Second Hand BMW 3 Series Door Lock Mechanism

No — the E46 (1998–2005) and E90 (2005–2012) are entirely different generations with different door structures, so their lock mechanisms are not interchangeable. You need to match the part to your specific generation, and also confirm the side (NS for nearside/passenger, OS for offside/driver) and whether your car is a 3-door or 5-door, as front door mechanisms differ between body styles. Always confirm the exact match with the breaker against your registration.

Yes, it matters for the front doors — the front door on a 3-door model is longer and uses a different mechanism to the front door on a 5-door, so they are not the same part. Rear doors on a 5-door have their own mechanisms and obviously have no equivalent on a 3-door. Always tell the breaker your exact body style, the door position, and whether you need the NS (nearside/passenger) or OS (offside/driver) side.

The E90 ran from 2005 to 2012 with a facelift in 2008, and in many cases door lock mechanisms are consistent across the facelift within the same generation, but this is not guaranteed for every variant. Name the boundary clearly to the breaker — tell them your exact year, body style, door position, and NS or OS side — and ask them to confirm compatibility against your registration before purchasing.

Trim level generally does not affect the door lock mechanism — the fitment is determined by the generation, body style (3-door or 5-door), and door side (NS/OS), not whether the car is SE, M Sport, or Sport. You may find cosmetic differences on the door panel or hardware finish between trims, but the underlying lock mechanism is the same where the door structure matches. Confirm the details with the breaker against your registration to be sure.

Both years fall within the E90 generation (2005–2012), so there is a reasonable chance of compatibility, but the 2008 facelift sits between those two years and may have introduced minor changes to door components. Confirm with the breaker that the part from the earlier car matches your post-facelift 2010 model, providing your registration, door side (NS or OS), and body style to be certain.

No — engine choice has no bearing on door lock mechanism fitment whatsoever, whether your car is a petrol, diesel, or any other variant. What matters is the generation (for example E46, E90, E92, F30), the body style, the door position, and the side — NS (nearside/passenger) or OS (offside/driver). Give these details to the breaker along with your registration for the most accurate match.