Opinions on Inlet Camshaft Sensor M54 engine

Bumpa

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Points
69
Location
Troon
Model of Z
Z3, 2.2 litre Sport
Last night my 2002 Z3 2.2 was a pig to drive, continually stalling at junctions and with delayed response to the throttle. This morning its fine, but there is a fault code for the inlet camshaft sensor, which I have cleared.

Assuming I have to change the sensor soon, must I buy the expensive BMW part 12147539165 for £120, or will the Febi Bilstein part be good enough at a much more reasonable £26.69?

Incidentally, the car has always been easy to stall when reversing. Is that likely to be the sensor as well? The car has the "fly-by-wire" throttle, and I have assumed that was the problem. All these electronic gadgets rather baffle me.
 

t-tony

The Legend
Deceased
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#ZedShed
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Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
You will have people telling you only fit genuine sensors going on their experiences, which is fair enough. I bought one from ECP for around £55-60. and it was fine (it was a Bosch part with the logo ground off). I wouldn't go that cheap with the Febi part.

Tony.
 

colb

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Points
178
Location
Newport, South Wales,UK
Model of Z
Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.0i (2007)
Buy cheap pay twice found that out very early on with camshaft sensor and Maf when I first got the car also exhaust sensors stick to Botch and Seimens brands that were oem
 

Bumpa

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Points
69
Location
Troon
Model of Z
Z3, 2.2 litre Sport
Update. I eventually bought a new inlet camshaft sensor made by Delphi for £30.51. It has transformed the car. Throttle response is much cleaner, and it no longer wants to stall when reversing at low speed. Its taken 21 months to fix that issue!
 

colb

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Points
178
Location
Newport, South Wales,UK
Model of Z
Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.0i (2007)
A mates 325ti E46 had a camshaft sensor code come up the other day he has had stalling and crap idle for some time. We will be putting a new sensor in, he will probably go for a Haas sensor from Carparts4less for about £26 before their discount code. Actual fault that came up was 12 [018] Camshaft sensor bank 1 no signal.
Checked the wiring for damage as far as we could without stripping it down so we will see if it clears with a new sensor put in after he comes back from his holidays.
 

Bumpa

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Points
69
Location
Troon
Model of Z
Z3, 2.2 litre Sport
Hi Bumpa
where did you get the sensor from, I need the same for mine?
I got it from Aceparts through ebay. Came very quickly and is a genuine Delphi component.
 

mrscalex

Zorg Guru (IV)
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British Zeds
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Jun 10, 2016
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Update. I eventually bought a new inlet camshaft sensor made by Delphi for £30.51. It has transformed the car. Throttle response is much cleaner, and it no longer wants to stall when reversing at low speed. Its taken 21 months to fix that issue!
That's good to hear. I always try and buy Delphi for wheel sensors.

They are reputable and well regarded but as with anyone things can vary from part to part. They are a former arm of General Motors.
 

Bumpa

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Points
69
Location
Troon
Model of Z
Z3, 2.2 litre Sport
does it look as if it had BMW embossed on it, that has been ground off?
No, sorry. It was marked as a Delphi product.
 
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