Front wheel bearing replacement.

[Reck]

So I have a 1983 316. The front brakes were upgraded before I bought it to 323i vented rotors and calipers. My question is - would they have needed to change the hubs too? i.e. Do I now need 4-pot front bearings or 6-pot (which I believe are slightly larger)?

[arshad76]

Might not answer your question, but I bought a bearing kit from eBay for my car and it didn't fit. Apparently there can be differences. My mechanic just took out the old one and told me about a place called Bearing Mart in town who matched me me a pair for £7.

[Reck]

That's what I'm worried about! I don't want to pull the old bearings and find these I've already bought are wrong. £7 a pair - that's a bargain! I paid £10 a piece on ebay and thought I was getting a good deal.

[arshad76]

Well that's what happened with mine. Mechanic wasn't best pleased as my E21 was taking up his ramp, but he didn't charge me too much in the end. The rear bearings are just standard sizes and not BMW specific and why they make money from them by selling them as a kit. Ten quids not too bad though if they gave you grease and the split pins etc.
The front ones on my car were more expensive, as they were special order, but the guy at Bearing Mart said they were in good nick, so he just had them cleaned and repacked them with grease. No charge from what I can remember.

[arshad76]

Unfortunately I don't have any spares and the boxes have the old ones in them. Model numbers for the rears at least are 6206ZZ Precision Bearing if that helps

[mr edd]

jason...unless the legs were changed at the same time the hubs are likely to be standard 316 as 323i /320-6cylinder legs have thicker spindles for the larger bearings and hubs too suit...if you take one of your front wheels off and send me a pic from your phone of the bearig centre cap i should be able to tell if your hubs bearings and legs are original 316 as the centre cap is smaller on a 316...edd

[Jeroen]

I believe they switched to larger bearings for all models from production Sept 81...

[PeteK]

Should be same, but you can always look at the old ones. They'll have the specs stamped into the edge of the inner race.

[Wondermike]

I believe they switched to larger bearings for all models from production Sept 81...

Have to agree on that but not sure about the date.

[OLE97P!]

I believe they switched to larger bearings for all models from production Sept 81...

There was some confusion iover that. My November 1981 (built) 323i had the smaller ones. On mine, one wheel bearing just seized without warning. No rumbling noises, just a sudden front wheel lock up. I got it relayed back, took it all apart and the inner bearing race had started to spin on the stub. Making a mental note to fit another strut at some point, I cleaned it all up, centre punched a few dots onto the stub axle for the inner race to sit on, fitted new bearings and forgot all about it.

[Jeroen]

Not the first time BMW doesn't stick to their own data haha but as a rule of thumb that's approx when they supposedly switched over... give of take a few months, clearly