E46 Facelift
E46 Facelift
Front Headlights
The headlights and turn signals are redesigned with a new appearance. The accentuated sweeping lines compared with its predecessor and the transparent turn-signal flashers that are drawn upwards give the car a contemporary look and feel.
The reshaped kidney grill, which is stretched in both directions to the front lamps and the modified contour of the hood powerdome, from the kidney grill to the A Pillar, reinforce the overall impression of the vehicle.
The new styling does not alter the way in which the front headlights are installed and removed. Bi-Xenon head lamps are available as a option only.
The hood's hinges and locks have not been changed and the fresh air duct to the radiator has not been altered.
Front Bumper Trim
The front bumper trim has significantly fewer horizontal lines and this result shows a flatter design.
The front bumper protective strip has a new side connection and the bumper has been redesigned to improve the gap dimensions.
Front Fenders
The front tenders are redesigned with wings that bulge further upwards over the bead in the area of the wheel arch. The additional turn signal lights are now wedge-shaped. The seals for the additional turn-signals lights have been redesigned but the mounting of the turn signals remains unchanged.
Rear Bumper
Similar to the front bumper; the rear bumper trim has fewer horizontal lines resulting in a flatter design.
Again the bumper is redesigned to improve the gap dimensions.
The protective strip is modified to integrate the 4 PDC sensors.
Rear Tail Lights (E46/4 Only)
The shape of the rear lights has not changed but the light is sectioned in three parts.
The modified points in detail are:
- The brake light consists of one bulb for each vehicle side and is located in the upper compartment of the rear tail light.
- The turn signal consist of one bulb for each side and is located in the middle compartment of the rear tail light; the turn signal glass is routed around the reverse light in the trunk lid.
- The tail light is located in the lower compartment of the rear light. Two additional bulbs are added to each side, the innermost of which is located in the trunk lid.
- All the bulbs in the rear lights are 21 watts, thus increasing the service life and reducing costs.
The rear lights are secured with turn-lock fasteners (no longer clipped into place) so that they are installed and removed in the same way as the previous version. In the event of a bulb fault its failure is indicated in the instrument cluster. Substitute lighting is now used for light failure of the brake lights or turn signals. The outer tail light is substituted for a failed brake light circuit or a failed turn signal circuit. The tail light will continue to function normally as a tail light.