Sources & confidence

BMW AG press release, 14 May 2001: 'Eine gelungene Mischung aus Styling und Dynamik: neues M Sportpaket für die BMW 3er Reihe' — https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/deutschland/article/detail/T0005828DE

BMW-authored (press release), full text read

t071-factory-packages/raw/press-de-2001-05-m-sportpaket-22321.txt

BMW Germany price lists for the E46 3 Series, 2002–2006, all five bodies, read for packages and Editions in T-071 step 2 and T-084 (source register SR-0067; the Sept 2004 Touring list is also SR-0066)

BMW-authored (price lists), PO-supplied; private, facts only, not quoted

t071-factory-packages/pricelists-de-packages.json; t071-factory-packages/README.md (Step 2); t084-seat-options/README.md §1a

HIGH for what the lists state, cited by list and page, e.g. package 338 on 2002-09 Sedan p6, Touring p5, Coupé p11, Compact p6; 2004-03 Convertible p10; Clubsport 768 on 2004-09 Coupé p12. Germany only.

BMW AG press kit 'Die 3er Baureihe im Modelljahr 2003', 18 February 2003 (Editions for Sedan and Touring)

BMW-authored (press kit), full text read

t071-factory-packages/raw/press-de-my2003-pressemappe-23207.txt

BMW (GB) Ltd press release, 22 February 2002: 330Ci Clubsport Coupé

BMW-authored (press release), full text read

t071-factory-packages/raw/press-uk-2002-02-330ci-clubsport-32187.txt

UK market only.

Parts-catalogue mirror (bmwfans.info, Europe trees): option codes P337A, S338A, S715A, S716A and the M trim groups (T-071 step A, T-027)

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t071-factory-packages/README.md; t071-factory-packages/conflicts.md; t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md; t101-front-m-bumper/README.md

BMW Germany price lists of September 1998 (Sedan) and September 2000 (Convertible), available only as scans and summarised by hand in T-071 step 2

BMW-authored (price lists), read from scans

t071-factory-packages/README.md (Step 2)

The research grades its own hand summary of the two scans LOW; used only for the two dated observations attributed in the text.

T-027 — bumper research on a parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): trim-panel and carrier groups for Sedan, Touring, Coupé, Convertible, 316ti Compact and M3, fetched 2026-10-01

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md; t027-evidence/raw/estore-bumper-groups.json

T-045 — the unlabelled E46 bumper cover pairs resolved on a second catalogue mirror (bmwfans.info Europe trees: option conditions and usage per cover), incl. Compact 325ti and 316ti

ETK mirror (second mirror)

t045-bumper-pairs/T-045-findings.md

MEDIUM for the equipment and model splits, which one mirror prints. The Compact's primed tow-hitch rear cover appears on one mirror only and has no usage rows on the other.

T-025 — E46 Compact headlights on two parts-catalogue mirrors (eStore-Central and bmwfans.info), all nine Compact engine variants, LHD and RHD

ETK mirror (two mirrors agree at part-number level)

t024-t025-evidence/compact.json

HIGH where both mirrors agree at part-number level (two families, LHD/RHD, Compact-only numbers). The absence of a running change rests on one mirror and is used as MEDIUM.

T-030 — market check: bmwfans.info region trees per E46 body (Compact listed for Europe only)

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t030-evidence/wheels-compact-markets.json

T-070 — the three Compact pictures in this article: AI illustrations generated by zauberlabs (PO), 2026-10-08; originals and SHA-256 recorded

project record (image provenance)

t070-compact-bumpers/README.md

Provenance only. The pictures are illustrations of the general look, not photographs, and are not evidence of any part's shape or fit.

T-028 — E46 seat research: parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central) seat groups for Sedan, Touring, Coupé, Convertible, Compact and M3: seat classes, adjustment groups, rail mechanisms, retrofit sets

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t028-evidence/T-028-findings.md; t028-evidence/raw/

Group and item names; the mirror carries no applicability by model or year. For the Sedan and Touring the complete-seat pages show placeholder rows, not orderable seats (see our article on what a sport seat is).

D-016 — targeted search of European sellers for Sedan/Touring electric sport front seats, 6–7 October 2026 (listing texts, prices and part-number fields as published; no seller named in the article)

retailer and dismantler listings

d016-sport-electric-seats/README.md; d016-sport-electric-seats/findings.json

What each seller's own text says, at the fetch date. Listings never decide fit. Two sellers' pages could not be read without a JavaScript check and were not counted.

BMW Group PressClub Global, 'Expanding the portfolio: BMW Group acquires the ALPINA brand', press release of 10 March 2022 — https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0373014EN

BMW-authored (press release)

web: press.bmwgroup.com, T0373014EN, fetched 2026-10-08

Used for what ALPINA is: a vehicle manufacturer in Buchloe, building cars based on BMW products since 1978, registered as a manufacturer since 1983.

ALPINA Automobiles, model history: BMW 3 Series E46 (search-engine summary; the page now redirects to ALPINA's home page) — https://www.alpina-automobiles.com/en/product-world/model-history/bmw-3-series/bmw-3-series-e46/

manufacturer page, read only as a search summary

web: alpina-automobiles.com model history E46, searched 2026-10-08

The page could not be read in full, so its content is graded LOW. Used only for the B3 3.3's base models, bodies and production period.

T-050 — second parts-catalogue mirror (bmwfans.info, Europe trees) checked against the first for E46 seat rails, frames and wiring

ETK mirror (second mirror, agreeing at part-number level)

t050-steering-seat-pairs/T-050-findings.md

HIGH where the two mirrors agree at part-number level: Sedan and Touring share manual and electric rails. The finding that basic and sports seats share the rails and differ in seat parts rests on fewer pages and is used as MEDIUM.

BMW Parts and Accessories Installation Instructions — Multi-functional steering wheel (MFL) retrofit kit / Cruise control (GRA), EBA no. 01 29 0 016 107, dated 11.2001 (body text of the 04.2000 edition)

BMW-authored; full text read; hosted on a third-party mirror (bmw.etk.club), PDF not archived

t029-evidence/raw/bmw-eba-284-mfl-retrofit-kit.txt

HIGH for what the document states. Its cover page and its body text describe the applicable cars differently; both are quoted and the difference is recorded, not resolved.

Parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): E46 steering, multifunction and retrofit groups for Sedan, Touring, Coupé, Convertible, Compact and M3

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t029-evidence/raw/estore-steering-matrix.md; t029-evidence/raw/estore-steering-groups.json

Group names and item names only; the mirror carries no dates and almost no equipment notes.

BMW Group UK press kit, 26 Oct 2001: The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, plus model specification lists

BMW-authored

t029-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-steering-extract.txt

HIGH for the UK model year it describes; not evidence for other markets.

T-029 — steering-wheel category research (forum and enthusiast summaries on coding and on wheels with paddles)

research note on forum sources

t029-evidence/T-029-findings.md

Never decides. Used only to show what owners report, next to what BMW says.

T-035.1 — factory wheel applicability by market: bmwfans.info part pages (sizes, offsets, release spans, option codes) and model-tree diagrams for six wheel styles; Europe rules cross-checked against a second mirror

ETK mirror (Europe side two mirrors agree)

t035-evidence/REPORT.md; t035-evidence/applicability-by-market.md

MEDIUM throughout: both mirrors derive from the same BMW data and no BMW-hosted catalogue was reachable. Sizes and offsets are the mirror's transcription of the catalogue row; release spans are part-number availability, not vehicle dates.

T-030 — the six wheel styles in the USA and Europe catalogue trees (diagram rows with sizes and quantities)

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t030-evidence/wheels-compact-markets.json

E46 wheel knowledge (research note on enthusiast and reseller sources: style names, US sport-package context, the US-only ZHP package, recorded conflicts)

enthusiast and reseller sources

e46-wheel-knowledge.md

Never decides. Used for style names in common use and for the US-only performance package as US context; sizes in the body come from S1 and the German packages from S7, not from here.

E46 wheel physical fitment (research note: bolt pattern, hub bore, brake-disc sizes per model, M3 as a separate class)

research note on manufacturer specifications and specialist sources

e46-wheel-physical-fitment.md

The note itself grades the bolt pattern and hub bore HIGH and the bolt thread MEDIUM; graded MEDIUM here as one source. Brake clearance figures are specialist statements, not BMW's.

T-036 — European dealer listings for the six wheel styles (availability flags at fetch date; no seller named in the article)

retailer

t036-evidence/T-036-findings.md

Used only for the aside that some catalogue-discontinued rims are still listed new; a listing is a dealer's claim at fetch date.

T-069 — the six wheel images in this article: AI illustrations made for zauberlabs by the owner (C2PA manifests), checked by the owner against forums and Wikipedia; originals and SHA-256 recorded

project record (image provenance)

t069-wheel-photos/README.md

LOW: the spoke counts in this article come from these reference images, checked by the owner against forums and Wikipedia. Not evidence of size or fitment.

BMW Germany price lists for the E46 3 Series, 1998–2006 (Sedan, Touring, Coupé, Convertible, Compact), read for factory packages and Editions in T-071 step 2 (source register SR-0067)

BMW-authored (price lists), PO-supplied; private, facts only, not quoted

t071-factory-packages/pricelists-de-packages.json; t071-factory-packages/README.md (Step 2)

HIGH for what the lists state, cited by list and page: M Sport package II 'only with' 68M or 135M from 2004-03 (Sedan p13, Touring p13, Coupé p11, Convertible p10); Clubsport 2004-09 Coupé p12, EUR 4,200; Compact 97M (2002-09 p6). Germany only.

T-031 — European seller research: 658 listings from twelve mainland-European sellers (BMW dealers, specialists, OE-supplier retailers, used-parts marketplaces) read on 2026-10-01; per-offer price, VAT wording, availability, shipping and fitment text recorded; 801 pages saved

retailer listings (provenance only; never decide fitment)

t031-evidence/README.md; t031-evidence/RULES.md; t031-evidence/*.json

HIGH that each listing said what is recorded, at the fetch date (2026-10-01). Listings change; used listings vanish. No seller is named in this article by PO decision.

T-031 offer pack — the PO's filters applied: 266 listings kept, 392 excluded with reasons; coverage per headlight set and wheel style; seller-level ships-to and VAT notes; price ranges new genuine / OE-supplier / used

internal synthesis of S1 against the catalogue

t031-offer-pack/REPORT.md; t031-offer-pack/coverage.json; t031-offer-pack/vendors.json; t031-offer-pack/excluded.json

HIGH for what the listings showed at the fetch date; the catalogue mapping behind 'complete pair' is MEDIUM (ETK mirror).

T-036 — further European public-page sources for factory wheels: new genuine rims found for most styles at two BMW dealers; catalogue 'discontinued' flags versus dealer 'in stock'; shipping reach unconfirmed

retailer listings

t036-evidence/T-036-findings.md

HIGH for the listings at fetch date; the conflict between catalogue 'delivery discontinued' and dealer 'in stock' is recorded, not resolved.

T-039 — headlight supersession chains: old numbers in used listings, exchangeability flags, the 2004 renumbering

ETK mirror part pages

t039-supersession-map/REPORT.md

Used for the 'old number' advice; see the supersession article for the detail.

T-030 and T-024 part c — headlight part numbers are market- and side-specific (US vs Europe; LHD vs RHD); Compact and diesels Europe-only

ETK mirror

t030-evidence/sedan-touring-markets.json; t024-partc-evidence/headlight-table.md

HIGH for the Europe numbers (two mirrors); MEDIUM for US rows.

T-030 — Sedan/Touring headlight numbers per production band, US vs mainland Europe (bmwfans.info USA and Europe trees, month views, part pages; eStore-Central Europe)

ETK mirror, two mirrors for Europe

t030-evidence/sedan-touring-markets.json; t030-evidence/raw/st-*.html

HIGH for the Europe LHD rows (two mirrors agree); MEDIUM for the US rows (one mirror carries a US catalogue) and for every date. The US numbers appear in no Europe tree on either mirror.

T-024 part c — Coupé/Convertible headlight table, US and Europe LHD columns per band, incl. TITAN, white-indicator and adaptive variants

ETK mirror, two mirrors for Europe

t024-partc-evidence/headlight-table.md; t024-partc-evidence/REPORT.md

HIGH for Europe numbers and era grouping; MEDIUM for US numbers and all dates. 'None on the US diagrams' statements are absence in one mirror (MEDIUM).

T-032 Q3 — US-region model lists (bmwfans.info) and BMW USA press information: no E46 diesel and no Compact in the US; BMW's US diesel introduction with the 2009 335d

ETK mirror; BMW-authored; encyclopaedia

t032-evidence/T-032-findings.md; t032-evidence/raw/bmwfans-usa-catalogue-extract.md; t032-evidence/raw/bmw-press-us-2009-3series-335d-page.html

Mirror absence plus a BMW press statement (HIGH for the 2009 diesel introduction, which does not name the E46) plus an encyclopaedia entry for the Compact. The US Touring list contains a 323i the US never sold: US lists are evidence of absence only.

T-039 supersession table — US and Europe chains run in parallel with different numbers; US chains printed, Europe Coupé chains inferred

ETK mirror part pages

t039-supersession-map/supersession-table.md

Used only for the statement that both markets renumbered in step (1999, 2001, 2004) with separate numbers.

T-027 — bumper impact carriers tagged '4 km/h' and '8 km/h = 5 mph' on every body (the US bumper standard); T-038 — adaptive units in the US without TITAN

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md; t038-akl-interchangeability/evidence.md §1

Carrier market reading is an inference (the mirror does not name the market). Used for the 'what else differs on an import' aside.

Owner-forum statements on US vs European E46 front ends (side-marker reflectors, headlight-washer openings)

forum (search summaries)

t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md (attributed in the text)

Never decides. Shown only as owners' claims about visible differences.

T-035.1 — factory wheel applicability by market: all nine modelled wheel part numbers identical in the US and Europe trees; only the lists of cars differ

ETK mirror

t035-evidence/REPORT.md

Used only for the aside that wheels carry identical numbers in both markets.

T-039 supersession table: chain links printed on saved BMW parts-catalogue part pages (bmwfans.info 'Old partnumber' and exchangeability fields), cross-checked against eStore-Central diagrams; 58 printed links for Sedan/Touring (Europe and US) and US Coupé/Convertible

ETK mirror part pages (catalogue-grade); two mirrors where noted

t039-supersession-map/supersession-table.md; t039-supersession-map/supersession-chains.json; t039-supersession-map/part-pages.json

HIGH only where both mirrors agree (the Europe Sedan/Touring 2001→2004 links); MEDIUM for links printed on one mirror (US numbers, the 1998–99 originals, pre-2001 steps). Release dates on part pages are part-number dates, not vehicle dates.

T-039 inferred links: Europe Coupé/Convertible chains reconstructed from eStore-Central diagram adjacency and the printed US twins (18 links; no Europe Coupé part page saved except two)

inference from catalogue diagrams; one mirror

t039-supersession-map/supersession-table.md (§Coupé/Convertible Europe, 'inferred')

MEDIUM where diagram adjacency and a printed US twin agree; LOW where only a seller note and the US twin support it (the Europe M3 left unit). Not used to state fit in this article.

T-031 seller notes on replacement numbers (one European dealer's 'replaces' remarks) and the T-031 offer pack of pending listings under old numbers

retailer

t024-partc-evidence/conflicts-t031.md; t039-supersession-map/pending-resolution.json

Never decides. Used only to show which seller claims the catalogue contradicts.

T-030 Sedan/Touring and T-024 part c Coupé/Convertible headlight tables: the production-date bands (09/2001, 03/2003) the chains cross or stay inside

ETK mirror, two mirrors for Europe numbers

t030-evidence/sedan-touring-markets.json; t024-partc-evidence/headlight-table.md

HIGH for the Europe numbers and era grouping; every date MEDIUM (one mirror prints dates).

T-039 report — supersession map and the pending offers (2026-10-01)

internal synthesis of S1–S4

t039-supersession-map/REPORT.md; t039-supersession-map/README.md

The grading of every claim in the body follows this file.

T-035.1 — factory wheel applicability by market: bmwfans.info part-page usage tables and model-tree diagrams for six wheel styles, USA and Europe LHD trees; live Europe rules cross-checked against eStore-Central

ETK mirror (US side one mirror; Europe side two mirrors agree)

t035-evidence/REPORT.md; t035-evidence/applicability-by-market.md; t035-evidence/bmwfans-part-usage-e46.json

MEDIUM throughout: the US tables rest on one mirror; the Europe tables are corroborated by the second mirror, but both mirrors derive from the same BMW data and no BMW-hosted catalogue was reachable. Rim rows carry no date bands.

T-030 — wheel part numbers compared across the USA and Europe trees (nine numbers, six styles); Compact listed for Europe only

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t030-evidence/wheels-compact-markets.json

E46 wheel knowledge (research note on enthusiast and reseller sources: style tables, the US-only ZHP package)

enthusiast and press sources

e46-wheel-knowledge.md

Never decides. Used only for the statement that the performance package behind one wheel's factory record was a US-market package.

T-036 — European dealer listings for the six wheel styles (availability flags; no seller named in the article)

retailer

t036-evidence/T-036-findings.md

Used only for the aside that some catalogue-discontinued rims are still listed new by dealers; listings are a dealer's claim at fetch date.

BMW parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): bumper trim-panel and carrier groups for 330i/320i/320d Sedan, 330i Touring, 330Ci Coupé and Convertible, 316ti Compact, M3 Coupé and Convertible, M3 CSL, fetched 2026-10-01

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade, one mirror, no stated data version)

t027-evidence/raw/estore-bumper-matrix.md; t027-evidence/raw/estore-bumper-groups.json; t027-evidence/raw/estore-bumper-groups-cabrio.json

The mirror shows the catalogue's group names ('up to 9-01', 'from 09-01', 'from 03-03', SA715, SA716) and short row tags ('4 km/h', '8 km/h = 5 mph', 'AHV', 'M3 - PDC'), but no date column and no equipment notes. Where two parts sit in one group without a tag, the reason is not shown.

BMW parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): park-distance-control, PDC retrofit and headlight-cleaning groups, 330i Sedan

ETK mirror (one mirror)

t027-evidence/raw/estore-pdc-washer-groups.json

BMW Group UK press kit, 26 Oct 2001: The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring

BMW-authored

t032-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-3series-page.html

HIGH for its description of the facelift front (curved headlights with indicators behind clear glass, round fog lamps). Saloon and Touring only; no BMW text on bumper fitment was found.

Catalogue month views of the Coupé/Convertible front bumper on a second mirror (bmwfans.info), used in the T-024 headlight research to fix the March 2003 changeover

ETK mirror, second mirror

t024-partc-evidence/headlight-table.md (§1, band 3 note); t024-partc-evidence/REPORT.md

HIGH for the Coupé/Convertible changeover month only (two mirrors agree on 03/2003 via the bumper).

Owner-forum and retailer statements on bumper swaps (search summaries; the main E46 forum is paywalled and was not read)

forum / retailer

t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md (attributed in the text)

Never decides. Used for brackets, M3 wing width, US reflectors and washer holes, PDC sensor positions, all marked LOW.

T-045 research — the eight unlabelled E46 bumper cover pairs resolved on a second catalogue mirror (bmwfans.info Europe trees: option conditions and date columns per cover), 2026-10-02

ETK mirror, second mirror (group pages with option conditions and dates; part pages)

t045-bumper-pairs/T-045-findings.md

MEDIUM for the equipment splits (one mirror prints the PDC, headlight-cleaning and trailer-coupling conditions); HIGH where both mirrors agree on numbers and a date column is printed (09/2001 and 03/2003 changeovers, M3 front split 09/2001, Coupé/Convertible 'to Mar 03').

T-027 research findings — Bumpers: what decides fit (2026-10-01)

internal synthesis of S1–S5, S7

t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md

The grading of every claim in the body follows this file.

BMW Parts and Accessories Installation Instructions — Multi-functional steering wheel (MFL) retrofit kit / Cruise control (GRA), EBA no. 01 29 0 016 107, dated 11.2001

BMW-authored; full text read; hosted on a third-party mirror (bmw.etk.club), PDF not archived

t029-evidence/raw/bmw-eba-284-mfl-retrofit-kit.txt

HIGH for what the document states; full text read; hosted on a third-party mirror, PDF not archived. Both kit generations it names are independently listed on the catalogue mirror.

BMW Group UK press kit, 26 Oct 2001: The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, plus model specification lists

BMW-authored

t029-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-steering-extract.txt

UK market, model year 2002 only.

BMW parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central), steering-wheel groups for Sedan, Touring, Coupé, Convertible, Compact and M3, fetched 2026-10-01

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade, no stated data version)

t029-evidence/raw/estore-steering-matrix.md; t029-evidence/raw/estore-steering-groups.json

Capped at MEDIUM by project policy: one mirror, no dates, no provenance. See s33-etk-evidence-validation.md.

Forum and enthusiast-site statements (search-result summaries; the main E46 forum is paywalled and was not read)

forum / enthusiast

t029-evidence/T-029-findings.md (attributed in the text)

Never decides alone. Shown only where marked LOW.

T-029 research findings — Steering wheel: what decides fit (2026-10-01); T-027 bumper findings for the 'M-Tech' naming

internal synthesis of S1–S4

t029-evidence/T-029-findings.md; t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md

The grading of every claim in the body follows these files.

T-040 research — Do E46 steering-wheel and seat swaps affect TÜV/HU or registration? (2026-10-02): HU-Richtlinie defect catalogue and Directive 2014/45/EU Annex I via the umwelt-online mirror, §19 and §35a StVZO, Anlage VIII, TÜV Rheinland and KBA publications

legal texts and official publications via mirror; internal synthesis

t040-steering-wheel-inspection/T-040-findings.md

Official texts stay out of the source register (PO, 2026-10-11): the HU-Richtlinie, StVZO and Directive 2014/45/EU were read through a mirror, so claims resting on them are attributed in the text and graded LOW. The genuine-wheel question is an inference and presented as unresolved. Germany only; not legal advice.

T-047 research — second source for the E46 SMART airbag start date (2026-10-02): catalogue date columns for the steering-wheel groups on bmwfans.info, Europe trees, Saloon/Touring/Coupé/Convertible/Compact/M3

ETK mirror (one mirror prints the date columns); internal synthesis

t047-smart-airbag-date/T-047-findings.md

MEDIUM: one mirror's date columns put the change to the Smart wheel groups at 06–07/2000 on Saloon, Touring and Coupé; Convertible, Compact and M3 show Smart groups only. Conflicts with the instruction's 06/99 sentence (S1); catalogue Smart = instruction SMART not established.

BMW parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): Seats groups for 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330Ci Coupé, 330Ci Convertible, 316ti Compact and M3 Coupé, fetched 2026-10-01 (group names and parsed rows incl. weights)

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade, one mirror, no stated data version)

t028-evidence/raw/estore-seat-groups.json; t028-evidence/scrape_estore_seats.py

Capped at MEDIUM by project policy: one mirror, no dates, no equipment notes. The complete-seat pages for Sedan, Touring, Coupé and Compact show only placeholder parent rows; the Convertible and M3 pages list complete seats by upholstery and colour with weights of roughly 22–38 kg (rows re-read for this article).

BMW Group UK press kit, 26 Oct 2001: The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, with model specification lists

BMW-authored

t028-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-seat-extract.txt

HIGH for what it states: seat height adjustment standard on the front seats, a new upholstery range 'from flat weave cloth through to three choices of Exclusive Nappa leather', ISOFIX preparation. UK, model year 2002, Saloon and Touring.

Owner-forum statements on E46 seat swaps (search-result summaries; the main E46 forum is paywalled and was not read)

forum

t028-evidence/T-028-findings.md (attributed in the text)

Never decides alone. Used for cross-body fitting details and US package content, marked LOW.

T-028 research findings — Seats: what decides fit (2026-10-01)

internal synthesis of S1–S3

t028-evidence/T-028-findings.md

The grading follows this file, with one correction recorded in the body: T-028 §1c states that the catalogue lists no complete front seats; the raw rows show that this holds for Sedan, Touring, Coupé and Compact but not for the Convertible and M3.

BMW parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): Seats, Restraint System and seat wiring groups for 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330Ci Coupé, 330Ci Convertible, 316ti Compact and M3 Coupé, fetched 2026-10-01

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade, one mirror, no stated data version)

t028-evidence/raw/estore-seat-groups.json; t028-evidence/raw/estore-seat-wiring-groups.json; t028-evidence/scrape_estore_seats.py

Capped at MEDIUM by project policy: one mirror, no dates, almost no equipment notes. The door-airbag finding is consistent across all six vehicles read.

BMW Group UK press kit, 26 Oct 2001: The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, with model specification lists

BMW-authored

t028-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-seat-extract.txt

HIGH for what it states: six airbags standard (driver, passenger, front side, ITS head), automatic belt tensioners for the front seats, seat height adjustment, ISOFIX preparation. UK, model year 2002, Saloon and Touring only; it does not give airbag locations.

Owner-forum statements on E46 seat swaps (search-result summaries; the main E46 forum is paywalled and was not read)

forum

t028-evidence/T-028-findings.md (attributed in the text)

Never decides alone. Used for the consequences of a mismatch and for cross-body fitting, marked LOW.

T-028 research findings — Seats: what decides fit (2026-10-01)

internal synthesis of S1–S3, S5

t028-evidence/T-028-findings.md

The grading of every claim in the body follows this file. One generated-content web page on occupancy-sensor connector generations was recorded as unverified and is not used here.

BMW Parts and Accessories Installation Instructions — Multi-functional steering wheel retrofit kit, EBA no. 01 29 0 016 107 (11.2001); cited here only for BMW's airbag-system precautions

BMW-authored; full text read; hosted on a third-party mirror (bmw.etk.club), PDF not archived

t029-evidence/raw/bmw-eba-284-mfl-retrofit-kit.txt

HIGH for what it states: observe the airbag-system safety regulations, carry out a short test, disconnect the battery before airbag work. Written for a steering-wheel job; the precautions are the airbag system's, not the wheel's.

T-040 research — Do E46 steering-wheel and seat swaps affect TÜV/HU or registration? (2026-10-02): HU-Richtlinie defect catalogue and Directive 2014/45/EU Annex I via the umwelt-online mirror, §19 and §35a StVZO, Anlage VIII, TÜV Rheinland and KBA publications

legal texts and official publications via mirror; internal synthesis

t040-steering-wheel-inspection/T-040-findings.md

Official texts stay out of the source register (PO, 2026-10-11): the HU-Richtlinie and Directive 2014/45/EU were read through a mirror, so claims resting on them are attributed in the text and graded LOW. TÜV Rheinland's advice is quoted as its own. The same-body-group point is an inference. Germany only; not legal advice.

BMW Group PressClub Deutschland, '15 Jahre BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH in Eisenach. Eine Erfolgsgeschichte aus und für Thüringen', press release of 15 June 2007 — https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/deutschland/article/detail/T0003611DE

BMW-authored (press release)

web: press.bmwgroup.com, T0003611DE, fetched 2026-10-02

HIGH for what BMW states: takeover of the Eisenach vehicle factory in November 1928; production restart in November 1945; BMW's return to Eisenach with the opening of BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH on 10 March 1992; DM 120 million investment; BMW's own description of itself as the first major investor in eastern Germany after the Wall.

BMW Group Werke, 'BMW Group Plant Eisenach' (plant page) — https://www.bmwgroup-werke.com/eisenach/en.html

BMW-authored (corporate site)

web: bmwgroup-werke.com/eisenach, fetched 2026-10-02

HIGH for: 'the first ever BMW car factory', the BMW 3/15 built there, BMW's return in 1992 with press-tool engineering and sheet-metal body parts, current output and workforce figures (as of fetch date).

BMW Group Classic blog (PressTopic), 'DIXILAND' — https://www.presstopic.bmwgroup.com/en/bmw-classic-blog/text/DIXILAND-8627.html

BMW-authored (BMW Group Classic)

web: presstopic.bmwgroup.com, DIXILAND-8627, fetched 2026-10-02

HIGH for: BMW bought the Eisenach factory in 1928; the Austin Seven licence behind the 3/15; the 3/15's price and performance; the 3/20 of 1932. Undated article.

BMW Group Classic, 'History' page — https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en/history.html

BMW-authored (BMW Group Classic)

web: bmwgroup-classic.com/en/history, fetched 2026-10-02

HIGH for: BMW's founding date (7 March 1916) and 'The BMW 501, produced from 1952, was BMW's first post-war automobile.' The page does not mention Eisenach.

BMW Group Classic press text, '40 years of the BMW 3 Series model range' (PressClub attachment) — https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/attachment/T0216343EN/320177/BMW_Group_Classic_40_years_of_the_BMW_3_Series__E.pdf

BMW-authored (BMW Group Classic)

web: press.bmwgroup.com, T0216343EN attachment, fetched 2026-10-02

BMW Media Information, 05/2015. HIGH for: third generation 'took to the stage in 1990'; E36 'sold a total of 2,745,780 units'; fourth generation 'in spring 1998', Coupé 'as early as April 1999', Touring 'later that year', Convertible 'spring 2000', Compact 'early 2001'; E46 total sales 'a historical peak for the BMW 3 Series of 3,266,885 units'.

BMW Group news, 'BMW 3 Series celebrates 50 years', 11 July 2025 — https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/news/general/2025/50-years-BMW-3-series.html

BMW-authored (corporate news)

web: bmwgroup.com/en/news, 2025-07-11, fetched 2026-10-02

HIGH for: E36 launch 1990 and body variants (Coupé 1992, Convertible 1993, Compact 1994, Touring 1995); E46 'in the spring of 1998' and variants (Coupé and Touring 1999, Convertible 2000, Compact 2001); '2.75 million E36s had rolled off the production line' by 2000; '3,266,885 3 Series vehicles' by 2006 (agrees with S5).

BMW Group PressClub USA, 'The success story of a global trendsetter: Five generations of the BMW 3 Series', 28 March 2011 — https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/article/detail/T0102982EN_US/

BMW-authored (press release)

web: press.bmwgroup.com/usa, T0102982EN_US, fetched 2026-10-02

HIGH for: 'In 1990, the four-door sedan marks the launch of the third generation'; Coupé and Convertible 1992, Compact 1994; 'May 1998 sees the arrival of the fourth generation'; E46 technical notes.

Wikipedia, 'Automobilwerk Eisenach' — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobilwerk_Eisenach

encyclopaedia

web: en.wikipedia.org, fetched 2026-10-02

MEDIUM for: founding on 3 December 1896 by Heinrich Ehrhardt; Dixi name from 1904; the Soviet stock company (Awtowelo) after 1945; transfer to East German ownership and the EMW name in 1952; Wartburg from 1956; the Treuhand agency closing AWE in April 1991; Opel's new Eisenach plant in 1992.

Wikipedia, 'Eisenacher Motorenwerk' — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenacher_Motorenwerk

encyclopaedia

web: en.wikipedia.org, fetched 2026-10-02

MEDIUM for: US occupation April 1945, Soviet takeover July 1945; order no. 93 of October 1945; civilian sales from 1948; the 1952 lawsuit after which the plant had to use the EMW name; EMW 340 built 1952–1955; the red-and-white logo.

Wikipedia, 'Wartburg (marque)' — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wartburg_(marque)

encyclopaedia

web: en.wikipedia.org, fetched 2026-10-02

MEDIUM for: the Wartburg name revived in 1956 (311), the 353 from 1965, the 1.3 from 1988, and 'Production ended on 10 April 1991'.

Eisenach Online (local news), 'Vor 75 Jahren rettete am 13. Oktober 1945 der SMAD-Befehl Nr. 93 den Automobilstandort Eisenach', 13 October 2020 — https://www.eisenachonline.de/personen/vor-75-jahren-rette-am-13-oktober-1945-der-smad-befehl-nr-93-den-automobilstandort-eisenach-105159

regional press

web: eisenachonline.de, 2020-10-13, fetched 2026-10-02

MEDIUM for: the exact date of Soviet order no. 93 (13 October 1945) and its wording; US forces at the plant on 6 April 1945, Soviet forces from 3 July 1945; over 60 percent of the plant destroyed; 68 cars and 75 motorcycles completed by the end of 1945.

BMW parts-catalogue mirrors (bmwfans.info Europe and USA trees; eStore-Central Europe): facelift Coupé/Convertible headlight diagrams and lighting indexes, saved pages

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade)

t024-t025-evidence/raw/coupe-bmwfans-330ci-coupe-headlight_2.html; coupe-bmwfans-E46-Coupe_USA_330Ci-M54-headlight_2.html; coupe-estore-330ci-coupe-Headlight-2.html; coupe-bmwfans-330ci-lighting.html; t024-partc-evidence/headlight-table.md

HIGH where both mirrors print the same thing (the option nesting: adaptive rows always sit under xenon + adaptive). MEDIUM for single-mirror rows ('Europe adaptive units are TITAN only') and for every catalogue date (only one mirror prints dates).

BMW system description of Adaptive Headlights (AHL) for the E46, reproduced by a third-party site (micro-tronik.com); BMW Technical Training ST052 'E46 Lighting Systems' (PDF on archive.org)

BMW-authored, reached only through search summaries of third-party reproductions

t038-akl-interchangeability/evidence.md §2.1–2.2

Neither the reproduction page nor the PDF could be opened; wording comes from summaries. The two 'levelling' quotes in the body are from the system description (§2.2). Capped at MEDIUM until read in full (fetch-list item 5).

UNECE Regulation 48 (installation of lighting devices): automatic levelling for gas-discharge dipped beam; amber direction indicators. German periodic inspection (HU) practice from inspection guides

regulation via summaries; inspection guides

t038-akl-interchangeability/evidence.md §4

Official texts stay out of the source register (PO, 2026-10-11): the regulation and the inspection practice were read only through summaries and inspection guides, so every claim resting on them is attributed in the text and graded LOW, never stated as fact.

Owner forum threads (e46fanatics, bimmerfest, e46zone) on adaptive-headlight retrofits and mismatches

forum (search summaries; concordant across several threads; none opened)

t038-akl-interchangeability/evidence.md §3

Never decides alone. Used only for the mechanism's consequences, marked LOW.

Retailer listings: BMW installation-instruction collection (m-flight-europe) and parts-dealer listings of BMW retrofit kits

retailer

t038-akl-interchangeability/evidence.md §2.3–2.4

T-038 research report and evidence (2026-10-01); T-032 follow-ups Q2 (2026-10-01)

internal synthesis of S1–S5

t038-akl-interchangeability/REPORT.md; t038-akl-interchangeability/evidence.md; t032-evidence/T-032-findings.md

The grading of every claim in the body follows these files.

T-025 catalogue research — E46 Compact headlights on two BMW parts-catalogue mirrors (eStore-Central and bmwfans.info), all nine Compact engine variants, LHD and RHD, saved pages, fetched 2026

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade), two mirrors

t024-t025-evidence/compact.json; t024-t025-evidence/raw/compact-*.html; t024-t025-evidence/RULES.md

HIGH where both mirrors agree at part-number level (the two families, LHD/RHD, Compact-only numbers). MEDIUM where only one mirror shows it (no running change; extra numbers on one mirror; option code).

T-030 market check — bmwfans.info region trees per E46 body (Compact: Europe only)

ETK mirror

t030-evidence/wheels-compact-markets.json (fact B-compact)

Absence of a US tree in one mirror; no source contradicts it.

T-032 research follow-ups Q3/Q4 — Compact and diesels in the US; halogen as base. Includes BMW Group Classic model pages (production dates, silent on market), BMW press kits MY2002 (xenon as an option, Sedan/Touring), Wikipedia 'BMW 3 Series Compact' (not sold in North America)

mixed (BMW-authored, encyclopaedia, ETK mirror)

t032-evidence/T-032-findings.md; t032-evidence/raw/bmwfans-usa-catalogue-extract.md; t032-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-3series-page.html; t032-evidence/raw/bmw-press-us-my2002-3series-page.html

Market statement rests on the mirror plus an encyclopaedia (MEDIUM); BMW-authored pages give production dates (HIGH) but say nothing about market.

T-038 — adaptive headlights exist on the E46 Coupé and Convertible only

BMW training text via reproduction; catalogue

t038-akl-interchangeability/REPORT.md

Owner-forum cues for telling halogen from xenon (not Compact-specific)

forum

t032-evidence/T-032-findings.md (Q1)

Never decides alone; shown only as owners' claims.

T-024 part c — Coupé/Convertible headlight table from the saved BMW parts-catalogue mirror pages (bmwfans.info USA and Europe trees incl. month views; eStore-Central Europe diagrams; part pages)

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade), two mirrors for Europe

t024-partc-evidence/headlight-table.md; t024-partc-evidence/REPORT.md; t024-t025-evidence/raw/coupe-*.html

Europe numbers and era grouping HIGH (both mirrors); every date MEDIUM (only one mirror prints dates); US numbers MEDIUM (one mirror). The 03/2003 cut-over month is HIGH via the front bumper evidence of the same pack.

T-030 — Sedan/Touring headlight numbers per band, US vs Europe (bmwfans.info USA and Europe trees, month views, part pages; eStore-Central Europe)

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade), two mirrors for Europe

t030-evidence/sedan-touring-markets.json; t030-evidence/raw/st-*.html

Europe LHD rows HIGH (both mirrors); US rows MEDIUM; dates MEDIUM (one mirror).

BMW Group press kits, model year 2002: UK 'The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring' (26 Oct 2001) and BMW USA MY2002 3 Series

BMW-authored

t032-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-3series-page.html; t032-evidence/raw/bmw-press-us-my2002-3series-page.html; t032-evidence/T-032-findings.md (Q1, Q4)

HIGH for: xenon was optional; bi-xenon was a new option for MY2002 (Sedan/Touring). Says nothing about lens appearance.

Owner-forum and retailer cues for telling halogen from xenon (PistonHeads, E46Zone threads; retrofit retailer page)

forum / retailer

t032-evidence/T-032-findings.md (Q1); t032-evidence/raw/forum-and-secondary-quotes.md

Never decides alone. Lens cue contradicted for facelift Coupé/Convertible.

T-025 — Compact headlights (no running change)

ETK mirror

t024-t025-evidence/compact.json

T-038 — adaptive headlights (Coupé/Convertible facelift only)

BMW training text via reproduction; catalogue

t038-akl-interchangeability/REPORT.md

BMW parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): bumper trim-panel groups for Sedan, Touring, 320d, Coupé, Convertible, Compact, M3 and M3 CSL, fetched 2026-10-01

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade, one mirror, no stated data version)

t027-evidence/raw/estore-bumper-matrix.md; t027-evidence/raw/estore-bumper-groups.json; t027-evidence/raw/estore-sedan-330i-vehicle-trim.html

Group names carry the option codes (SA715, SA716) and the index names an 'Aerodynamics Package'; the mirror shows no dates and no marketing names for the two packages.

BMW parts-catalogue mirror (eStore-Central): steering-wheel groups for all E46 body styles, fetched 2026-10-01

ETK mirror (catalogue-grade, one mirror)

t029-evidence/raw/estore-steering-matrix.md; t029-evidence/raw/estore-steering-groups.json

Group and row names are BMW's part descriptions; option codes appear in the 'Individual equipment' group labels. The meaning of each code rests partly on an enthusiast list (LOW).

BMW Group UK press kit, 26 Oct 2001: The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, with model specification lists

BMW-authored

t029-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-steering-extract.txt; t032-evidence/raw/bmw-press-uk-2001-3series-page.html

HIGH for the equipment names it uses ('leather rim sports steering wheel', 'sports multi-function steering wheel', 'Sequential Sports Gearbox', 'bi-xenon headlights') and for the facelift description. UK, model year 2002.

BMW parts-catalogue mirrors (bmwfans.info Europe and USA; eStore-Central): option headers on the facelift Coupé/Convertible headlight diagrams

ETK mirror, two mirrors

t024-partc-evidence/headlight-table.md; t038-akl-interchangeability/evidence.md §1

HIGH where both mirrors print the same option header: 'Xenon Light' 522, 'Adaptive Headlights' 524, 'White direction indicator lights' 785.

Owner-forum and enthusiast-site usage of the names (search summaries; the main E46 forum is paywalled and was not read)

forum

t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md; t029-evidence/T-029-findings.md (attributed in the text)

Never decides. Used only to document what the forum names refer to.

BMW Parts and Accessories Installation Instructions — Multi-functional steering wheel (MFL) retrofit kit / Cruise control (GRA), EBA no. 01 29 0 016 107, dated 11.2001

BMW-authored; full text read; hosted on a third-party mirror (bmw.etk.club), PDF not archived

t029-evidence/raw/bmw-eba-284-mfl-retrofit-kit.txt

HIGH for what the document states; cited here for the pairing of the multifunction steering wheel with cruise control in one kit.

T-027 bumper findings and T-029 steering-wheel findings (2026-10-01)

internal synthesis of S1–S5, S7

t027-evidence/T-027-findings.md; t029-evidence/T-029-findings.md

The grading of every claim in the body follows these files.