Wheel speed/ABS sensor. Costs.

Pond

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
I need a new front wheel speed sensor for my 3 litre (with DSC). I haven't asked any BMW dealers for costs yet as it is the weekend, but looking online the prices are vastly different.
Autodoc have no stock of any make.
I have seen them for £17.00 and £253.00 and everywhere in between. Has anyone bought a cheap Chinese copy of these (ie the £17 ones)? If so did it work?
I am tempted to try a cheap one and see. But if it doesn't work or last a week I will be annoyed.
 
I always use BMW OEM sensors for my BMW cars. Have owned Z3s/E36 cars since 1997. Cheaper parts are a false economy IME. :)
If affordability is an issue, who knows you could get lucky!! More likely you will get "annoyed".:D
 
I think they are going to be circa £150 from BMW. Which is expensive, especially when I am sure a big pothole damaged this one and could again at any time.
 
To be fair, I've used plenty of cheapo eBay sensors and (so far) got away with it. As long as you clean out the hole in the hub so that they are easy to remove again, go for it.
I always - without fail - remove the discs and hammer the old ones out. You'll need a dremmel to really clean up the hole, fitting the new sensors with grease. That way you can fit a new one without removing the wheel or even jacking it up.
Beware the allen screw that holds the sensor in. They snap off for fun, so order a new one, and grind away the sensor until the screw threads are visible. WD40 and some persuasion, and they come out like a charm.
 
Andyboy said:
To be fair, I've used plenty of cheapo eBay sensors and (so far) got away with it. As long as you clean out the hole in the hub so that they are easy to remove again, go for it.
I always - without fail - remove the discs and hammer the old ones out. You'll need a dremmel to really clean up the hole, fitting the new sensors with grease. That way you can fit a new one without removing the wheel or even jacking it up.
Beware the allen screw that holds the sensor in. They snap off for fun, so order a new one, and grind away the sensor until the screw threads are visible. WD40 and some persuasion, and they come out like a charm.
Click to expand...
Cheers.
I got the old one out yesterday just to check it wasn't a damaged connection. It came out fairly easily TBH. I took the retaining bolt out then levered it out gently with a flat bladed screwdriver.
I did break part of the plastic electrical connector housing behind the cover in the wheel well, but it won't do any harm.
 
Is it a blue connector plug and which side is it, I may have one.
 
1955Davidr said:
Is it a blue connector plug and which side is it, I may have one.
Click to expand...
Yes it's blue (DSC) and the left front (nearside).

BMW part number is 34526752689
 
1955Davidr said:
They are handed and I bought 2 drivers side in error sorry.
Click to expand...
That's typical! Thanks anyway.
I am going to chance getting a cheap one from t'internet and see how it goes.
 
Screenshot 2026-05-24 at 21.00.52.webp

I bought a Bosch one from autodoc. It has done me fine so far
 
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