Brilliant!
then use the 12 pt less secure offset to get the new one in.
Keep those professional tips coming to us amateurs!

I also read somewhere that over 90% of oxygen sensors are unnecessarily replaced, esp. by DIY'sers. The oxygen sensor companies laugh all the way to the bank.

what about (just for the sake of discussion, not wanting to start an argument)

We bought and drive "performance" cars that are no denying expensive to maintain, but shouldn't we want to keep it preforming at its peak ! ?

We don't drive the tires down to the steal belts.
I bought 4 bosh oxygen sensors for $272 at 100k 6 years ago.

I sure get both sides of this "discussion" and have replaced oxygen sensors in the past - but only when they have faulted.

And I HAVE made pre-emptive component replacements, where they are liable to reduce either performance or reliability. I just don't think O2 sensors are in this category. They either go or they don't (yes, they degrade over time/use but that doesn't mean they stop working), and when they don't go, the car will let you know. And it wont stop running.

point well taken about a part that wont leave you stranded when it fails.

like I said 2 posts ago, I am in the amateur category so i try to follow the maintenance schedule...

Me too! :thumbup:

Currently, I lose sleep over the condition of my front crank pulley (vibration damper) - a failure of which WOULD stop the car running. The Aussies see these fail at about my mileage and one member here had his fail last week, at a similar mileage (100,000 miles-ish). Mine looks great but might fail later today. Who know? Sheesh...

O2 sensors, not so much. :D

GREAT.....never gave that pulley a thought, now I can loose some sleep as I am at 186k with the original.

Sleep easy - it's only an issue on the diesels. :D

Don't BMW advertise their cars as Maintenance Free, Life time ATF..... etc

Preventative maintenance is ALWAYS cheaper than catastrophic maintenance.
Components wear down and fail. One could literally drive the car off the lot and never
raise the hood. Years could pass. Eventually the oil would fail, the air cleaner would clog, the MAF would
gum up,the oil filter would clog.
Yes, those are all items that need attention.
I don't wait for those items to fail. Keep on top of your vehicle and stay in the fast lane.

I come from the Aviation background, and failure in flight , is not an option.