Exhaust Camshaft Position Sensor

[Rui Almeida]

Hi all

Found a fault code a few months ago for the above sensor on my 2.0 M52 Engine, bought one from ebay( £10) that didn't fit, yesterday went to Euro's and went for the HAAS (£45) and also doesn't fit.
When I removed mine from the engine noticed the diameter is way smaller than on the new parts that I bought.

The sensor is the one on the exhaust side and the one with the plug not the wire.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/...b56f08a9f42e38b04da022348ca9a525201b02&000427

Anyone replaced this sensor before and found any issues with it?
Sorry but £170 at BMW parts desk isn't an option for me.

Thank you
Rui

 

[colb]

Had this problem with a pattern part, had to sand down the plastic to get it to fit on my M43 engine.

 

[Rui Almeida]

Had this problem with a pattern part, had to sand down the plastic to get it to fit on my M43 engine.

Not so keen in sand down a plastic sensor. Could prob do that with a £10 one not with a £50 one ahah. Will inspect further to see if I am actually doing something wrong while fitting it.
Thanks

 

[Brian4]

Not so keen in sand down a plastic sensor. Could prob do that with a £10 one not with a £50 one ahah. Will inspect further to see if I am actually doing something wrong while fitting it.
Thanks

I replaced the ones on our 3.0 same BMW part number with a febi bilstein one from eBay seller and fitted fine. The Hass inlet one I tried didn't last long. Look for Bosch or febi ones on internet

 

[Rui Almeida]

I replaced the ones on our 3.0 same BMW part number with a febi bilstein one from eBay seller and fitted fine. The Hass inlet one I tried didn't last long. Look for Bosch or febi ones on internet

Hi Brian as far as I can see the part number is the same between my car and yours for OEM 12 14 7 518 628 was this the one your ordered from Febi on ebay?

Thanks
Rui

 

[Connor]

Hi Brian as far as I can see the part number is the same between my car and yours for OEM 12 14 7 518 628 was this the one your ordered from Febi on ebay?

Thanks
Rui

Try amazon too for the Febi part, I just ordered (and fitted) an inlet side one for £35 or there abouts)

Connor.

 

[Ianmc]

I'm afraid sensors need to be OEM IMO. A second hand one would be a cheaper option I suppose.

 

[Brian4]

I'm afraid sensors need to be OEM IMO. A second hand one would be a cheaper option I suppose.

Could be a cheaper option but would think used sensors are about as good as the one you are replacing.

 

[Brian4]

Hi Brian as far as I can see the part number is the same between my car and yours for OEM 12 14 7 518 628 was this the one your ordered from Febi on ebay?

Thanks
Rui

Got ours from here
https://www.micksgarage.com/d/camsh.../bmw-z3/z3-1995-to-2003/3-0-231-2979/products

one here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Camshaft...rtible&hash=item568b9bf34e:g:3m4AAOSwHoFXrxcJ

 

[Connor]

I'm afraid sensors need to be OEM IMO. A second hand one would be a cheaper option I suppose.

I am think that Febi supply BMW with the sensors, the Febi one I bought had the BMW logo scratched off. I am sure @t-tony fitted the same part.

Connor.

 

[Rui Almeida]

Got ours from here
https://www.micksgarage.com/d/camsh.../bmw-z3/z3-1995-to-2003/3-0-231-2979/products

one here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Camshaft-Sensor-Cam-Position-12147518628-Outlet-Side-23799/371709440846?fits=Car+Make:BMW|Model:Z3|Cars+Year:2000|Cars+Type:3.0i|Variant:E36+[1995-2003]+Convertible&hash=item568b9bf34e:g:3m4AAOSwHoFXrxcJ

Thanks mate. Cheaper than Euro's to be honest. Definitely wouldn't limit my options to the dealer...Febi as well as some other brands are fitted all day long in manufactures main plants. Buying second hand sensors can only be the worst options as you said they will be gone soon.

Thanks for the input will try once again the one I have got from eBay as it is the same diameter than the febi I have seen so if one fits the other one will fit as well.

Thanks
Rui

 

[mrscalex]

I'd sooner have a second-hand BMW OE part all day long than a cheap 3rd party part. Depending of course on how much agro it is to fit.

But I tend to keep a small stock of new BMW OE parts ready for the inevitable failures. I just keep an eye out on ebay. I got an M54 inlet for about £60 and the exhaust for £30.

Failing that I sort by high price to low price on ebay on the non-genuine stuff and work down it until I find evidence on the forums that it's a know good commodity.

You need to bear in mind also that brands change hands all the time. And some have budget ends of their range. So brand x may have been an OE 20 years ago. They might be knocking out c*ap now. It's the same with washing machines and TVs.

Some large German manufacturers (I've seen reports Bosch do this) outsource parts production to low cost countries. To Bosch quality standards but ultimately inferior to a Made in Germany part.

Also bear in a mind an OEM part with the BMW ground off may have failed BMW OE QC and passed OEM QC rather than be over-run stock. That doesn't make it bad but equally it doesn't make it as good as OE.

For a camshaft sensor I'd fit BMW OE, BMW OEM, second-hand BMW OE, quality 3rd party part in that order.

If Febi was the OEM and is still turning out known quality parts great!

Remember the camshaft sensors and even more so the crankshaft sensors are at the heart of keeping the engine running properly and sometimes starting at all. Camshaft sensors are easy to replace and will normally work in limp home mode. But failure can still be disconcerting and might compromise you. Crankshaft sensors are not great to replace and are capable of locking a car out from starting - they are an integral part of the DME deciding whether to allow the car to start. So the level of acceptable risk on quality of part varies depending on exactly what the part does and how easy it is to fit.

 

[lucky jim]

Hi all

Found a fault code a few months ago for the above sensor on my 2.0 M52 Engine, bought one from ebay( £10) that didn't fit, yesterday went to Euro's and went for the HAAS (£45) and also doesn't fit.
When I removed mine from the engine noticed the diameter is way smaller than on the new parts that I bought.

The sensor is the one on the exhaust side and the one with the plug not the wire.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/...b56f08a9f42e38b04da022348ca9a525201b02&000427

Anyone replaced this sensor before and found any issues with it?
Sorry but £170 at BMW parts desk isn't an option for me.

Thank you
Rui

hi i have the same engine & same fault i got both from ebay £ 10 each a year ago also replaced one on a saab no probs all run fine some dealers charge as much as thay can get away £ 10 15 min job

 

[mrscalex]

hi i have the same engine & same fault i got both from ebay £ 10 each a year ago also replaced one on a saab no probs all run fine some dealers charge as much as thay can get away £ 10 15 min job

Can you share the make or eBay listing number/seller please?

Always worth knowing details if someone has had success with an often needed budget part.

 

[lucky jim]

Can you share the make or eBay listing number/seller please?
Always worth knowing details if someone has had success with an often needed budget part.

hi just had a quick look on e bay there is some for sale £13 or so i had same conversation 14/02/2016 ( have a look at my history ) its not a complicated switch also have a look at pelican parts i tells how to check sensor with pictures there was dealers then charging a lot & a lot of guys willing to pay

 

[mrscalex]

hi just had a quick look on e bay there is some for sale £13 or so i had same conversation 14/02/2016 ( have a look at my history ) its not a complicated switch also have a look at pelican parts i tells how to check sensor with pictures there was dealers then charging a lot & a lot of guys willing to pay

No worries. I don't buy cheap parts myself - just trying to help the OP.