So after a recent thread by another member regarding o2 sensors, I thought I'd look into mine and I think I could benefit from a new set of pre-cat sensors (post cat seem much less prone to fouling / failing). Now these are quite an integral part of the fueling/ignition system so it stands to reason that people are reporting improved running with a new set fitted, around 60k+ seems like a good time for a check / replacement.
I've got my car booked in at Redish for an Inspection 1 in November at which point I'll get them to fit a new set. In the meantime, I've got plenty of time to source a couple of these bad boys (should be replaced in pairs IMO). Call me tight, but no way am I paying £200 each for a Lambda sensor from BMW when it's made by Bosch and BMW literally just sell it on at a massive mark-up, that's an M tax too far in my opinion (although a few other BM's use this sensor as well).
Now, I've picked up one of these sensors from BMW today so I can compare with one from elsewhere let's say. I'll be returning it tomorrow for a refund as I literally just want to have a look at it to satisfy my own curiosity/confusion on the 6 pin/6 wires situation.
This is the BMW one for our cars: (BMW Part number 11787540167) (Bosch part number: 0258017092)
As you can see 6 pins and a pink switch - Open / Closed
Definitely only 5 wires here(white,grey,yellow,red,black)......so why 6 pins? Spoke to a Lambda reseller this morning, he says it's a Bosch thing, one pin is to test and calibrate it, it's not used when it's on the car.....so says. Does kind of make sense.
The BMW and Bosch part numbers stamped
Rip off!
Anyway, so that's the one you'll get from BMW. Having had an hour to scour the net for results with the Bosch part number, there's plenty of places that sell them, mostly for around the £100 mark. So without the hideous BMW stamped part number, your saving approx. £200, not too shabby really.
Now it's just a case of weeding out the reputable companies from the not so.
ECP can't get the part in despite listing it, rubbish.
An outfit called Green Spark Company (or something similar) get their parts direct from Bosch Germany. Excellent! Listed for £110 each, bargain. Phoned them up and asked when they can get them in stock, said they would phone Bosch in Germany and find out for me and call me back......phoned back 5 minutes later, bad news. Apparently, due to the VW scandal going on at the moment Bosch are not currently selling any of these parts as they are being 'investigated'. I guess not specifically this part, but a lot of their sensors as no doubt all these Germany Car Manufacturers use Bosch parts. Bugger! A few other companies I emailed also said they couldn't get the part in and didn't know when they would be able to.......so it does add up I guess.
So now it's companies that hold stock of these only. I should add, BMW no doubt have a stock pile of these sensors, the one I got from them was stamped '2014' so no doubt just sat in main warehouse somewhere until needed. So I doubt getting one from them will be a problem.
I've yet to settle on a company to buy these from at the moment, but there's lots of German websites around the 100 euro mark each so I'll probably give one of those a shot and I'll post up comparison pics when they are delivered and performance results once fitted.
Pretty boring I know, but if this saves someone £200 getting ripped off by BMW then all the better I say. I usually buy all my parts from BMW but I think they're really taking the mick with the price for these hence the thread, otherwise I wouldn't bother!
If anyone wants to look, try typing the Bosch part number into Google typing it as 0 258 017 092 gives different results to typing it all in a line
I've got my car booked in at Redish for an Inspection 1 in November at which point I'll get them to fit a new set. In the meantime, I've got plenty of time to source a couple of these bad boys (should be replaced in pairs IMO). Call me tight, but no way am I paying £200 each for a Lambda sensor from BMW when it's made by Bosch and BMW literally just sell it on at a massive mark-up, that's an M tax too far in my opinion (although a few other BM's use this sensor as well).
Now, I've picked up one of these sensors from BMW today so I can compare with one from elsewhere let's say. I'll be returning it tomorrow for a refund as I literally just want to have a look at it to satisfy my own curiosity/confusion on the 6 pin/6 wires situation.
This is the BMW one for our cars: (BMW Part number 11787540167) (Bosch part number: 0258017092)
As you can see 6 pins and a pink switch - Open / Closed
Definitely only 5 wires here(white,grey,yellow,red,black)......so why 6 pins? Spoke to a Lambda reseller this morning, he says it's a Bosch thing, one pin is to test and calibrate it, it's not used when it's on the car.....so says. Does kind of make sense.
The BMW and Bosch part numbers stamped
Rip off!Anyway, so that's the one you'll get from BMW. Having had an hour to scour the net for results with the Bosch part number, there's plenty of places that sell them, mostly for around the £100 mark. So without the hideous BMW stamped part number, your saving approx. £200, not too shabby really.
Now it's just a case of weeding out the reputable companies from the not so.
ECP can't get the part in despite listing it, rubbish.
An outfit called Green Spark Company (or something similar) get their parts direct from Bosch Germany. Excellent! Listed for £110 each, bargain. Phoned them up and asked when they can get them in stock, said they would phone Bosch in Germany and find out for me and call me back......phoned back 5 minutes later, bad news. Apparently, due to the VW scandal going on at the moment Bosch are not currently selling any of these parts as they are being 'investigated'. I guess not specifically this part, but a lot of their sensors as no doubt all these Germany Car Manufacturers use Bosch parts. Bugger! A few other companies I emailed also said they couldn't get the part in and didn't know when they would be able to.......so it does add up I guess.
So now it's companies that hold stock of these only. I should add, BMW no doubt have a stock pile of these sensors, the one I got from them was stamped '2014' so no doubt just sat in main warehouse somewhere until needed. So I doubt getting one from them will be a problem.
I've yet to settle on a company to buy these from at the moment, but there's lots of German websites around the 100 euro mark each so I'll probably give one of those a shot and I'll post up comparison pics when they are delivered and performance results once fitted.
Pretty boring I know, but if this saves someone £200 getting ripped off by BMW then all the better I say. I usually buy all my parts from BMW but I think they're really taking the mick with the price for these hence the thread, otherwise I wouldn't bother!
If anyone wants to look, try typing the Bosch part number into Google typing it as 0 258 017 092 gives different results to typing it all in a line
Seems a bit dodgy to me, when I spoke to them myself yesterday was a nice enough chap, although I did push him on the is it a genuine part and he didn't directly answer, just said they get the part from a company in Germany and that Bosch only make these parts. It may well be fine, but I would feel a bit paranoid about it tbh.