M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: halcrontech on January 23, 2009, 08:48:47 PM
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Just want to share that if you car is high mileage, you might want to change your O2 sensor. Mine has around 230K miles (no idea if previous owner changed the O2 sensor).
My sensor is worn w/o any signs at all. No CEL, no idling problems or anything. Only tell tale sign is that idling is rich (a mechanic told me I am running rich on idle due to the smell of the exhaust).
Thus I deicde to just change the O2 sensor and see if it fixes the problem. Oh yeah, it does! Car runs much better now and I and feel it pulls better and idle no longer runs rich.
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What kind of 02 sensor did you use....and how much?
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Just use a Bosch OEM replacement sensor. See Pelican Parts or BMA Parts.
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What kind of 02 sensor did you use....and how much?
Its just a Bosch replacement sensor. I believe you can get it from your local dealer.
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check the forums
if you dont m ind doing some splicing, a bosch 3 wire ( as mine uses) is about $30 just had to change the plug ins from std BMW to crimp on bullets ( so I can change it again later in life) I dont think the computer knows the difference if it is for a ford mustang or a BMW
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check the forums
if you dont m ind doing some splicing, a bosch 3 wire ( as mine uses) is about $30 just had to change the plug ins from std BMW to crimp on bullets ( so I can change it again later in life) I dont think the computer knows the difference if it is for a ford mustang or a BMW
I have used the Ford mustang O2's on many VW's and my M42 and they work great. Autozone $30 also. You can customize the connectors for easy replacement down the road also. Then heat wrap for the final touch. :)
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Sorry for chiming in, but could you be more detailed as to the process of converting to a cheaper oxygen sensor. Does it require changing the bung? does it work as good as own.
Thanx
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Sorry for chiming in, but could you be more detailed as to the process of converting to a cheaper oxygen sensor. Does it require changing the bung? does it work as good as own.
Thanx
No, you do nothing at all w/ the bung on the exhaust... or the threads on the new O2.
What everyone does is they remove their old/original M42 O2, snip/cut the end plug off and strip about 1/4" of the wire casing off the individual wires on that plug. Take the NEW O2, again strip 1/4" of the wire casing off the individual wires and now splice (put together) the original M42 O2 PLUG wires that you just prepared onto the new O2 wires (match the colors), tape or use heat shrink tube over those spliced wires and screw the new O2 into your exhaust pipe bung - done deal.
You can do this w/ most O2's - as the O2 sensor & threads is pretty common among many many different vehicles, it's just the plug on the end that is different and as shown by the above, you can just cut the plug and install it onto a universal O2 for it to work in your specific vehicle application.
There is absolutely no functional difference at all between a Mustang BOSCH O2 sensor and a BMW BOSCH O2 sensor... or a BMW BOSCH O2 sensor and a universal BOSCH O2 sensor... the only difference is PRICE (and most folks don't know this or don't do any research w/ regards to the topic)...
:)
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Just bought myself a universal bosch to do mine up. Unlike yours, I hope to god this fixes my problems. Nasty choppy idle, sounds like I have cams. And from the shitty idle it shakes the hell outta my engine, but the rpms stay pretty solid. Im getting a code for the #2 knock sensor, but Im going to do the O2 first then the KS's. Just like you I have around the same mileage 242K miles.
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Bump, which years of mustang oxygen sensor can be swapped in?
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Bump, which years of mustang oxygen sensor can be swapped in?
x222222222222222
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I called the local dealer here and the o2 sensor was $257, and I started laughing at them and said thanks I'll think about it.haha
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Just get a Bosch sensor from an 89 Mustang 5.0. $35 and works fine.
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was it a direct wire splice to wire splice? 2 to 2 or 3 to 3?
colors coordinated and everything?
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Yes, just match the wire colors and you'll be fine.
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Just get a Bosch sensor from an 89 Mustang 5.0. $35 and works fine.
You are awesome, thanks!
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just changed mine Bosh uni. cost me 20 bux and runs alot better, just cut splice raps start :D allso advsnced my timing just a lil. the old o2 was straight black with white dots , was getting to hot, luckly in the old 318i i have a lil meter on my dash that tells me when a o2 goes bad lol but i didnt find it untill after i swapd o2s haha but yea makes a bigg diffrnce.
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So doesnt a 91 318is have 4 wires? Will this matter if using a Ford sensor with 3 wires like people are using?
thanks
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Ok, I got the 3wire 02 sensor and just got under my car and what do I find...4 wire sensor!!, I guess thats what I get for believing what I read on the forums! Fucking waste of time.
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The mustang ones are 4 wire... that's what I used. Who said 3 wire? :confused:
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Ok, I got the 3wire 02 sensor and just got under my car and what do I find...4 wire sensor!!, I guess thats what I get for believing what I read on the forums! Fucking waste of time.
Maybe you should have looked underneath the hood or the car before buying it? It would have only taken you 30 seconds.
Unless you were dumb enough to cut the wiring before looking at the old part, why would you not be able to return the part?
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When I ordered mine, I specified a 1989 5.0 Mustang and I was given a 4-wire sensor. I don't know whether this was a Cali emissions thing (49-state models maybe took a 3-wire sensor??), or whether they gave me a different part (which was correct for the M42) by mistake. I'm in California, so I'm not sure whether you guys in other states get a 3-wire sensor if you order the 5.0 Mustang sensor.
There seems to be some confusion about this, so maybe just tell the parts person that you need a "generic Bosch 4-wire O2 sensor." They probably also carry other even cheaper 4-wire sensors that cross-reference to the "generic Bosch 4-wire sensor" that would also work. But Bosch is a quality brand.
And yes, for all M42s that use O2 sensors, a 4-wire sensor is used.
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Maybe you should have looked underneath the hood or the car before buying it? It would have only taken you 30 seconds.
Unless you were dumb enough to cut the wiring before looking at the old part, why would you not be able to return the part?
I returned the 3 wire. Point is we all have the same model car and no one knew/or wanted to clarify. I'll be posting pics of part #s just b/c I'm the helpful guy than I am.
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I returned the 3 wire. Point is we all have the same model car and no one knew/or wanted to clarify. I'll be posting pics of part #s just b/c I'm the helpful guy than I am.
:D
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:D allso advsnced my timing just a
How did you do this? I have a 95 so maybe its not possible for me.