BMW 3 (E46). Manual — part 189

Tech Info

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DTC Xpress

TM

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Vehicle

411-1

General

This repair
group covers
front and
rear door
repair
information.
It includes
removal and
installation
of interior
front door
trim panels,
rear door
trim panels
of Sedans
and Sport
Wagons and
rear trim
panels of
Coupes and
Convertibles.

For
information
on the power
door
windows and
door glass
replacement,
see

512

Door
Windows

.

For
information
on the power
door locking
system, see

515

Central
Locking and
Anti-theft

.

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411-2

Doors

WARNING!

E46 cars are fitted with side-impact
airbags in the front doors. When
servicing doors on cars with front
side-impact airbags, always
disconnect the negative (-) battery
terminal. See

721 Airbag System

(SRS)

for cautions and procedures

relating to the airbag system.

Front or rear door, removing
and installing

-

If working on a door with
side-impact airbag, disconnect
negative (-) battery cable.

CAUTION!

Prior to disconnecting the battery,
read the battery disconnection
cautions given at the front of this
manual on page viii.

Remove harness connector mounting
bolt (arrow) at door pillar.

Pull up on locking clip and separate
connector.

With door fully open, remove pin bolts
(arrow) from top and bottom door
hinges.

Remove door check mounting bolt
(arrow).

-

Remove door by lifting up off
lower hinge halves.

CAUTION!

Be careful not to damage door or
other painted body surfaces. Make
sure no load is placed on wiring
harness.

-

Installation is reverse of removal.
Keep in mind the following:

On 4-door models, mount and
align rear doors first, followed by
the front doors.

Align door so that panel gaps are
equal on either side, as described
later. If necessary, adjust door
hinges as described later.

Adjust door striker so that trailing
edge of front door is slightly
higher (1 mm / 0.04 in.) than
leading edge of rear door. See

515 Central Locking and

Anti-theft

.

Repair any paint damage and
paint any exposed metal.

CAUTION!

In 2-door models, removing and
installing the door may upset the
adjustment and alignment of the
window. Window adjustment, as
described in

512 Door Windows

,

must be carried out after installation
to prevent damaging the glass.

Door adjustment

Front fender to
front door gap
approx.

4.25 mm ± 0.25

mm

(0.17 ± 0.01 in.)

Front door to rear
door gap approx.

4.5 mm ± 0.25

mm

(0.18 ± 0.01 in.)

Rear door to rear
fender approx.

4.0 mm ± 0.25

mm

(0.16 ± 0.01 in.)

Permissible
deviation from
parallel

1.0 mm (0.04

in.)

Tightening torque

Door hinge to door

20 Nm (15 ft-lb)

Door check, replacing

WARNING!

E46 cars are fitted with side-impact