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The short version
- A 3 Series wheel bearing comes down to one question: xDrive or rear wheel drive.
- 513359 is the rear wheel drive front hub and 513368 is the xDrive front hub on the modern cars.
- Each of those numbers covers an enormous span of the range, from a 320i to an M240i.
- The older cars and the 1 Series sit on 513254 instead, which also covers the X1 and the Z4.
BMW builds a lot of cars on very few hubs. Once you know which side of the drivetrain line you are on, the model name stops mattering almost entirely.
xDrive or not
513359 is listed for rear wheel drive cars and 513368 for xDrive cars at the front.
The badge on the trunk lid tells you. If it says xDrive, you need the all wheel drive number.
An unbadged car is worth checking underneath, since badges get removed and cars get debadged deliberately.
How far each number reaches
513359 is listed across the 228i, 320i, 328d, 328i, 335i, 340i, 428i, 435i, Gran Coupe variants, M235i and ActiveHybrid 3.
513368 covers the xDrive versions of the same span, plus the 230i, 335i GT, 340i GT, 430i, 440i and M240i.
That means a listing aimed at a 435i owner is very often selling the part a 320i needs. Search the number rather than the model.
Cross referencing is on the cross reference page.
3 Series wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 onward | Front and rear, past the catalogs | match old part or VIN |
| 2013 to 2016 | Front, xDrive | 513368 check price |
| 2012 to 2016 | Front, rear wheel drive | 513359 check price |
| 2010 to 2016 | Rear, not documented | match old part or VIN |
| 2006 to 2013 | Front, rear wheel drive, earlier body | 513254 check price |
| 2001 to 2009 | Front, xDrive and xi models | 510080 check price |
| 2001 to 2009 | Rear, xDrive and xi models | 511026 check price |
| 1999 to 2009 | Rear, rear wheel drive | 513106 check price |
| 1995 to 1999 | Rear, 318ti | 513113 check price |
| 1992 to 2005 | Front, also Z3 | 513125 check price |
| 1987 to 1998 | Rear, earlier cars | 513106 check price |
| 1984 to 1991 | Front, earlier cars | 513111 check price |
| 1984 to 1986 | Rear, all trims | 513113 check price |
Every model year this chart resolves: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. On this chart a 2017 or newer BMW 3 Series sits past the catalogs, so those cars go by the old part or the VIN.
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Confirm against the number on the old part before you buy. Model years overlap between these listings.
Run flat tires and what they cost the hub
Most of these left the factory on run flat tires, which are built to carry the car with no air and barely deflect as a result.
An ordinary tire absorbs a pothole. A run flat sends much more of that energy into the hub.
It is a mechanism rather than a measured figure, and the site presents it that way. It does fit what the impact damage evidence says.
Those are on the pothole page and the failure page.
What owners do to these
Lowered suspension, aggressive camber and wider wheels are all common here, and all three move load away from where the bearing was designed to take it.
Static negative camber is the quiet one. It loads the inner races on every drive rather than in one event you can point at.
That is on the spacers page. The make overview is on the BMW page.
Diagnosing a 3 Series wheel bearing
- Confirm xDrive or rear wheel drive before ordering anything.
- Coast in neutral, since a rear drive driveline makes noises of its own.
- Weave at road speed and note the loaded direction.
- Ask what it has hit, because run flats pass impacts through.
- Check the camber and wheel setup, since both change what is likely.
Those are on the checking page and the tire noise page.
Common questions
Which 3 Series wheel bearing do I need?
513359 for rear wheel drive and 513368 for xDrive at the front. Confirm against your own part.
How do I tell if mine is xDrive?
The badge, or a driveshaft running forward from the transmission. Debadged cars need the second check.
Can I buy a part listed for a 435i?
Often yes. These numbers cover a very wide span of the range.
What about an X3?
No. The X3 uses its own numbers and needs separate confirmation.
Do run flats really shorten bearing life?
The mechanism is sound, since a stiff sidewall passes impact through. It is not a measured figure.
Does camber wear bearings?
Yes. Static negative camber loads the inner races constantly.
Do I need a press?
Not on the modern cars. They use bolt on hub units.