Front Door: Adjustments

41 51 004 Adjusting Left Or Right Front Door

NOTE:
- Doors are fitted and bolted to an unfinished body shell.
- Moving the hinges later on makes unpainted surfaces visible. These surfaces must be touched up with paint in the body color.

NOTE:
- These adjusting instructions generally apply to all body variations such as Saloon/Sedan, Coupe, Compact, Touring, Cabrio/Convertible.
- On 4-door models, it is important to align the rear doors first.
- The reason for this is that the rear doors must be aligned to the welded rear side walls.
- The front doors must then be aligned to the rear doors.
- The bolted front side walls can then be adapted if necessary to the front doors.

On 2-door models, the doors are aligned to the welded rear side walls.
The bolted front side walls can then be adapted if necessary to the doors.

The illustrations therefore do not always correspond to the type of vehicle selected in the TIS.
The illustrations are therefore to be viewed as basic illustrations which are to be carried over to the relevant vehicle type.

CAUTION:
- Slight corrections by straightening are permitted if the existing adjustment options are insufficient.
- Extensive straightening would lead to the doors becoming "soft" and cause them to lose their tension on a long term basis. At high road speed and with strong side wind, the door frame could then lift off of the hose seal.

NOTE:
- Keep to the sequence of procedures for correct alignment of doors. Before installation, assemble doors with window lifter and glass.
- Door settling behavior depends on weight!
- Release striker.
- Gap dimensions,
refer to Gap dimensions of doors/hood and luggage compartment lid
refer to Window and door seams E46 4-door
- Always fit first rear door and then front door.

Check previous settings again and repeat work steps if necessary.

NOTE:
- When installing a new door, in order to avoid damage to paintwork, make sure there is a sufficient gap between door and body.
- If necessary, attach fabric tape to points of contact on body.







When installing a new front door, install shims (1) between door and hinge.
Measurements of shims (1) for presetting:
Hinge top/bottom 0.5 mm
Adjust to specified distance by installing spacers in appropriate quantity and/or thickness.
Hand-tighten nuts on door hinges, top and bottom.







Detach cover (1) from closing bar on B-pillar.







Release screws (1) and (2) on B-pillar.

NOTE: After slackening, the closing bar should be positioned approx. 90° to the door frame inside edge (3) and should be able to be moved easily.







Lower front door window.
Slacken nuts on door hinges, top and bottom.
Adjust gap (A) uniformly, refer to Windows and door seams.







Adjust gap and plane displacement (B) uniformly, refer to Gap measurements, doors/hood and rear lid.
Hand-tighten nuts on door hinges, top and bottom.







Check that front door is flush with rear door in terms of height and correct if necessary.







Correcting height:
Release nuts on hinges (1) and (2) and turn/move door.
Tighten nuts.
1AZ Hinge 20 Nm

NOTE: Gap must continue to run uniformly between door and sill. If necessary, repeat previous work steps.







Check door protrusion, bottom, refer to Gap measurements, doors/hood and rear lid.
If you need to correct, release nuts on hinge (2) and correct deviations by number and/or thickness of shims on hinge (2).
Tighten nuts.
1AZ Hinge 20 Nm







Check door protrusion (2), rear, refer to Gap measurements, doors/hood and rear lid.

NOTE:
- Door height (1): flush
- When the door is closed, the closing bar must not make contact or slip in the lock.

If you need to correct, move closing bar inwards or outwards. Tighten down screws on closing bar.
2AZ Closing bar 24 Nm
Attach cover above closing bar on B-pillar.