Essay warning...... (long read ahead)
or just cut to the last paragraph if you get bored.....
Well I have had a problem reoccurring for a few months now, showing up on INPA as inlet cam position sensor.
I had lumpy running at idle sometimes, combined with stalling if pulling off at low revs, and sometimes a sort of limp mode activated.... like 3/4 power.
I was not sure which way to go , as I have read many people suggest fit only BMW, whereas other have fitted less expensive ones with success,
So here is my experience. (other experiences are available!)
To prove it was the inlet sensor, I bought a second hand BMW sensor from the forum scrappers, and fitted it.
It cured the fault for a couple of months and then came back again with exactly the same symptoms and problems and fault message.
I saw a post on here that said the Euro Car Parts Vemo one was OEM, and actually had the BMW part numbers on the top, and the BMW emblem ground off, but hey were not showing on ECP website, or Car Parts4Less either, so I looked on eBay.
There is an ECP shop on eBay, and sure enough it described a Vemo sensor and the accompanying photo showed the sensor with the emblem ground off and the BMW part numbers embossed on it.
However it was £55. not the cheapest, but not over £100 like BMW prices.
So I duly ordered one.
When it arrived, I opened it to find a Delphi part!!!,
so I got back on to ECP at eBay and they said they don't stock the Vemo one anymore, and would change the description in the listing. (it now states Delphi, but with still with the VEMO photo! be aware!)
I took it back to the local store and got a full refund.
Back to looking on eBay, and sure enough another advertised Vemo one but for £32 this time, from another seller KMSPartsOnline
I contacted him and asked if it is the one with the emblem ground off? he said they are definitely Vemo but the aftermarket ones he had may not be like that, as they come in sealed packs so he cannot check.
I still took a risk, though.
Anyway it arrived and sure enough it was in a Vemo box, and Vemo printed on the sensor , but no BMW references.
So I then fitted it and cleared the faults..I then noticed the second hand one I had fitted had no part numbers at all, so probably was not a BMW one after all.
All ok for a couple of days, and the problem came straight back....
after checking connections ,and worrying was it something else giving a false message, I bit the bullet and ordered a £108 genuine Sopers BMW part.
It arrived shortly afterwards, fitted and the problem has never come back since.
So as people have said, just buy BMW and dont waste 3x fitting attempts, and money trying to seek a cheaper solution,
the old one after all has lasted 19 years..
For me even the named makes and mid priced ones did not work, let alone the £25 quid ones.
or just cut to the last paragraph if you get bored.....
Well I have had a problem reoccurring for a few months now, showing up on INPA as inlet cam position sensor.
I had lumpy running at idle sometimes, combined with stalling if pulling off at low revs, and sometimes a sort of limp mode activated.... like 3/4 power.
I was not sure which way to go , as I have read many people suggest fit only BMW, whereas other have fitted less expensive ones with success,
So here is my experience. (other experiences are available!)
To prove it was the inlet sensor, I bought a second hand BMW sensor from the forum scrappers, and fitted it.
It cured the fault for a couple of months and then came back again with exactly the same symptoms and problems and fault message.
I saw a post on here that said the Euro Car Parts Vemo one was OEM, and actually had the BMW part numbers on the top, and the BMW emblem ground off, but hey were not showing on ECP website, or Car Parts4Less either, so I looked on eBay.
There is an ECP shop on eBay, and sure enough it described a Vemo sensor and the accompanying photo showed the sensor with the emblem ground off and the BMW part numbers embossed on it.
However it was £55. not the cheapest, but not over £100 like BMW prices.
So I duly ordered one.
When it arrived, I opened it to find a Delphi part!!!,
so I got back on to ECP at eBay and they said they don't stock the Vemo one anymore, and would change the description in the listing. (it now states Delphi, but with still with the VEMO photo! be aware!)I took it back to the local store and got a full refund.
Back to looking on eBay, and sure enough another advertised Vemo one but for £32 this time, from another seller KMSPartsOnline
I contacted him and asked if it is the one with the emblem ground off? he said they are definitely Vemo but the aftermarket ones he had may not be like that, as they come in sealed packs so he cannot check.
I still took a risk, though.
Anyway it arrived and sure enough it was in a Vemo box, and Vemo printed on the sensor , but no BMW references.
So I then fitted it and cleared the faults..I then noticed the second hand one I had fitted had no part numbers at all, so probably was not a BMW one after all.
All ok for a couple of days, and the problem came straight back....
after checking connections ,and worrying was it something else giving a false message, I bit the bullet and ordered a £108 genuine Sopers BMW part.
It arrived shortly afterwards, fitted and the problem has never come back since.
So as people have said, just buy BMW and dont waste 3x fitting attempts, and money trying to seek a cheaper solution,
the old one after all has lasted 19 years..
For me even the named makes and mid priced ones did not work, let alone the £25 quid ones.
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