

Install the folding shelf to its mounting seat.
Step 51

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 52

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 53

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 54

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 nm torque.
Step 55

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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