Camshaft Sensor - Help on Understanding Diagnostics

[Isambard]

Originally Posted by rogerkiu

Just replace all 2 camshaft sensors, there are not expensive thing. You can buy it and replace them diy, very easy to do it, only 2 minutes job.

Mine was on 'bank 2'. Which, when I asked which side it was no-one came back with an answer, so I changed both anyway. I take it for £100 each you are buying from the stealer, yes? Otherwise they are about £65 each from Eurocarparts..

No problems on quality, as I did this nearly 18 months ago, and still burbling along nicely.

[Sundayjumper]

I'd read so many people having trouble with aftermarket sensors, I was assuming I'd need to go to the dealer. If the ECP ones are OK I'll splash out on a pair. £130 isn't too bad I guess. Beats £200 anyway.

OT - I bought the subframe bushes from that ebay listing, they're Febi, the same as G'n'S sell. I'm fitting them tomorrow. The guy that rents out the tool is only about 15 minutes' drive from me so that's pretty handy

[Isambard]

Originally Posted by Sundayjumper

I'd read so many people having trouble with aftermarket sensors, I was assuming I'd need to go to the dealer. If the ECP ones are OK I'll splash out on a pair. £130 isn't too bad I guess. Beats £200 anyway.

OT - I bought the subframe bushes from that ebay listing, they're Febi, the same as G'n'S sell. I'm fitting them tomorrow. The guy that rents out the tool is only about 15 minutes' drive from me so that's pretty handy

Where did you read that? I ask because when I was looking into it myself for some time back then I only found one person's account, to which many people responded by saying the sensor he bought must have been a one-off as they had had no problems with aftermarket. Certainly not the other way round. Anyway, £130+5mm allen key+20mins = job done!

Ok, good luck with the bushes-hope the weather holds out for you. Is the company you are hiring the tool from some motorsport company? If so that was the same place I was going to borrow it from - £40 for the week I think...

[Sundayjumper]

Originally Posted by Isambard

Where did you read that?

Mainly THIS THREAD where several people seemed to have had the same experience. There were some other threads too.

Originally Posted by Isambard

Is the company you are hiring the tool from some motorsport company? If so that was the same place I was going to borrow it from - £40 for the week I think...

"Phoenix Motorsport" in Camberley, yes. I get the impression it's a small business run from his garden shed Slightly annoying that I need to hire the tool, normally I buy any tools I need on the basis that I'll use them again sometime, but unless I start fixing other people's cars I'm really unlikely to ever change X5 subframe bushes again.

Weather looks fairly good for tomorrow. I'll swing by ECP on the way home and see if they've got the cam sensors in stock too. I'll probably get it all running nicely just in time for the gearbox to explode....

[Sundayjumper]

Originally Posted by Sundayjumper

..."Phoenix Motorsport" in Camberley, yes. I get the impression it's a small business run from his garden shed

It's a small business run from his garden shed Nice chap though, knows his stuff.

Anyway, back on topic, I bought two new sensors from ECP, they seem to have gone up, £68 + VAT each now. When I got around to removing the old ones it seems one has already been replaced. The driver's side - the one causing the error - is definitely the original, while the passenger side is a gen BMW one but looking much newer. I fitted both of the new ones anyway. I just have a spare now.

So far no more errors, and although I might be imagining it, the car seems to run smoother and pull more cleanly. Time will tell on both fronts but for now I'm happy