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316ti E46 Compact: Replacing Rear Speakers

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Allan3600 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Allan3600 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 316ti E46 Compact: Replacing Rear Speakers
    Posted: 15 May 2021 at 3:36pm

As there are very few posts on how to remove/replace speakers on the newer E46 model of the Compact I have had to figure it out by try and error. Here are the steps I took. I hope they will be of help to others.

 Basic steps:

  1. Remove rear hatch doorsill.
  2. Remove carpeted side bolster
  3. Remove rear quarter roofing panel
  4. Unplug and unbolt the speaker pod (grill and enclosure)
  5. Separate the enclosure from the speaker grill

From here you can remove/replace the factory speaker. Note that an aftermarket speaker will not fit directly. BMW speakers have 3 screw mounts where as aftermarket have 4. There are a number of adaptation techniques. Mine was to cut 3 of the 4 metal tabs on the new speakers off and use screws with wide washers to hold the speaker rim in place (see picture below).

 

The procedure described below is based on the left speaker.

 Remove rear hatch doorsill

Remove the seatbelt cover plate and 3 clips. The clips can be removed by prying just under the top.

 


 

Remove the doorsill by removing the caps and the screws under it. It should lift out of place after the clips have been removed.


Removing Carpeted Side Bolster

Lift and Pull the bolster out from the bottom.


Remove rear quarter roofing panel

The rear quarter panel behind the rear window is help in place by 2 clips a the top and is fitted between the side of the car and the rear speaker pod at the bottom.

 Pry the panel off carefully from the top and slide it out. 2 bolts holding the speaker pod will be exposed.



Remove Speaker Pod

Unplug the speaker pod at the back (press on side and pull). Remove the bolts (8mm). There should be 7 (or 8?!) with 2 at the top and 5 at the bottom. You will  need a socket wrench with long extension to get at some of them.

 Separate Speaker Grill from Enclosure

These are held together with plastic pins fastened by metal hexagonal (11mm) clips. If you are lucky you can remove the clips with a socket wrench otherwise you will have to pry them off. Be careful though as you will need to reuse them when reassembling.


From here you have access to the speaker. In this example I removed 3 of the 4 tabs and used the original 3 holes in the enclosure to screw into. 2 of the screws were equiped with wide washers to hold the speaker rim in place and the 3rd went used the leftover speaker tab.

 

Right Speaker

The procedure for the left speaker is basically the same as for the right except that there is the tank filler enclosure underneath which takes up room so that the enclosure is not as large and there are not as many bolts to remove.

 Note that the enclosure is not as deep so an after market speaker may not fit. In this case that you will need to cut a round hole at the bottom for the speaker magnet to fit.


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