BMW 3 Series (E46) Service Manual: 1999-2005 (Paperback)

by Bentley Publishers (Author), Robert Bentley (Other Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
M3, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i, 330xi, Sedan, Coupe, Convertible, Sport Wagon This Bentley Manual is a comprehensive source of service information and specifications for BMW 3 Series from 1999 to 2005. The aim throughout this manual has been simplicity, clarity and completeness, with practical explanations, step-by-step procedures and accurate specifications. Whether you're a professional or a do-it-yourself BMW owner, this manual will help you understand, care for and repair your E46 3 Series. Though the do-it-yourself BMW owner will find this manual indispensable as a source of detailed maintenance and repair information, the BMW owner who has no intention of working on his or her car will find that reading and owning this manual will make it possible to discuss repairs more intelligently with a professional technician. BMW E46 models and engines covered in this BMW repair manual:

323i/Ci

(M52 TU, 2.5 liter engine)

328i/Ci

(M52 TU, 2.8 liter engine)

325i/Ci/xi

(M54 / M56, 2.5 liter engine)

330i/Cis/xi

(M54, 3.0 liter engine)

M3

(S54, 3.2 liter Motorsport engine)

Technical highlights:

* Procedures for everything from oil change service to interpreting the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL). This manual tells you what to do and when to do it.

* Engine and cylinder head service, including valve clearance adjustment on the S54 engine.

* Information for specific driveability problems, including explanation of engine management systems and BMW OBD II Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs).

* Theory of operation and repair information for Siemens MS 42.0, MS 43.0, MS 45.1 and MS S54 engine management, resonance/turbulence intake manifold and Double VANOS (Variable Camshaft Timing).

* Drivetrain maintenance, troubleshooting, adjustment and repair of self-adjusting clutch (SAC), gearshift linkage, driveshaft, drive axles and, wheel drive system.

* Manual, sequential manual (SMG), and automatic transmission removal, installation, seal replacement and external service.

* System description and repair information for Antilock Brakes (ABS), Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).

* Heating and air conditioning repair (IHKA and IHKR), including component replacement.

* Body adjustments and repairs, including sunroof, convertible top and tailgate.

* Wiring schematics, including power distribution and ground locations.

* Dedicated electrical component guide specifying relay, control module and ground locations with detailed illustrations and photos.

From the Publisher
BMW E46 models and engines 323i/Ci (M52 TU, 2.5 liter engine) 328i/Ci (M52 TU, 2.8 liter engine) 325i/Ci/xi (M54 / M56, 2.5 liter engine) 330i/Cis/xi (M54, 3.0 liter engine) M3 (S54, 3.2 liter Motorsport engine)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1434 pages
• Publisher: Bentley Publishers; illustrated edition edition (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0837612772
• ISBN-13: 978-0837612775
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,973 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as first thought., February 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: BMW 3 Series (E30) Service Manual: 1984-1990 (Paperback)

The manual looks good until you actually have a need for information. The electrical diagrams are crude, inaccurate, improperly drawn, and actually very limited with almost nothing about the engine or fuel system (what you need the data for most).

Have a question about the steering rack? Want to rebuild one yourself? Want to see a parts break-down before tearing into it?? Forget it, there is little mention of the rack other than telling you to buy a new one from a BMW dealer. How much fluid does the power steering pump hold? No data. Want to see a photo of under-carriage parts? Forget it. Want to know which wires run to the fuel pumps? Forget it. Ignition switch data? Ha! Want to trouble-shoot your ignition or fuel injection? Forget it. Anyone who has ever spent much time at all servicing their own vehicles already knows more than what this book contains.

Over and over the book purposefully avoids giving information, totally skipping the topic entirely by stating things like "...we recommend that this be done by an authorized BMW dealer...". It is personally insulting that the author deems everyone who buys the book is not competent enough to service one's own vehicle. A service manual should be just that, a service manual, one that supplies technical information. This book fails to live up to that need. I now recommend avoiding the Bentley book. A Chilton should suffice as well and cost half the price.

I am a 25 years+ experienced electronics technician whose specialty is trouble-shooting everything from basic house wiring to the most complex computerized security access systems. This morning I wasted almost 3 hours tracing down a bad fuel pump relay, but could have found the problem in less than 5 minutes if the manual had given correct information. (In the afternoon it took me less than half an hour to trace down a faulty CPU chip connection on a circuit board I've never seen before, one that caused two separate main security system controllers to malfunction, and with my having no data whatsoever to go by. Obviously, I would have been better off not using the Bentley manual at all while working on my BMW.) If you cannot trust a manual's diagrams and writing, then it is of no value, actually a liability. I personally will from now on avoid anything from Bentley. Yea, I'm ticked at Bentley!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars essential for home wrenchers and checkbook mechanics too, December 10, 2000

By	Robert A. Sutterfield (Saratoga, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: BMW 3 Series (E30) Service Manual: 1984-1990 (Paperback)

If you are (or are considering becoming) a home mechanic whowants to work on your own car, this is the essential volume - farbetter than Chilton or Haynes because it's much more specialized. Ifyou'd rather pay a professional for a particular job (or foreverything needed on your car), this book will give you the knowledgeyou need to not get fleeced.

It's pretty good with the step-by-stepwalk throughs, though it depends a bit too much on cross-references toprocedures that are described elsewhere but seem to belong *here*,in-line with the rest of the work you're doing *today*.

One weaknessis lack of detail on changes through the model years. For example, itdescribes the power steering pump and coolant plumbing location on6-cyl cars from mid 88 on, but doesn't discuss the earlier locationthat permitted the PS pump drive pulley to saw through the lowerradiator hose...

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice book but doesn't cover what it should have, July 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: BMW 3 Series (E30) Service Manual: 1984-1990 (Paperback)

This is a good book. Has good information on specifications, maintenance and mechanical work. However, the book has no information on working on the factory wiring for a a car stereo replacement process, which is probably a very popular thing to do on an older car. There was no wiring diagram or instructions on how to work it. It also had no information on pulling the on board computer.

Another area of disappointment was removing interior and exterior body pieces. Very minimal information.

Almost nothing specific to the convertible model 325ic.