Model variants:
316i, 318i, 320i, 323i, 325i, 328i, 330i, plus 320d/330d diesel, Coupe, Touring, Convertible, Compact
Production years covered:
1999 up to 2005
Target audience:
Professional technicians and DIY owners servicing the E46 3 Series
Segment:
Compact executive / entry-level luxury sedan, coupe and touring
Competitive advantage:
Rear-wheel drive balance, wide engine range, strong parts availability and established DIY service support
Key features:
Step-by-step repair procedures, wiring schematics, torque specifications and detailed illustrations throughout
Coverage areas:
Complete service, repair, maintenance, rebuild and restoration procedures for all covered systems
Manual type:
Complete factory-level workshop service and repair manual
Delivery method:
Instant download after payment completion
Printing:
All pages printable - print only the pages you need for the workshop
Shipping:
None - digital download, no shipping cost or waiting for CD or paper manual
Engine mechanical:
Complete removal, installation, rebuild and overhaul procedures for all petrol and diesel engines
Fuel and intake systems:
Fuel pump, injectors, throttle housing, intake manifold servicing
Ignition and engine management:
DME diagnostics, sensors, coil and spark service, fault code procedures
Cooling system:
Radiator, water pump, thermostat, expansion tank, hoses and fan clutch
Lubrication:
Oil circuits, filter service, oil pan and pump procedures
Transmission:
Manual and automatic transmission service, removal, installation and overhaul
Clutch and driveline:
Clutch replacement, driveshaft, CV joints, differentials
Suspension and steering:
Front strut and rear multi-link suspension, rack and pinion steering, alignment specifications
Brakes:
Disc and pad replacement, caliper service, ABS and bleeding procedures
Electrical system:
Battery, alternator, starter, lighting, full wiring schematics
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning:
Blower, heater core, A/C components and refrigerant procedures
Body and interior:
Panels, doors, windows, mirrors, seats, trim removal and adjustment
Restraint systems:
Airbag (SRS) and seat belt component information
Diagnostics:
Fault-finding charts, symptom-based troubleshooting and diagnostic procedures
Repair procedures:
Step-by-step instructions with detailed illustrations and diagrams
Wiring diagrams:
Complete wiring schematics for all covered systems
Torque specifications:
Factory torque values supplied throughout all procedures
Technical depth:
Workshop level - covers everything needed to repair, maintain, rebuild, refurbish or restore the vehicle
Parts information:
Component identification, part location and specification tables
Maintenance schedules:
Scheduled service intervals and fluid specifications
Page count:
N/A - comprehensive multi-hundred-page manual covering all systems
File Format:
PDF (searchable, bookmarked, zoomable)
Compatibility:
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android — any device with a PDF reader
Requirements:
A PDF reader application (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader, free)
Searchability:
Fully text searchable for fast lookup of any topic
Print Quality:
High-resolution digital pages, printable at full clarity
Binding Type:
N/A — digital download, no physical binding
Paper Type:
N/A — digital download, no physical paper
Primary petrol engines:
Four-cylinder (316i/318i/320i) and six-cylinder (323i/325i/328i/330i) units
Diesel options:
320d and 330d turbodiesel engines
Six-cylinder flagship:
3.0L M54 inline-6 (330i)
Performance:
Output varies by engine and market variant; see specification tables in the manual
Fuel system:
Sequential electronic fuel injection with electronic engine management (DME)
Ignition:
Fully electronic ignition with individual coil-on-plug units
Oil specification:
BMW Longlife specification oils; exact grades listed in maintenance tables
Cooling system:
BMW-approved coolant mixed per manual specification
Standard transmission:
5-speed manual gearbox (6-speed on some later six-cylinder models)
Optional transmission:
5-speed automatic transmission with electronic control
Features:
Rear-wheel drive layout across the range
Service coverage:
Fluid change, adjustment, removal, installation and overhaul procedures included
Wheelbase:
Approximately 2,725 mm (E46 sedan)
Length:
Approximately 4,470 mm (E46 sedan)
Body styles:
Sedan, Coupe, Touring (wagon), Convertible, Compact
Curb weight:
Approximately 1,395-1,545 kg depending on engine and body style
Gross vehicle weight:
N/A - varies by variant; refer to vehicle data plate
Front airbags:
Dual front airbags with occupant sensing
Side airbags:
Door-mounted side-impact airbags
Seat belts:
Three-point belts with pretensioners and force limiters
Structure:
Reinforced passenger cell with crumple zones
ABS:
Anti-lock braking system standard
Traction control:
ASC+T automatic stability control and traction
Dynamic stability:
DSC dynamic stability control on later models
Crash test ratings:
Consistently high Euro NCAP performance for the era; specific figures vary by test year
Audio system:
AM/FM radio with CD player; Business CD and Hi-Fi speaker options
Navigation:
Optional factory BMW navigation system on many models
Information display:
On-board computer with check control in instrument cluster
Park distance control:
Optional rear ultrasonic parking sensors (PDC)
Automatic climate control:
Available electronic climate control
Rain-sensing wipers:
Available rain sensor with auto headlight activation
Service regime:
BMW Condition Based Service (CBS) interval monitoring
Oil service:
Typically every 15,000-25,000 km under CBS depending on driving style
Inspection service:
Annual or mileage-based inspection per CBS schedule
Spark plugs:
Replacement at extended intervals; six-cylinder engines use long-life plugs
Engine oil:
BMW Longlife-approved synthetic oil; grades and capacities in manual tables
Coolant:
BMW-approved coolant, mixed with distilled water per specification
Brake fluid:
DOT 4, replace every two years
Known wear items:
Expansion tank and radiator plastic components, vanos seals, window regulators, front control arm bushings
Ignition coils:
Periodic inspection and replacement on higher-mileage six-cylinder engines
Manufacturer:
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke), Munich, Germany
Model generation:
Fourth-generation 3 Series, chassis code E46
Model evolution:
Introduced 1998 as sedan successor to the E36, followed by Coupe, Touring, Convertible and Compact through 2005
Production location:
Munich and Regensburg, Germany, with additional assembly at other BMW plants worldwide
