Note: Always use a calibrated torque wrench. Replace torque-to-yield (TTY) fasteners after removal. When in doubt, consult the full service manual for your specific engine and model year (1999-2006).
BMW E46 Quick Reference Guide: Most Looked Up Torque Specs
The E46 numbers people actually search for. Full system-by-system tables are below.
| Fastener |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (lb-ft) |
| Wheel Lug Nuts |
100 +/- 10 Nm |
74 +/- 7 lb-ft |
| Rear Axle / Hub Collar Nut (M24 / M27) |
250 / 300 Nm |
184 / 221 lb-ft |
| Cylinder Head Bolts Stage 1 (6-Cyl M52TU/M54) |
40 Nm |
30 lb-ft |
| Cylinder Head Bolts Stage 1 (4-Cyl N42/N46) |
30 Nm |
22 lb-ft |
| Engine Oil Drain Plug (M12) |
25 Nm |
18 lb-ft |
| Front Caliper Carrier Bolts |
110 Nm |
81 lb-ft |
| Spark Plugs |
25 Nm |
18 lb-ft |
E46 Head Bolt Torque: there are two Stage 1 values by engine family. The 4-cyl N42/N46 starts at 30 Nm (22 lb-ft), the 6-cyl M52TU/M54 starts at 40 Nm (30 lb-ft) - both then go +90 deg, then +90 deg. Do not cross-apply the two. Head bolts are torque-to-yield, so replace them once they come out. Full sequence is in the Cylinder Head tables below.
BMW E46 Wheel Lug Nut, Oil Drain & General Maintenance Torque
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Wheel Lug Nuts |
100 +/- 10 Nm |
74 +/- 7 lb-ft |
| Engine Oil Drain Plug (M12) |
25 Nm |
18 lb-ft |
| Transmission (Manual) Fill/Drain Plug |
50 Nm |
37 lb-ft |
| Rear Differential Fill/Drain Plug |
70 Nm |
52 lb-ft |
| Spark Plugs |
25 Nm |
18 lb-ft |
Engine - Cylinder Head (4-Cylinder N42/N46)
| Component |
Torque |
Notes |
| Cylinder Head Bolts - Stage 1 |
30 Nm |
22 lb-ft |
| Cylinder Head Bolts - Stage 2 |
+90 deg |
Angle tighten |
| Cylinder Head Bolts - Stage 3 |
+90 deg |
Final angle |
| Cylinder Head Cover (M6) |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
| Camshaft Bearing Cap Bolts |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
Engine - Cylinder Head (6-Cylinder M52TU/M54)
| Component |
Torque |
Notes |
| Cylinder Head Bolts - Stage 1 |
40 Nm |
30 lb-ft |
| Cylinder Head Bolts - Stage 2 |
+90 deg |
Angle tighten |
| Cylinder Head Bolts - Stage 3 |
+90 deg |
Final angle |
| Cylinder Head Cover (M6) |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
| VANOS Solenoid |
30 Nm |
22 lb-ft |
| VANOS Unit to Cylinder Head |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
Engine - Timing
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Timing Chain Cover (M6) |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
| Vibration Damper to Crankshaft Hub (M8) |
22 Nm |
16 lb-ft |
| Primary Chain Tensioner Cylinder |
70 Nm |
52 lb-ft |
| Crankshaft Pulley Bolt (Center Bolt) |
410 Nm |
302 lb-ft |
Crankshaft center/pulley bolt (M54): 410 Nm (302 lb-ft) in one shot, no angle. It is a single-use M18x1.5 bolt (genuine PN 11 21 1 720 633) - replace it every time, and you need a crankshaft hub holding tool to counter-hold while you torque it (do not use the flywheel lock). Do not confuse this with the small M8 vibration-damper-to-hub bolts at 22 Nm (16 lb-ft).
Engine - Intake & Exhaust
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Intake Manifold to Cylinder Head |
15 Nm |
11 lb-ft |
| Intake Manifold Bracket to Block (M10) |
47 Nm |
33 lb-ft |
| Exhaust Manifold Nuts |
20 Nm |
15 lb-ft |
| Exhaust Flange Nuts (M10) |
30 Nm |
22 lb-ft |
| Oxygen Sensor |
50 Nm |
37 lb-ft |
Cooling System
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Coolant Drain Plug |
25 Nm |
18 lb-ft |
| Thermostat Housing Bolts (M6) |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
| Water Pump Bolts |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
| Radiator Drain Plug |
2.5 Nm |
22 in-lb |
| Coolant Expansion Tank Cap |
Hand tight |
- |
Fuel System
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Fuel Rail Bolts |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
| Fuel Filter Bracket |
10 Nm |
89 in-lb |
Engine Mounts
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Engine Mount Bracket to Engine (M8) |
22 Nm |
16 lb-ft |
| Engine Mount to Subframe (M10) |
45 Nm |
33 lb-ft |
| Transmission Mount / Crossmember to Chassis (M8) |
21 Nm |
15 lb-ft |
Front Suspension
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Control Arm Bracket Bolt to Subframe (M12) |
77 Nm |
57 lb-ft |
| Control Arm Inner Ball Joint to Subframe |
90 Nm |
66 lb-ft |
| Control Arm to Subframe (M10) |
59 Nm |
44 lb-ft |
| Ball Joint to Steering Knuckle |
65 Nm |
48 lb-ft |
| Strut to Body (Upper Mount) |
24 Nm |
18 lb-ft |
| Strut to Steering Knuckle |
81 Nm |
60 lb-ft |
| Stabilizer Bar Link Nuts |
65 Nm |
48 lb-ft |
| Stabilizer Bar Clamp Bolts |
22 Nm |
16 lb-ft |
| Subframe Bolts (M12) |
110 Nm |
81 lb-ft |
Rear Suspension
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Upper Control Arm to Subframe (M12) |
77 Nm |
57 lb-ft |
| Upper Control Arm to Trailing Arm (M12) |
110 Nm |
81 lb-ft |
| Lower Control Arm to Subframe (M12) |
110 Nm |
81 lb-ft |
| Lower Control Arm to Trailing Arm (M12) |
110 Nm |
81 lb-ft |
| Trailing Arm to Front Bracket (M12) |
110 Nm |
81 lb-ft |
| Trailing Arm Front Bracket to Body |
77 Nm |
57 lb-ft |
| Shock Absorber to Trailing Arm (M12) |
100 Nm |
74 lb-ft |
| Shock Absorber to Upper Mount |
14 Nm |
10 lb-ft |
| Shock Upper Mount to Body (M8) |
28 Nm |
21 lb-ft |
| Subframe to Body (M12) |
77 Nm |
57 lb-ft |
Steering
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Tie Rod End to Steering Knuckle |
65 Nm |
48 lb-ft |
| Tie Rod End Lock Nut |
45 Nm |
33 lb-ft |
| Steering Column Clamp Bolt |
22 Nm |
16 lb-ft |
| Steering Rack Mounting Bolts |
42 Nm |
31 lb-ft |
| Power Steering Banjo Bolt (M14) |
35 Nm |
26 lb-ft |
| Power Steering Banjo Bolt (M16) |
40 Nm |
30 lb-ft |
Brakes
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Front Caliper Carrier Bolts |
110 Nm |
81 lb-ft |
| Front Caliper Guide Pin Bolts |
30 Nm |
22 lb-ft |
| Rear Caliper Carrier Bolts |
65 Nm |
48 lb-ft |
| Rear Caliper Guide Pin Bolts |
30 Nm |
22 lb-ft |
| Brake Rotor Set Screw |
16 Nm |
12 lb-ft |
| Brake Hose Banjo Bolt |
18 Nm |
13 lb-ft |
| Bleed Nipple (7 mm Wrench) |
3.5-5 Nm |
31-44 in-lb |
| Bleed Nipple (11 mm Wrench) |
12-16 Nm |
9-12 lb-ft |
Drivetrain
| Component |
Torque (Nm) |
Torque (Imperial) |
| Driveshaft to Differential Flange (M10) |
64 Nm |
47 lb-ft |
| Differential Drain/Fill Plug |
70 Nm |
52 lb-ft |
| Drive Axle to Final Drive Flange (M10) |
80-100 Nm |
59-74 lb-ft |
| Rear Wheel Hub Axle Collar Nut (M24 / M27) |
250 / 300 Nm |
184 / 221 lb-ft |
| Differential to Rear Subframe - Front Bolt (M12) |
95 Nm |
70 lb-ft |
| Differential to Rear Subframe - Rear Bolt (M14) |
174 Nm |
128 lb-ft |
Rear Drive Axle Torques (E46): the inner CV joint bolts to the final drive flange with M10 bolts - M10x20 Torx at 83 Nm (61 lb-ft), M10x46 black at 100 Nm (74 lb-ft), and M10x46 silver at 80 Nm (59 lb-ft, always replace the silver bolts). The outer end is held in the wheel hub by a large staked collar nut: 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) for the M24 nut or 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) for the M27. The collar nut is single-use - fit a new one and restake it, and torque it with the car on the ground.
Differential and Driveshaft Notes (E46): the driveshaft-to-differential-flange fastener is type-specific - M10 compression nut 64 Nm (47 lb-ft) or M10 Torx bolt 85 Nm (63 lb-ft). The differential-to-rear-subframe front mount is 95 Nm (70 lb-ft) and the rear mount (M14) is 174 Nm (128 lb-ft). (An older Bentley table lists the front mount at 110 Nm, but the factory final-drive section and OEM service data both give 95 Nm.)
General Bolt Tightening Torques by Size
When no specific torque is given, use these maximum values based on bolt class 8.8:
| Bolt Size |
Class 8.8 Max |
| M6 |
10 Nm |
| M7 |
15 Nm |
| M8 |
24 Nm |
| M10 |
47 Nm |
| M12 |
82 Nm |
| M14 |
130 Nm |
Related Torque & Repair Guides
Important Notes
Torque-to-Yield Fasteners
The following fasteners are torque-to-yield (TTY) and must be replaced after removal:
- Cylinder head bolts
- Crankshaft pulley bolt
- Connecting rod bolts
- Rear subframe bolts
Known Issues
-
Rear subframe mounting points: The E46 is notorious for cracked rear subframe mounts. Inspect mounting points whenever rear suspension work is performed.
-
VANOS seals: Common failure item on M52TU/M54 engines.
-
Cooling system: Replace expansion tank and thermostat preventatively.
