Maintaining your BMW E46 involves more than just replacing parts; it’s about ensuring every component is correctly installed and functions as intended. A critical aspect of this is understanding and applying the correct torque when tightening bolts. Using the right torque ensures that fasteners are tight enough to prevent loosening under stress and vibration, but not so tight that they strip threads or damage components. This Torque Guide For Bolts on the BMW E46 is designed to be your go-to resource, whether you’re performing routine maintenance or undertaking a full restoration.
This guide is compiled from reputable sources, including established online communities and technical specifications, and organized for easy navigation. It aims to simplify your work by providing a clear and concise list of torque specifications for various parts of your E46.
Body
Wheels Lug Nut
- Torque: 118Nm (87 ft-lbs)
Bumper
- Bumper shock to bumper carrier (Torx): 41Nm (30 ft-lbs)
- Bumper shock to body: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
Doors
- Hinge: 20Nm (15 ft-lbs)
- Door check: 24Nm (16 ft-lbs)
- Window regulator rail to door: 9Nm (80 in-lbs)
- Window motor: 5Nm (44 in-lbs)
Other
- Sunroof headliner to rails: 4.5Nm (40 in-lbs)
- Wiper arms: 25Nm (18.5 ft-lbs)
Interior
Steering Wheel Bolt
- Torque: 62Nm (46 ft-lbs)
Seats
- Torque: 45Nm + 90° (45Nm plus an additional 90-degree turn)
Airbags
- Side-impact airbag to door: 8.5Nm (75 in-lbs)
- Passenger airbag to dashboard: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
Engine
Chain Tensioner
- Torque: 70Nm (51 ft-lbs)
Crankshaft “Jesus” Bolt
- Torque: 410 Nm (300 ft-lbs)
Pulleys and Belts
- Drive belt tensioner:
- Tensioner body: 24 Nm (18 ft-lbs)
- Pulley (11281748131): 45 Nm (33 ft-lbs)
- Drive line idler pulley (11287512758): 45 Nm (33 ft-lbs)
- Alternator hydraulic tensioner:
- Tensioner body: 24 Nm (18 ft-lbs)
- Pulley (11287841228): 45 Nm (33 ft-lbs)
Cooling
- Coolant plug: 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs)
Water Pump
- Body: 10 Nm (88 in-lbs)
- Pulley: 10 Nm (88 in-lbs)
Thermostat
- 3 Identical Bolts: 10 Nm (88 in-lbs)
- Housing bolt right M8X30: 24 Nm (17.7 ft-lbs)
Alternator
- Alternator to crankcase M8: 21Nm
- Idler pulley to alternator: 45 Nm
- Positive terminal – M8: 13 Nm
Starter
- Starter flange to transmission: 43Nm (32 ft-lbs)
- Solenoid lead to starter – M5: 5Nm (44 in-lbs)
- Electrical leads: M5 (5 Nm), M6 (7 Nm), M8 (13 Nm)
AC Compressor
- Compressor mounting bolts: 20 Nm (15 ft-lbs, 177 in-lbs)
- A/C line to A/C compressor: 20 Nm (15 ft-lbs, 177 in-lbs)
- Refrigerant line to body: 5.5 Nm (48 in-lbs)
- Double pipe to expansion valve: 8 Nm (71 in-lbs)
Valve Cover
- Spark plugs: 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs)
- Valve Cover (Bolts & Stand-Offs): 11 Nm (98 in-lbs) – per TIS (Technical Information System)
VANOS
- VANOS housing piston covers: 10Nm (84 in-lbs)
- VANOS Oil Hose from Oil Filter Housing (Hose with Hollow Bolt): 32Nm (23.5 ft-lbs)
- Reverse Thread VANOS Bolts Connecting VANOS to Cam Shafts: 8 Nm (71 in-lbs)
- VANOS Piston Plug Caps: 50 Nm (37 ft-lbs)
- VANOS solenoid to VANOS control unit: 30Nm (22 ft-lbs)
- VANOS mounting nuts (6): 8 Nm (72 in-lbs)
- Engine hanger nut and bolts: 10 Nm (84 in-lb)
- Camshaft position sensor: 5 Nm (44 in-lbs)
Timing Chain Cover
- Torque: 5Nm, then drive pins, then 10Nm (84 in-lbs)
Oil Sump/Oil Pan
- Oil drain plug: 25Nm (18.5 ft-lbs)
- Oil pan:
- 8,8 – 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
- 10,9 – 12Nm (106 in-lbs)
- Tranmission housing transverse bolts
- Oil pump sprocket nut (reverse thread): 25Nm (18.5 ft-lbs)
- Oil level sensor: 8Nm (72 in-lbs)
Oil Filter Housing
- 6 OFHG bolts: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
- VANOS oil line: 32Nm (24 ft-lbs)
- Dipstick support: 22Nm (16.2 ft-lbs)
- Oil filter cap: 34Nm (25 ft-lbs)
Sensors
- Coolant temperature sensor: 13 Nm (115 in-lbs)
- Camshaft position sensors (2): 3.5 Nm (36 in-lbs)
- Oil pressure switch: 27Nm (20 ft-lbs)
- Oil temperature sensor: 27Nm (20 ft-lbs)
- Pre-cat O2 sensor: 50 Nm (37 ft-lbs)
- Crankshaft sensor: 10 Nm (7 ft-lbs)
Exhaust
- SAP vacuum pump on cylinder head: 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
- Exhaust manifold to cylinder head: 20Nm (15 ft-lbs)
- Exhaust flange to exhaust manifold (M10): 30Nm (22 ft-lb)
Intake
- DISA, IAC: 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
- Throttle body: 8Nm (70 in-lbs)
- Harness electrical box: 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
- Intake Manifold (M7 nuts): 15Nm (132 in-lbs)
- Lower mounting nut – Fuel rail: 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
Brakes
Brake Hydraulics
- Master cylinder to booster: 26Nm (19 ft-lbs)
- Booster to pedal assembly: 25Nm (18.4 ft-lbs)
Calipers
- Brake rotor retaining screw: 16Nm (12 ft-lbs)
- Front bracket: 110Nm (81 ft-lbs)
- Rear bracket: 65Nm (48 ft-lbs)
- Guide pins: 30Nm (22 ft-lbs)
- Pressure bleeder: 10-15 lbs (for pressure bleeder systems)
E-Brake and Shield
- Small rear brake shield screws: 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
- Large rear brake shield screws: 18Nm (160 in-lbs)
- E-brake cable clamp (on trailing arm): 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
Steering
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
- Clamp screw: 5.5nm (49 in-lbs)
- Mounting bolt: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
Steering Pump
- Steering pump mounting bolts: 22Nm (16 ft-lb)
- Steering pump pulley bolts: 22Nm (16 ft-lb)
Steering Rack to Front Subframe
- Torque: 43Nm (32 ft-lbs)
Steering Column Flex Disc/Giubo Clamping Screw
- Torque: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
Tie Rod End to Tie Rod
- Torque: 45Nm (33 ft-lbs)
Tie Rod Joint to Rack
- Torque: 100 + 10Nm (74 + 7 ft-lbs)
Tie Rod End to Knuckle
- Torque: 65Nm (48 ft-lbs)
Pressure Hose Bracket to Rack 5mm Bolt
- Torque: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
Pressure Hose to Rack – 19mm/M14
- Torque: 33Nm (25 ft-lbs)
Pressure Hose to Pump – 17mm crows foot
- Torque: 40Nm (30 ft-lbs)
Return Hose to Rack – M16 Banjo
- Torque: 40Nm (30 ft-lbs)
Undercarriage
Note: Most nuts on the undercarriage are single-use self-locking nuts.
Front Subframe
- Engine mount bracket to engine: 22Nm (16.2 ft-lbs)
- Engine mount:
- M8: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
- M10: 47Nm
- Front sub-frame to frame rail bolts (10.9 grade): 110Nm (81 ft-lbs)
- Front end reinforcement to front subframe or body frame rails: 59Nm (43.5 ft-lbs) (90+30)
- Motor mount: 45Nm (33 ft-lbs)
Exhaust Heatshield
- Torque: 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
Convertible V-Strut
- V-strut large bolts (if 10mm): 59Nm+90°
- V-strut small bolts (M8X16-Z1): 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
Suspension
Note: Most nuts on suspension are single-use self-locking nuts.
Front Suspension
- Control arm bracket (bushing bracket) to frame rails: 60 Nm (44 ft-lbs)
- FCA Inner ball joint to subframe: 89.5 Nm (66 ft-lbs)
- FCA Outer ball joint to steering arm: 65 Nm (48 ft-lbs)
- Stabilizer bar bushing to frame rail nut: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
- Steering arm pinch bolt at strut housing: 81Nm (60 ft-lbs)
- Front end link: 65 Nm (48 ft-lbs)
- Front strut assembly to strut tower (self-locking nuts): 24Nm (18 ft-lbs)
- Front upper strut mount to strut shaft M14: 64Nm (47 ft-lbs)
- ABS/wheel speed sensor: 8Nm (71 in-lbs)
Rear Suspension
- Rear shock to trailing arm: 100Nm (74 ft-lbs)
- Rear shock to top mount: 13.5Nm (120 in-lbs)
- Rear shock top mount to body: 28Nm (21 ft-lbs)
- Rear end link mounts – 17mm bolt head: 34Nm (25 ft-lbs)
- Rear end link transverse bolt: 24Nm (17.7 ft-lbs)
- Rear sway bar mounts – 13mm nut and bolt: 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
Rear Subframe/Carrier
- Carrier support – 13mm bolts: 21Nm (15 ft-lbs, 186 in-lbs)
- Carrier heat shield: 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
- Front/Rear fasteners to frame: 77Nm (57 ft-lbs)
Control Arms
- Upper control arm inner: 77Nm (57 ft-lbs)
- Lower control arm inner: 110Nm (81 ft-lbs)
- Upper control arm outer: 110Nm (81 ft-lbs)
- Lower control arm outer: 110Nm (81 ft-lbs)
Trailing Arm
- RTAB bushing transverse bolt: 110Nm (81 ft-lbs)
- RTAB mount bolts to frame: 77Nm (57 ft-lbs)
- ABS/wheel speed sensor: 8Nm (71 in-lbs)
- E-brake clamp: 10Nm (7.4 ft-lbs)
Transmission and Drivetrain
Note: Giubo/flex disc nuts are single-use. Recommend replacement of torx bolts.
Transmission to Engine
- M8 Torx: 22 Nm (16 ft-lbs)
- M10 Torx: 43 Nm (32 ft-lbs)
- M12 Torx: 72 Nm (53 ft-lbs)
Manual Clutch
- Clutch master to pedals: 20 Nm (15 ft-lbs, 177 in-lbs)
- Clutch slave to transmission: 20 Nm (15 ft-lbs, 177 in-lbs)
- Fluid line to master cylinder or slave cylinder: 20 + 5 Nm (15 + 4 ft-lbs)
- Transmission fill plug: 50Nm (37 ft-lbs)
- If allen head: 35Nm (26 ft-lbs)
- Transmission mounts: 21 Nm (15 ft-lbs, 186 in-lbs)
- Transmission cross member to Chassis: 21Nm (186 in-lbs)
- Manual gearbox flywheel to crankshaft (replace bolts): 105Nm (77 ft-lbs)
ZF Auto Transmission
- Drain plug: 35Nm (26 ft-lbs)
- Fill plug: 30Nm (23 ft-lbs)
- Pan/sump to transmission: 6Nm (48 in-lbs)
- Filter: 9 Nm (78 in-lbs)
- Automatic flex disc/flywheel to crankshaft: 121Nm (88 ft-lbs)
- Torque convertor to flex plate – M10 8.8: 45Nm (33 ft-lbs)
Differential
Note: When reinstalling, insert all 3 bolts finger tight. Tighten the 2 front bolts first, then tighten down the rear bolt.
- Differential fill plug: 70Nm (52 ft-lbs)
- Differential front mount bolts (18mm): 95Nm (70 ft-lbs)
- Differential rear mount bolts (21mm nut and bolt): 174Nm (128 ft-lbs)
- Differential cover (per TIS):
- M10 8.8: 45Nm (33 ft-lbs)
- M10 10.9: 55Nm (41 ft-lbs)
Driveshaft and Axles
- Front axle nut: 290Nm (214 ft-lbs)
- Rear axle nut: 300Nm (221 ft-lbs)
- Drive shaft to flex disc (giubo): 64Nm or 45 ft-lbs
- Transmission output flange (ZNS) to flex disc (giubo): 55Nm + 90 degrees (or 41 ft-lbs)
- Center Support Bearing to body: 21Nm (15 ft-lbs)
- Driveshaft to rear differential flange (E12 torx): 85 Nm (63 ft-lbs)
- Rear axle bolts to rear diff (E12 torx): 83 Nm (61 ft-lbs)
Misc
Convertible Roof Hinge Bolts
- Convertible roof hinge bolts – M8-ZNS-3: 24Nm 17.7 ft-lbs
This torque guide for bolts provides essential specifications for maintaining your BMW E46. Always double-check torque values and procedures against your vehicle’s repair manual and follow safe workshop practices. Correct torque application is crucial for vehicle safety and longevity, ensuring every bolt is tightened to the precise specification.
