BMW E46 Front Wing Removal, How to Replace Fender - 3 Series M3 Arch Rust Issues
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- Опубликовано: 11 апр 2020
- BMW E46 Front Wing Removal, How to Replace Fender - 3 Series M3 Arch Rust Issues
Tools needed:
Impact Driver: ebay.us/hkIrlF
Dremel: ebay.us/iyqlt0
Torx-30: ebay.us/LTU8Sd
Sockets: ebay.us/IXhuKz
Extension: ebay.us/IDiJsc
Screwdrivers: ebay.us/BySuYr
Penetrating Oil: ebay.us/LHbx1Z
BMW E46 Front Wing Removal, How to Replace Fender for 3 Series
In this video, I finally tackle the job of removing the front fenders from my 2003 BMW E46 M3.
I’ve observed rust scabs on both of the wings progressing over the past 2 years or so, and finally got round to tackling the issue. The removal of the wings is the first step in this.
Follow along with my step-by-step how-to guide on removing wings from an E46. Although mine is an M3 with the flared front arches, I believe the fixings and mounting points for all 3 series E46 models fenders to be the same, so this guide should apply to all.
While at face value, the task of removing the wings appears to be simple, it’s a common pain point.
Many guides instruct you to simply “remove the Torx screws” from the top of the fender under the bonnet.
However, despite appearances, these screws can be a real nightmare to remove, and the chances of you rounding the head on those Torx bolts is very high.
Using my method of cutting a slot with a Dremel and then extracting them with a large flat head bit on an impact driver seems to work a treat.
A brief summary of the work involved in removing E46 fenders includes:
1. Jack car up and remove the wheel
2. Remove arch liner by removing the 10 8mm bolts (8 in the arch, 2 under the car) and popping it out
3. Remove the 4 10mm fixing screws which are now visible behind either end of the wing (this is where you will need the extension)
4. Remove 5 Torx T-30 screws from the top of the wing under the hood (slot and impact drive if necessary, raise the bonnet for more clearance on 5th bolt)
5. Wiggle the wing out and disconnect the clip securing it to the headlight washer trip panel
If yours is an E46 M3 like mine, and your wings are too rotten to save, then you could be in for a very hefty bill for OEM replacements. Swapping them out for carbon fibre or Fibreglass is a common practise that would cost the same or less than OE BMW parts.
This would have the added bonus of potential weight savings and ensuring they will never rust again.
I hope this guide is helpful for many, for more handy how-to guides, visit our blog: www.spannerrash.com/bmw-e46-m...
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Those torx bolts really are a pain. Mine must have been in since 2003 Thanks for showing how to remove.
Yeah they are ridiculous to be fair. It's a shame they end up needing to be replaced, but I actually never got round to changing mine. I will eventually!
@@SPANNERRASHI gave mine a few taps with impact screwdriver and they came undone with no fuss. Guess I got lucky, passenger was even easier as it’s had a new wing before
@@dexietyy7922 That's lucky, they were a pig on mine but I refused to give up.
@@SPANNERRASH haha everything on these cars is a pain in the bum 😂
@@dexietyy7922 Very true, my E30 is much nicer to work on honestly.
Bit of advice for future reference. Get a hammer and bit the torx bit down for better purchase on the fixing. Also a 1/2 socket for more leverage would help 💪
Great video m8 . Keep up the content !
Cheers! 😃
Excellent video - really good.
Some tips:
Always wear gloves, lots of sharp edges in this area.
For the top bolts, just use the impact (hammer or battery) from the off - don’t risk rounding the heads. Go gently and these are a breeze to remove. Start with these a day or two before by spraying WD40 and gradually loosening them. This saves a lot of stress on the day of the replacement, no time pressure.
Hammer the bit in to get a decent grip. Repaint after to prevent corrosion.
Thanks mate, thanks for sharing those, really good suggestions.
I actually put the bolts back in with the slots cut in them. I need to get new ones really, the M3 could do with some love soon, I've been too busy on the E30 project!
I have exactly the same issue, my passenger side its really bad. Was thinking of sanding the surface rust off and repaint, but I know it will just come back. Thanks for the video doesn't look too bad taking it off. Bmw sell new wings for £350 might just bite the bullet and get one
Cheers, it's a super common E46 problem, unfortunately. If one is going the other won't be far behind either.
I ended up fitting the FRP wings, and they look perfect, you can't tell at all. Although I've been told they can be very hit-and-miss. OE is always best in that regard 😁
I've just ordered a new passenger side front wing as mine has rusted really bad, strange thing is the driver side is absolutely perfect!
Thats strange, maybe its been replaced before? Either that or its been very lucky :D I need to do a follow-up vid on this actually, I went for fibreglass replacements in the end so they never rust again.
@@SPANNERRASH Very unlikely that the wing has been changed, I've owned the car 6 years. I don't intend selling the car so it'll be interesting to see how it holds out! Love to see how you get on with the fibreglass wings, Great cars apart from the rust!
Same here. My driver side is pretty much good, except a bit of paint chipped off, but nothing too bad. While passager side is crunchy paper.
Very cool. Did you wash the inside section on the car? 😅
It was surprisingly mucky beneath those panels wasn't it? I think using the car as a daily for a few years didn't do it any favours in that respect. I gave everything a jolly good clean before things went back together though, don't worry. 😂 The M3 has been pretty much a fair-weather weekend car only since to be fair.
Fantastic video, I have a silver grey e46 m3 coupe and my drivers side wing is getting bad and it really detracts from the car, I have a wing on order and I’ve just had a quote today for £350 from a reputable place here in Scotland to paint and fit. Question what preventive measured can we do as owners to stop this ever happening again or at least slowing down the process? My passenger side looks is fine no issues but I’m on the fence whether to just remove that and do all at once.
Hi Rab, chances are if one side is getting bad, the other won't be too far behind! I'd definitely have that off and closely inspected while you're at it.
As far as preventative measures go its a tough one. I think its more an issue with the design. I'd recommend taking them off and cleaning out the V that the arch liner sits into at least annually to remove any trapped grit.
Swapping them for FRP or Carbon Fibre seems like the only absolute solution to this problem sadly. Plus, with the prices of M3 wings getting silly it's seemingly becoming the better value option long term too.
Hope you get it sorted out mate!
SPANNER RASH Thanks for that 👌🏼👏🏻
Waxoil inside before they go on once painted and clear out creases with a soft brush and clean degrease every couple of months but especially before and after the winter and apply waxoil or similar to coat the bare paint/any chips everytime you clean them. The rears are worse do those monthly and same procedure.. again waxoil. If any rust apply rust converter once clean or back to bare metal any chips etc inside
I know it’s 3 years late but I’ve just replaced mine, I painted them with stone chip protect paint inside then wa oiled over the top so they should outlive the car now
Nice job, Im currently going through your website blog etc. what brakes you running BTW?
Thanks man, lots of M3 content to come I reckon. :) Running Brembo 4 pots from a Porsche 996 all round with CSL discs.
@@SPANNERRASH easy to do? I got stock brakes, they ok but I am considering upgrading
@@akkassikder27 as far as brake conversions go, fairly simple. You need thr adapters, csl front discs, and you need to machine I think 3mm off the mounting faces of the calipers. (Double check that, it was ages ago). After that, it's plain sailing.
which fenders did you end up going with? you left me in suspense haha
For the time being I've put the GRP ones on from Streamline, they fit pretty well actually! I'll probably get the OE ones repaired eventually though.
Are you plastic liners modified? On mine the square hole on the inboard side is complete, which means the outermost bolt for the reinforcement plate goes through it and has to be removed to get the liner out. Yours is missing one side of that square hole.
I don't believe it's modified, I certainly haven't anyway. It could always just be damaged though. 😆
This is exactly what Ive been struggling with. Been staring at like "is the reinforcement bolt going through the liner?' Ultimately it looks like the liner goes around it but cant for the life of me pull the liner out from it. So looks like I'm going to have to take the reinforcement plate off.
@@TheSandman121212 You should be able to get away with removing only 1 or 2 bolts.
Beauty thanks. Got it out with just two@@johnbyrne1022
Can M3 Fenders be used on E46 Sedan as long as I have M3 front bumper?
Hi Nenad, I'm no expert but I think so yes. Only thing I'd be cautious of is a different arch liner. Other than that I think it'd be the same.
Ignore the rusty front suspension. I've already got new parts waiting to go on. :)
Hi, will m3 wings fit e46 non m3?
I think they bolt right up but I'm not 100% sure. The issue you might have though is with suspension geometry and wheel fitment. Your wheels will probably look sunken in without other mods.
let it rust ;)
Thats been my strategy up to now 😂 in all honesty this one seems to be a pretty good one apart from those front wings. They all need a bit of TLC at this age/mileage. 🤷♂