Change Car Rear Silencer BMW 3-Series

Change Car Rear Silencer

Easy 0h45–2h30 ~75–250£
Estimated time 0h45–2h30
Estimated labour cost ~75–250£
Difficulty Easy
Vehicles
3-Series 1982-1995 15
  • 316 Petrol (M10B18)
  • 316i Petrol (M10B18)
  • 316i Petrol (M40B16)
  • 318i Petrol (M10B18)
  • 318i Petrol (M40B18)
  • 318is Petrol (M42B18)
  • 320i Petrol (M20B20)
  • 320i Petrol (M20B20)
  • 320is Petrol (S14B20)
  • 323i Petrol (M20B23)
  • 323i Petrol (M20B23)
  • 325e Petrol (M20B27)
  • 325i, -ix Petrol (M20B25)
  • M3 Petrol (S14B23)
  • M3 Petrol (S14B23)
3-Series 1990-2000 15
  • 316g (65/75 kW) CNG,Petrol (M43B16)
  • 316i (73/75 kW) Petrol (M40B16)
  • 316i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B16)
  • 318i (83/85 kW) Petrol (M40B18)
  • 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B18)
  • 318is Petrol (M42B18)
  • 318is, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M44B19)
  • 320i Petrol (M50B20)
  • 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20)
  • 323i Petrol (M52B25)
  • 323ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU)
  • 325i Petrol (M50B25)
  • 328i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28)
  • M3 GT Petrol (S50B30)
  • M3 Petrol (S50B30)
3-Series 1998-2007 26
  • 316 Ci Petrol (M43B16TU)
  • 316i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B19TU)
  • 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N40B16)
  • 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N45B16)
  • 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N42B18A)
  • 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B18A)
  • 316ti Petrol (N40B16)
  • 318 Ci Petrol (N46B20)
  • 318d Diesel (M47D20)
  • 318d, -td Diesel (M47D20TU)
  • 318i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B19TU)
  • 318i, -ti, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N42B20)
  • 318i, -ti, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20)
  • 320d Diesel (M47D20)
  • 320d, -Cd Diesel (M47D20TU)
  • 320d, -td, -Cd Diesel (M47D20TU)
  • 320i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20TU)
  • 320i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B22)
  • 323i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU)
  • 325i, -xi, -ti, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B25)
  • 328i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28TU)
  • 330d, -xd Diesel (M57D30)
  • 330d, -xd, -Cd Diesel (M57D30TU)
  • 330i, -xi, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B30)
  • M3 CSL Petrol (S54B32)
  • M3, -LPG LPG,Petrol (S54B32)
3-Series 2005-2013 44
  • 316d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 316i Petrol (N43B16A)
  • 316i Petrol (N45B16A)
  • 318d Diesel (M47D20TU2uL)
  • 318d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 318d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 318i Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 318i Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 320d Diesel (M47D20TU2OL)
  • 320d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 320d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 320d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -Xd Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -Xd M Performance Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320i Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 320i Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 320Si, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N45B20A)
  • 323i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 323i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 323i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 325d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 325d Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 325i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 325i, -Xi Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 325i, -Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 325i, -Xi, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 328i, -Xi Petrol (N51B30A)
  • 330d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 330d, -xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 330d, -xd Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 330i, -Xi Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 330i, -Xi Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 330i, -Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 335d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 335d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 335i, -Xi Petrol (N54B30A)
  • 335i, -Xi Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 335is Petrol (N54B30A)
  • M3 GTS/CRT Petrol (S65B44A)
  • M3 Petrol (S65B40A)
3-Series 2011-2020 35
  • 316d Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 316d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 316i Petrol (N13B16A)
  • 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 318d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 318i Petrol (B38B15A)
  • 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 320d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 320d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320i EfficientDynamics, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N13B16A)
  • 320i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320i, -xDrive, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N20B20B)
  • 325d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 325d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 325d Diesel (N47D20D)
  • 328i Petrol (N26B20A)
  • 328i, -xDrive Petrol (N20B20A)
  • 330d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 330d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 330e PHEV Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 330i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 335d xDrive Diesel (N57D30B)
  • 335i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 335i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 335i, -xDrive Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 340i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (B58B30A)
  • 340i, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30A)
  • Active Hybrid 3 Electricity,Petrol (N55B30A)
  • M3 Petrol (S55B30A)
  • M3 Petrol (S55B30A)
3-Series 2019-2025 21
  • 316d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 316d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 318d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 318d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 318i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 320d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 320e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 320i Petrol (B48B16A)
  • 320i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 330d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B+JA1)
  • 330d, -xDrive Diesel (B57D30A)
  • 330e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 330e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20B+GC1)
  • 330i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • M3 Competition, -xDrive Petrol (S58B30A)
  • M3 Petrol (S58B30B)
  • M340d mHev xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B+JA1)
  • M340i mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B58B30B+JA1)
  • M340i, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30B)
Remove/refit the silencer 0h45–2h30
Renew the silencer 0h45–2h30
Repair the silencer* 1h30
Remove/refit the front silencer 0h45–2h30
Renew the front silencer 0h45–2h30
Repair the front silencer 0h30–0h45
Align the front silencer 0h30–0h30
Repair the main silencer 0h30
Align the main silencer* 0h30
Difficult main silencer removal* 0h30
Remove/refit the rear silencer 0h30–2h30
Renew the rear silencer 0h30–2h30
Repair the rear silencer 0h30
Weld a sheet-metal repair panel onto the rear silencer* 0h45–6h00
Difficult rear silencer removal 0h30–0h30
Remove/refit the rear silencer trim 0h30–0h30
Renew the rear silencer trim 0h30–0h30
Remove/refit the exhaust pipe bracket 0h30
Renew the exhaust pipe bracket 0h30
Remove/refit the centre and rear silencers 0h45
Renew the centre and rear silencers 0h45
Remove/refit the rear left silencer 0h30–0h45
Align the main silencer 0h30–0h30
Remove/refit both rear silencer trims 0h30
Renew both rear silencer trims 0h30
Remove/refit the main silencer 1h30–2h00
Renew the main silencer 1h30–2h00
Repair the front silencer* 0h45–1h30
Align the front silencer* 0h30
Repair the main silencer* 0h30–1h30
Remove/refit both rear silencers (follow-up work) 1h00
Repair the rear silencer* 0h30–1h30
Difficult rear silencer removal* 0h30–0h30
Weld a sheet-metal repair panel onto the rear silencer 0h30–0h45
Reduce rear silencer of end tube (max. 1cm) 0h30

What is a BMW 3-Series rear silencer?

The rear silencer (also called the back box or rear muffler) reduces exhaust noise to an acceptable level. It is located at the end of the exhaust line, after the catalytic converter, particulate filter (if fitted), and sometimes an intermediate silencer.

When should you change the BMW 3-Series rear silencer?

No periodic replacement interval is specified. Carry out regular visual inspections for corrosion, holes, and deteriorated mounting rubbers. Signs that replacement is needed: louder exhaust noise, rattling from loose baffles, visible rust holes, exhaust fumes entering the cabin, or failure at the MOT/roadworthiness test.

Is it difficult to change the BMW 3-Series rear silencer?

Difficulty level 2/5: technically easy but may require effort if bolts and clamps are rusted. Key steps: raise the vehicle, apply penetrating oil to clamp bolts, remove the clamp connecting the silencer to the intermediate pipe, remove the mounting rubber hangers, fit the new silencer with new gasket/clamp, reattach mounting rubbers, check for leaks with engine running.

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View your 3-Series maintenance plan (keep the 3-Series token) →

7 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
3-Series 1975-1983 1975-1983 315 Petrol (M10B16), 316 Petrol (M10B16), 316 Petrol (M10B18), 318i Petrol (M10B18), 320 Petrol (M10B20), 320 Petrol (M20B20), 320i Petrol (M10B20) Petrol
3-Series 1982-1995 1982-1995 316 Petrol (M10B18), 316i Petrol (M10B18), 316i Petrol (M40B16), 318i Petrol (M10B18), 318i Petrol (M40B18), 318is Petrol (M42B18), 320i Petrol (M20B20), 320i Petrol (M20B20), 320is Petrol (S14B20), 323i Petrol (M20B23), 323i Petrol (M20B23), 325e Petrol (M20B27), 325i, -ix Petr… Petrol
3-Series 1990-2000 1990-2000 316g (65/75 kW) CNG,Petrol (M43B16), 316i (73/75 kW) Petrol (M40B16), 316i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B16), 318i (83/85 kW) Petrol (M40B18), 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B18), 318is Petrol (M42B18), 318is, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M44B19), 320i Petrol (M50B20), 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20), 32… CNG, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 1998-2007 1998-2007 316 Ci Petrol (M43B16TU), 316i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B19TU), 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N40B16), 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N45B16), 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N42B18A), 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B18A), 316ti Petrol (N40B16), 318 Ci Petrol (N46B20), 318d Diesel (M47D20), 318d,… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 2005-2013 2005-2013 316d Diesel (N47D20C), 316i Petrol (N43B16A), 316i Petrol (N45B16A), 318d Diesel (M47D20TU2uL), 318d Diesel (N47D20A), 318d Diesel (N47D20C), 318i Petrol (N43B20A), 318i Petrol (N43B20A), 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20B), 320d Diesel (M47D20TU2OL), 320d Diesel (N47D20A), 320d Die… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 2011-2020 2011-2020 316d Diesel (B47D20A), 316d Diesel (N47D20C), 316i Petrol (N13B16A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C), 318i Petrol (B38B15A), 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (B47D20A), 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (N47D20C), 320d, -xD… Diesel, Electricity, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 2019-2025 2019-2025 316d Diesel (B47D20B), 316d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 318d Diesel (B47D20B), 318d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 318i Petrol (B48B20A), 320d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 320d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B), 320e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20… 48V (MHEV), Diesel, Electricity, Petrol

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