BMW 3 Series wheel fitment — IV E46 Facelift
Overview
The BMW 3 Series IV (E46) is the fourth generation of compact executive cars manufactured by German automaker BMW from December 1997 to November 2006. It succeeded the E36 series and was available in sedan, coupé, convertible, station wagon, and hatchback body styles. The M3 performance model was introduced with a 2-door coupé followed by a convertible version, both powered by the S54 straight-six engine.
BMW 3 Series wheel fitment
BMW 3 Series wheel fitment for the BMW 3 Series IV (E46) Facelift (2001–2007): the factory PCD, centre bore and bolt spec, then the aftermarket width and offset window we fit to.
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x120 |
| Centre bore | 72.6 mm |
| Bolt / thread | M12 x 1.5 (bolts) |
| Wheel-bolt torque | 100 Nm |
| Seat type | tapered |
| Factory setup | staggered |
| TPMS | direct |
Aftermarket wheel sizes — read per position:
| Position | Width | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 6J–8J | ET36–ET55 |
| Rear (staggered) | 8J–9.5J | ET30–ET45 |
As a rule, each extra 1J of width wants roughly +8–10 ET to keep the wheel tucked. The exact offset and any spacer are confirmed by the fit-check.
UK popularity & demand
Based on DfT VEH0124 vehicle-parc data (2025), there are approximately 467,458 BMW 3 Series on UK roads, placing it in the top 1% of car models by volume across our fitment database.
That makes BMW 3 Series wheel fitment a high-demand spec to keep in stock. It is one reason we track it here.
Source: DfT/DVLA licensed-vehicle statistics (VEH0124), matched to the AIWheelTech fitment database.
Engines & drivetrain
| Variant | Engine | Fuel | Power | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 (E46) | 3.2L S54 petrol | petrol | 338 hp | RWD |
| 330i | 3.0L N52 petrol | petrol | 218 hp | RWD |
| 330xi | 3.0L N52 petrol | petrol | 218 hp | xDrive |
| 328i | 2.8L M54 petrol | petrol | 197 hp | RWD |
| 325i | 2.5L N42 petrol | petrol | 184 hp | RWD |
| 325xi | 2.5L N42 petrol | petrol | 184 hp | xDrive |
| 330d | 2.9L M57 diesel | diesel | 177 hp | RWD |
| 323i | 2.2L N42 petrol | petrol | 170 hp | RWD |
| 320i | 2.0L N42 petrol | petrol | 150 hp | RWD |
| 318i | 2.0L N42 petrol | petrol | 143 hp | RWD |
| 320d | 2.0L M47 diesel | diesel | 143 hp | RWD |
| 316i | 1.8L B42 petrol | petrol | 115 hp | RWD |
| 318d | 2.0L M47 diesel | diesel | 115 hp | RWD |
Performance
| Variant | Power | 0–62 mph | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 320d | 143 hp | 8.5 s | 129 mph |
| 320i | 150 hp | 8.7 s | 135 mph |
| 323i | 170 hp | 7.9 s | 140 mph |
| 325i | 184 hp | 7.4 s | 149 mph |
| 325xi | 184 hp | 7 s | 145 mph |
| 328i | 197 hp | 7 s | 150 mph |
| 330d | 177 hp | 7.4 s | 148 mph |
| 330i | 218 hp | 6.9 s | 155 mph |
| 330xi | 218 hp | 6.4 s | 150 mph |
| M3 (E46) | 338 hp | 4.9 s | 155 mph |
Dimensions
| Length | 4490 mm |
| Width | 1760 mm |
| Height | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2725 mm |
| Kerb weight | 1285 kg |
Body styles & production
| Body styles | Sedan, Touring (estate), Coupé, Convertible, Compact |
| Produced | 2001–2007 |
| Units produced | 3,385,781 |
Trim levels
Factory colours
History & notable variants
Development of the E46 began in 1993 under chief engineer Wolfgang Ziebart and head designer Chris Bangle. It featured improved aerodynamics and rigidity over its predecessor. The sedan was unveiled in November 1997, with production starting in December 1997. A facelift was introduced for the sedan and Touring models in September 2001, followed by coupé and convertible versions in March 2003. Production of the E46 series ended in August 2006.
Reliability & owner notes
- Pros: Improved rigidity over predecessor; available in multiple body styles; introduction of M3 performance model
- Cons: Heavier than E36 equivalent; some models had higher fuel consumption