E36 328i replacing oxygen sensors

Your 328 is OBD II compliant. Personally, I'd wait for them to throw a code. Of the 4 (are there really that many?) my money is on the ones that are ahead of the CAT for failing first.

The difficulty is due to the tight work space, the sensors themselves are replaced with a socket that looks much the same as a spark plug socket, but has a slot cut up one side to accomodate the wire.

"news" wrote

You can buy non-heated ones for less - check around on the web to find how to wire them.

I agree with Jeff that there is absolutely no reason to replace them before they actually fail and trip the check engine light.

FloydR

I agree with the above. I am running over 116k miles and still with the original sensors. I *am* however getting an "E9" code that one converter efficiency is below threshold. Started sometime after 100k miles. Went 11 months between occurrences.

Yes, about $110 or so, each, sensor alone. Not easy to get to.

-Doug

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-------------------- Doug Vetter, ATP/CFI snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com

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IF the car has the heated variety of O2 Sensor, ten they must be replaced with the heated sensor else the lack of a heater will throw a code.

Doug, VERY nice site! I just imagine if I could compile everything BMW I found (and provided for others) to look that good. Cheers!

Bill in Omaha '86 535i

No, they generally last 100k miles or more.

No.

It's the one that is causing the check engine code. If you aren't getting a code your sensors are fine.

About right.

This would be a really bad idea. You cannot use a non heated O2 sensor on a car designed for heated ones. It *will* throw check engine light at about 5 minutes after cold start because the sensor is not up to temp yet.

There are generic heated sensors that you can get and then splice on your old connector. Those are usually a bit cheaper. Maybe that is what you were thinking of?

Yes.