ECS News

There are tools that any serious technician will regard as essential to their work - tools that make so many projects faster and simpler that access to a quality set is critical. Schwaben Specialty Tools recognized the need for better designed, more fully-featured puller tool kits; this variety of tool is so frequently used across such a wide variety of projects, mechanics deserve the best engineered product possible. Schwaben Pry Bar and Twin-Arm Puller Kits are highly adjustable, exceptionally durable sets of some of the most versatile tools in any home or professional garage.

The E46 3 Series come with an excellent handling package, but there's always room for improvement. Let H&R up your game with suspension products that pick up where BMW left off. Made in Germany, H&R sport springs, sway bars, and adjustable coilovers are built on decades of experience designing world class suspension upgrades; then manufactured to old world standards where "excellence" is more than just a word. Don't compromise. Demand H&R.

If you spend time and money renewing your brake hardware and linings, you ought to consider upgrading to ECS Tuning Exact-Fit brake hoses, and do the job right. These premium brake hoses are stronger, more durable, and better protected than the originals. They are shielded in stainless steel mesh reinforcement, and coated with bright red vinyl for added protection. Available by the axle for front or rear, or as a complete vehicle set, our DOT-compliant, tailored hoses fit like OE for hassle-free installation. Do The Job Right

Add the bold look of our new Alzor Style 030 wheels to your E46 Non-M. Their distinctive split-spoke design is great for showing off your new painted calipers, Exact-Fit brake lines, and GEOMET® rotors. Available in black or hyper silver, in square or staggered sets, Alzor hubcentic wheels are sure to fit right, run true, and add the finishing touch to your other upgrades. Go with 18s or 19s, then finish the job with ECS wheel spacers and bolts.

The primary appeal of new wheels is in the new, shiny appearance they offer. The majority of the time, a different style, size, or color isn't really the ultimate goal. With such a deep catalog of staggeringly effective wheel cleaning and restoration products from specialists Sonax and Chemical Guys, getting what you really want from your wheel setup is fast and easy - and it's all available now from ECS. Acid-free and pH balanced rim and wheel cleaners effortlessly dissolve grease, brake dust and dirt, while safely preserving your wheel's finish.

If your current headlights have a fog over them and are not giving you the light you need, you're probably an excellent candidate for a premium headlight upgrade. Depo Euro Angel Eye Headlight Kits not only improve front-end aesthetics, but also illuminate your driving path far beyond what the stock lighting system is capable of. Angel eyes are one of BMW's most sought after upgrades - Depo kits combine this feature with black-out housings and projector headlights. The Angel Eye Projector Headlight Sets feature European reflectors, blacked out housings, and integrated angel eyes.

ECS Black Out Grille Sets are distinguished by their full matte black ABS plastic construction. The design means that any chips or scratches on the grille will not reveal a white surface underneath black paint, as the parts are integrally black. Engineered to exact OEM dimensions for precise fitment into the BMW E46 3 series, the grilles are available in a carbon fiber-look, gloss black, or matte black finish.

A frequent dilemma when fitting an upgraded seat belt to track-prepared street cars is how to balance the needs of daily driving with the demands of performance driving. A dedicated track-day setup is typically impractical, while running without a substantial harness forces the driver to use the steering wheel to hold themselves in place. Schroth Racing Quick Fit Harnesses are fully reversible and anchor to the factory seat belt pre-tensioner, allowing the airbags to deploy as the BMW engineers intended. Both left (driver) and right (passenger) harnesses are available.

The E46 has been known to suffer from serious cooling system issues, putting critical engine components at risk due to overheating. Three tiers of ECS assembled & genuine OEM kits are now offered, depending on your vehicle's particular needs. All kits include a water pump with metal impeller, ECS water pump pulley, fan switch, thermostat, expansion tank, coolant, & radiator hoses; Level 2 kits add all accessory drive belts and a radiator drain plug. The most thorough option is the Level 3 Kit, further adding a Nissens radiator, idler pulley, hydraulic tensioner and pulley.

Schwaben products are characterized by simple, clever designs. Their wheel storage solutions may be the best examples of these qualities. The Schwaben Wheel Tree holds up to 275lbs and allows you to safely stack your wheels without the risk of scuffing and scratching. Convenient locking casters allow you to easily move the whole set anywhere in your garage or shop at one time. And when saving floor space is the highest priority, the Schwaben Wall-Mounted Wheel Rack allows you to securely store up to four 11½" wide wheels and tires against the wall, away from your work space.

Hawk is well known for anyone in a need of a high quality brake pad to deliver stopping results. The HPS pad that is a favorite to the spirited every day driver has turned it up a notch with the new HPS 5.0 pads. They deliver the same quality you expect and more, with low dust and noise, improved pedal feel, and even more bite without throwing your ABS into ICE mode from the extreme grab of the pads. This pad is a must for anyone who demands the best in street performance. Hawk HPS 5.0 Pads Allows hard high performance braking while pushing the limits of your ABS.

The M3 CSL is arguably BMW's most hallowed and revered sports car. To produce this extremely limited release model, the E46 M3 was further lightened and fitted with stunning engine upgrades, resulting in truly exceptional performance. Visual upgrades were few, though. The most recognizable aesthetic enhancement was a highly-aggressive front bumper, fitted with carbon fiber front splitters and a new intake inlet. Bring this legendary design to your E46 3 Series with the ECS CSL Front Bumper Conversion. The kit includes all pieces required for a complete installation.

If you've ever replaced a broken or cracked water pump pulley and wondered why the engineers at BMW didn't make it out of something more durable, you're not the only one. CNC machined from 6061 billet aluminum, the in-house engineered ECS pulley will never crack or break, leaving you on the side of the road. The hard anodized, corrosion-resistant pulley is a direct-fit replacement, bolting right up to the factory location. If you are replacing your water pump, now is the time to get rid of that stock pulley.

Park Distance Control was a costly option to check at the dealer - a fact evidenced by the shortage of PDC-equipped E46 models on the road today. However, BMW has assembled a superb license-plate mounted PDC kit for the non-M BMW 3 series, letting you enjoy the safety and peace of mind of this helpful feature. City parking is made infinitely more easy, alerting you to objects in blind spots that would otherwise go unnoticed. A beep sounds when nearing an object, the intervals between beeps shortening as the vehicle closens.

A failed air injection pump is more than a noisy annoyance. Bad pumps store a fault code and turn on your check engine light, a sure way to fail your local emissions test. Dying pumps don't go quietly. As they fail, they make a loud buzzing noise, audible shortly after a cold engine start up; continuing for a minute or so after that. Our secondary air pump kits contain a new pump, control valves, and hoses so you can put your air injection system back to normal, eliminate all that racket, and turn off that pesky dash light.

Avoid finding yourself without a key trim fastener - stock up for good with the Vaico BMW/MINI Fastener Assortment Kit. Designed with the DIY enthusiast or body shop in mind, this assortment comes stocked with clips for fender liners, interior trim, and body mouldings, all in a convenient storage case.

Alzor 881 wheels have the look and feel of an instant favorite. With their bold arched split-spoke design and eye-catching hyper silver finish with polished lip, this wheel set is just the finishing touch you've been looking for. Combine their muscular 18 x 8.5 or 9.5 physique with your newly lowered suspension and watch it all come together in an overall styling statement that's sure to turn heads. When you see how much they won't cost you, the choice is a four-gone conclusion.

Brake replacement is the most common parts of car maintenance, next to changing your oil. Get everything you need to service your brakes in an afternoon in one simple kit assembled by ECS Tuning. By providing it all for you in a single click, ECS has made it easier than ever to get the quality replacement matching components you need when beginning a brake service.

Quit fussing with wood blocks, ramps, and the like with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack. The Low Boy is low-profile, allowing you to sneak it under the ground-hugging rockers on your lowered car. Constructed of lightweight aluminum, this floor jack features a front central roller for increased ease of use and maneuverability. If you work on your car, you'll be doing some lifting. Get the right equipment with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack, a great compliment to the other Schwaben tools in your arsenal. Atta' Boy.

No more Mister Nice Guy. Fire your under-achieving stock pump and replace it with a High Performance water pump from EMP Stewart. This is the pump your BMW should have had from day one. Designed for performance and durability, EMP decided to do it right the first time, increasing flow a full 20 percent over stock, while reducing parasitic draw with a highly efficient stainless steel impeller. Add a heavy-duty bearing and high quality water seal, and you have a pump durable enough for daily driving; tough enough for the track.

Fresh coolant is paramount to safe & reliable engine operation. Unfortunately, the process of bleeding air out of your cooling system during a coolant refresh is tedious and therefore often neglected. ECS offers a highly convenient solution to the tedium & frustration associated with a coolant servicing – the Schwaben Coolant Evacuation Kit. The unique kit resolves several common cooling system issues: - No heat, overheating, or erratic temperature gauge readings after a cooling system service - Problems with coolant uptake or circulation - Cooling system leaks

Why a strut nut socket? To secure shocks and struts to their mounts, the retaining nut must be torqued to its proper specification with the use of a torque wrench. Strut nut sockets allow for the use of an Allen wrench to hold the damper shaft while utilizing a torque wrench on the socket to achieve proper torque. Schwaben, a company known for exceptionally crafted specialty tools, now offers 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, and 24mm Strut Nut Sockets for your own suspension project. A superb addition to any home mechanic's tool arsenal, this latest Schwaben release is built to last.

Wheel spacers offset wheels to improve vehicle appearance and handling. These flat discs with matching hub design fit between the wheels and hubs to push the wheels outward. Wheel spacers from ECS Tuning come in thicknesses from 5-20mm, to widen track, improve cornering, and provide extra room for altered suspension and brake components.

For years, ECS Tuning has been your trusted source for original, aftermarket, and performance parts for your European car. Our team of enthusiasts have worked hard to build the best catalog in the industry, providing you with the knowledge and expertise to keep your car looking, sounding, and performing great year after year.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, ramp extensions, wheel stands, & wheel chocks - now available from ECS tuning. 30" to 67" Low Profile Car Ramps are specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance, eliminating the risk of body damage & sliding ramps. Schwaben Wheel Stands feature a cradled wheel support for superior stability compared to jack stands, supporting up to 3000 lbs. And when lifting your vehicle or placing it on an incline, Wheel Chocks are a wise investment.

DISA valves control the intake manifold runner length to improve engine performance at different rpms. When they fail, the DISA valve bangs around in its housing, making a rattling noise accompanied by rough idle and off-idle hesitation. If your BMW experiences these symptoms, don't wait to fix it. In some cases, parts of the DISA--including a metal spreader pin--can be sucked into your engine, causing serious engine damage. Easy to replace, your new DISA screws to the side of the intake and comes with pre-installed sealing gasket.

Too often, E46 owners live with a broken or damaged sunroof, partly because sourcing the necessary parts to fix the problem feels like a challenge. ECS offers several repair kits and replacement parts to address your specific problem. For sunroofs that cease to function normally, a replacement motor may be required to restore functionality. If your sunroof headliner is malfunctioning, ECS offers a repair kit including a replacement water channel, slide driver, driver's side slide elements, frame corner pieces, adhesive tape and hardware. OEM sunroof switches are also available.

The primary issue with premium suspension upgrades is that these components mount in the same locations as the factory units, and utilize the same control arm designs. Suspension Reinforcement components are parts that work alongside your upgraded or factory suspension to triangulate suspension geometry more precisely. The ECS Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Limiter more exactly specifies the range of motion of your trailing arms, while Heavy Duty Rear Shock Mount Reinforcement Plates provide better rear suspension response while eliminating the possibility of rear shock blowout.

Want to do something bold? Bodacious, even? Check out this line of 3M Scotchprint films. Add texture and style to interior and exterior surfaces by applying these durable adhesive backed films to body panels or trim. Want variety? Channel Darth Vader with gloss black or carbon fiber, or go sci-fi-starship with brushed aluminum or titanium. Buy rolls five feet wide in lengths from one to 20 feet. Hi-tech look. Low tech installation. User friendly and easy to apply using simple tools, 3M 1080 film lets anyone get professional results on the first try.

ECS now offers a range of excellent Cup Suspension kits for the E46 3 series. Sport Cup Kits contain shocks that are matched to a spring set, ensuring that spring rates and ride height are appropriate for the specific damping characteristics. H&R Sport and Touring Cup Suspension kits are available, lowering an average of 1.3 inches at the front and 1.2 inches at the rear. ECS-assembled Cup Kits featuring Koni Yellow or SRT.T offer stiffer damping and higher spring rates, while the FSD Koni/Eibach kit offers a more race-ready ride with 1.4" front and 1.4" rear average lowering.