Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: O2 sensors - BMW vs aftermarket

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    California
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    1998 BMW M3 Sedan

    O2 sensors - BMW vs aftermarket

    Hi all,

    My 1998 M3 is overdue for replacement of all four O2 sensors. So should I spend the $250/per and go with genuine BMW parts, or is it OK to save a little $$$ and put in aftermarket sensors? What are the cons of going with the latter option? I only want the best for my car so I'll probably just go with the BMW stuff but I figured I'd open a discussion here and see what others have to say.....

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland area
    Posts
    4,372
    My Cars
    EXOTICS
    Choose from here, OE or OEM, excellent source for quality parts!:
    https://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/M3...998&m=20&e=195

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Schenectady, NY
    Posts
    165
    My Cars
    1995 BMW M3/2/5
    There is no need for genuine parts in this case. I've had great success with FCP Euro. The OE vs OEM vs Genuine article they have is a great read

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Bay Area, California
    Posts
    591
    My Cars
    M3 w/Gt35r
    I've had excellent luck with NTK sensors.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    outta SoCal, now CO
    Posts
    1,212
    My Cars
    '98 M3 Alpine White
    Those O2 sensors are the major factor in mixture control. Choose wisely.
    See ya later,

    tony
    '98 M3, '92 Dinan3, '05 R1100S BCR, '07 R1200S, Aprilia T

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    California
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    1998 BMW M3 Sedan
    Thanks everyone. I'm still leaning towards genuine BMW. For those who've used other sensors, did you have any issues with mixture control? I don't wanna cut corners, but lots of maintenance issues have shown up at once and I'm trying to find the most practicable solution.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    40
    My Cars
    1999 BMW M3
    I've been using Denso for years and have had no issues. I drive the snot out of my car on the track with an aftermarket tune. I wouldn't even bother replacing the rear sensors until they fail. Then when they do, replace those with the front sensors you've taken out. The rears are only for cat efficiency checks. The front ones are what really matter.

    1999 BMW M3
    S52, 3.5 HFM, 24lbs injectors, Epic 93-octane tune, BimmerWorld y-pipe, race exhaust, and brake cooling, 3.46 gear, Ground Control 525/650, Koni SA, Ground Control front sway bar, Wilwood calipers, ACT HDG6 clutch, gutted, reinforced, caged, and other things

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    California
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    1998 BMW M3 Sedan
    Quote Originally Posted by Solaris99 View Post
    I've been using Denso for years and have had no issues. I drive the snot out of my car on the track with an aftermarket tune. I wouldn't even bother replacing the rear sensors until they fail. Then when they do, replace those with the front sensors you've taken out. The rears are only for cat efficiency checks. The front ones are what really matter.
    Great info Solaris99! I like to drive my car hard as well, so I've been wondering if my driving style would kill non-BMW sensors. It sounds like you've tested this theory pretty extensively. What kinds of symptoms would you have if just the rear sensors were failing???!!!!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Kirkland, WA
    Posts
    7,285
    My Cars
    2006 Toyota Tundra
    When I first bought my E36 M3 I went through this same issue and did a shitload of research. Basically what I concluded are the NGK 25013 will work just as good as the genuine BMW ones. The independent mechanic I went to wanted $1400 to replace all 4 sensors and reset the computer. I bought 4 through amazon prime ($256), installed them myself in probably 3 hours and took them to the same independent mechanic to have the computer reset and what not. They almost shit their pants when I told them I bought them on Amazon and were sure there were going to be issues. After doing all the work I could see how hard it was for them to say "well all the sensors are reading correctly....For now"

    That was back in 2016 and I have had no problems since.

    Do yourself a favor and buy these and don't look back:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    Last edited by Alpine 318is; 03-20-2018 at 01:45 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    40
    My Cars
    1999 BMW M3
    Quote Originally Posted by CanyonDestroyer View Post
    Great info Solaris99! I like to drive my car hard as well, so I've been wondering if my driving style would kill non-BMW sensors. It sounds like you've tested this theory pretty extensively. What kinds of symptoms would you have if just the rear sensors were failing???!!!!
    You'll get codes (check engine light) specific to the cats and/or the rear sensors. I forget what the specific wording/numbering is for the codes. It'll be obvious, though. It'll say something about efficiency or voltage being out of range.

    1999 BMW M3
    S52, 3.5 HFM, 24lbs injectors, Epic 93-octane tune, BimmerWorld y-pipe, race exhaust, and brake cooling, 3.46 gear, Ground Control 525/650, Koni SA, Ground Control front sway bar, Wilwood calipers, ACT HDG6 clutch, gutted, reinforced, caged, and other things

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Whidbey Island, WA
    Posts
    576
    My Cars
    1998 Techno M3 Coupe
    Quote Originally Posted by Alpine 318is View Post
    When I first bought my E36 M3 I went through this same issue and did a shitload of research. Basically what I concluded are the NGK 25013 will work just as good as the genuine BMW ones. The independent mechanic I went to wanted $1400 to replace all 4 sensors and reset the computer. I bought 4 through amazon prime ($256), installed them myself in probably 3 hours and took them to the same independent mechanic to have the computer reset and what not. They almost shit their pants when I told them I bought them on Amazon and were sure there were going to be issues. After doing all the work I could see how hard it was for them to say "well all the sensors are reading correctly....For now"

    That was back in 2016 and I have had no problems since.

    Do yourself a favor and buy these and don't look back:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    +1
    Had no problems with these

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oakhurst, CA
    Posts
    6,667
    My Cars
    96 M3 97 M3 98 M3 99 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by IR M5 View Post
    I've had excellent luck with NTK sensors.
    That’s because NTK is OE. Bosch is also OE as they are NTK sensors with a Bosch packaging.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    8,167
    My Cars
    97 M3 & 13 Rav4
    Quote Originally Posted by Braymond141 View Post
    That’s because NTK is OE. Bosch is also OE as they are NTK sensors with a Bosch packaging.
    +1

    I replaced both my upstream with NTK and haven't had a problem since.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    474
    My Cars
    1997 M3, 2012 C63
    Does BMW even make oxygen sensors for the e36? I would guess they are some other approved brand in a BMW box (maybe even NTK as mentioned). Same thing with ABS sensors my $20 ones work just fine didn't feel the need to spend $125 for genuine BMW ones. If they work, they work.

    For the E36 cheaper does not necessarily mean worse or that it won't work as sometimes it's the same part in a BMW box (like e36 genuine bmw rotors are just brembos).

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Schenectady, NY
    Posts
    165
    My Cars
    1995 BMW M3/2/5
    Quote Originally Posted by realjones View Post
    Does BMW even make oxygen sensors for the e36? I would guess they are some other approved brand in a BMW box (maybe even NTK as mentioned). Same thing with ABS sensors my $20 ones work just fine didn't feel the need to spend $125 for genuine BMW ones. If they work, they work.

    For the E36 cheaper does not necessarily mean worse or that it won't work as sometimes it's the same part in a BMW box (like e36 genuine bmw rotors are just brembos).
    I would imagine parts specifically built by BMW in house are few and far between. No need to pay for a logo

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    8,167
    My Cars
    97 M3 & 13 Rav4
    Quote Originally Posted by realjones View Post
    Does BMW even make oxygen sensors for the e36? I would guess they are some other approved brand in a BMW box (maybe even NTK as mentioned). Same thing with ABS sensors my $20 ones work just fine didn't feel the need to spend $125 for genuine BMW ones. If they work, they work.

    For the E36 cheaper does not necessarily mean worse or that it won't work as sometimes it's the same part in a BMW box (like e36 genuine bmw rotors are just brembos).
    I don't think so. I believe NTK makes them for Bosch who makes them for BMW.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    UT
    Posts
    4,375
    My Cars
    98 M3/4/5
    Quote Originally Posted by LockDots View Post
    I don't think so. I believe NTK makes them for Bosch who stamps the logo "BMW" on them and they sell them for more.

    fixed

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by MIKYZZ4 View Post
    Choose from here, OE or OEM, excellent source for quality parts!:
    https://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/M3...998&m=20&e=195
    and they carry a LIFETIME warranty
    98 Estoril ///M3 4/6
    S54 swap CSL

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    8,167
    My Cars
    97 M3 & 13 Rav4
    Quote Originally Posted by TH3 Shifty View Post
    fixed

    - - - Updated - - -



    and they carry a LIFETIME warranty
    True on both points.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Similar Threads

  1. FS: Bosch Oxygen O2 sensor BMW M52 S52 E36 M3 328 Z3 528
    By kentung in forum Engines, Performance Parts & Software
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-03-2009, 08:12 AM
  2. Anybody installed Universal O2 sensor? $35 Vs $110
    By nozatechm3 in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 10-27-2009, 02:07 PM
  3. FS: NTK O2 sensors, BMW factory air temp sensor
    By bene36e39 in forum Engines, Performance Parts & Software
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 10-25-2008, 01:59 AM
  4. BMW vs aftermarket springs
    By ///M LIFEŠ in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 04-09-2008, 10:07 PM
  5. O2 sensor Euro vs US model
    By digger in forum 1983 - 1991 (E30)
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-06-2005, 08:39 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •