BMW E46 M3 Front Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement DIY

► The BMW E46 M3 uses large, high-performance brakes to balance the car's horsepower. Like any other braking system, the M3's pads and rotors will eventually need replacing with some new, quality parts. The front brakes do most of the stopping and will last anywhere between 30-60,000 miles depending on your usage. BMW uses a brake pad wear sensor that will trip a message on the instrument cluster, letting you know when your brake components need replacement. However, brake issues can arise beforehand, as felt through a juddering through the steering wheel and pedal while braking.
We've put together an E46 M3 brake kit to not only make servicing easier, but the shopping experience as well. The kit includes all of the components you'll need to get your brakes back to where they need to be for spirited driving. The kit used in the video uses Zimmermann rotors and Textar pads, but if that isn't what you'd like to use, browse our site to check out the various other available options.
Once you've chosen your kit, follow along as Mike Hidalgo, FCP Euro's Professional DIY'er, tackles a front rotor and pad replacement on an E46 BMW M3.
Index:
00:00 - Intro & Tools Needed
03:06 - BMW E46 M3 Front Wheel Removal
03:45 - BMW E46 M3 Front Brake Rotor Removal
04:24 - BMW E46 M3 Front Brake Caliper Removal
06:22 - BMW E46 M3 Cleaning Up the Hub Assembly
07:35 - BMW E46 M3 Front Brake Rotor Install
09:12 - BMW E46 M3 Front Brake Pad & Caliper Install
13:58 - Wrap-up
Shop the parts used in this video:
BMW E46 M3 Full Brake Kit: www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-...
This video applies to the following vehicles:
BMW M3
2001 BMW M3 Disc Brake Pad and Rotor Kit
Position: Front and Rear
2002 BMW M3 Disc Brake Pad and Rotor Kit
Position: Front and Rear
2003 BMW M3 Disc Brake Pad and Rotor Kit
Position: Front and Rear
2004 BMW M3 Disc Brake Pad and Rotor Kit
Position: Front and Rear
2005 BMW M3 Disc Brake Pad and Rotor Kit
Position: Front and Rear, From 12/2004, w/o Competition package (S7MAA)
2006 BMW M3 Disc Brake Pad and Rotor Kit
Position: Front and Rear, w/o Competition package (S7MAA)
SUBSCRIBE: ruclips.net/user/fcpeuro?sub_c...
Get free parts from FCP Euro:
www.fcpeuro.com/page/lifetime...
Follow FCP Euro on:
/ fcpeuro
/ fcpeuro
/ fcpeuro
www.fcpeuro.com/

[@erichall7720]

What insane timing guys, I literally just received this exact kit for my black m3 and will be doing this tomorrow morning. You guys are the best!

[@fcpeuro]

Heck yeah, Eric! Carbon Black?

[@erichall7720]

@@fcpeuro Almost, jet black. Will you be covering the parking brake shoes for the rears?

[@fcpeuro]

@@erichall7720 It was not on our list, but we can certainly add it!

[@rcaction8030]

Great videos mate ! I will stay tuned !

[@mattp9932]

Incredible video. We really appreciate everything you do for the community.

[@fcpeuro]

Our pleasure, thank you for watching!

[@Pickleslip]

Bob Ross would be proud. Thank You for the guide 💪

[@RobertLeiben]

BTW, the caliper guide pins are T45 torx on my 2003 (E46) M3, vs the 7mm hex as shown in your video. Same exact vehicle, different size pins; that is so strange. Regardless, either size will fit the pins.

[@Smokey-mt6ye]

i have watched so many of your videos. They are all great and you seem like a really nice guy. thanks for sharing !

[@fcpeuro]

Glad you like them, thank you for joining!

[@theodorediaz2024]

Thanks so much for these videos. I did my oil change and ignition coils thanks to your DIYs. Are you planning on showing a video on how to do a brake fluid flush? That’s my next project to tackle and I’m not sure whether the “clutch” needs to be bled too same time? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[@bjeff1981]

I just did this step-by-step. Passenger side piston was super hard to compress. After the job my brakes are spongy. What might have happened? Fluid in reservoir never got below Max.

[@Kiss__Kiss]

It's always, Mike Hidalgo, to the rescue... "It's not a Bob Ross Painting." LMAO!!! Nice!!!
Another Job well done, Mike.

[@Gino20202]

How about getting some brake parts on your website for a G20 M340i.

[@maciapp1262]

"Bob Ross painting". Nice lol!

[@estebanrodriguez8807]

Would recommend to show how to the rear right side and a how to on installing that super lame break wear sensor

[@THEBLIZZARDARMY]

Driveway jobs being brakes and oil changes me over here swapping engines in my driveway

[@saleen1001]

Did this job and have rattling over bumps. Redid it twice and still same problem?

[@fcpeuro]

Anti-rattle clip installed properly? Was any paste used on the brake pad ears? it would be advisable to check that first, and maybe use a soft rubber mallet and tap around in that area to see if you can recreate the sound.

[@saleen1001]

also did new anti rattle. Also are the rotors directional?

[@mittortz]

if you forgot to plug in your wear sensor on the driver's side until the very end... it's not a big deal. you can easily access the inside pad plug it in, with the little bump facing the rotor. only noting this because I was dumb enough to take the caliper back off and try to plug it into the outside pad, only to realize it went into the easily accessible inside pad (big facepalm)

[@jairocamargo4563]

This dude reminds me of bob Ross

[@Pete-da-peter]

Wanna do break on my x6, tired of paying ppl to do easy Job

[@MedyaGh]

Why do you guys speed up the parts that we actually struggle with like hammering it out, we didn’t see how you did it … we can read the instructions in site …and why not do the driver side that has sensors, some of us are noobs and pros don’t need video anyways

[@thinklikeido]

E46 M3s have Bolts not studs!

[@e-swift3923]

I was super confused when it cut to the wheel off.. there's pointy things poking out wtf? lol. Mine does NOT have those :P

[@bengardner6023]

Without a lift, I usually imagine all jobs as driveway jobs 🥲

[@fcpeuro]

Fair enough, Ben!