BMW 3 of the E46 series

since 1998 release

Repair and operation of the car


BMW 3 of the E46 series
+ BMW 3 Cars (E46)
+ Current leaving and service
+ Engine
- Cooling systems, heating
   - Engine cooling system
      Replacement of cooling liquid
      Check of a thermoswitch
      Check of the cooling system under pressure
      Connection and separation of the quick disconnect coupling
      Removal and installation of the thermostat
      Removal and installation of a fan / casing of the fan
      Removal and installation of the fan with the viscous coupling
      Removal and installation of a radiator
      Removal and installation of the pump of cooling liquid
   + Heater and conditioner of air of salon
+ Power supply systems, injection and release
+ Electric equipment of the engine
+ RKPP and transmission line
+ Automatic transmission
+ Coupling and power shafts
+ Brake system
+ Suspension bracket and steering
+ Body
+ Onboard electric equipment
+ Schemes of electric equipment


Replacement of cooling liquid

It will be necessary for work for you:

- A viewing hole or the hydraulic garage elevator with supports.
- Cap key or head.
- Capacity for cooling liquid.
- Antifreeze. Thus only the antifreeze brands allowed by BMW firm are allowed for use. Address to Specifications. Attention: Mixing of antifreeze of various brands is not allowed.
- Pure, with the low content of lime water of drinking quality.
- The drain stopper on the block of cylinders requires aluminum a sealing ring And 14 x 18.

Within maintenance it is necessary to make replacement of cooling liquid each 4 years. Attention: Cooling liquid in a certain degree is poisonous, and it cannot be poured out simply. Local authorities have to provide information on an arrangement of points of reception of similar materials.
The volume of the cooling system is specified in Specifications.

Removal of cooling liquid

Do not open a stopper at the hot engine. There is a danger of a burn! Open a stopper only at a temperature of cooling liquid below +90 °C. When opening a stopper put on it a rag.


1 Carefully open a stopper of a broad tank.

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


2 Lift and install the car on supports. Remove the lower cover of a motive compartment, address to the Section Removal and installation of the lower cover of a motive compartment.

3 Substitute pure capacity under a radiator and turn off a stopper below under a radiator, holding thus an adjusting nut-2-. Engines 316i, 318i have also separate drain stopper-3-for a broad tank which needs to be opened also.

4 In addition put capacity under the engine and turn out a drain stopper on the block of cylinders. The stopper is under a final collector.


5 Completely merge cooling liquid and utilize it according to the existing order.
6 Screw a drain stopper with a new sealing ring in the block of cylinders and tighten the moment 25 N • m.
7 Screw a drain stopper on a radiator with new sealing slightly tighten its moment 2.5 N • m.

Filling of system with cooling liquid

8 Establish a heater in salon on the maximum power. Install the switch of the fan on a low step and include ignition. Thus, heater cranes open.

9 Open the union for production of air at the top of a radiator near a broad tank.


10 Petrol engines: Fill a broad tank to the brim with fresh cooling liquid so that liquid left without bubbles via the union for removal of air. Close the union.

Tighten unions slightly the moment of 2.5 NChM.


Diesel engine 320d

11 Weaken screws-1-and remove facing of the engine-2-. On an illustration on both left screws there are face keys for an internal hexagon.

12 Weaken the union for removal of air-1-on a radiator of system of recirculation of the fulfilled gases and the union-2 the heat exchanger oil-water.

13 Weaken the union of removal of air-1-on a heater hose.

14 The engine 320d with the conditioner: Weaken the union for removal of air-1-on the hose going to the heater heat exchanger.


15 At the diesel engine it is necessary to observe surely the following sequence of filling of system with cooling liquid:

a) Slowly fill a broad tank with liquid. Close the heat exchanger union-2 oil-water when through it liquid acts.

b) Fill in liquid further. Close the union-1-near a broad tank when liquid acts there.


c) Fill a broad tank with liquid to the brim.
d) Close the remained unions on a heater hose, a radiator of system of recirculation and, in the presence of the conditioner, on a heater heat exchanger hose.

Via the specified unions when filling system liquid does not leave.


All engines:

16 Close a broad tank a stopper. It is not necessary to warm up the engine at an open stopper as it can lead to damages.
17 Start the engine and hold turns higher than 2500 rpm tolchkoobrazny pressing a gas pedal. As a result of removal of the air containing in cooling liquid level liquid in a tank slightly will go down.
18 Switch off ignition.

If necessary add cooling liquid in system only after cooling of the engine, otherwise after removal of a stopper there is a danger of a burn!


19 Check liquid level on the cold engine and if necessary add, address to the Section Check of Levels of Liquids.
20 Visually check tightness of the cooling system, in particular, of hose accessions, and also drain traffic jams and unions of removal of air.

21 Diesel engine 320d: Establish and fix facing of the engine.