Parts/BMW E36/E46
BMW E36/E46 · Buyer's guide

Non-M E46 Front Steering Knuckle / Wheel Carrier: RWD vs xi, Side and Production-Date Identification

US/LHD non-M BMW E46 front steering-knuckle/wheel-carrier identification. RWD scope is 1999-2000 323i/328i sedan, 2000 323Ci/328Ci coupe or convertible, 2001-2005 325i/330i sedan, 2001-2005 325i wagon, and 2001-2006 325Ci/330Ci coupe or convertible. AWD scope is 2001-2005 325xi/330xi sedan and 325xi wagon. Exact model-year, body, production date, drive type, side, brake package, installed carrier and VIN catalog result still control. Exclude every M3, E36, E9x, Z3, Z4, Compact/Ti, non-US application, right-hand-drive application, rear carrier and unsupported donor interchange.

Current seller options

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What you need to know

Start with drive type. BMW training material describes the E46 all-wheel-drive front suspension as redesigned for front drive shafts, while the checked xi catalog shows separate carrier, drive-flange, bearing and ABS-sensor architecture; do not fit an RWD carrier to an xi or infer interchange from appearance. For xi, resolve the VIN production date around the catalog's 03/2002 split and retain left/right orientation. For RWD, 31211096429 is left and 31211096430 is right across the narrow US non-M applications above, but the surrounding brake hardware is not universal: the checked 325Ci catalog uses a 300x22 mm front disc 34116864058 with shields 34116750129/34116750130, while the checked 330i catalog uses a 325x25 mm disc 34116864047 with shields 34116759787/34116759788. RWD hub/bearing 31226757024 is a separate service assembly and belongs with canonical BMW-0019; the xi catalog instead shows drive flange 31201096423 and angular-contact bearing 31221095702. ABS sensor, pulse feature, shield, hub/bearing, axle nut and other attached pieces must be selected from the VIN-specific diagram and inspected separately. BMW service information requires removal of brake and ABS-related components before carrier service and a press-fit/clamp relationship between carrier and strut; use current BMW repair instructions, new one-time hardware where specified and a calibrated alignment after work. Before purchase, match VIN/build, drive type, production date, body, side, installed casting/service label, strut clamp and ball-joint/tie-rod tapers. For used carriers, require straightness and crack checks plus clear photos of the strut bore/clamp, tapers, bearing bore, ABS-sensor bore and shield bosses; included hub, shield or sensor does not redefine the carrier identity. M3 has modified front knuckle/bearing geometry and is always excluded. A Z4 seller fitment or shared number outside this page is not E46 donor advice.

OEM numbers

Checked carrier identities are 31211096429 left and 31211096430 right for the in-scope non-M RWD E46 branch31216756541 left and 31216756542 right for the early xi branch through 03/2002and 31216759311 left and 31216759312 right for the later xi branch from 03/2002. Early xi legacy identities 31216751711 left and 31216751712 right are retained only as superseded search numbers. These are carrier identities, not promises that hub/bearing, brake disc, dust shield, ABS sensor, axle hardware, strut, tie rod or control arm is included.

Supersession

The checked early-xi service chains are 31216751711 -> 31216756541 on the left and 31216751712 -> 31216756542 on the right. No cross-supersession was found between either early xi chain and the later 31216759311/31216759312 production branch, and none is asserted. No supersession is asserted for RWD 31211096429/31211096430. A seller's cross-reference, shared casting appearance or later catalog result cannot erase drive type, side, body, production-date, brake-equipment or VIN verification.

Fitment

Start with drive type. BMW training material describes the E46 all-wheel-drive front suspension as redesigned for front drive shafts, while the checked xi catalog shows separate carrier, drive-flange, bearing and ABS-sensor architecture; do not fit an RWD carrier to an xi or infer interchange from appearance. For xi, resolve the VIN production date around the catalog's 03/2002 split and retain left/right orientation. For RWD, 31211096429 is left and 31211096430 is right across the narrow US non-M applications above, but the surrounding brake hardware is not universal: the checked 325Ci catalog uses a 300x22 mm front disc 34116864058 with shields 34116750129/34116750130, while the checked 330i catalog uses a 325x25 mm disc 34116864047 with shields 34116759787/34116759788. RWD hub/bearing 31226757024 is a separate service assembly and belongs with canonical BMW-0019; the xi catalog instead shows drive flange 31201096423 and angular-contact bearing 31221095702. ABS sensor, pulse feature, shield, hub/bearing, axle nut and other attached pieces must be selected from the VIN-specific diagram and inspected separately. BMW service information requires removal of brake and ABS-related components before carrier service and a press-fit/clamp relationship between carrier and strut; use current BMW repair instructions, new one-time hardware where specified and a calibrated alignment after work. Before purchase, match VIN/build, drive type, production date, body, side, installed casting/service label, strut clamp and ball-joint/tie-rod tapers. For used carriers, require straightness and crack checks plus clear photos of the strut bore/clamp, tapers, bearing bore, ABS-sensor bore and shield bosses; included hub, shield or sensor does not redefine the carrier identity. M3 has modified front knuckle/bearing geometry and is always excluded. A Z4 seller fitment or shared number outside this page is not E46 donor advice.

Aftermarket options

Prefer a new Genuine BMW exact-number carrier or a verified straight used OE carrier. No universal aftermarket carrier is approved by this research, and no seller's broad model list should override the VIN catalog. Treat a used assembly with hub, bearing, shield or ABS sensor as a bundle of separately verifiable wear and corrosion items, not as a guaranteed complete service solution. Reject cracked, bent, impact-loaded or heavily corroded carriers and units with damaged strut-clamp ears, elongated ball-joint/tie-rod tapers, damaged bearing/ABS bores, stripped shield bosses or uncertain left/right and RWD/xi identity. Replace bearing, hub, sensor, shield, fasteners and brake parts only under their own exact VIN/equipment decisions.

Before you buy

US/LHD non-M E46 only. Match VIN, body, drive type, production date and side before buying: RWD 31211096429/31211096430 is not interchangeable with either xi branch, and early xi 31216756541/31216756542 must not be silently crossed to later xi 31216759311/31216759312. The carrier number does not make brake disc, shield, hub/bearing, flange, ABS sensor or attached seller contents universal. M3, E36, E9x, Z3 and Z4 are excluded. Used units require crack/bend/corrosion and bore/taper/clamp inspection; qualified installation must follow current BMW procedures and finish with alignment.

Research and fitment sources