BMW E46 Bolt Torque Spec Guide

Quick tip! We recommend always using a little blue Loctite to make sure nothing on your E46 gets loose! This is the version we recommend: https://amzn.to/3MWIUlO

Garagistic Product Torque Specs

Bushings/Mounts

• Garagistic Motor Mounts (K0103)
  • Polyurethane: 12-15ft/lbs
  • Aluminum: 20-25 ft/lbs
• Garagistic Transmission Bushings (K0007): 9-12 ft/lbs + Blue Locktite

• Garagistic E46 Rear Subframe Bushings (K0113): 57 ft/lb (77Nm)

• Garagistic Rear Trailing Arm Bushings (K0076-80):  81.1 ft/lbs (110 Nm)
• Garagistic Differential Bushings (K0114): 
  • (Qty 1) "Rear" Rear Differential Mount Bolt (K0102): 128 ft/lbs
  • (Qty 2) "Front" Rear Differential Mount Bolts (K0085): 70 ft/lbs
• Garagistic Polyurethane Steering Coupler (K0850.2): 20ft/lbs + Red Loctite

Wheels/Body

• Garagistic Wheel Studs (K0644): 27 to 32 ft/lbs + Blue Loctite
• Garagistic Lug Nut to Wheel Stud: 87 ft-lbs (118 Nm)

Interior

• Garagistic Floor Mounts to Chassis (K0071): 44 ft/lbs (59 Nm) + Blue Loctite
• Garagistic Side Mount Brackets to Floor Mounts (K0008):  25 ft-lbs (37 Nm) + Blue Loctite

General E46 Torque Specs

Suspension

**Most nuts on suspension are single-use self-locking nuts (hole looks a little oval)

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)
• Garagistic Billet Adjustable Front End Links - 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

• Garagistic Rear Trailing Arm Bushings Transverse Bolt:  81.1 ft/lbs (110 Nm)
  
• 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)

Body

Wheels

• Garagistic Wheel Studs: 27 to 32 lb-ft + Blue Loctite
• Lugnuts: 87 ft-lbs (118 Nm)

Bumper

• Bumper Shock to Bumper Carrier (Torx): 30 ft-lbs (41 Nm)
• Bumper Shock to Body: 16 ft-lbs (22 Nm)

Doors

• Door Hinge: 15 ft-lbs (20 Nm)
• Door Check: 16 ft-lbs (24 Nm)
• Window Regulator Rail to Door: 80 in-lbs (9 Nm)
• Window Motor: 44 in-lbs (5 Nm)

Other

• Sunroof Headliner to Rails: 40 in-lbs (4.5Nm)
• Windshield Wiper Arms: 18.5 ft-lbs (25Nm)

Interior

• Garagistic Floor Mounts to Chassis: 44 ft-lbs (59 Nm)
• Garagistic Side Mount Brackets to Garagistic Floor Mounts:  25 ft-lbs (37 Nm)
• Steering Wheel Fastening Bolt: 46 ft-lbs (62 Nm)
  

Airbags

• Side-impact airbag to door - 8.5Nm (75 in-lbs)
• Passenger airbag to dashboard - 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)

Engine

• Chain tensioner - 70Nm (51 ft-lbs)
• Crankshaft "Jesus" bolt - 410 Nm (300 ft-lbs)
• Garagistic Motor Mounts (K0103)
  • Polyurethane: 12-15ft/lbs
  • Aluminum: 20-25 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

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

• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 10-15lbs for pressure bleeder

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 - 43Nm (32 ft-lbs)
• Steering column flex disc/giubo clamping screw - 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
• Tie rod end to tie rod - 45Nm (33 ft-lbs)
• Tie rod joint to rack 100 +10Nm (74 +7 ft-lbs)
• Tie rod end to knuckle - 65Nm (48 ft-lbs)
• Pressure hose bracket to rack 5mm bolt - 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
• Pressure hose to rack - 19mm/M14 - 33Nm (25 ft-lbs)
• Pressure hose to pump - 40Nm (30 ft-lbs) - 17mm crows foot
• Return hose to rack - M16 Banjo 40Nm (30 ft-lbs)

Undercarriage

**Most nuts on undercarriage are single-use self-locking nuts (hole looks a little oval)

Front Subframe

• Engine mount bracket to engine - 22Nm (16.2 ft-lbs)
• Engine mount:
• * M8 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
• * M10 47Nm
• Garagistic Motor Mounts (K0103)
  • Polyurethane: 12-15ft/lbs
  • Aluminum: 20-25 ft/lbs
• OEM Rubber Motor mount - 45Nm (33 ft-lbs)
• 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°)
• 
  

Exhaust

• Heatshield 10Nm (88 in-lbs)
• Muffler hanger nuts (13mm) - 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
• Muffler chassis plate - 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)
• Exhaust pipe to manifold - 30Nm (22 ft-lbs)

Convertible V-Strut

• V-strut large bolts (if 10mm) 59Nm+90°
• V-strut small bolts (M8X16-Z1) 22Nm (16 ft-lbs)

 

Transmission and Drivetrain

**Guibo/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 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)
• Garagistic Poly Transmission Mounts: 9-12 ft/lbs + Blue Locktite
• OEM 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

**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 (guibo) - 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 - M8-ZNS-3 24Nm 17.7 ft-lbs