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BMW 3 Series E46 – Common Problems, What to Look Out for, and More!

3 Series Common Problems and Solutions

When BMW E46 was first announced in 1997, many were wondering if it would be good enough to fill the shoes left behind by the E36. After only a few years of service, it has become apparent that the E46 was the next big classic from the 3 Series. Now that these cars are slowly entering their 3rd decade of service, you can go and find a really nice one for cheap!

However, you should definitely understand what issues and common problems these cars suffer from before you head out to look at any cars. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of issues and things you’d want to pay attention to when scoping a used BMW E46! Some of these are well-known problems, others not so much. Either way, you’ll be armed with all the information you need to make an educated choice!

BMW 3 Series E46

1. BMW e46 Cooling System Failure/Leaks from Plastic Components:

The BMW E46 cooling system is full of plastic fittings, clips, and reservoirs that all have a habit of cracking, causing major problems with coolant leaks and De-pressurization. eEuroparts sells a kit to replace all the key failure points at once.

Genuine BMW
$1618.95

2. Weak Rear Shock Mount

In addition to reinforcing the rear sub-frame, the shock mount is another area that can use a little love. eEuroparts sells a part that reinforces the rear shock mounts, and it is straight from BMW. The rear shock mount reinforcement also fits E30‘s, E36‘s and Z3‘s as well, and fits on TOP of the mount on the interior of the car. The original design focuses on the bottom of the mount, where the weight of the car sits but has no emphasis on the top. This makes unloading the suspension potentially hazardous to the other side of the shock tower.

If you are doing a rear shock mount, there’s no reason NOT to bolt on this reinforcement. Because of this, we sell the shock mounts, gaskets, nuts, and reinforcements together as a kit. This will beef up your suspension mountings and let you focus on other areas of the car.  For a little more money, we offer fully reinforced versions for 10mm and 12mm shock shafts.  The 10mm shaft versions would be for OE style shocks, where the 12mm versions would be for cars that have externally adjustable mechanisms such as Bilstein B8’s.  The extra width would be to accommodate that linkage, you should know if you have installed a larger shaft shock absorber.

3. Tail Light Failure

An intermittent ‘tail lamp out’ indicator on your dash could mean a few things, but hands down the most common failure involves the circuit boards inside the taillights. This is so common that we made a complete kit to replace your components with uprated parts, including a wiring harness that is more capable of handling the heat and current of normal usage. The surprisingly cost-effective kit (100k10107 BMW Tail Light Repair Kit (E46)) includes new Genuine BMW taillight circuit boards for both sides of the car (63217165865 and 63217165866), as well as a Genuine BMW wiring repair kit. We also offer the connectors and the corresponding terminal pins in case yours is melted, which is common.

4. Crankcase Vent Valve Failure/Maintenance:

The PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) system is meant to separate the oil of the oily stirred up the air that pressurizes the crankcase of the engine due to piston blowby. The hoses and separator, therefore, see a lot of action when it comes to hot oil, which can build up inside and cause problems. Due to this, the PCV system should be considered a maintenance item and replaced regularly to prevent sludgy buildup from clogging oil vent passageways.

A sure clue of clogged or constricted PCV components is that the seals around the crankcase will all start weeping oil due to the pressure that is not allowed to be vented. This includes the timing cover, oil pan, and especially the valve cover. We have kits and parts for the M54 and M52 6 cylinder engines found in the BMW E46 3-series

5. Torn Front Axle Boots / Front Axle Failure (Xi AWD models only):

The front axles on these cars are notorious for having problems, specifically with the CV joints and related boots. These problems are accelerated with lowered cars, so it’s important to pay attention to the CV axles on your all-wheel-drive model. If you catch it early, you can get away with just replacing the boots. The boot isn’t super easy to replace because to do so, and you must remove the axle. However, replacing both axles at a dealer will run you more than $1700. Replacing four CV boots (each axle has an inner and an outer CV joint) will cost under $100 and a few hours. The CV Boot numbers are 31607507402 for the outer (the more common to fail), and the inner is 31607507403

If the boot has been torn for a while, there is a high probability that the joint has run dry and been contaminated with dirt, grit, and road grime. In this case, the tight tolerance joint wears out quickly, and the entire axle will need to be replaced. We have front axles available for the E46. The high-quality GKN front axles for the BMW 325xi and 330xi are 31607505199A for the front driver side and 31607505200A for the front passenger side.

6.  M3 Camshaft Gear Bolt Failure (S54 only)

The S54 engine has been known to have the cam gear bolts break. It is recommended to have these replaced every 30,000 miles at the same time as the valve adjustment. If one or more do break there would be catastrophic engine damage.  We sell all the necessary hardware, that comes with the necessary Loctite® thread locker.

7. Engine Oil Filter Housing Gasket

As with many soft engine gaskets, the oil filter housing gasket is a common failure point. This gasket will harden over time from the heat cycles produced by the engine and oil contaminants causing it to leak. If you see oil on the driver side portion of the engine block near the oil filter you know this gasket is leaking. Depending on the size of the leak, this may also cause the low oil light on the dash to illuminate. We have seen instances where this leak will cause the belt to slip off and jam into the main seal behind the crank pulley.

8. Rear Sub-frame Bushing Failure

As mentioned above, the rear subframe takes a lot of abuse in these cars from lateral movement. Besides the subframe itself, the bushings take a ton of abuse and subsequently wear out. When the bushings wear out, it will cause clunking and banging, and accelerate wear on the subframe itself. Aside from the subframe reinforcing, it’s a good idea to make sure your bushings are all fresh to keep the car from hammering and banging itself apart. The key bushings to look at here are in this kit we put together, 100K10187.

9. Rear Spring Failure

The rear springs are notorious for breaking on the bottom coil, where it sits on the control arm. This is due to the fact that water and road salt will collect in this area and corrode and weaken the steel spring causing it to break as it compresses eventually. The rear springs for rear-wheel-drive models are 06165. The rear springs for the all-wheel-drive models are 06254. Springs can be tricky sometimes, so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact customer service (800) 467-9769 or email them here.

Genuine BMW
$180.15

10. Driveshaft Flex Disc / Center Support Bearing Failure

Driveline vibration which can be felt through the body of the vehicle may hint at a worn flex disc and support bearing on the drive shaft. The main function of the flex disc is to absorb vibration and as this item wears it transmits those vibrations throughout the chassis of the vehicle. If left un-repaired, the disc will actually start to tear and can damage the pinion flange on the differential. Worn center bearings will heat up and bind which will prevent the drive shaft from rotating freely, and can cause catastrophic failure.

Rear wheel drive vehicles will use Center Bearing 26127501257 and Auto Trans Flex Disc 26117511454, and we’re also selling the kit.  Manual Transmission cars use Flex Disc 26111227410 and that kit is 100k10242.  All-wheel-drive vehicles will use Center Bearing 26121229317 and Flex Disc 26111229360, and the kit for these cars is 100k10243.

Owning a used E46 is an awesome experience, and we’re standing by to help you keep it that way, every step of the way. It’s no secret that E46 has a special place in all of our hearts here at eEuroparts. Our stocks of BMW E46 parts are always topped with fresh products so that even if your new Beemer runs into trouble, we’ll be able to get it up and running in no time. 

Check out of parts for this model and enjoy the best prices around! If you have any questions or can’t find a specific car part, reach out to us and we’ll get you taken care of to the best of our abilities. At the end of the day, it’s all about keeping another E46 healthy and on the roads!

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66 thoughts on “BMW 3 Series E46 – Common Problems, What to Look Out for, and More!

  1. How about the inside door / window moldings (the fuzzy ones) that fall off on the E46; or at least on my M3? Do you have replacements or advice on re-attaching them?

    1. It’s hard to tell what you are describing, but both the door seal and the window seal hold themselves in place. The large rubber door seal pushes into a groove and is held in with a flexible adhesive. The window guide appears to be held in place by its own guide rails, but hard to tell for sure. If you would like to send customer service an email with a clear photograph, they will be able to help you quickly to find the right replacement part. Chances are, you will be unable to simply glue the parts back as a permanent solution, because the reason plastic and rubberized trim pieces fall off in the first place is due to the material composition changing from expanding and shrinking, drying out etc. We will be able to get any piece of trim you need, let us know, and thanks for checking us out.

  2. Thanks for the information! The drive shaft in my car hasn’t been working very well, so I need to have it replaced. It’s a good thing that you included the parts that my car would need to have the right drive shaft. The drive shaft between an automatic and a manual are different, so I’ll make sure to get the replacement part that I need for my manual transmission.

  3. I have a BMW 320 diesel tourer 6 speed the intercooler pipe keeps blowing off I changed the intercooler got a new pipe and clip and is still blowing off has anyone came across this before and why this happens thanks

  4. I have a 330i touring. My alarm keeps going off. It’s not the movement sensor this I do know. Neither is anything left open, like the tail window!!!. Is there anything common in these that anyone knows of?

  5. Thanks for Posting a Nice Post! I have also problem in BMW. But I resolve this all. Some things I repaired. Some are changed. Now working well. Everything needs care and maintenance for work properly.

  6. Hi, I am looking at a 2001 325i E46 manual with 100000 kms on the clock. I have read you comments about common problems and would expect to upgrade the parts over time. I live in Qld. Australia and would like to know your shipping costs. Cheers,Bill.

  7. Good evening. My name is Anthony Mwithaga from Nakuru, Kenya. I own a BMW e46 m52, 323i, 1999 (chassis no. NC00548). I need to know how much I can get a universal joint lower, rear vent, ABS pump, 2 front window mechanisms.

    1. Hi Anthony, https://www.realoem.com/ this is a great website to help find specific part numbers, I think it may be easier this way for you. Unfortunately due to high levels of fraud we do not ship to Kenya, but if you can find a company that does, finding the exact part numbers will help you immensely so there are no language barriers to deal with. You have the chassis number already which is a great start, good luck Anthony.

  8. HIie,I am Tich from Zimbabwe. I have a BMW 320i e46 2001 MODEL 55000KM. Its loosing power when driving as if am pushing it too hard and high revs with less speed. What might be the problem?

  9. Hi I’m driving a 2004 320D BMW. When I start the car it is just white smoke. The car still got power. What could it be

    1. White smoke can indicate burning coolant, the most common culprit is a leaking head gasket allowing coolant to get into the combustion chamber. Keep an eye on your coolant level, if it stays the same then it’s more likely that condensation steam is making it out of the tailpipe when it’s cold. This is common for diesel engines and you shouldn’t worry.

  10. Hi my name is Jude from richards bay South Africa I have beenoffered to exchange my land rover disco 1 1997 model for an e46 325ci coupe good or bad deal

    1. While the Discovery is more capable and has more ground clearance, the BMW would be more reliable. We would probably pick the BMW, but that’s just us.

  11. Hey,

    I have a e46 325cic, its been accelerating slowly and sounding like a bus at low speeds. My SES light is on and reads a p0599 t-stat heater control circuit high. Like i said, accelerating sucks, i try to do it moderately, but i end up being passed no matter how much throttle i give it. Its been like this all summer, but not one overheat ever. Heat will not work in the car, and some mechanics are telling me change the t-stat after i tell them about the p0599 code, but since its never over heated, and since its not a “t-stat stuck open” or “t-stat stuck closed” code idk if the t-stat is the proper diagnosis. Do you kno if its the t-stat or if its something else?

  12. my car started not idling straight even when driving it slow then after a distance it just switches itself off but after starting then it idles and revving straight again and back to norma.what can be causel

    1. Definitely take this car to a local BMW specialist, you’ve got some sort of engine issue they will probably be able to diagnose quickly. DISA valve sounds like a probable cause, as well as bad ignition coils, bad spark plugs, or clogged fuel filter.

    1. If you have fuel, and you have spark, you should next check for engine compression to make sure you don’t have some kind of major mechanical problem keeping the engine from running. Here’s a guide to compression testing an internal combustion engine.

  13. Hi. I have a E46 preface,328 double vanos. I did the engine over and timing 100%. Car was driving well for about a year then all of a sudden started fluttering. I took off tappet cover and found the cams both at about 35° advanced while crank on tdc. I then replaced guides,tensioner and crank sprocket nd assembled all. Car drove well down the road then started fluttering again. I checked the cam timing again and again it was out. Please tell me what can cause this.

  14. I have a 2004 325ix wagon w/manual and 140k. I have a whine/howl in my rear end that increases with speed of the car, unrelated to acceleration or clutch engaged. At first, I thought it was noise from my winter tires but now back to summer tires and noise continues.

  15. Hi I have a manual 2001 325xi with 162k miles on it. I am having a problem with a loud knocking that can only be heard inside the car and low to the ground. The noise isn’t coming from the transmission because at idle, in neutral, at a stand still it persists and goes away with higher RPMs. I recently replaced spark plugs, oil filter, oil, vanoss line, oil evap hoses, vacuum lines, and air filter. I am at a loss for what could possibly be causing the sound. Any help would be great!!

    1. It can only be heard from inside the car? Are you sure the engine isn’t making this knocking sound, or perhaps some of the belt pulleys? Does the noise change with the speed of the interior blower fan motor?

  16. Hi i have a318i 2002model E46 engine , the problem is it is consuming much of engine oil , no leak i m seeing , no sign at the xhuast

  17. Hi, I have 2004 BMW 330xi, automatic transmission. When driving no matter how fast, in case of releasing the accelerator pedal and again pressing, I feel a terrible knock, comming from the rear axle.Also the same knock is coming, when I set transmission selector to D from R.
    Anybody help, can it be solved by changing the fluid, or replacing any bushing, or I have to replace the entire axle, which costs not chip.

  18. Hi, I’m Victor Davids and I drive a BMW e46, 325i,v6 ,2001 model but my issue with the car is that the fuel consumption is very high. What should I replace or repair? I leave in Lagos,Nigeria. Cheers.

    1. Hi Victor, what is the exact fuel consumption you are getting? You should do a manual fuel mileage test. That means instead of using the dash gauge, you should use your odometer, because sometimes the electronics have errors. At the fuel station, clear your trip meter and fill the fuel tank. The next time you add fuel, look at how much fuel you put in the tank to fill it, and how many miles you went. Divide the number of miles (or kilometers) by how many gallons (or liters) of fuel you use. That will be your real world fuel consumption.

      A general engine tune up will help you with fuel consumption. That involves changing the engine air filter and spark plugs. I have a question. What kind of ethanol content does your premium fuel have in Nigeria? That can contribute to fuel economy.

    2. Hey mate. Its a straight six not a v6 and depends how you drive it. Try changing fuel filter and if u had service and spark plugs and coils changed after certain ks so its not running rich.

  19. HI
    I have a bmw 318i manual and it produces a funny noise when starting like its misfiring and i thought the exhaust and i changed it and still it does produce the same noise and it no longer has the same power it had when accelerating.

    1. Do you have a video of this noise? Misfires are caused by a number of things, but the number one thing is spark plugs or ignition coils, look at your spark plugs and make sure they are in good condition and all the same color.

  20. Hey my bmw 320ci year 2000 has been stopped for a year because i needed to change the clutch and never got round to do it. Today it was all changed the car started perfectly and idles perfect but the car wont accelerate. I press the accelerator and it does notthing. Any help would be much appretiated tia

  21. BMW 320i E46 Engine 2004 model – I keep having a problem with it not changing gears properly every now and again (there’s usually an exclamation mark by “D” (!D). I usually turn the car off and on again and the problem goes away. However twice I’ve had to go my mechanic (when my short cut wont work) who can figure out why it keeps doing that. My transmission oil is leaking somewhere, I don’t know whether it could be related. Please help!

    1. If you have a warning light on the dash, take it to a BMW specialist, as they will have the dealer software capable of readying each and every trouble code stored in the computer. I recommend finding an independent shop that is equipped for BMW service and not a dealer. You will only waste time and money guessing!

  22. Hi i have 2002 E46 320i 5speed manual lately there’s a humming sound when in 2nd gear and for some reason it goes into 3rd and 4th gear but vehicle does’nt move and gear lever feels very loose.What can the problem be?

    1. Check your shift linkage and make sure it’s not loose or has excess play. If that’s all good, sounds like you need to start hunting for a good used transmission.

  23. hi, i have a e46 318 touring with new after market alarm: want to know please how to connect the boot interior lights with the main interior lights, my car alarm is connected the the main lights, when i open the boot the alarm setting are then out

    1. Idler pulleys are designed to guide the belt when it has to stretch a long distance without another pulley.

  24. Good day, i have recently purchased a Bmx 320i E46 automatic and i dont know much about the history pf the car. I manged to get the car started after changing the fuel pump and the engine and everything sounds solid but when i want to take the car for test run i couldnt get any gears. would you be able to advise where i should start checking first? there is gearbox oil in the box but it seems to be watery, not sure if this could be the reason. i would like to go through a process of elimination starting from cheap checks and go from there. please advise

  25. i have an E46 318i 2004 , its stalling and cutting off engine after after a very short distance. when in Drive the transmission sign goes on. traction (power speed triangle) sign is ever on. unusual engine sound ( not very loud)coming out.

    1. Driving this car in the current condition can cause irreversible damage. Have the car diagnosted by a licensed BMW tech immediately as something is very wrong and you have diagnostic codes stored in the computer.

  26. In the good old days the saying was that BMW stood for break my window, now it apparently stands for break my wallet. I bought a 1967 1600 new from the importer before BMW was directly involved. Two months later someone slid into it when it was parked messing up the front and rear ends. The doors still worked well, so the insurance company wouldn’t total it . Unfortunately the importer was importing cars not parts so it took 4 months to get the car back. I wish I had another one of those or a 2002 that hadn’t rusted into scrap. I’ve settled on ’80s Mercedes diesels. I keep my masochistic streak alive by dealing with Lancias.

  27. Good day, my M3 2002 manual bmw is not cranking at all, the battery is fully charged, engine oil is topped up and i have enough fuel, what could be the problem? Namibia

    1. When you click the key to the on position, do the systems power up? lights, radio etc? Do you hear the starter solenoid trigger/click? It could be as easy as a starter, or as difficult as an immobilizer issue (which would probably give you a notification).

      1. Yes, Adam, when I turn the power on, all system power up, radio, air con and everything works just fine, but it does not crank!

  28. Hi Dear,
    I Have E46 year 2000, 323i, Misifir checked the inside last three coils, i had new Coils and new rubbers with New Platinum spark plugs and new valve cover Gasket just been replaced together, after confirmation with switched over the coils the missfire seems not related to any of the coils or plugs, if i switch off and restart with full accelerate idl black smoke coming out, and then drives for a while without missfire then again when stop at signal it happens again, i have checked the new sparks is Black and it burning oil, no leak in the new Gasket , if possible please tell me what could be else the reasons.
    Thanks

  29. i have a 2002 325ci. recrntly after 1 minute of driving the car sounds like its laboring up a hill/ It runs good and shifts fine but it has a air type whine thru each automatic shift. The noise dose not sound mechanical or metal bearing noise. Gas mileage is normal. I do have a service engine light on. Car has 185000 miles on it. Could there be an issue with the transmission. Anyone have a starting point to troubleshoot this. Thanks,
    Ted

    1. Hi Ted, check for vacuum and air intake leaks. When the car shifts and the engine goes from loaded to unloaded, the vacuum state changes which can cause this. Fuel mileage can be effected, but not always. Your model of car in particular has an issue with the intake boots tearing, possibly allowing air into the engine after the Mass Air Flow sensor. Here’s what it looks like: https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/164875/Air-Mass-Meter-Boot-Air-Mass-Meter-Side-39055/ and this one as well https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/166884/Air-Mass-Meter-Boot-Throttle-Body-Side-ABV0137/

      Also check all the vacuum hoses around the throttle body. The PCV system should have been replaced multiple times as part of regular maintenance in your 185k miles on it, but if you have a vacuum leak here you would most certainly get a check engine light.

  30. Good Day
    I bought a BMW 325i 2004 Model. In the morning when it’s cold there is a noise under the bonnet in the middle in the front. It sounds like a automatic garage door squeaking when going up.

    What can the problem be. Is it possible that the car need power steering oil or something?

    1. More likely you need a new part in your serpentine belt system. Since this model is getting on in years, I would recommend a full overhaul with new belts, pulleys, and tensioners. Generally these parts are not too hard to access, and are fairly inexpensive. If you have a failure in this system, it can cause a very dangerous situation as your power steering will stop working. Here’s what I recommend: https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/62884/Accessory-Drive-Belt-Kit-ADK0046P/

  31. I have a BMW 3181 2002, e46 , m43 – automatic, gas.
    My problem – the car is stalling after about 10 mins or so of driving. Fuel filters had been replaced. Whats seems to be the problem Need help

  32. Hi,i have a BMW 318i, e46, 1999 model,

    Am from Cape Town,South Africa, i bought this car 2 years ago, since i was driving this car past 2 years i did not have any problem , i service the car every 25 000km everyday before i leave i always check water and oil, the car never shows any problems within the engine,it always maintain normal temperature,my problem now is the car started mixing oil and water,its showing from water container or even you check oil,deep stick its milk,please help

  33. I have an automatic 2003 bmw 330i and after I changed the headlamp switch the engine starting idling at 500 rpm and it putters when I drive. Do you know why exactly that is?

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