BMW 3 Series E46

since 1998 release

Repair and operation of the car



BMW 3 Series E46
+ BMW 3 cars (E46)
- Current leaving and service
   Introduction
   Current leaving
   General information on control
   Check of levels of liquids
   Check of a condition of tires and pressure in them. Designation of tires and disks of wheels
   Replacement of motive oil and oil filter
   Replacement of the filtering element of the air filter
   Checks of the brake system
   Replacement of an element of the filter of air of salon
   Check of a condition of driving ridge belts
   Check of a state and replacement of hoses of a motive compartment
   Check of functioning of the cooling system and frost resistance of cooling liquid
   Check of a condition of system of production of the fulfilled gases
   Check of level of oil in a manual box of gear shifting
   Check of a condition of components of a suspension bracket and steering
   Check of a condition of protective covers of power shafts
   Check of level of liquid of system of hydrostrengthening of a wheel
   Visual check of a body and its bottom
   Check of seat belts
   Rotation and replacement of wheels
   Check of a state, replacement of brushes and adjustment of a corner of screen wipers
   Check of a condition of the battery, care of it and charging
   Replacement of brake fluid
   Check and replacement of spark plugs
   Check of fuel system, replacement of the fuel filter. Operation of diesel model in the conditions of winter
   Greasing of loops and locks of doors
   Replacement of the battery of a key of remote control
+ Engine
+ Cooling systems, heating
+ Power supply systems, injection and release
+ Engine electric equipment
+ RKPP and transmission line
+ Automatic transmission
+ Coupling and power shafts
+ Brake system
+ Suspension bracket and steering
+ Body
+ Onboard electric equipment
+ Schemes of electric equipment



Checks of the brake system

The dust which is formed as a result of wear of slips and accumulating on components of the brake mechanism may contain asbestos hazardous to health. Do not blow this dust by means of compressed air and do not inhale it! Do not use solvents on the basis of gasoline for removal of dust. Dust should be washed away a special cleaner of the brake system or methyl alcohol in drain capacity. After rubbing of components of the brake system a damp rag this rag and contents of drain capacity should be held in the closed and signed container. Further whenever possible try to use the components which are not containing asbestos.

Except checks through the established time intervals a condition of brake mechanisms it is necessary to carry out every time at removal of wheels or at emergence of signs of malfunction in system. For driving safety the procedures of check of the brake system described below are the most important of all procedures for service of the car made by you.


Signs of malfunctions in the brake system

1 Disk brake mechanisms can have the built-in indicators of wear of frictional slips which signal that wear of slips reached critical size. At the same time slips should be changed immediately, otherwise brake disks will be damaged and they will need expensive repair.
2 Any of the listed below signs can indicate potential defect of the brake system:

a) When squeezing a pedal of a brake the car "takes away" in one party
b) Brake mechanisms when braking make the scraping or squealing sounds
c) The pedal of a brake has the excessive course
d) The pedal of a brake pulses (it normally only during the work of the ABS system)
e) Leak of brake fluid is observed (usually on inside of the tire or a wheel)
3 In case of detection at least of one of these signs immediately examine the brake system.

Brake lines and hoses

In the brake system steel brake tubes, except for the flexible reinforced hoses at forward wheels and as connections at the back bridge are generally used. Regular survey of all these lines is very important.


4 Park the car on the flat platform and switch off the engine. Take off caps from wheels. Weaken, but do not remove bolts of fastening of all four wheels.
5 The car and reliably establish to Poddomkratta it on support.
6 Remove wheels (address the Section Rotation and replacement of wheels).
7 Check all brake lines and hoses for existence of cracks and attritions in their external covering, leaks, swellings and deformations. Check brake hoses in forward and back parts of the car for existence of signs of a softening, cracks, deformations or wear as a result of friction about other components. Check all nipple connections for existence of signs of leaks and make sure of reliability of fastening of all bolts and clips of brake hoses.

8 Bend hands in one and other parties a brake hose to reveal damages. It is not necessary to twist hoses. You watch the direction of the color line put on a hose.


9 Turn a steering wheel to the right and to the left against the stop. Hoses should not touch car design elements at the same time.
10 At detection of leak of liquid or their damages it is necessary to eliminate immediately. For more detailed description of the procedure of repair of the brake system address the Head the Brake system.

Check of thickness of brake shoes


At wear of brake shoes of forward and back brakes on the dashboard the signaling device lights up. At the same time it is necessary to replace brake shoes urgently.

Lifting operation and installations of the car on supports is connected with danger! Therefore before carrying out operation study Poddomkrachivaniye's Section and towage


11 Mark paint the provision of wheels concerning a nave. It will allow to establish at assembly the balanced wheels in their former situation. Weaken bolts of fastening of wheels on the car standing on the earth. Lift the car, put it on supports and remove wheels.

Disk brake mechanisms

12 Check visually thickness of blocks without metal plate, looking from above through a support.

13 In addition check sideways thickness of an external block. The limit of wear of blocks of forward and back brakes will be reached if thickness of a block makes 3 mm.


14 In doubtful cases remove blocks and measure thickness by a caliper. At achievement of a limit of wear of a block it is necessary to replace. At the same time it is necessary to replace all four blocks of one axis even if the limit of wear was reached by only one block.

On the basis of experience it is known that 1 mm of wear of a block of a disk brake corresponds to 1000 km of a run. It corresponds to adverse service conditions. At normal operation of the car service life of blocks much more. At a thickness of block of 5.0 mm (without podkladny plate) the block can be still used for a run of 2000 km.


15 Check whether has a support of traces of leak of brake fluid. With leakage urgently take a support to repare.
16 Visually check brake disks from the internal and external parties for existence of zadir, corrosion damages and cracks. If necessary replace disks.

Parking brake

17 Blocks of the parking brake can be checked visually after removal of a disk of a working brake. The limit of wear is reached if block thickness in the thinnest place makes 1.5 mm.


18 If the limit of wear is reached, blocks need to be replaced. Surely replace all blocks of one axis, address the Section Removal and installation of blocks of the parking brake.
19 Establish wheels so that the markings put at removal coincided. Previously grease with a thin layer of bearing lubricant the aligning wheel disk belt on a nave. Do not grease bolts of fastening of a wheel. Rusty bolts need to be replaced. Establish wheels and wrap fastening bolts. Lower the car on wheels and tighten bolts cross-wise the moment of 100 N • m.

Check of functioning of the parking brake

The parking brake represents a drum brake with the hummock drive. The drum is built in disks of a back brake. As wear of a brake shoe of the parking brake is insignificant, corrosion damage or pollution of brake shoes can take place. Therefore before check of the parking brake it is recommended to earn extra it as follows:

20 Smoothly slow down the car the parking brake from the speed of 40 km/h on the desert street or the parking lot so. Without changing speed, tighten the parking brake on one tooth and pass 400 more m. Release a brake and let's it be cooled.

Lifting operation and installations of the car on supports is connected with danger! Therefore before carrying out operation study Poddomkrachivaniye's Section and towage


21 Lift and establish a back part of the car on supports. Wheels have to be above the ground at the height not less than 2 cm.
22 Tighten the parking brake on one click and turn back wheels. Wheels have to be turned freely, brakes should not work.
23 At raising of a brake on 10 clicks of a wheel have to slow down completely.
24 Otherwise adjust the parking brake, address the Section Adjustment of the Parking Brake.
25 Lower the car on wheels.