coolant temp sensor 2003 z4 small clip removal help

[Amsterdam]

hi i had a small water drip coming from below my temp sensor on reading up i suspect it may be the O ring which has failed, i ordered a new one from BMW Liverpool, and got it today part number is 13 62 1743 299 green o ring it cost £2.26, the new sensor costing £31, i am going for the o ring change, I need to know how to remove the sensor, it has the electrical plug on it, with the small wire like clip holding it in place, this clip i need to get off without it dropping into the engine bay... any easy ways chaps to get this clip off and on.... once the electrical plug is off the sensor has two clips. plastic type you squeeze and pull the unit out...... im told...

But the Big problem is the first spring clip.. many thanks for the help. Ken

 

[mr.tourette]

grip it with some needle nose pliers and ping one end off with a screwdriver.. it pops off pretty easy

 

[Amsterdam]

Thanks so much for the quick response appreciate it. Cheers

 

[Amsterdam]

Well all went well, temp coolant sensor 'O' ring successfully replaced, thanks to tips from here, and other sites, the job took 35 minutes.. Just had a test drive and no sign of the dripping water-
cheers.