The mechanic thinks my oxygen sensor is bad. He figures it will cost a couple hundred bucks. This sounds a bit high to me.
Any ideas?
Its for a 95 BMW 325i w/102K miles.
Any ideas?
Its for a 95 BMW 325i w/102K miles.
Any idea how much an oxygen sensor costs to replace?
- Thread starter Doggiedog
- Start date
CrackRabbit
Lifer
- Mar 30, 2001
- 16,642
- 62
- 91
I show an OEM type Bosch O2 Sensor being $81.00 @ Autozone.
So add another 150-175 in labor, and you have your quote.
It also depends on how hard it is to get to in your car, never worked on a bimmer.
So add another 150-175 in labor, and you have your quote.
It also depends on how hard it is to get to in your car, never worked on a bimmer.
rh71
No Lifer
- Aug 28, 2001
- 52,844
- 1,049
- 126
I don't know about a beemer but when we did it for our Accord, there was supposedly a front and rear one. One was over $100 and the other $50 (just the part alone)... but luckily it was the cheaper one for us. After labor (it's too tight for us to replace on our own), it cost us about $75... so your estimate may be accurate. Get a price from autozone first... they can also tell you if there's supposedly 2 different ones.
BTW, since you're at 100k miles, it does seem like the O2 sensor needs to be replaced. What kind of symptoms are you seeing ? Bad gas mileage ? Slow / stalling acceleration in higher gears ?
BTW, since you're at 100k miles, it does seem like the O2 sensor needs to be replaced. What kind of symptoms are you seeing ? Bad gas mileage ? Slow / stalling acceleration in higher gears ?
On my old Sentra, the front O2 sensor was hilariously easy to replace. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how easy it was until I paid for my mechanic to do so. 
Use the lend-a-tool program at AutoZone to borrow an O2 sensor wrench, and have at it.
Use the lend-a-tool program at AutoZone to borrow an O2 sensor wrench, and have at it.It's insanely easy to replace...the hardest part is if it's reachable or not. It's usually screwed right into the exhaust pipe/manifold, close to the heads. You can use a O2 wrench, but a normal box wrench works fine too. You just unscrew the old on, unplug it, then screw the new one in and plug it in...voilla.
I have two on my Mustang, but they were only like $39 ea...
I have two on my Mustang, but they were only like $39 ea...
blurredvision
Lifer
- Oct 19, 2000
- 17,860
- 4
- 81
Had a bad oxygen sensor on my old 1990 Grand Am a few years back. Local shop charged me the $15 for the sensor, which was bought at a local NAPA, and another $10-$15 to plug it in. It's been a few years, but I do remember it only costing $20-$30 total.
Lithium381
Lifer
- May 12, 2001
- 12,452
- 2
- 0
The O2 on my maxima costs about $80, the one for the Porsche $200. If teh autozone one is really the one, add an hour labor, tax and bang you are at "a couple hundred bucks"
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,544
- 924
- 126
I wouldn't put those in any car. Buy the genuine BMW parts, they come with the correct wiring harness which to me is well worth the extra cost.
It is an easy do it yourself job if the sensors aren't too difficult to get to. Using an open end wrench just unscrew the old one and disconnect the wiring harness and screw in the new one.
I had my car inspected and it failed the hydrocarbon emissions test. I now need to get the car repaired at an authorized NJ service center.
As long as it doesn't cost too much I'll fix it. If its too much, I'll have to think about it since I'll be replacing the car within a few months anyway.
Thanks for all the replies.
The borough I live in will replace it for free if you meet certain requirements. Basically it's part of the program up here to help reduce emissions, since the air quality up here suffers in sub-zero temperatures.
:roll:
Bosch makes most OEM O2's....
The stock O2's out of my Stang were Bosch...my buddy just got a '00 528i, and it's got two Bosch's in it.
If anything, you might be describing universal O2's, which aren't usually just plug in.
It's not like O2's are some super complicated piece if equipment...
When you buy one for your car @ Autozone, it plugs in and is the exact same as the factory piece...
My car barely failed. Passing was 124 and I had 131.
Regardless, they told me I had 45 days to fix it and they gave me a list of service stations to go to where I can have it repaired.
This is just another example of something falling apart on my car.
Regardless, they told me I had 45 days to fix it and they gave me a list of service stations to go to where I can have it repaired.
This is just another example of something falling apart on my car.
allanon1965
Diamond Member
- Mar 14, 2004
- 3,427
- 1
- 81
it most likely is NOT the o2 sensor, if it was it would be running like crap.... if it failed hydrocarbons it most likely needs a new catalytic converter, a 95 is 10 years old now and i bet its original, you can replace it with a universal weld iin and be back in business for about 175 bucks here in nw indiana, our shop does these all the time....takes about an hour...
Ack!
I was hoping it wouldn't be the CC. Those are pretty expensive to replace I would imagine. Since these service centers are state authorized centers, I doubt they'll let me jury rig the CC.
Actually, it wouldn't neccessarily run like crap if the O2 sensor was dead. The car might revert to default ECU mapping which might not be noticeable to the average driver. It might get less gas mileage than normal and if you see that, it probably is a bad O2. But a clogged bad converter can also make a car run crappy.
Surefire way to tell is a OBD2 scan tool or tap into your O2 sensor signal with a voltmeter and see if the value cycles up and down.
I believe all German car manufacturers use Bosch as the OE for their O2 sensors. The alternative would be Denso (Toyota)... most of the Asian manufacturers use Denso.
Hopefully if it is the O2, it isn't rust welding into the manifold. Sometimes you'll have to torch that SOB out on some cars. Tranverse mounted V6s with rear O2s = nightmare.
Surefire way to tell is a OBD2 scan tool or tap into your O2 sensor signal with a voltmeter and see if the value cycles up and down.
I believe all German car manufacturers use Bosch as the OE for their O2 sensors. The alternative would be Denso (Toyota)... most of the Asian manufacturers use Denso.
Hopefully if it is the O2, it isn't rust welding into the manifold. Sometimes you'll have to torch that SOB out on some cars. Tranverse mounted V6s with rear O2s = nightmare.
Which is why they come with anti-sieze on the threads. You really should put more on anyhow, they are usually light on that stuff.
Not true at all. O2's usually have to be pretty bad to make the car run that bad. O2's performance starts degrading the moment you install them. When they are new, they switch quickly from rich to lean, but as they get older, they switch slower and slower. The gradual effect of this usually goes unnoticed until they are really bad. Mine weren't even working for a year because some dumb a$$ at a shop never connected the ground wire for the O2 harness. The car got awful mileage and ran super rich (the ECU compensating for what it thought was a extreme lean condition), but the car still ran, for the most part fine.
As with anything...YMMV...
Make sure you get the right sensor.
BMW lists two sensors - depending if your car is manual or automatic.
#11781735499 Manual
#11781735500 Auto
The book gets 0.4 hrs to replace. Provided the thing isn't rusted in - which is very likely with those kind of miles.
Anyway, I logged onto two of my parts supplier's sites - they don't ask if it's auto or manual. That makes me skeptical right there about the aftermarket sensors.
FWIW, dealer wholesale price is $146.00. List at NAPA is $142 or $171 depending on brand.
BMW lists two sensors - depending if your car is manual or automatic.
#11781735499 Manual
#11781735500 Auto
The book gets 0.4 hrs to replace. Provided the thing isn't rusted in - which is very likely with those kind of miles.
Anyway, I logged onto two of my parts supplier's sites - they don't ask if it's auto or manual. That makes me skeptical right there about the aftermarket sensors.
FWIW, dealer wholesale price is $146.00. List at NAPA is $142 or $171 depending on brand.
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