BMW E46 Center Console Replacement DIY

Use www.realoem.com/ to reference your exact part numbers.
Beige center console with the armrest: 51168217942
E39Source WEBSITE: www.E39Source.com
BMW M3Source: / e65source
BMW E46Source: / e46source

[@oscarxms]

Excellent video. Still a very useful resource for all those E46 lovers that still maintain their beauties. Thank you.

[@hazn_4433]

I have been looking for months for certain parts that need to be replaced on my 330i, mainly this center console as my armrest is broken, and my searches have brought up nothing until i found your channel! I am SO happy! Thank you so much!!!

[@E39Source]

+JaqOfDiamonds Glad we could help you out! :)

[@wjohnsonism]

Ryan. 3 days ago I purchased my first BMW. 12/04 build date, E46 330ci M sport with an SMG. I wasn't ready to go straight into the big leagues with an M3 or 5 just yet. Plus, the E46 makes for a great intro into the world of BMW engineering, design etc. One of the main things I need to do is replace a busted center console and rear ashtray unit. Watched the video, ordered the parts, can't wait to fix it. It's nice to see how you get right in there without and trepidation and man handle the task to get it done. I'm already learning that these cars are for enthusiasts who want to work on them. Keep the E 46 videos coming. Thanks.

[@E39Source]

+billy johnson Congratulations Billy! Sounds like a great car there, very glad to hear that our content can come in handy for you. I'll be sure to do videos of whatever projects I start on my 330xi.

[@MAINEiac06]

Just saw your vid replacing the ashtray cover/sunglasses door. Took like 20 mins including cleaning. Brilliant! Now, I’m going to try this..... big impact as you see these parts every minute of the drive. Great job!!

[@scoutsapp5624]

Super under rated explanation. For the views, you deserve more likes.

[@kleber903]

This video should help me to replace my broken handbrake. Hopefully it is not too diffucult to remove the handbrake once you've removed the center console like you did. Thanks again ! Keep up with the good work !

[@killachops3]

Thanks for that... I'm in my garage rite now stripping out the centre console. Was a good guide. Cheers

[@1seipai]

Gradually renewing it - excellent!

[@ginopunsalan]

This will come in handy. I have a rear ashtray coming. Thanks.

[@singhtalks2256]

Hi there, I just want to ask can i install a centre console with arm rest on my 2003 e46 which didn't have arm rest from factory fitting. Thanks

[@E39Source]

Yes you can!

[@CdnGirl]

Fantastic video! Very helpful as I was stuck trying to get the lock switch out (years of dried coffee made it even more difficult). Do you have a recommendation for which products to use to clean these plastic parts that doesn't make them sticky over time? Thanks again for the help!

[@Machine_s15]

Does the arm rest slide back to allow you to use both cup holders? Otherwise that cup holder sitting under the arm rest is pretty useless for anything other than a small can and you have to lift the console every time you need a sip

[@E39Source]

I do think the arm rest has to slide up each time. I haven't owned this car for a few years now.

[@SurrealBlowOutBar]

Where did you order the pieces from? I can find the cup holder easily but not the console piece you took out…

[@E39Source]

Here is the center console I purchased: tinyurl.com/mry8c5te

[@NomadJedi]

This helped me replace the armrest, thanks!

[@rararrar98553047658]

These videos are absolutely fantastic! Just bought an '05 320i M Sport and these videos are exactly what I needed for the things I'm looking at replacing! Quick question though: my passenger seat plastics (I'm assuming) creak quite a lot when I take corners a little bit harder than usual. Any idea how to tighten/improve this so that it's a little more solid and doesn't creak? Thanks!

[@E39Source]

Callum Murray Very glad to hear that you're finding them useful! You might have a broken clip on those plastics. I think they're fairly expensive too, but I would try to carefully remove it and see if anything is broken.

[@stlbricks]

im so slow. my hang up was the e brake and the arm rest couldn't figure it out on my own. Thank you! my hazard lights keeps coming on by itself so im going to detach it

[@normanbull9457]

Hi, took out center console on my 2003 E46 M3 for refurb. Put it all back and got various lights on the dash and no ignition light plus no start up. Checked all connections and things all seem to be in place. Had to disconnect battery to extinguish the lights. Any ideas?Thanks, Great videos.Beamernut.

[@E39Source]

+norman bull There is nothing under the center console that should effect any of what you mentioned be a problem. Is your car an automatic? Maybe plugging the shifter back in has something to do with that? That's all I can think of.

[@giancarloacevedo9140]

Where did you purchase the doors you replaced?

[@E39Source]

bit.ly/3JH2BsL

[@alejandrotrejoxd]

Do you know where can I find a replacement for the central console, mine doesn’t work anymore.

[@E39Source]

bit.ly/2K7mjBt

[@olsvoll93]

Are you going to be doing a review of this car? Some driving shots, and what you think of the car?

[@E39Source]

Yeah I might do something like that.

[@olsvoll93]

Great!

[@DaveX_321]

handy video. going to have to rip out my center console to fix my random hazard light issue. thanks for posting. '02 325Ci

[@SGD3S1GN]

when is the video comming, about what should you know, before buying a e39 M5, like wish part should be good, or what noises should not be in car, i realy need some info from people like you, they have it .

[@E39Source]

As soon as I have a whole free week to script and think about that- it's going to be a huge undertaking! But I will make that.

[@Mohunitz100]

This was a big help made the replacement very easy thanks a lot

[@TroyMB651]

You should just put the money into it like you did with the M5; get the rust spots fixed; do a couple mods her and there and add it to the collection.

[@E39Source]

I'll have no use for this when I move to California. It's not powerful, it doesn't handle that well, and it's not a rare car or an M car. I'll just use it and treat it well and sell it to finance my move in a few years!

[@garytanaka]

***** My 330i is rear-wheel drive and it's powerful especially with the manual trans. Maybe not an M5, but a whole lot better (and more fun) than most 325's and 328's. Once you get the rear trailing arm bushings replaced, it handles like a new car again, even without the Michelin PS2's (which were discontinued).

[@drexellake4051]

Good removal vlog. You should have cleaned it with naphtha and painted it. Because it's just going to get scratched up again.

[@wizzywilson]

Thank you, clear and concise..!

[@mulisanetshivhale6187]

thank you very much I learn a lot through your videos...

[@rivolinho]

Can you fit an armrest to an e46 centre console which didnt come with one from factory or is it a special console thats needed?

[@E39Source]

Good question. I would imagine that the center console changed (look at mine and compare it to yours) would have changed, but perhaps not after looking at the RealOEM description. Put the last 7 of your VIN in RealOEM and see what options there were for your specific model.

[@rivolinho]

Will check it out, thanks

[@1984911Porsche]

Great video, seems the replacement parts for the console are not true colors and will not match as pointed out in this video.

[@E39Source]

They are, but the rest of the interior parts are decades old and have faded out a bit now.

[@adejumokojo]

Need my E46 232i ceiling changed

[@jakofall79]

How much was the console

[@E39Source]

I paid $59 in 2014, it is now $179.

[@normanbull9457]

Thanks,I'll double check everything.

[@HV71851]

Great job, thank you!

[@jeffstewart9503]

Thanks for the video! My center console looks so much better.

[@maykolcatalan1]

Super helpfull, thanks so mucho

[@klassfreudman7359]

Thank you👍

[@jusride7]

Mahalo for the great information.

[@aankivbay6668]

good show

[@pathertzog8884]

;(

Thank you!